Undergraduate Research Grants - Stephanie Rogers

     As Nora Zeale Hurston, author of Their Eyes Were Watching God, explains, “Research is formalized curiosity. It is poking and prying with a purpose.” Wichita State and the Honors College are dedicated to helping you develop personally and professionally while you pursue an undergraduate research project.
     Full-time sophomores, juniors and seniors with a 2.5 GPA are eligible to receive up to $1000 in direct support of research or creative activities. Applications are accepted from Sept. 1 through Mar. 15 and are reviewed continuously. Honors students who strive to be lifelong learners are prime candidates to consider this opportunity. Not only will you be contributing professionally to the field of your choosing before you graduate, you will develop new interests and experiences around the project.
     As a previous undergraduate researcher working in the field of communication sciences and disorders, I know that my dedication to pursuing a career helping children with hearing loss would not have developed if I hadn’t seen the raw data associated with our project. Through this year-long experience, I became passionate about helping children succeed in school, and this passion is driving me to choose graduate schools that emphasize pediatric audiology.
     Those in the creative fields can partake of this grant funding as well. Spencer Sinclair, a student in the School of Art and Design, won a research grant in Spring 2014. “It's the university's job to give a student the credits,” he said, “but it's up to the students to decide their own future. Not only will this grant aid in the production of a body of work, but documenting the process, preparing for a presentation and solo exhibition, and communicating with people inside of the department and outside are the experiences that will be huge tools and vital to the success of the individual.”
     If you have questions, email me at undergraduateresearch@wichita.edu or visit wichita.edu/ugresearch for more information.

Eligibility requirements:
1. Sophomore, junior, or senior
2. At least 2 semesters left at WSU (including the one in which you are applying)
3. 2.5 GPA
4. Full-time
5. Declared major
6. Faculty mentor support
7. Can only receive funds from program once