By Brad Hallier, VYPE Kansas Editor in Chief

Community Day as always been important to WSU Tech. But most years, the annual event felt a little basic to Andy McFayden, WSU Tech’s Executive Director, Strategic Communications.

This year, McFayden and Mandy Fouse, Assistant Director, Marketing and Communications, opted for an ambitious improvement to Community Day.

Prospective WSU Tech students take in a demonstration at the hangar during the annual Community Day in July. (Photo by Mike Cooper)

For the first time, WSU Tech’s Community Day was at all four campuses, and there was added activities in classrooms and labs for students to try.

“The best way to show students our programs is for them to see themselves in a career, or in a class,” Fouse said.

Cornhole games and snacks were also available at the four-hour event on July 11.

WSU Tech prospective students work on experiments during Community Day. (Photo by Mike Cooper)

McFayden said the new format may have resulted in more stress the day of and in the days leading up, but he said he thought it was beneficial for prospective students.

“I think it was received really well,” McFayden said. “It was the first time we did multi-campus. Before, students crammed into the hangar (at 4004 N Webb Road), and we had limited space and limited resources. This time, faculty and staff said it was more engaging for students. We had employer partners come out, and visit with students and parents.”

Students had a chance to conduct some on-hands learning, such as experimenting with robots, during WSU Tech’s annual Community Day. (Photo by Mike Cooper)

What also was beneficial was prospective students were able to visit more than one WSU Tech campus.

“We had a lot of positive feedback,” McFayden said.

WSU Tech offers more than 100 degree and certificate options in aviation, health care, manufacturing, design, information technology, police science and business. Visit www.wsutech.edu for more information.