K-State CFIs provide first flight experience for middle school students

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group photo of all Flying Challenge studentsSALINA — A group of nearly 80 students from Brooks Middle School in Wichita got the chance to fly over their hometown in Kansas State University Salina planes on May 9 as part of the Flying Challenge program, sponsored by Airbus Corporate Foundation.

Eight K-State Salina certified flight instructors took the students on hour-long flights in the university’s Cessna 172 Skyhawks. For many students it was their first time in an airplane of any size. While many were nervous at the beginning of the flight, most were smiling when they touched the ground again.

In addition to the flights, students had sessions in the National Center for Aviation Training’s robotics lab and paint lab as well as a radio controlled airplane demonstration. Continue reading →

Athletics, animation, and aviation: K-State Salina offering summer camps

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SALINA — Aviation, animation, dance, and basketball are all focuses of day camps at K-State Salina this summer.

For rates, deadline information, registration forms and more details about each camp, visit http://www.salina.k-state.edu/dce/summercamps or contact the Division of Continuing Education at 785-826-2633.

Virtual World is designed for kids in grades 6-8 interested in learning computer programming through games and designing a virtual 3-D world. The morning camp runs June 3-5.

Aviation Fixation is designed for kids in grades 3-6 interested in aviation. Campers will participate in hands-on projects flying in a simulator, touring the air traffic control tower, flight planning and navigation, and building and flying hot air balloons. The morning camp runs June 10-12. Continue reading →

Salina Fire Department training on campus May 21-22

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SALINA — The Salina Fire Department will be on the K-State Salina campus May 21-22 to practice situational training. They will be setting up scenarios that they could potentially respond to on campus.

The fire department will be using Technology Center, Tuesday, May 21, 7 p.m. to midnight, and Residence Hall, Wednesday, May 22, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Classes are not in session and training should not disrupt normal operations.

K-State Salina’s security department is working with the Salina Fire Department for this training.

“This is a great opportunity for them to train and become more familiar with our campus,” said Sgt. Rick Honeycutt, head of campus security.

News release prepared by: Natalie Blair, 785-826-2642, nblair@k-state.edu

Research shows black box could increase safety, efficiency of collegiate flight training

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SALINA — Flight operations quality assurance, or FOQA, the system contained in an aircraft’s black box, could improve the safety of collegiate flight training programs in the future, according to research conducted by J.D. Swinney, one of the first two graduates of Kansas State University Salina’s Professional Master of Technology degree program.

“FOQA has been proven to enhance commercial aviation safety, allowing airlines to objectively monitor how aircraft are being operated,” Swinney said. “We can apply those same concepts to general aviation, where FOQA is mostly absent, and more specifically, to collegiate training programs.”

Swinney, Holton, Ind., surveyed subject matter experts on both flight operations quality assurance and general aviation flight instruction from around the country to determine what data collected by the systems should be analyzed by safety managers, instructors and students to increase flight training safety and efficiency. Continue reading →

Researcher says using more social media channels beneficial to military recruiters

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SALINA — Military recruiters could benefit greatly by expanding their social media use, according to Terry Abbott’s research.

Abbott, Salina, one of the first two graduates of Kansas State University Salina’s Professional Master of Technology degree program, found that human resource professionals in American business rely on social media much more heavily than military recruiters, and the military recruiters rely nearly exclusively on Facebook while their private industry counterparts also turn to Linked-In and Twitter.

“Military recruiters tend to undervalue social mediums that aren’t Facebook,” Abbott said. “They could benefit greatly by expanding their social media use to other networks as well.” Continue reading →

Aviation maintenance students place at SkillsUSA state competition

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SkillsUSA logoSALINA — Four Kansas State University Salina students placed at SkillsUSA’s recent aviation maintenance technology state competition at Wichita Area Technical College.

Adam Sollenberger, senior in aviation maintenance technology and professional pilot, Hutchinson, placed fourth; Steven Gish, freshman in aviation maintenance technology, Olathe, placed eighth; Linfeng Jin, junior in aviation maintenance technology, Shanghai, China, placed ninth; and Yuan Jiao, senior in aviation maintenance technology, Osaka, Japan, placed sixth. Continue reading →

K-State Salina faculty receive $10,000 grant to assist North Salina Community Development, Inc.

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SALINA — K-State Salina faculty have received a $10,000 grant from the Center for Engagement and Community Development and the Office of the Provost at Kansas State University to assist North Salina Community Development, Inc.

The proposal was developed by David Norlin, associate professor of social work; Greg Stephens, associate professor of business; and Kathy Brockway, associate professor of business, with assistance from North Salina Community Development, Inc.

Students in K-State Salina’s social work program and Enactus (formerly Students in Free Enterprise) will survey residents and business owners to help the city organize the NextDoor.com virtual neighborhood campaign in North Salina and identify neighborhood leaders as well as assist in facilitating meetings and events. Continue reading →

Capsey named Office of Student Life Extraordinary Student

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SALINA — Rachael Capsey, recent family studies and human services graduate, Salina, was one of eight Kansas State University students presented the Office of Student Life Extraordinary Student Award this year. This award is given to students who have overcome unusual obstacles and have succeeded in their educational pursuits.

Capsey has overcome many obstacles including abusive situations and often changing homes during childhood. Graduating magna cum laude, she aspires to be a positive role model for her four children.

She balances her class schedule with her children’s schedules, as well as all of the appointments that come with being her grandparents’ primary caretaker. Capsey finds time to be active in her children’s schools, is the fundraising committee chair for her church, teaches Sunday school, and mentors a youth group.

She hopes to help other foster care children be resilient by creating programs and services to help them transition successfully from the system to the independence of adulthood. Continue reading →

K-State Salina students to graduate next Saturday

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SALINA — Kansas State University Salina’s spring commencement ceremony will be held Saturday, May 7, at 10 a.m. in the Student Life Center on the K-State Salina campus.

The guest speaker will be Dennis Shreves, retired civil engineer and park ranger and K-State Salina’s 2011 Alumni Fellow.

Those attending the ceremony are asked to enter campus at the main entrance on Centennial Road. Handicap parking is available in front of the Student Life Center for vehicles with the proper permit. The driver should notify security staff upon arrival if handicap parking is needed. Continue reading →