Key Points:
- Wichita Public Schools seniors win Rudd Scholarship to attend Wichita State University.
- Scholarship covers full-ride tuition, fees, on-campus housing, and coaching support.
- Scholars will pursue degrees in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, and astrophysiology
Two African American students and a 1st generation Hispanic are among seven Wichita Public Schools seniors who will attend Wichita State University as Rudd Scholarship winners next fall.
The Rudd Scholars Program supports Pell Grant-eligible high school students in Kansas attend top Kansas universities by paying the costs for their four-year education, including tuition, fees, on-campus housing, and considerable networking and coaching support along the way.
This year’s cohort of 45 Rudd Scholars will attend Wichita State, Emporia State, Fort Hays State or Kansas State.
Vatedis Coleman
Vatedis, a senior at Wichita Southeast High School, will be moving to Shocker Hall at the start of the summer session to complete his WSU Tech program and become a certified Aircraft and Powerplant technician and will remain there in the fall as he begins work toward his goal of becoming an aerospace engineer.
“Eventually, I want to work for NASA,” Vatedis said. “I might go for astronaut training, but I for sure want to work in the space program. I did an interview with the first African American astronaut, Bluford Guion, and I have wanted to work in the space program ever since.”
He has an uncle and an older brother who have A&P certificates and his brother is also pursuing a degree from Wichita State.
“Having the Rudd scholarship means that any money I make working part-time can go into savings or to helping my family,” he said.
Israel Torres Ayala
Israel, a senior at Northeast Magnet High School, is the son of immigrant parents, who came to Wichita from Mexico.
“They never had an opportunity to get a diploma or a degree and improve their situation in life,” he said. “My encouragement came from my older brother. He didn’t have good enough grades to get scholarships, but he did get his A&P license and he works for Textron. He really motivated me to work hard so I could go to college.”
He said having family members who wound up in prison after getting involved with gang activity taught him that he wanted his life to go in a different direction.
“My parents sacrificed so much to give me and my brother a better life,” he said. “I feel like making the most of my opportunities is something I owe them.”
He said he will probably go to work for Textron after college graduation and is planning an internship there this summer after completing his A&P certificate next month. He plans to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering.
Richard “R.J.” Gwyn Jr.
Life so far has not been easy for R.J., a Southeast High Senior.
He grew up in Wichita, attending five different elementary schools. “My family got evicted a lot. We were homeless a lot too. And I had three different periods of being in foster care. In fact, I’m in foster care now,” he said. “But I’m lucky because I live with my Grandma. And this fall, I’ll be moving into Shocker Hall.”
He said he wants to get his degree in astrophysiology and go on to earn a Master’s Degree and a Doctorate. “I want to do research on the solar system and the stars.”
He said that in some of the hardest times of childhood, he found it extremely comforting to lie back and look at the stars. That is what fueled my desire to know more and more about them.”
Other winners
Other Wichita recipients of Rudd Scholarships are Jose Urbina-Renteria, Wichita North High School; Maimoona Mohammad, Wichita Heights High School; Vivian Chau, Wichita East High School; and Adam Bosworth, Wichita North High School.
“We’re excited to welcome our seventh class of Shocker Rudd Scholars to Wichita State in the fall,” said Bobby Gandu, assistant vice president, strategic enrollment management and undergraduate admissions. “The Rudd Foundation has blessed these students and their families with a gift which allows them to pursue all their collegiate hopes and dreams in a debt-free, powerful mentor-and-coaching environment. Being affiliated with their classmates and previous scholars delivers them an incredible network of friends and business professionals who give them a second-to-none edge when they pursue post-college career and graduate school opportunities.”
In addition to living on campus and carrying a full load of classes toward their college degree, scholars will receive mentoring and success coaching to help them graduate in four years. They will also participate in many developmental activities outside the classroom, network with leaders in their future professions, build strong relationships among themselves and serve to help the next generation of scholars through an active and connected alumni association after graduation.
The Rudd Scholarship, sponsored by the Rudd Foundation, aims to remove financial barriers to a college education. Chosen scholars are expected to achieve a high level of excellence on campus in preparing themselves to be leaders in their profession and in their communities after graduation.
Corri Roberts, vice president of the Rudd Foundation, said the program focuses on going beyond meeting the financial needs of the students.
“The Rudd Scholarship is more than financial assistance, focusing on programming that extends Beyond the Dollar, Beyond the Classroom, and Beyond the Degree,” Roberts said. “With 125 active scholars and 74 alumni, our community supports each other in reaching their full potential and chasing ambitious goals, reflecting Mr. (Leslie) Rudd’s vision of a lifelong network for learning and growth.”
This is the 7th Year for the Rudd Scholarship Program. Since its inception, the Rudd Foundation’s scholarship program has awarded over 200 scholarships, representing an overall investment of over $10 million in Kansas students.