Wichita State's independent, student-run news source

The Sunflower
Wichita State's independent, student-run news source

The Sunflower
Wichita State's independent, student-run news source

The Sunflower
Garima Thapa

Garima Thapa, Photographer

Garima Thapa was the photo editor for The Sunflower during the 2024-2025 year. Thapa is in their third year at Wichita State, studying communications. Thapa uses she/they pronouns.

All content by Garima Thapa
Wichita State volleyball's coaching staff looks on as the Shockers play against No. 17 Kansas. Wichita State lost Sept. 16, 3-0.

Senior Brooklyn Leggett serves the ball on Sept. 16. Three different Wichita State players made service aces in the loss to No. 17 Kansas.

Wichita State's cheer team performs during timeout on Sept. 16. Wichita State lost to No. 17 Kansas, 3-0.

Sophomore Allie Paulsen cheers with junior Gabi Maas after making a point on Sept. 16. Paulsen made three kills in the 3-0 loss.

Freshman Janaya Weitkemper serves the ball on Sept. 16. Weitkemper played in one set during the 3-0 loss to No. 17 Kansas.

[Photo] Roars and standing ovations

Owen Prothro, Sports Editor
September 17, 2025
Senior Katie Galligan digs the ball on Sept. 16. Galligan made eight digs against No. 17 Kansas.

Senior Brooklyn Leggett reaches for the ball on Sept. 16. Wichita State lost to No. 17 Kansas, 3-0.

Middle blocker Maddie Wilson tosses the ball to serve against No. 17 Kansas on Sept. 16. The Shockers made three service aces in the 3-0 loss.

Setter Jordan Heatherly gets up from the court after an attempt to block a ball on Sept. 16. Wichita State lost to No. 17 Kansas, 3-0.

Senior Brooklyn Leggett jumps to spike the ball against No. 17 Kansas on Sept. 16. Leggett made five kills against the Jayhawks.

Middle blocker Allie Paulsen misses a block on Sept. 16 against No. 17 Kansas. The Jayhawks made 43 kills against the Shockers.

Fire alarm surrounded by posters in McKnight Art Center. The Art Center is connected to the Ulrich Museum of Art

[Photo] WSU begins fire alarm testing across campus buildings in September

Caileane Thurston, Reporter
September 16, 2025
Participants use clay to make a bowl on Sept. 13. Attendees had the option of either building or painting.

[Photo] Build-A-Bowl event aims to fight hunger in Wichita ‘one bowl at a time’

Fatima Touffaha, Reporter
September 15, 2025
The new Shocker Assist cart has various features including wheelchair ramp.

[Photo] Meet the new accessibility carts

Angellica Klingsick, Reporter
September 15, 2025
Emmanuel Ortega talks about art hisotry and Justin Favela’s career on Sept. 12. Favela's art is currently in exhibition at the Ulrich Museum of Art.

[Photo] A friend’s insight into the artist behind the piñatas

September 15, 2025
Kids dance during a Wichita State men's basketball game on March 2, 2024. The Shockers won their senior night game against Rice, 87-66. (File photo)

[Photo] ‘Shocker fans for life’: Potential impact of Wichita couples’ season ticket donations

August 25, 2025
A girl wearing a popcorn bucket puts up a hand heart at a Wichita State men's basketball game on March 2, 2024. The Shockers won their senior night game, 87-66. (File photo)

Students after the foam machine was brought out at the Shocker Island event on Aug 15. The event was part of WSU's first year programs.

PHOTOS: Shockers celebrate a new semester

Garima Thapa, Senior Photographer
August 18, 2025
Organizers of Shockerfest check in students for Shocker Island on Aug 15. The event was hosted by the first year programs at Wichita State.

[Photo] Shockfest entering its second year with events geared toward all students

August 19, 2025
Loved ones and aquiances gather to honor Clark Britton on Aug 7. Clark Britton passed away on June 6 this year.

Sara Farley and granddaughter look at Clark Britton's art on Aug 7. The exhibiton is held at Clayton Staples Gallery.

Bob Abraham looks at Clark Britton's art on Aug 7. Britton's art is currently exhibited at the Clayton Staples Gallery.

Jim looks at Clark Britton's art on Aug 7. Britton's art is currently exhibited at the Clayton Staples Gallery.

A model house created by late Clark Britton. Loved ones gathered in Clinton Staples on Aug. 7 to celebrate Britton.

[Photo] Exhibit honoring Clark Britton now open in Clayton Staples gallery

August 9, 2025
"The Nature of becoming" is an art piece made by Abhidnya Ghuge with the use of over 14,000 hand printed paper plates. The exhibition open on July 22 at the Ulrich Museum of Art.

Disposable no more: Abhidnya Ghuge’s exhibition opens July 22 at Ulrich Museum

Garima Thapa, Reporter
July 18, 2025
Visitors contribute to a growing mural featuring vibrant paper tiles, assembled under the guidance of museum staff.

PHOTOS: Summer Studio Saturdays at the Ulrich Museum of Art

Garima Thapa, Photographer
July 14, 2025
A child selects crayons from a collection at the free, guided Summer Studio Saturdays event at the Ulrich Museum on July 12. The event will be hosted again on Aug. 9.

Two girls focus on coloring and drawing at a table full of art supplies. The free event, Summer Studio Saturdays, will be hosted again on Aug. 9.

People attend Summer Studio Saturdays at the Ulrich Museum of Art on July 12.

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A participant arranges colored paper shapes on a community art wall during the Summer Studio Saturdays on July 12. The event will be hosted again on Aug. 9.

A father carefully draws with crayon over a textured block print while his children explore nearby art supplies. The event was hosted at the Ulrich Museum of Art on July 12.

A family works together during Summer Studio Saturdays at the Ulrich Museum of Art by using crayons to make craft. The event took place on July 12 and will be held again on Aug. 9.

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A participant waves huge fans with pride colors at the Wichita Pride parade on June 28.

PHOTOS: Wichita Pride Parade

Garima Thapa, Photographer
July 1, 2025
Rick Mullen shows how to make a bowl at the Build-A-Bowl for Empty Bowls event on June 18. Mullen The annual event took place at the Henrion Hall.

PHOTOS: Build-A-Bowl for Empty Bowls

Garima Thapa, Photographer
June 20, 2025
TaLyiah Lewis gets crowned as Miss Juneteenth ICT at the 2025 scholarship pageant for Black high school girls. Lewis is a junior at Northwest High School.

PHOTOS: Miss Juneteenth ICT Scholarship Pageant

Garima Thapa, Photographer
June 10, 2025
Pride colors were placed in various vendors' tents for the Big Gay Market on June 8. The event takes place annually in Wichita.

PHOTOS: Big Gay Market

Garima Thapa, Photographer
June 9, 2025
Miniature pride flags fly outside various vendors' tents at the Big Gay Market. The event takes place annually in Wichita during pride month.

[Photo] ‘There’s no place like’ Wichita pride in 2025

June 13, 2025
Annie Cummings paints the Shockers statue for the Riverfest Plein Air Painting competition. Cummings paints for fun and sells them.

PHOTOS: Plein Air Painting Competition at Riverfest

Garima Thapa, Photographer
June 2, 2025
People walk down the street with a RiverFest banner to indicate the first day of the festival. Riverfest sn an annual festival hosted in Wichita.

PHOTOS: Riverfest Sundown Parade 2025

Garima Thapa, Photographer
June 1, 2025
Students smile together while looking at the crowd at the commencement ceremony on May 16.

PHOTOS: Spring 2025 Commencement

Garima Thapa and Zachary Ruth
May 20, 2025
Students decorated their graduation caps for the 2025 spring commencement.

Students decorated their graduation caps for the 2025 spring commencement.

Students decorated their graduation caps for the 2025 spring commencement.

Students decorated their graduation caps for the 2025 spring commencement.

Students decorated their graduation caps for the 2025 spring commencement.

Students decorated their graduation caps for the 2025 spring commencement.

Students decorated their graduation caps for the 2025 spring commencement.

Students decorated their graduation caps for the 2025 spring commencement.

Students decorated their graduation caps for the 2025 spring commencement.

Students decorated their graduation caps for the 2025 spring commencement.

Students decorated their graduation caps for the 2025 spring commencement.

Students decorated their graduation caps for the 2025 spring commencement.

Students decorated their graduation caps for the 2025 spring commencement.

Students decorated their graduation caps for the 2025 spring commencement.

Students decorated their graduation caps for the 2025 spring commencement.

Students decorated their graduation caps for the 2025 spring commencement.

Students decorated their graduation caps for the 2025 spring commencement.

Students decorated their graduation caps for the 2025 spring commencement.

Students decorated their graduation caps for the 2025 spring commencement.

Students decorated their graduation caps for the 2025 spring commencement.

Students decorated their graduation caps for the 2025 spring commencement.

Students decorated their graduation caps for the 2025 spring commencement.

Students decorated their graduation caps for the 2025 spring commencement.

Students decorated their graduation caps for the 2025 spring commencement.

Confetti blasts as the spring commencement comes to its end.

Students decorated their graduation caps for the 2025 spring commencement.

Graduate student stands in the crowd on May 16.

Students decorated their graduation caps for the 2025 spring commencement.

The graduate ceremony ended with confetti blast on May 16.

Abby Ausherman turns around while sewing fabric for her exhibition. Ausherman is graduation spring 2025 with a major in Arts.

[Photo] Tackling new artforms with familiar concepts

Kass Lewis, Reporter
May 11, 2025
Sophomore Brady Hamilton pitches ball against East Carolina on May 3. The Pirates won, 6-1, against the Shockers.

[Photo] Baseball hits walk-off to win series against East Carolina

Jayden Woods, Reporter
May 4, 2025
Megan Nichols checks camera bags at the Elliot School gear room. Nichols is graduating with a bachelor's in communication.

[Photo] From cameras to choreography, communication student supports peers while getting creative

Mya Scott, Assistant Editor
May 3, 2025
Michael Prior, an emerging poet, read out poetry from his books. The event took place at the Ulrich Museum.

Michael Prior, an emerging poet, read out poetry from his books. The event took place at the Ulrich Museum.

Michael Prior, an emerging poet, read out poetry from his books. The event took place at the Ulrich Museum.

Michael Prior's book, Burning Province held by an attendee of Prior's poetry reading event.

Michael Prior engages with the attendees of his poetry reading event on April 8. Prior's most recent book of poems, won the Canada-Japan Literary Award and the BC & Yukon Book Prizes' Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize.

Books by Michael Prior, "Burning Province" and "Model Disciple" were sold at the poetry event by Prior. The books have won multiple awards.

Michael Prior engages with the attendees of his poetry reading event on April 8. Prior's most recent book of poems, won the Canada-Japan Literary Award and the BC & Yukon Book Prizes' Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize.

[Photo] Exploring identity through poetry: Award-winning author does poetry reading at WSU

April 14, 2025
Presentation slide of Michael Prior's Writing Now Reading Now event on April 8. The event took place in the Ulrich Museum.

Members of the TPUSA audience take a group photo with Olivia Krolczyk. Krolczykadvocates for free speech and is part of the Riley Gaines Center, an organization aimed at combating "radical leftist ideology."

Olivia Krolczyk, Riley Gaines Center ambassador, speaks in fron of an audience at Wichita State on March 11. The event was hosted by WSU's chapter of Turning Point USA.

[Photo] Turning Point USA hosts Olivia Krolczyk from Riley Gaines Center

Kass Lewis, Reporter
March 13, 2025
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