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
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
Attendees at the Turning Point USA event at Wichita State listen to Olivia Krolczyk speak. Krolczyk is an ambassador for the Riley Gaines Center and opposes trans women participating in women's sports.

Olivia Crolczyk, 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.

Savanna Sparrow and William Crawford table at the event with guest speaker Olivia Krolczyk.

The U.S. flag and copies of the constitution are displayed alongside stickers at the event hosted by Turning Point USA at Wichita State.

Mason Fouquet, treasurer of Turning Point USA at Wichita State, hugs his mother as his father and grandmother check in to the event.

WSU majorette dancers perform a choreographed dance during the women's basketball game on March 4. The team attends various basketball games at the Charles Koch arena.

[Photo] WSU majorette dancers want to bring a new legacy to campus

March 8, 2025
The Office of International Education at Wichita State University. The office is now located inside the Shocker Success Center.

[Photo] International students and faculty weigh what Trump could mean for their future in the U.S.

Mia Hennen, Managing Editor
January 14, 2025
Warning signs on fences are found around the constructions on campus. The construction has continued into spring 2025 from fall 2024.

[Photo] Wintery weather gives way to renewed construction at Wichita State

Allison Campbell, Editor-in-Chief
January 24, 2025
Flags of different countries surround WuShock in the office of international education. The office of international education locates at the Shocker Success Center.

Flags of different countries surround WuShock in the office of international education. The office of international education locates at the Shocker Success Center.

[Photo] WJC: Wichita State professors worry as university silent on Trump immigration crackdown

June 9, 2025
Senior center Ella Anciaux goes up for the opening tipoff of Wichita State's Dec. 29 game against North Texas. Anciaux didn't score a point in the WSU loss, 62-56.

[Photo] Women’s basketball begins conference play on a sour note with loss against North Texas

Mack Smith, Reporter
December 29, 2024
Sophomore guard Salese Blow drives into the paint against Western Kentucky. Blow led the Shockers with 13 points in the Dec. 8 win.

[Photo] Women’s basketball spoils Western Kentucky’s undefeated start with win in the Roundhouse

Owen Prothro, Assistant Sports Editor
December 8, 2024
Fifth-year guard Justin Hill drives into the paint against East Tennessee State on Dec. 7. Hill led the Shockers with 20 points in the win.

[Photo] Men’s basketball takes down East Tennessee State in highest-scoring game of the season

Ananda Smith, Reporter
December 7, 2024
The Wichita State volleyball team celebrates their win in the AAC tournament on Nov. 24. The Shockers swept Florida Atlantic in the championship game.

[Photo] Wichita State volleyball NCAA Tournament bound after sweeping AAC Championship

Owen Prothro, Assistant Sports Editor
November 24, 2024
Senior forward Ornella Niankan attempts a contested layup in the second quarter against Missouri State. The Shockers lost, 82-77.

[Photo] Poor second quarter dooms women’s basketball to loss against Missouri State

November 13, 2024
Attendees look at multidisciplinary artist, David Alabo's visual art through a phone camera. The art turned into a video through the screen.

PHOTOS: David Alabo’s artist talk

Garima Thapa, Photo Editor
November 8, 2024
File photo

[Photo] Despite injury, basketball’s Fiona Diomande builds relationships with teammates

Evan Tong, Reporter
November 7, 2024
Senators attend an SGA meeting on Sept. 25. Senators include representatives from all academic colleges and several other student populations.

[Photo] SGA will hold midterm elections to fill empty Senate seats, increase student representation

Ainsley Smyth, News Editor
September 27, 2024
The second floor ofShocker Success Center looking over the Plaza of Heroines on July 26. The second floor houses the Shocker Learning Center, which includes several tutoring services.

[Photo] Shocker Learning Center to temporarily close early

September 26, 2024
Allison Campbell

[Photo] COLUMN: To do: Follow The Sunflower

August 29, 2024
Pamela O'Neal, and Cynthia Pizzini sit in a conference room. O'Neal is the associate director of Online and Adult Learning and Pizzini is an adult learner who mentors her peers.

[Photo] New program connects adult learners with peers and resources

August 28, 2024
A bike rests on the grass after a collision with a car on 17th Street on Aug. 27. The cyclist was taken to the hospital.

[Photo] Cyclist injured in accident off 17th Street

August 27, 2024
Wichita State's volleyball team celebrates a point against Kansas State. WSU lost its exhibition game against the Wildcats three sets to none on Saturday afternoon.

Carlos Sosa smiles at the "Picnic at the Patio" on Aug. 20. Sosa played the drums at the event hosted by the Student Government Association on the east side of the Rhatigan Student Center.

PHOTOS: Students return to campus for fall semester

Garima Thapa, Photo Editor
August 21, 2024
Pre-nursing major, Beatriz Quiroz Roncha walks to class in uniform on the second day of classes.

The D building of the Shocker Hall has the Lunar calender as it's theme. Each floor and building has it's own theme.

A wall of event calenders displayed in the Shocker Hall. Shocker Hall is one of two on-campus housing options for freshmen at Wichita State.

[Photo] 'Creative outlet': Resident Assistant bulletin boards go beyond educational content

August 22, 2024
Boards displayed in the third floor of Shocker Hall to welcome new freshmen to the residency. Each floor and building has its own welcome board and themes.

Boards displayed in the third floor of the Shocker Hall to welcome new freshmen to the residency. Each floor and building has its own welcome board and themes.

Kimmy Aguilar walks with her service dog Draco.

Welcome tables for freshmen were set up on the north side of the Rhatigan Student Center. The tables were hosted by the RSC, the Student Activities Council, Campus Recreation and other groups.

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