WSU Tech and Wichita Public Schools Celebrate Opening of HACK and IT FutureReady Center

WICHITA, Kan. (October 16, 2025) — WSU Tech and Wichita Public Schools have officially opened HACK: The Hub for Advanced Computer Knowledge and the Information Technology FutureReady Center at WSU Tech South. The new facility expands access to technology-focused education and creates additional opportunities for students to prepare for high-demand careers in information technology, digital marketing and more.

The new 53,00 square-foot expansion serves as a center of excellence in IT, providing hands-on training in cybersecurity, cloud computing, computer support, and digital marketing. The space brings together high school and college students in a shared learning environment designed to mirror real-world industry settings.

Through the partnership with Wichita Public Schools, this marks the opening of the third FutureReady Center which allows high school students to earn college credit tuition-free, thanks to the State of Kansas’s Excel in CTE program, while gaining technical skills that lead to career readiness. This semester, more than 380 students are enrolled in FutureReady Centers across Wichita.

The new facility features 11 classrooms and labs, including a Cyber Range that simulates real-world cybersecurity environments, a Digital Marketing Lab, and a dedicated home for ShockStarter, a student-led marketing agency operated through WSU Tech. ShockStarter gives students the opportunity to work with local businesses on projects such as social media, web design, and marketing strategy while earning pay and professional experience.

Photo of two males looking at a computer in WSU Tech Cyber Range

Pictured is the new Cyber Range located in WSU Tech’s new HACK expansion at WSU Tech South.

An additional 15,000 square feet within the building has been reserved for future development to support new programs and continued growth in Wichita’s technology and education sectors. The expansion also houses WSU Tech’s Paraeducator program, which prepares students to work in classrooms across the region.

The HACK and IT FutureReady Center represent the continued collaboration between education, business, and industry partners to strengthen Wichita’s workforce pipeline and create new opportunities for students to build their futures close to home.

WSU Tech ShockStarter Students smile at new WSU Tech HACK.

Pictured above is Krissy Buck, Director of ShockStarter and her students employed in the student-run marketing agency.