Core Values Scholar builds her future on integrity
When Kyei Ta learned she was selected as a Core Values Scholar, she shared the news with the person who has supported her every step of the way, her mother. “I was very grateful and thankful,” Ta says. “I told my mom right away. Seeing that there are people who actually believe in me and the values that I hold myself to makes me very confident in the way that I live.”
A first‑year health science student at Wichita State, Ta is the WSU Foundation and Alumni Engagement’s newest Core Values Scholar. The scholarship is open to undergraduate students who demonstrate teamwork, integrity, relationships and service — values Ta practiced long before arriving on campus.
Originally from Thailand, she moved to Garden City, Kansas, at age 6. As the oldest sibling in an immigrant household, she took on adult responsibilities early, often serving as a translator for her mother. “Ever since I was very young, I always had the responsibility of helping navigate my mom here in the United States,” she says. That sense of responsibility influenced her decision to graduate high school early and begin college at just 17. “I have this drive of getting a head start,” she says. “I thought if I start college early and get my degree sooner, I could help out my family sooner.”
At Wichita State, Ta quickly found community and purpose. She became actively involved in Sigma Psi Zeta sorority, where she serves as fundraising chair. Through advocacy and philanthropic events, she raises awareness and support for organizations addressing violence prevention in Wichita.
“It really fills my cup knowing that I’m able to help my community,” Ta says.
When asked which core value resonates most with her, Ta points to integrity — a principle she says her mother instilled in her from an early age. “Having integrity means being the most honest form of myself,” she says. “And being a positive person when I walk into a room. I think that’s really important for myself and for others.”
That integrity is evident in her demanding schedule. She works three jobs while attending school full time — as an office assistant with Housing and Residence Life, as a certified nursing assistant and in the service industry — helping cover tuition costs and support her younger brother’s education.
“This scholarship is not just the impact they’re making on my life,” Ta says. “It’s the impact they’re making on my whole family as well.” Receiving the Core Values Scholarship helped ease financial pressure. “It means I can really focus on my education and community service,” she says.
Looking ahead, she plans to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, with goals of becoming a cardiovascular intensive care unit nurse and eventually a certified registered nurse anesthetist. She says her motivation is rooted in a desire to care for patients during their most vulnerable moments.
“Being able to make a difference in somebody’s life in a positive way really brings me joy,” Ta says. “I want to be there for them when they need it most.” Kyei Ta’s story reflects the far‑reaching influence of the Core Values Scholarship — empowering students whose teamwork, integrity, relationships and service extend beyond campus and into the lives of those around them.
