The newsletter for the WKU community -- February 18, 2026

WKU selects 16 for 2026-27 Cherry Presidential Scholarship

WKU has selected 16 students as recipients of the 2026-2027 Cherry Presidential Scholarship, the school’s most prestigious academic award. The scholarship is valued at $16,000 annually and worth $64,000 over a four-year period.

WKU Forensics earns top spot at KFA

WKU Forensics clinched the top spot at the 2026 Kentucky Forensics Association hosted by Murray State University on February 6-8.  

Sunrise Spotlight: The Wedge Visiting Scholar Program


Henderson student named 1 of 16 for WKU’s most prestigious scholarship


WKU selects 2 local students for top competitive academic scholarship


Richard Gutierrez named WKU’s 2026 Coming Home King

CLIMBING HIGHER

For the third year in a row, WKU Student Publications Advertising and Cherry Creative branded content studio are finalists for the Associated Collegiate Press Student Media Business Pacemaker Award. Learn More

The Kentucky Museum invites the community to the Awards Ceremony for the 2026 Abound Credit Union Celebration of the Arts on Friday, February 27, from 6 to 8 p.m. Learn More

2025 Warren-Brooks Award winner 


Dr. Sharon Cameron is the recipient of the Robert Penn Warren-Cleanth Brooks Award for her book The Likeness of Things Unlike: A Poetics of Incommensurability, published by The University of Chicago Press.

Gutierrez crowned Coming Home King


Richard Gutierrez of Huntingburg, Indiana, was crowned Western Kentucky University’s 2026 Coming Home King on Saturday night.

Student Spotlight: Lincoln Potts

When Lincoln Potts first walked onto WKU’s campus as a Gatton Academy student, research wasn’t part of his plan. “I initially didn’t want to research,” he admitted. “I was like, I don’t know about all that—that’s some really nerdy stuff I would never do.” But watching his classmates pursue projects that combined creativity and discipline changed his mind. “I saw all these people doing these research projects, and they were actually putting in work and getting stuff out of it. I thought, I should probably at least try it.”

WKU Board of Regents to meet February 20


WKU Board of Regents will meet Friday in the Martin Regents Room in Jody Richards Hall. The day will begin at 9 a.m. with committee meetings. Following a lunch break, the Board will conduct a quarterly meeting. 

America 250 series continues Saturday


The America 250 series will continue with Picking it Up: The Jam and it's Role in Kentucky Bluegrass Music on Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Kentucky Museum. Folklorist Dr. Erika Brady and noted fellow bluegrass musicians will discuss the special role of jams, informal picking sessions, in the history and current state of the music here in our region - the place where bluegrass began.

Gifted Studies hosts 13th IdeaFestival


The Center for Gifted Studies at WKU welcomed more than 950 middle and high school students at the 13th annual IdeaFestival® Bowling Green on Tuesday.

KyAEA All State Art Show


The Kentucky Museum at WKU is the host venue for the Kentucky Art Education Association's Elementary & Middle School All-State Competition for 2025. The exhibit features works by students in grades K-8 from across Kentucky, which will be on display through March 14.

Career Insider Newsletter


WKU Advising & Career Development Center recently distributed the February edition of the Career Insider Newsletter, which includes resources to support student career development.

WKU Week in Photos

Check out the latest WKU Week in Photos for a look back at last week's activities, including Market on the Avenue, Living Learning Community activities, GFCB Career Fair and Coming Home King from Katie Corbin and Cristina Betz, WKU Communications & Marketing.

Innovation Campus Events

Check out a listing of upcoming events at the WKU Innovation Campus.

Athletics

Lady Topper Basketball Bounces Back With Impressive Defensive Showing Against Jax State



Hilltopper Basketball Begins Two-Game Road Swing at Delaware


WKU Baseball Splits Season-Opening Series With BYU


WKU Softball Splits Final Day of MUSB Invitational


WKU Tennis Falls At EKU


WKU Athletics Hall of Famer Harry Todd Passes Away


WKU Athletics To Host Grow The Game Clinic Before 2/21 WBB Game


Kunkel Earns Win as WKU Wraps Up Tyson Invitational

February

18

Wednesday

SEAS Construction Career Fair


The SEAS Construction Career Fair will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. today in the Engineering and Biological Sciences Building on the first and second floors. Learn More

 

February

18

Wednesday

WKU Camp, Recreation & Related Professions Job Fair


The WKU Camp, Recreation & Related Professions Job Fair will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. today in Downing Student Union in the main lobby on the first floor. Learn More


 


February

19

Thursday

Faculty Senate


WKU Faculty Senate will meet at 4 p.m. Thursday at Downing Student Union, room 2081. Learn More

 
 
 
 
Facebook  X  Instagram  Youtube  Linkedin