The newsletter for the WKU community -- November 12, 2025

Three inducted into Teacher Hall of Fame

Three longtime educators joined the Governor Louie B. Nunn Kentucky Teacher Hall of Fame during its 2025 induction ceremony Friday at Western Kentucky University.


Members of the Hall of Fame’s 17th class are the late Lois Chandler, Julie Cowan and Jennifer Miller Fritsch.


WKU President Timothy C. Caboni honored the inductees and recognized them for their combined total of 129 years in the classroom. “This honor recognizes far more than years of service. It recognizes their holistic contributions to their students and to our society. It honors their enduring legacies,” he said. 


“Julie Cowan, Jennifer Fritsch and the late Lois Chandler have served our children, our schools and our Commonwealth with tremendous distinction. They embody what it means to be an educator. They have shown us how one teacher can change the trajectory of countless lives.”


Dr. Corrine Murphy, Dean of College of Education and Behavioral Sciences, shared information on each of the honorees and recognized past inductees.



The Kentucky Teacher Hall of Fame, housed at WKU’s College of Education and Behavioral Sciences in Gary Ransdell Hall, has inducted 50 outstanding educators since its first class was announced in 2008.

Western Kentucky University student veterans holds inaugural Fall Festival


WKU Innovation Campus hosts small business summit


WKU hosts wreath-laying ceremony to honor veterans


WKU Student Government Association launches “Swipe It Forward” program

CLIMBING HIGHER

Dr. Monica Galloway Burke has been inducted into the Gavel and Gravel Society by the Southern Association for College Student Affairs as part of the Class of 2025.  Learn More

WKU honors veterans at ceremony


Members of the campus community gathered Tuesday morning for a Veterans Day wreath-laying ceremony at the Guthrie Bell Tower as WKU honored the heroes who answered the call to defend freedom. More: Photos from WKU Veterans Day ceremony.

Ray Mendoza forges a new career path


For Ray V. Mendoza Jr., every step of his Hilltopper journey is guided by a desire to encourage and support others. 

“Part of it is the military – you don’t work alone, you work as a team – and part of it is my own upbringing as an older sibling taking care of my brothers and my mom.” As a non-traditional and first-generation college student, Ray accumulated a wide range of life experiences before coming to the Hill.

November 2025 Staff Star Award Recipients

The WKU Staff Senate recognized the Christopher Ware Staff Star Award recipients during its meeting last Wednesday. The November 2025 recipients are Sherri Anderson, Housing and Residence Life; Andria Henry, Accounting, Analytics & Information Systems, Management Departments and Mary Nunn, Information Technology Systems. The Staff Senate's next meeting will begin at 10 a.m. December 3 at Downing Student Union, room 2081. More: Submit a Staff Star nomination

Forensics takes first in team sweepstakes


WKU Forensics took first in team sweepstakes at the LE Norton Memorial Tournament hosted by Bradley University on November 1 and 2.

GFCB hosts annual sales competition


The 2025 WKU Sales Competition marked an exciting milestone as the first-ever event held in the new Amy and David Chandler Hall.

Hensley finds her calling on the farm


Growing up on a small cattle farm in Aurora, Ind., WKU sophomore Remi Hensley discovered early on that caring for animals was more than just part of her daily life. “All my life I have wanted to be a veterinarian,” said Hensley, an Agriculture major with a concentration in Pre-Veterinary Medicine. “You know that phase where everyone says they want to be a vet because they love animals? I never grew out of that.”

Student Spotlight: Jesse Thomas

Jesse Thomas is from Gallatin, Tenn., with a double major in biology and chemistry, a minor in biophysics and a pre-Optometry concentration. “The longer that I worked in that field, the more interesting it became to me, the more I got to see people's lives changed by the restoration of sight, or the improvement of sight at least. And that was very impactful.”

Dr. Er receives RIDG Grant from NASA


Dr. Ali Er, Associate Professor of Physics, has been awarded a Research Infrastructure Development Grant in the amount of $35,000.

Student Scholar Showcase portal open


Have a student participating in research and creative activities? Encourage your students to submit an abstract for this year’s Student Scholar Showcase. The submission portal will be open until March 2. The 56th Annual Student Scholar Showcase will take place on April 11.

HRL hosts Hope on the Hill today


WKU students are invited to explore the 10 dimensions of wellness at the annual Hope on the Hill mental health event hosted by WKU Housing and Residence Life today from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at DSU Lawn.

2025 Kell Lecture tonight


The Communication program at the School of Media & Communication will host its annual Kell Lecture on tonight at 5 p.m. in the Gary Ransdell Hall Auditorium.

Regents to conduct committee meetings


The WKU Board of Regents will conduct committee meetings on Friday at 9 a.m. in the Martin Regents Room located in Jody Richards Hall.

WKU Innovation Campus Events

Check out the latest newsletter from the WKU Innovation Campus for information on upcoming events and more.

A crisp fall morning on the Hill

Check out the latest fall photos from Cristina Betz, WKU Communications & Marketing for a look at WKU's first snow flurries of the season.

Athletics

WKU Unveils Statue Of Legendary Volleyball Coach Travis Hudson; Van De Wiele Earns Second CUSA Defensive Player of the Week; WKU Sweeps Delaware on Senior Day


Boone Ignites Late Surge as Hilltopper Basketball Beats Eastern Kentucky, 87-79


Lady Topper Basketball Bounces Back with Comeback Win in OT Against Wichita State


Tyson Helton Weekly Press Conference; Time, TV Network Announced For WKU-LSU Game



Morales Added to Track and Field Staff

November

14

Friday

Mathematics Symposium


The 45th Annual WKU Mathematics Symposium will begin at 3 p.m. Friday and will continue Saturday at Snell Hall and Ogden College Hall. Learn More

 

November

14

Friday

Nursing Recruitment Fair


The Nursing Recruitment Fair will be held from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Friday at The Medical Center - WKU Health Sciences Complex. Learn More

 

November

15

Saturday

WKU Preview Day


WKU Admissions will host WKU Preview Day, an open house event for prospective students, at 8:30 a.m. Saturday at Diddle Arena. Learn More

 

November

18

Tuesday

Chai Chat


WKU Global will host a Chai Chat on Tuesday at 3 p.m. at The Majlis, Honors College & International Center, third floor. Learn More

 
 
 
 
 
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