The newsletter for the WKU community -- November 20, 2024 | |
WKU alumni create legacy from leather |  | |
“Create lasting goods and meaningful relationships.” That is what Clayton & Crume is all about. Although the six words came from a training a few years ago, WKU alumni Tyler Jury and Clay Simpson felt that way from the beginning.
Imagine this: A college student, with limited money available to buy new clothes, goes home to visit his family. He comes across a sewing machine and asks his mom to teach him how to make pants and shorts. The act of learning how to sew feeds into his creative thinking and develops a new skillset. Not long after, seeing a need, the student takes a leash, sews it onto a leather canvas, transforming it into a unique belt to wear while tailgating, catches the attention of his fraternity brothers and proceeds to make products while still a student in college.
While stories like this may seem make-believe, this is the true story of Clayton & Crume, a story where Clay Simpson began making leather goods in his residence hall. Then, after college, while hanging out together, Jury remembered some gifts that Simpson made for his now wife while in college. He asked Jury if he still made similar goods. From that, the two began to brainstorm opportunities to work together.
Jury explained, “It led into a conversation of making some gifts, prototyping some key fobs and eventually going to our fraternity’s [Phi Gamma Delta] headquarters and pitching them on the idea of a high-quality leather keychain to gift at one of their conferences.”
| First-generation student making an impact |  | |
“My experiences, both at WKU and abroad, have made me more adaptable, culturally aware, and prepared to handle diverse challenges—qualities that I know will be invaluable in my career after graduation.”
An aspiring lawyer and advocate for others, first-generation college student Htee Shee Paw is building community through unique applied learning experiences. From interning with the City of Bowling Green to serving as a first-generation student ambassador, Paw is making an impact on the Hill and beyond.
Paw, a Corporate and Organizational Communication & Professional Legal Studies major, pursued multiple local internships to gain real-world experience in her field.
Through an internship placement for her COMM489 course, Paw worked as the International Communities Liaison Intern for the City of Bowling Green.
“I had the privilege to work more directly with the international community to help individuals navigate city resources and address specific needs,” Paw noted.
She helped organize several community events including the Bowling Green International Festival, Duncan Hines Days, Winter Fiesta, Academy for New Americans and the Reception for New Americans.
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Professor Özkan Özer, Associate Professor of Mathematics at WKU, will represent his team of mathematics scholars, WKU, and the Commonwealth of Kentucky as a Fulbright U.S. Research Scholar in northern France starting this fall. Learn More | Information Technology Services is excited to announce TechHelper, a new AI-powered chatbot that provides 24/7 support for WKU students, faculty and staff. Over the past 10 years, ITS has developed an extensive knowledge base of articles, and TechHelper taps into this resource to offer assistance with a wide variety of ITS-related issues. With TechHelper, clients can troubleshoot technical problems, receive answers to common IT questions, and even learn more about services offered by ITS — all at any time of day. TechHelper uses AI to interpret natural conversational language and interact with your prompts. This tool aims to supplement the convenience of accessing IT support and reduce wait times for resolving issues. Learn More | |
Provost's Message: Announcements
In a campus message, Provost Fischer announced that the Biochemistry program will be moved under the Department of Chemistry and the Department of Chemistry will be renamed the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.
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WKU Forensics wins tourney at Bradley
WKU Forensics took first in sweepstakes at the 77th L.E. Norton Memorial Tournament hosted by Bradley University. More: Meet the Team Showcase Thursday.
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Spotlight: Christopher Wallace | Christopher Wallace’s journey to WKU is anything but conventional. Hailing from Aurora, Missouri, and with military service behind him, Christopher arrived at WKU in the fall of 2022 as a non-traditional student at age 26, along with his spouse, Audrey. Now pursuing a Bachelor’s in Political Science with a minor in Anthropology, as well as a Master of Public Administration through the JUMP program, Christopher is on track to graduate with his bachelor’s degree in December 2024 and his master’s in December 2025. | | |
WKU MTNA Chapter earns national award
The Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) recently named the WKU Collegiate Chapter of MTNA as the 2025 Collegiate Chapter of the Year. The MTNA WKU Collegiate Chapter will be recognized at the 2025 MTNA National Conference in Minneapolis in March 2025.
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DSOC receives contribution from AT&T
WKU’s Disaster Science Operations Center received a $42,000 contribution from AT&T to provide the BRADD community with weather instrumentation, weather radios, portable AC units, fans and training exercises to enhance preparedness and response capabilities in the face of extreme weather events.
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Homecoming Queen
Sarah Vincent of Bardstown was crowned WKU’s 2024 Homecoming queen on Saturday. Vincent, daughter of Jacob and Lee Ann Vincent, is a Public Health and Healthcare Administration major and was sponsored by Kappa Delta and Pi Kappa Alpha.
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Hilltopper Excellence Awards
The Hilltopper Excellence Awards celebration kicked off the "Roaring Red" Homecoming festivities Thursday night and offered the opportunity to recognize nine esteemed alumni and dedicated benefactors of WKU, including the 33rd class of the Hall of Distinguished Alumni.
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CHHS Ribbon Cutting
WKU celebrated the opening of the College of Health and Human Services (CHHS) Community Health Sciences Complex with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house Friday at the WKU South Campus.
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WKU Week in Photos
Take a look back at the parade, award presentations, reunions, tailgating and more Homecoming activities in the latest WKU Week in Photos from Clinton Lewis, Cristina Betz and Carol Coronado, WKU Communications & Marketing.
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Adventurer at Heart: Evie Dukes
WKU student Evie Dukes of Paducah has always been captivated by languages and the natural world. Evie’s journey reflects her wide-ranging passions and a commitment to exploration, whether it's studying languages or conducting field research in reforestation efforts.
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WKU group returns from project in Brazil
A WKU group has returned from Brazil after teaming up with scientists and students from Brazil’s Institute of Karst and the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) to study caves and water resources in a remote area of northern Brazil. A team from the Crawford Hydrology Lab (CHL) within WKU’s Applied Research and Technology Program (ARTP) has been working with Brazilian colleagues for several years to better understand hydrology and water resources of the spectacular São Desidério karst area in Brazil’s Bahia State.
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LaRoche recognized at annual conference
Dr. Catherine LaRoche, Assistant Vice President for Student Engagement and Executive Director for Housing & Residence Life, won the Association of Intermountain Housing Officers Outstanding (AIMHO) Service Award at their Annual Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on November 12-14. The Outstanding Service Award is designed to recognize years of service, dedication and significant contributions to students in the residence halls and the residential community.
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State, local groups honor Peggy Crowe
Dr. Peggy Crowe, director of the WKU Counseling Center and the Student Accessibility Resource Center, has been recognized by state and local organizations for contributions in the field of higher education.
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Faculty member presents research
Dr. Missy Travelsted, DNP, FNP-C, PTA presented her research, Anabaptists' Knowledge of Newborn Screening, at the 2024 National Amish Health Care Conference.
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WKU Communications & Marketing honored
WKU Communications & Marketing was recognized with five awards at the 24th Annual Markie Awards at The Mint Gaming Hall on Tuesday.
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ESPN, WKU partner on student program
ESPN Digital Content announced in September its School Outreach program aimed at developing the next generation of digital sports journalists, and the School of Media & Communication at WKU was selected as a partner educational institution this month.
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55th Student Scholar Showcase April 5
Undergraduate students at WKU are now invited to submit abstracts for the 55th Annual Student Scholar Showcase, set for April 5, 2025. The event provides students with the opportunity to present their research, creative work, and academic projects to the WKU community.
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Mock Trial team excels in fall events
Western's Mock Trial team boasts impressive team and individual rankings from tournaments over the past month.
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Winter Weather Communications Plan
Here’s a reminder for the campus community that WKU provides a number of ways you can find out if classes are delayed, canceled or if a campus is closed.
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Fall Recognition Ceremonies | |
Here's a reminder that WKU's five academic colleges will host Fall Recognition Ceremonies on December 6 at Diddle Arena. The schedule is as follows:
- 8 a.m.: Potter College of Arts & Letters; College of Education and Behavioral Sciences
- 10:30 a.m.: Ogden College of Science & Engineering; Gordon Ford College of Business
- 1 p.m.: College of Health and Human Services
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Teacher Hall of Fame Induction
WKU will host the 2024 induction ceremony for the Governor Louie B. Nunn Kentucky Teacher Hall of Fame at noon Friday at Gary Ransdell Hall Auditorium.
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Faculty Senate
The WKU Faculty Senate will meet at 3:45 p.m. Thursday at Downing Student Union, room 2081. Learn More
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Holiday Concert
The WKU Symphony and WKU Jazz Band will present Holidays on the Hill at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Van Meter Hall; tickets are $12. Learn More (More: WKU Choral concert Saturday)
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