The newsletter for the WKU community -- July 31, 2024

President's Message: Approaching

the Start of the Fall 2024 Semester

Colleagues,


As we approach the final days of summer break, I hope that you are as excited as I am about the fall semester. 


We will soon welcome the class of 2028 during M.A.S.T.E.R. Plan, which kicks off on August 13. This week acclimates our incoming students to WKU and makes the transition from high school to college not just easier, but a fun, memorable experience. It also prepares them to successfully approach the rigorous coursework and academic challenges they will face in the first year. Thank you in advance to our many faculty and staff volunteers serving as M.A.S.T.E.R. Plan Cluster Facilitators. Your commitment to our newest Hilltoppers goes a long way toward ensuring their success.


Also, our students and their families always appreciate the tremendous assistance they receive from our faculty and staff when moving into our residence halls. To view this fall’s move-in schedule and sign up to help, please visit our registration page.


As a reminder, we will gather in Van Meter Auditorium on Monday, August 12, at 10:00 a.m. for our annual Faculty and Staff Convocation as we, together, reflect on the previous academic year and preview the year to come.


Finally, I hope you and your families plan to join us for our fourth annual Topper Fest on Friday, August 16, at 5:30 p.m. on WKU’s South Lawn. Each faculty and staff member will receive two free drinks with a WKU ID, and food will be available from Aramark and local food trucks. The Downtown Band will once again provide music for the evening, followed by fireworks at dusk. WKU Athletics’ Fan Fest will also be part of this terrific event, bringing an array of activities to South Lawn, including children’s activities, student-athlete autograph sessions and giveaways. You can learn more about Topper Fest and Fan Fest here.

Read More From President Caboni






More WKU News
CLIMBING HIGHER

Joe and Susan Walters created the Joseph L. Walters Professorship as a way to give back to the University that brought them together. Learn More

Submit Information for Today@WKU

WKU PBS honored at Ohio Valley Emmys


WKU PBS, Western Kentucky University’s Public Television Service, was nominated for awards in three categories at the 60th annual Ohio Valley Emmy Awards, and it received one statue in the “Audio, Post-Produced” category. 

Learn More

Spotlight: Joshua Gillespie

WKU junior Joshua Gillespie from Todd County, Kentucky, is serving as a resident advisor for the Governor's Scholars Program (GSP) at Murray State University for six weeks during the summer of 2024. This is his third time participating in GSP – once as a student participant in 2021, and twice as a student staff member in 2023 and 2024.

Learn More

WKU Nursing student receives scholarship


Kentuckiana Cancer Research Foundation announced that WKU Nursing student Nicole Ossege of Fort Thomas is among the first recipients of its annual scholarship program. This scholarship program exemplifies KCRF’s commitment to fostering education and supporting outstanding individuals pursuing a career in cancer care.

Learn More

WKU History professor provides context on Appalachia in reports on 2024 election


In the aftermath of J.D. Vance’s nomination for the Republican Party Vice Presidential candidate, longtime WKU History professor Anthony Harkins has been sought out to discuss Vance’s connections to Appalachia and issues with his representation of the region in Vance’s book Hillbilly Elegy.

Learn More

News from the WKU Alumni Association


The WKU Alumni Association recently honored three groups of volunteers: retiring Board of Directors members; members of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council; and 13 members of Young Alumni Council. The Alumni Association also announced the volunteers who will lead the organization for 2024-2025. More: The Legacy of 'Mr. Western'

Learn More

DSOC analyzes science of 'Twisters'


WKU’s Disaster Science Operations Center (DSOC) rented out a movie theater to a near-capacity crowd of students, alumni, partners, friends, and family for a watch party of the new movie Twisters.“It was a lot of fun to share the experience of a movie that largely leans on experiences I have created for our students at WKU via field courses and the Disaster Science Operations Center,” Dr. Josh Durkee, University Meteorologist and Director of DSOC, said.

Learn More

WKU Restaurant Group Hours


Check out hours of operations for WKU dining facilities:

 

Learn More

Pulitzer winner meets with book club


For three summers, a group of local poetry afficionados have met every two-to-three weeks to discuss a different poetry collection, led by WKU English professor Dr. Tom Hunley. On July 17, the group met via Zoom with Diane Seuss, who answered questions about Modern Poetry, the follow-up to her 2022 Pulitzer Prize-winning collection, Frank: Sonnets.

Learn More

Innovation Campus Member of the Month


This month’s WKU Innovation Campus member spotlight is on The DeCesare Group – a dedicated family devoted to meshing their individual strengths to customize public relations/consulting support for their clients.

Learn More
Follow Bike4Alz Team 12

WKU Bike4Alz Team 12 completed its cross country ride to raise money and awareness for Alzheimer’s Disease research on Sunday in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Follow Bike4Alz

Innovation Campus Newsletter


Check out the latest newsletter from the WKU Innovation Campus. More: Children's Entrepreneur Market

Learn More
Athletics

WKU Football Hosts Local Media Day;

Johnson Included On Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Preseason Watch List; Leslie Named To Outland Trophy Preseason Watch List; Finley Named To Maxwell Award Watch List


Hilltoppers Place 6 on Shrine Bowl 1000 Watchlist; Carneiro Voted CUSA Preseason Special Teams Player of the Year; 5 Hilltoppers Named To CUSA Preseason Watch List; WKU Picked Second In Preseason Poll


Four Hilltoppers Named Cobalt Golf All-American Scholars; WKU Men’s Golf Adds Transfer Rafe Blankenship to 2024-25 Roster

 

Former Hilltopper Kyree King Set to Compete in 2024 Paris Olympics

 

WKU Baseball Announces High School & JUCO Prospects Camps

 

WKU Tennis Earns ITA Academic Awards

 

WKU Volleyball Earns AVCA Team Academic Award

More WKU Sports

August

1

Thursday

Planetarium Show


The Hardin Planetarium will present Two Small Pieces of Glass at 7 p.m. Thursday; admission is free. Learn More

 

August

7

Wednesday

Staff Senate


WKU Staff Senate will meet at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Martin Regents Room in Jody Richards Hall. Learn More

 

August

12

Monday

Faculty & Staff Convocation


The Faculty and Staff Convocation will begin at 10 a.m. August 12 at Van Meter Hall. Learn More

Today@WKU Archive
Subscribe to Today@WKU
 
 
 
Facebook  Twitter  Instagram  Youtube  Linkedin