The newsletter for the WKU community
November 16, 2020
WKU honors Philanthropists of the Year & Distinguished Service Medal recipients
WKU wrapped up its inaugural Philanthropy Week by recognizing its Philanthropists of the Year and the recipients of Distinguished Service Medals.
Tim and Sarah Ford are WKU’s Philanthropists of the Year for 2020. The Fords support many areas at WKU. In 2018 they established the Brett Ford Scholarship to benefit students pursuing a degree in Special Education in honor of their son, Brett, who has special needs. They also support WKU Athletics and the Hilltopper Athletic Foundation.
Kristen T. and Phillip W. Bale of Glasgow are the 2020 recipients of Distinguished Service Medals, WKU’s highest honor for volunteers. Dr. Bale, a family physician with Graves Gilbert Clinic, has served on WKU’s Board of Regents since 2013. Kristen Bale served on WKU’s Board of Regents from 1992 to 2005, and she served as the Chair from 2000 to 2003.
In lieu of an annual in-person meeting, the WKU Sisterhood held a virtual meeting on Friday. With members voting electronically, three grants for 2020 were announced last month, and the grant recipients expressed their thanks through video messages that were shared during the meeting.
  • Other recipients: Summit of Excellence awards also were presented to the James Graham Brown Foundation, Dr. Martha Sales and Will Harris.

  • Save the date: WKU Philanthropy reminds the campus community that #GivingTuesday is coming up on Dec. 1.
CLIMBING HIGHER
Congratulations to senior English major Abigail Raley for the publication of her essay, Get the Tables: A Metatheatrical Analysis of Professional Wrestling, in The Macksey Journal, a publication of Johns Hopkins University’s Richard Macksey National Undergraduate Humanities Research Symposium. Learn More
WKU Forensics sweeps virtual tourney hosted by Illinois State
Powered by a strong semester-ending performance by junior Madelynn Einhorn, the WKU Forensics Team captured first place in Lincoln-Douglas Debate, first speaker and the overall sweepstakes trophy at the “Redbird,” a virtual tournament hosted by Illinois State University Nov. 14-15.
Spotlight: Student Success Summit
Here’s a reminder that presentation proposal submissions for the 8th Annual Student Success Summit are due Friday. The Division of Enrollment and Student Experience (ESE) and the Center for Innovative Teaching & Learning (CITL) will host the virtual conference on Jan. 14.
Parking & Transit Advisory
WKU Parking & Transportation has announced parking and transit changes for Thanksgiving week (Nov. 23-28); the end of the fall semester (Nov. 30-Dec. 11); and Winter Term (Dec. 14-Jan. 18). More: Barnes-Campbell lot closing Saturday
WKU Week in Photos
Check out this week’s installment of WKU Week in Photos by Clinton Lewis and Bryan Lemon of WKU's Division of Communications and Marketing.
Athletics
November
18
Wednesday
Arrest the Fear

WKU's Arrest the Fear series will host Ladies Night Out and Guys Night Out at 5 p.m. Wednesday at Downing Student Union. Learn More
November
19
Thursday
Faculty Senate

The WKU Faculty Senate's November meeting will begin at 3:45 p.m. Thursday. Learn More
November
20
Friday
WKU Symphonic Band

WKU Symphonic Band concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. Friday at First Baptist Church with a livestream on Facebook. Learn More
More events: Check WKU Events calendar or follow @wkuevents on Instagram
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