The newsletter for the WKU community
May 15, 2019
10th annual WKU Storm Chase class
will be on the road May 18 to June 1
Above: A highlight of the 2018 storm chase class was a supercell thunderstorm north of Lake McConaughy, Nebraska. Below: Participants in the 2019 class include (from left) students C.J. Padgett, Bailey Stevens, Luke Rogers, Olivia Cahill and WKU University Meteorologist Josh Durkee.
WKU student Olivia Cahill will accomplish one goal later this week when the WKU Storm Chase class begins its 10 th journey across the Great Plains.

“The storm chase has been the No. 1 thing on my bucket list for as long as I can remember,” said Cahill, who first heard about the trip as an eighth-grader in Dry Ridge and came to WKU because of its meteorology program and the storm chase class. “I have been attracted to meteorology my whole life.”

Cahill is one of eight students who will leave the WKU campus on Saturday (May 18) for the annual two-week trip to forecast, analyze, document and study severe convective storms.

Dr. Josh Durkee wasn’t expecting the Field Methods in Weather Analysis and Forecasting course to become a force of nature when it launched 10 years ago.

“I just thought I would create it and it would unfold in a natural way,” said Dr. Durkee, WKU University Meteorologist, director of White Squirrel Weather and Associate Professor of Meteorology in WKU’s Department of Geography and Geology. “I love storms. I just thought that students would follow along.”

Follow the group on Twitter @wkustormchase or on the WKU Meteorology Blog.
CLIMBING HIGHER
Spring 2019 graduate Andrea Ambam is the most successful speech competitor in America today -- and the most successful in WKU's history. The WKU Forensics Team boasts seven individual sweepstakes national championships -- an individual's success across multiple events of competition -- by five students since 2006; while four of those students each hold one title, Ambam holds three. Learn More
Celebrate #MuseumsDay May 18
May 18 is International Museums Day—a day to celebrate the museums that make our communities better places to live, work and play. In recognition, the Kentucky Museum is encouraging campus and community members to join their Friends group . While the museum receives financial support from WKU for maintenance and staffing needs, it must seek private support to fund exhibitions, programs and collections care.
Summer Dining Hours
Summer is here! Find out what on-campus restaurants are open to serve you this summer at the following links from the WKU Restaurant Group :




Today@WKU Summer Schedule
Effective this morning, Today@WKU is moving to a weekly schedule for the summer. The newsletter will be delivered to your inbox on Wednesday mornings. If you have news, accomplishments, information and events that you would like us to feature this summer, send us an email . If you know of WKU faculty, staff, alumni or friends who would like to receive Today@WKU, they can sign up online . Today@WKU will return to its daily schedule when the 2019-20 academic year begins.
Alumni Spotlight: Dustin James
WKU graduate Dustin James is now into the third year running his business, Odd Jobs of Bowling Green. And, the job is exactly what it sounds like: James stays busy as a handyman by helping people out with projects around their homes.
M.A.S.T.E.R. Plan Registration
Registration for WKU M.A.S.T.E.R. Plan is open! M.A.S.T.E.R. Plan is for all new undergraduate students. WKU faculty and staff also are encouraged to volunteer as large group facilitators as part of the program to help new students smoothly transition to life as Hilltoppers. M.A.S.T.E.R. Plan is scheduled August 19-24.
Sisterhood Grant Application
The 2019 WKU Sisterhood Grant Application is now available. All applications must be received by September 13. A minimum of $50,000 will be available for distribution this year. The WKU Sisterhood is a group of women affiliated with WKU who have contributed a gift of $1,000 or more to help fund WKU projects that will be selected by members of the organization at their annual meeting in October. For information, visit the WKU Sisterhood website .
May
15
Wednesday
Kentucky Folklife Network Gathering

The Kentucky Folklife Network Gathering will be held from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at the African American Museum, 1783 Chestnut St., Bowling Green. More Info
May
17
Friday
WKU Transfer Update Day

WKU and KCTCS faculty, professional advisors, transfer staff and administrators will meet from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Downing Student Union, room 3024, to discuss best practices in advising, retention and student engagement. More Info
May
18
Saturday
Mini Corvette Challenge

The 2019 Mini Corvette Challenge will begin at 10 a.m. at the Knicely Conference Center parking lot. More Info
Western Kentucky University 
1906 College Heights Blvd. 
Bowling Green, KY 42101