The newsletter for the WKU community
April 25, 2023
WKU to recognize more than 2,800 graduates at 2023 Commencement
WKU will confer degrees and certificates to 2,832 spring and summer 2023 graduates -- 77 associate, 1,890 bachelor’s, 518 master’s, 58 doctoral and 12 specialist degrees, and 176 undergraduate certificates and 101 graduate certificates -- during 2023 Commencement on May 4 at Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium.

Commencement will begin at 6:30 p.m. with Topper Walk along the Avenue of Champions from the Charles Hardcastle Kentucky Building to the stadium. The ceremony will begin once students have been seated on Feix Field. During the ceremony, each college will acknowledge its graduates, and President Timothy C. Caboni will present the graduates to the Board of Regents for the conferral of degrees. 

The ceremony will include remarks from President Caboni; recognition of honor graduates and award winners – Bridget Beavin of Louisville as the Ogden Foundation Scholar (top undergraduate award) and Lindsey Powell of Versailles as the John D. Minton Award recipient (top graduate award); and the commissioning of WKU ROTC cadets.
Ogden Scholar built confidence at WKU
Bridget Beavin is ready to build a career of teaching, advocacy and service on the foundation of confidence, research and leadership established at WKU. Beavin, a History and Political Science major and Mahurin Honors College student from Louisville, was selected as the spring 2023 Ogden Foundation Scholar, WKU’s top undergraduate academic award. Her goals include earning a doctorate in history then becoming a college professor.

Beavin will be recognized as the Ogden Foundation Scholar during WKU’s Spring 2023 Commencement at 6:30 p.m. May 4 at Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium.
CLIMBING HIGHER
Dr. Monica Burke, a professor in the Department of Counseling and Student Affairs, and Dr. Charley Pride, WKU’s Director of Student Activities, were inducted into the College Personnel Association of Kentucky’s (CPAK) Hall of Fame Gallery of Outstanding Educators and Professionals on April 17. Learn More
2022 graduate WKU's fifth Fulbright grant recipient
Parker Raybourne, a 2022 graduate in Political Science, Public Relations, and Advertising, is WKU’s fifth Fulbright US Student Program grantee of the 2023-24 award year. Raybourne has been awarded an English Teaching Assistantship for Indonesia. 
Spotlight: WKU Film Festival
The 28th annual WKU Film Festival, a showcase of student work created during the academic year, will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday at Regal Cinemas Stadium 12 Theater; 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Jody Richards Hall Auditorium; and 7 p.m. Sunday at Capitol Arts Center. Tickets are $5 Thursday-Saturday and $10 Sunday; a Full Festival Pass is $20.
WKU Greek community hosts annual awards convocation
WKU’s Greek community hosted its annual awards convocation on Sunday at E.A. Diddle Arena.
GFCB recognizes three alumni at annual awards reception
Gordon Ford College of Business recognized three alumni at its annual awards reception. Terry Wright received the Alumni Achievement Award. GeMonee Brown received the Recent Alumni Award. Chase Carpenter was recognized by AACSB-International, the world's largest business education alliance and GFCB's accrediting organization, as a member of its 2023 Class of Influential Leaders.
WKU's ESGS program offers unique customization for students
In WKU’s commitment to continuing academic innovation, Ogden College of Science and Engineering’s Department of Earth, Environmental, and Atmospheric Sciences (EEAS) has created a new program allowing for a Bachelor of Science in Environmental, Sustainability, and Geographic Studies (ESGS) which officially launched in the Fall of 2021. “The unique feature of the ESGS program is that it has a lot of customization to get each student to their individual career goal,” Dr. Leslie North, program coordinator, said.
Kentucky Museum hiring students for summer, fall
The Kentucky Museum is hiring Student Docents for the Summer and Fall 2023 terms. Docents assist museum visitors and lead guided tours as a vital part of the guest services team. Summer docents will work between May 10 and August 19. Fall docents will start the week of August 21 and work through December 9.
Teacher Apprenticeship Event
WKU will host a statewide summit this summer to provide school districts with an understanding of the newly created USDOL K-12 Teacher Registered Apprenticeship and the step-by-step process to establish a viable apprenticeship program in their own districts. This free event will be held June 22 at WKU’s Eva and Jim Martens Alumni Center.
Athletics
April
26
Wednesday
Shifting Perspective

The WKU Department of Applied Human Sciences will host Shifting Perspective: A Discussion with Photographer Bell Soto at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Jody Richards Hall Auditorium. Learn More
April
26
Wednesday
Cultural Enhancement Series

The Paul Brock Band will perform at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Ivan Wilson Fine Arts Center Recital Hall (Room 189) as part of the WKU Cultural Enhancement Series. Learn More
April
27
Thursday
Grad Cap Traditions

Visiting Folklorist Dr. Sheila Bock will present Grad Cap Traditions: Performing Self, Community, and the Value of Higher Education at 5 p.m. Thursday at DSU Nite Class; grad cap decorating will begin at 4. Learn More
Western Kentucky University 
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Bowling Green, KY 42101