WKU Confers Degrees To 1,418 In Undergraduate Ceremonies

May 10, 2008

Bowling Green, Ky. - Western Kentucky University conferred degrees to 1,418 students and honored outstanding students and faculty Saturday in undergraduate ceremonies of its 163rd Commencement.
 
WKU President Gary Ransdell congratulated graduates and encouraged them to use their WKU experience to make a difference in their own lives and the lives of others.

“Thank you for the value you each have added to WKU during the pursuit of the degree you receive today,” Dr. Ransdell said. “May that degree be the start of a life rich in professional and personal fulfillment. And may you use it wisely to serve humankind in ways that bring credit to all of you and to everyone at this university who has been part of your growth and development.”

Graduates from the College of Health and Human Services, Ogden College of Science and Engineering and College of Education and Behavioral Sciences were recognized during a morning ceremony at Diddle Arena while graduates of the Potter College of Arts & Letters, Gordon Ford College of Business, University College and Bowling Green Community College were recognized in an afternoon ceremony.

In Friday night’s graduate ceremony and Saturday’s undergraduate ceremonies, WKU conferred degrees to 1,785 students: 129 associate’s, 1,289 baccalaureate, 358 master’s, six specialist and three recipients of the doctoral degree offered cooperatively by WKU and University of Louisville.

During Saturday morning’s ceremony, Michael Daugherty, a biology and chemistry major from Owensboro, was recognized as the Ogden Foundation Scholar. The top academic award is presented to one graduating baccalaureate degree senior who has demonstrated exceptional academic achievement and outstanding university and civic engagement.

Daugherty, son of Rhonda Daugherty and the late Billy Daugherty, also was named scholar of the Ogden College of Science and Engineering. He plans to become a physician, has been involved in campus organizations and has participated in mission trips with his church.

Honor graduates, faculty award winners and newly commissioned military officers were recognized at both ceremonies.

Honor graduates
WKU recognized 19 other Scholars of the College, who had the highest GPAs in their colleges while completing
at least 64 credit hours at WKU.

Recipients by college are as follows (one student with a double major was honored as scholar in two colleges):
College of Health and Human Services: Michael T. Duncan of Henderson, a physical education major and son of Tim and Judy Duncan; Stacy Overstreet of Bowling Green, a communication disorders major and daughter of Becky Melton and Kenny Overstreet; Jennifer Pendley of Central City, a nursing major and daughter of Terry and Susie Pendley; Brittany Waiz of Floyds Knobs, Ind., a communication disorders major and daughter of Dusty and June Waiz. 

Ogden College of Science and Engineering: Austin Evans of Alvaton, a biology and chemistry major and son of Don and Joanie Evans; Bailey Ross of Boise, Idaho, a mathematics and religious studies major and wife of David Ross and daughter of Ann and Frank Sexton Jr.; Mark Sandefur of Calhoun, a biology and chemistry major, Honors program graduate and son of Billy and Janet Sandefur.
College of Education and Behavioral Sciences: Kelly Headrick of Glasgow, an elementary education major and daughter of Tim and Nancy Headrick.

Potter College of Arts & Letters: Jesse Bray of Bedford, a social studies major and son of Mark and Judy Bray; Leah Craig of Lawrenceburg, a religious studies and history major, Honors program graduate and daughter of Mary Alice Whitehead and the late Fred Craig; Bronson Murphy of Bowling Green, a music major and son of Gary and Marleen Murphy; Bailey Ross of Boise, Idaho, a religious studies and mathematics major and wife of David Ross and daughter of Ann and Frank Sexton Jr.; Logan Scisco of Danville, a social studies and history major and son of Jane and Patrick Scisco; Brooke Shafar of Louisville, an English and German major, Honors program graduate and daughter of Fred and DeDe Shafar and Tammy and Brent McCarty.

Gordon Ford College of Business: Jared Atwood of Hustonville, an accounting major and son of Lorrie Atwood and Monty and Jamie Atwood; Casey Humes of Summer Shade, a marketing major and daughter of Kenny and Connie Humes; Cora Newsom of Jasper, Ind., an economics major and daughter of Kerry and Jane Newsom; Samuel Northern of Russellville, a management major and son of Keith and Karen Northern; Megan Talley of Bowling Green, an accounting major and daughter of Susanne and Eddie Talley.
University College: Pamela Decker of Bee Spring, an interdisciplinary studies major and wife of Robert Decker.

Faculty award winners
Provost Barbara Burch recognized the following faculty award winners, who will be formally honored at the fall faculty meeting: Dr. Heather Johnson, Department of Biology, excellence in teaching; Dr. Philip Womble, Department of Physics and Astronomy, excellence in research/creativity; Dr. Erika Brady, Department of Folk Studies and Anthropology, excellence in public service; and Dr. Lester Pesterfield, Department of Chemistry, excellence in student advising.

Military commissioning
Members of the Hilltopper Army Reserve Officer Training Corps program were commissioned as second lieutenants in the U.S. Army. They included: Daniel Basile of Gallatin, Tenn.; Brockman Carter of Tompkinsville; Stephen Carter of Georgetown; William Conkright of Owensboro; Jay Finn of Bowling Green; Andrew Lawrence of Woodburn; John Morris of LaGrange; Tyler Reid of New Albany, Ind.; Gary Michael Shoults Jr. of Elizabethtown; and Zachaery Todd of Irvington.

Commencement notes
WKU’s Class of 1958, the newest members of the Golden Anniversary Club, returned to campus for a weekend reunion and wore caps and gowns as they marched in the morning ceremony’s processional.

The Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky at WKU honored its first 54 graduates in a ceremony Saturday afternoon.

Saturday’s ceremonies included 16 international students from 12 countries; Friday’s graduate ceremony included 65 international students from seven countries.
               
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For information, contact Freida Eggleton at (270) 745-5432.