WKU News

Lee Friedman from Princeton, Indiana, has always been passionate about the military and small business, so it was no surprise when he chose WKU's Gordon Ford College of Business and the WKU Army ROTC program.

"I hadn't fully decided what I wanted to do with my life after high school, and whenever I started to look at the cost of going to college, ROTC was the obvious option for me because of the scholarships they offer," said Friedman. "I chose WKU because I loved the campus, and it offered a major in Entrepreneurship. In addition, Bowling Green was just the right size, and it wasn't too far from home."

Friedman is a four-year Cadet in WKU's ROTC program and current Battalion Commander. Colonel Morgan Greene, WKU Department Head of Military Science and Leadership, said Friedman has always been an outstanding Cadet.

"Throughout his time in our program, he has been a model of fitness and leadership, giving of himself in our peer mentorship program and fundraising efforts for our Gettysburg National Military Park capstone event," said Colonel Greene.  

WKU Management Department Chair and Associate Professor Dr. Whitney Peake taught Friedman for three semesters. She said, "each time, he has been polite, thoughtful and hardworking while managing his schoolwork with his ROTC responsibilities.”

Friedman said his coursework and ROTC experience taught him how to be an effective leader.

"I have learned that the leadership and organizational skills needed in the business world and a military setting are very interchangeable," said Friedman. "I have been able to implement these skills in the progression of my degree as well as in various leadership roles while in the National Guard and ROTC."

One of those leadership roles was Battalion Commander, which gave Friedman the opportunity to provide guidance for Battalion Staff Officers, coordinate battalion activities and offer advice on cadet matters to ROTC program leadership. 

As a first-generation college student, completing a degree and graduating is a significant accomplishment for Friedman. Reflecting on his experience on the Hill, he credits his family for helping fuel his success. 

"The biggest lesson I have learned is that it is easy to get caught up in the college experience and get overwhelmed with the future,” Friedman said. “When this happens, I remember to look at my family standing behind me at home. Don't forget where you came from because I could not have achieved what I have without the values they have instilled in me."

Upon graduation, Friedman will commission as a Second Lieutenant and be stationed at Fort Rucker, Alabama, for Aviation Basic Officer Leadership Course and Flight School. Once Friedman completes his flight training, he will be a Blackhawk pilot in the Tennessee National Guard. On the civilian side, he hopes to become a project feasibility and leadership consultant for small businesses and enter the field of real estate investing.

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To learn more about earning a degree in Entrepreneurship at WKU, visit https://www.wku.edu/management/bachelor-of-science-in-entrepreneurship.php

To learn more about earning a degree in Military Science and Leadership, along with the WKU Army ROTC program, visit https://www.wku.edu/rotc/

#WKUGrad series: As part of our #WKUGrad series, articles on graduating students are shared in the weeks leading up to Commencement. See all of their stories at https://www.wku.edu/news/articles/index.php?view=default&categoryid=799&multinewsid=187