WKU News

As part of Parent and Family Weekend, the family of WKU junior Sydney Windhorst of Crestwood, Ky., was recognized as WKU’s 2023 Family of the Year.

Windhorst, a second-year Spirit Master, who is majoring in International Affairs and Political Science, was joined by her parents and grandparents on the field Saturday night at Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium.

In her essay, Windhorst said, “As a third generation Hilltopper, it is impossible for me to separate my family from the Spirit of WKU.”

Windhorst continued, “The WKU encouragement and support I receive here is second only to the type I receive from my family, a trait I am certain they perfected due to their own time on the Hill.”

Windhorst is on track to graduate in 2025. She will become her family’s fourth WKU alumnus, joining her father, Stanley “Bud” Windhorst ('97); maternal grandfather, Walter McHugh ('67); and paternal grandfather, Stanley Windhorst ('69).

A selection committee of alumni and staff reviewed nearly 200 nominations for this year’s Family of the Year. The Windhorst family received a prize package including tickets to all weekend events and an $800 student scholarship for the 2024 spring semester. 

Contact: Ginny Hensley, ginny.hensley@wku.edu

-WKU-

Western Kentucky University prides itself on positioning its students, faculty and staff for long term success. As a student-centered, applied research university, WKU helps students expand on classroom learning by integrating education with real-world applications in the communities we serve. Our hilltop campus is located in Bowling Green, Kentucky, which was recently named by Reader’s Digest as one of the nicest towns in America, just an hour’s drive from Nashville, Tennessee.