WKU News

For Kaitlyn Gray of Versailles, Kentucky, the journey to discovering her true academic passion didn’t follow the traditional path. Originally a biology major with ambitions to become a physician assistant, Kaitlyn’s experiences as a former gymnast dealing with injuries—and her father-in-law’s positive experience with physical therapy following a Parkinson’s diagnosis—led her to shift her focus.

“Typically, most people at WKU who are interested in physical therapy major in exercise science,” Kaitlyn explains. “But I wanted to stick with the biology route because I really enjoyed the classes.” Despite exploring other major pairings, nothing quite fit her interests in physical therapy—until she found a way to tailor her education to suit her unique path.

With the help of her honors advisor, Kaitlyn began to chart a course that combined her love for biology with the practical application of exercise science to create her own major. “My advisor and I looked at all my options, and we were like, ‘okay, take these exercise science courses, a few of these physical therapy prerequisites,’” Kaitlyn recalls. She approached Dr. Sarah Scali, the program coordinator of exercise science at WKU, who supported her plan.

While creating a self-designed major came with challenges, including a required honors thesis that initially intimidated her, Kaitlyn found inspiration in unexpected places. After attending a few thesis defenses, and chatting with her professors about research opportunities, she realized she could tackle this requirement head-on. “I watched them [honors seniors] present their thesis. And then I talked to the students afterward. And I was like, ‘Okay, I can do this.’ I kind of saw the vision come to life, and I can do it too,” she recalled.

Her thesis will focus on Bingocize, a program developed by WKU’s Center for Applied Science in Health and Aging (CASHA). This innovative program engages older adults in physical activity through bingo, integrating exercises and health education into a fun, social setting, with rewards. Kaitlyn’s research will examine the effects of Bingocize on A1C levels and diabetes management among participants.

“In my opinion, I've created the perfect plan for me for applying to physical therapy schools,” Kaitlyn says. “I've got all my PT school prerequisites alongside those exercise science courses to help me get the functional knowledge, paired with a biology major, and my thesis, that will allow me to be successful with the rigor of physical therapy school.”

Kaitlyn credits much of her success to the faculty support she received from Dr. Steve Huskey, her pre-physical therapy advisor in the biology department, and Drs. Mark Schaefer and Sarah Scali in exercise science. Despite the logistical hurdles, such as needing a course pass for registration each time, she remains undeterred.

Beyond her academic pursuits, Kaitlyn serves as the president of the pre-physical therapy club, where she works to bridge the gap between biology majors and exercise science students interested in physical therapy, alongside their faculty advisor, Dr. Kerrie McDaniel. Under her leadership, the club has organized tours of doctoral physical therapy (DPT) programs at the University of Kentucky and at Western Kentucky University and hosted workshops on PT school admissions facilitated by Dr. Kurt Neelly.

Kaitlyn’s involvement extends beyond academics. As a member of Alpha Delta Pi sorority, she has embraced leadership roles that have helped her grow personally and professionally. However, it was WKU’s Mahurin Honors College that truly captured her heart. “What really made me fall in love with WKU is the honors tour. I’m a nerd, I’ll admit it—I got to go into the Ogden Building and saw all the labs, and the campus was so beautiful.”

The small size of her honors courses and the community of honors students in Minton hall helped her find her community and seize opportunities for one-on-one relationship building with faculty, stating that it “has been really nice to get to know my professors, and as I’m applying to PT school, I’ve emailed five of them to ask them to write letters of recommendation and they’ve been more than willing to do so.”

Now, as she prepares to graduate in May 2025, Kaitlyn reflects on her journey with gratitude. “I would encourage students if they think they want to do a self-designed major to go in undecided, start taking those courses that you think you want to build, and then build a rapport with your honors advisor and other faculty. They want to support you.”

Kaitlyn Gray’s story is a testament to the power of self-discovery, perseverance, and the importance of crafting an academic path that aligns with one’s passions and goals.