WKU News

Welcome to Today@WKU, the daily newsletter from WKU Public Affairs, for April 23, 2018.

WKU News

• WKU student receives Hollings Scholarship: WKU meteorology student Dallas McKinney of Mayfield is one of 120 undergraduate students selected for the Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship. He will receive up to $9,500 to support two years of academic study and a paid summer internship at a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) facility.
• Kelly M. Burch Institute for Transformative Practices in Higher Education grand opening today: Inspired by the knowledge that it is incredibly difficult to bring about widespread change at organizations as large and intricate as a university, a new initiative at WKU has been designed to help take ideas from initiation to implementation. The Kelly M. Burch Institute for Transformative Practices in Higher Education will be unveiled today (April 23). The grand opening of the Institute will be held from 3:30 to 5 p.m. at the Institute’s location at 501 Regents Ave. on WKU’s main campus.
• GFCB Sales Program Nationally Recognized: The Gordon Ford College of Business Center for Professional Selling has been recognized by the Sales Education Foundation (SEF) as a Top University for Professional Sales Education in its Annual Report, published annually.
• WKU Regents to hold committee meetings April 27: The WKU Board of Regents will hold committee meetings on Friday (April 27). The meetings begin at 8:30 a.m. in the Martin Regents Room, Jody Richards Hall.
• Communication Sciences and Disorders Students defend thesis projects: Four students in WKU’s Communication Sciences and Disorders program have successfully defended their thesis projects semesters – Sharon Calvino, McKenzie Ward, Tanner Smith, and Haley Jones.
• 2018-19 Parking Plan: Parking and Transportation Services has released the 2018-2019 Parking and Transportation Plan.  The elements of the plan adapt to campus changes, offer new services, improve the Commuter parking experience and fund needed capital improvements.
• View from the Hill: Preview of President Caboni's Investiture: On Friday, a special ceremony will take place at WKU celebrating the first year of President Timothy C. Caboni’s tenure. It’s called an Investiture and WKU's Amy Bingham explains what it is in this View from the Hill. The Investiture will begin at 2 p.m. Friday (April 27) at the Centennial Mall on WKU's campus. More: Read more about the Investiture of President Timothy C. Caboni
• WKU Public Radio Weekday Newscast Schedule: Tune into WKU Public Radio for national and international news from NPR, and local newscasts every half hour during Morning Edition (4-9 a.m. Central), and All Things Considered (3-6 p.m. Central), as well as local news features and interviews produced by the WKU news staff. WKU's Public Radio can be heard on WKYU-FM (88.9) in Bowling Green/Glasgow; WDCL-FM (89.7) in Somerset/Campbellsville; WKPB-FM (88.9) in Henderson/Owensboro; WKUE-FM (90.9) in Elizabethtown/Bardstown; and online at http://www.wkyufm.org/

Follow WKU News: Subscribe to our daily email newsletter; follow WKU News on Twitter @wkunews or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/WKUNews.

WKU Sports

• Men’s golf: Sargent Paces Tops in First Round of Conference USA Championship: Billy Tom Sargent leads WKU Hilltopper Golf in a tie for 18th after the first day of the 2018 Conference USA Championship. Sargent, a redshirt junior, shot a 3-over 75 to open play at the par-72, 6,969-yard Texarkana Country Club. The Hilltoppers are in 10th place as a team with a 304 total, but just eight strokes out of second place following an expected day of difficult pin placements. The second round begins this morning.
• Softball: Nunn Tosses Two-Hitter, Tops Come From behind for 4-1 Win & Clinch Marshall Series: Just as the previous two games of the series began, Marshall struck first in Sunday's rubber match before WKU Softball got the final say yet again to claim a 4-1 win and clinch the crucial Conference USA series. Freshman pitcher Shelby Nunn allowed just two hits en route to her 15th victory of the season as the Hilltopper bats stayed hot to out-hit the Thundering Herd 8-2. Next: WKU at FAU on April 28.
• Baseball: Butkiewicz's Ninth-Inning Knock Notches Doubleheader Split at UAB: Colin Butkiewicz's two-out, bases-loaded double broke a ninth-inning tie, giving WKU Baseball an 8-5 comeback victory at UAB in Game 2 of the Saturday doubleheader. The catcher went 2-for-4 in the contest with a season-high four RBI, leading the Hilltoppers to a series win over the Blazers. Next: WKU at Louisville at 5 p.m. Tuesday.
• Football: Hilltoppers Close Out Spring with Healthy 90-Play Scrimmage: WKU closed out the 2018 spring practice season in the best possible fashion, a healthy one, on Saturday as the program worked through a 90-play scrimmage under perfect weather for the annual Red vs. White game. The Red team, led by quarterbacks Drew Eckels and Steven Duncan, ousted the White team, led by Davis Shanley and Graydon Kulick, 24-14 in what second-year head coach Mike Sanford called a positive and steady scrimmage to end the spring.
• Track & Field: Key First-Place Finishes and Personal Records Carry WKU: WKU Track and Field split squads this weekend as some Hilltoppers traveled to the Golden State to compete in the Mt. SAC Relays while other members of the Red and White competed in the Peach State at the Georgia Tech Invitational. Between both events there were 15 top-10 finishes including three first-place finishes and eight personal records.
• Tennis: Rice Ends WKU Season 5-0 in Quarterfinals of C-USA Championship: Second-seeded Rice brought seventh-seeded WKU's season to a halt on Friday morning, defeating the Lady Toppers 5-0 in the quarterfinals of the 2018 C-USA Women's Tennis Championship. The Owls were the third ranked opponent the Lady Toppers faced this season. WKU finishes its season with a record of 9-8 and the second-best conference tournament finish in program history.
• Volleyball: Coach Hudson's return to the court: WKU Volleyball head coach Travis Hudson reflects on the rollercoaster ride that the 2018 spring season has been after he suffered a heart attack on March 31. Hudson is expected to make a full recovery. The Hudson family can't thank their friends, family and the community enough for the outpouring of love and well wishes they've received.
• Women’s basketball: Tashia Brown Signs Training Camp Deal with WNBA's New York Liberty: On the heels of one of the best individual seasons in Lady Topper Basketball history, Tashia Brown added to her achievements on Friday morning as she signed a training camp deal with the New York Liberty, seeking to become the fourth Lady Topper to appear in the WNBA.

More: For updates on WKU Athletics, follow @WKUSports on Twitter or WKU Athletics on Facebook.

WKU in the News

• 'Books are not dying': 20th Book Fest draws crowd despite missing headliner: Courtney Stevens flashed smiles as she handed signed copies of her book, “Dress Codes for Small Towns,” to a number of eager teenage girls Saturday at Knicely Conference Center. She took time to ask most of them about their interest in reading and writing, as authors had done for Stevens in years past. Stevens was on hand at the Southern Kentucky Book Fest for the third time as a published author, but she has a history with the event that encapsulates what the book fest is all about.

More: Check out WKU in the News page.

WKU Alumni

• Upcoming WKU Alumni events: For a listing of events, visit the Alumni website and click on the Events Calendar. Or contact the WKU Alumni Association at 888-958-2586. For a list of Alumni news, visit the Alumni News page. More: WKU SpiritFunder; Topper Travelers Program 2018

More: Visit the WKU Alumni website.

WKU Admissions

• #ClimbWithUs: The WKU Office of Admissions helps future Hilltoppers as they start their journey on The Hill. You can reach us by calling 270-745-2551, emailing admission@wku.edu or connecting with us on social media. Upcoming Important Dates/Deadlines: Admitted Student Nights; Spring TOP Dates: April 20, April 28 and May 4. Students can reserve their TOP date and take their placement exams at www.wku.edu/top
• Useful links for prospective/admitted students: Campus tours; Let’s Talk, Topper; Admissions Timeline; Topper Orientation Program; Scholarships; Housing; MASTER Plan
• Admitted Student Nights: The WKU Office of Admissions is hosting several admitted student nights in various communities. These events are for high school seniors that have been admitted to WKU and their families. The Admissions Counselor for your area will be there to discuss your next steps and answer any questions you may have. Visit https://www.wku.edu/admissions/counselors/ or call 270-745-2551 to get in touch with your WKU Admissions Counselor.

More: Visit the WKU Admissions website; Information for Prospective Students

What’s Happening At-WKU

Ongoing/continuing events

• Exhibits at Kentucky Museum: Instruments of American Excellence; A Culture Carried: Bosnians in Bowling Green (through June 30); Kaleidoscope: Kentucky Museum Quilts (through Dec. 18); 2018 Side by Side (through June 30); Create It Forward (through May 2); plus other gallery and on-campus exhibits. (Museum hours/visitor information) Contact Kentucky Museum, (270) 745-2592.
• Exhibits at Downing Museum: The Story of Joe Downing: Select Works From the Collection. Downing Museum, 4801 Morgantown Road. Contact Jack LeSieur, (270) 842-7415.
• International Year of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Various events and locations during 2017-18 academic year. Contact International Programs, (270) 745-5334.
• Arts at WKU 2017-2018. Various events and locations. Contact Potter College of Arts & Letters, (270) 745-2344.

Monday, April 23

• 9 a.m.: Banner Competition. Part of Greek Week 2018. Downing Student Union. Contact Student Activities, (270) 745-2459.
• 10 a.m.: Blood Drive. Part of Greek Week 2018. Preston Health and Activities Center. Contact Student Activities, (270) 745-2459.
• 7:30 p.m.: WWE Live. Diddle Arena. Ticket information online. Contact Campus and Community Events, (270) 745-2497.

Tuesday, April 24

• 10 a.m.: Blood Drive. Part of Greek Week 2018. Preston Health and Activities Center. Contact Student Activities, (270) 745-2459.
• 4 p.m.: Entrepreneurship Speaker Series: Going Back Home to the Family Business: A Father and Son’s Perspective by Steven Dossey and Allen Dossey, Purple Toad Winery. Grise Hall, room 238. Contact Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, (270) 745-4142.
• 4 p.m.: The Last Lecture: Looking Out the Provost’s Window: A Historian Considers the Future by Dr. David Lee. Retirement reception follows. Augenstein Alumni Center. Contact Alumni, (270) 745-2586.
• 7 p.m.: Hardin Planetarium Show: MoonBeings. Hardin Planetarium. Contact Planetarium, (270) 745-4044.
• 7 p.m.: Greek Jeopardy. Part of Greek Week 2018. Downing Student Union Auditorium. Contact Student Activities, (270) 745-2459.
• 7:30 p.m.: Recital: Alicia Yoho. Ivan Wilson Fine Arts Center Recital Hall. Contact Music, (270) 745-3751.

Wednesday, April 25

• 10 a.m.: Blood Drive. Part of Greek Week 2018. Preston Health and Activities Center. Contact Student Activities, (270) 745-2459.

For upcoming events: Visit the What's Happening at WKU page, Events@WKU page or WKU’s online events calendar

About Today@WKU

• Today@WKU is a service of WKU Public Affairs. For more from WKU News, become a WKU Facebook fan, follow us on Twitter, visit the WKU News page, or check out What's Happening @WKU, “View from the Hill” segments, more News from Around Campus, WKU on You Tube or WKU webcams. Email us at wkunews@wku.edu