WKU News

Welcome to Today@WKU, the daily newsletter from WKU Public Affairs, for May 11, 2018.

From left: WKU students Kate Hart, Nathan Read and Tristan Shaw received Boren Scholarships to fund yearlong study abroad and critical language study in China.

WKU News

• 4 WKU students recognized in Boren Scholarship competition: Three WKU undergraduates have received David L. Boren Scholarships sponsored by the National Security Education Program (NSEP) to fund study abroad in China. A fourth WKU student has been named an alternate. Kate Hart of Princeton, Nathan Read of Belleville, Illinois and Tristan Shaw of Glasgow are students in the Chinese Flagship Program and will complete their Capstone Year in China with Boren Scholarship funding. If additional funding becomes available, Michael Dimeo of Bowling Green, currently an alternate, plans to use the scholarship to fund six months of language study in Kunming and Beijing, China.
• WKU Glasgow Campus Adds 11 New IVS Courses: WKU will offer students at the Glasgow campus 11 new course options this fall through Interactive Video (IVS) course formats. Through the IVS course format, students can take classes in Glasgow that are led at another WKU campus.
• A case of “Back to the Future:” Promoting electron microscopy in Kentucky: There’s no doubt that technology has had a significant, wide-ranging impact on research as a whole. Yet what if some research is best conducted with instrumentation and methodology developed decades ago? Such is the case with transmission electron microscopy, one of the key capabilities of WKU’s Ogden College Electron Microscopy Center.
• WKU Board of Regents to meet this morning: The WKU Board of Regents will conduct its second quarterly meeting today (May 11). The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. in the Martin Regents Room, Jody Richards Hall.
• 183^rd Commencement this evening: Check out information for WKU’s 183^rd Commencement this evening (May 11) and special recognition ceremonies on Saturday (May 12). More: View from the Hill; Ogden Foundation Scholar; weekend event parking information; event parking video; road closings and transit changes
• Finals Week Transit & Parking Changes: Check out a reminder from Parking & Transportation about transit and parking changes during finals week. More: Spaces Near Preston Loading Dock Reserved; Summer Session Parking & Transit Changes
• 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/

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WKU Sports

• Football: Hilltoppers Add Michigan State and Alabama to Future Schedules: WKU Football has continued its trend of scheduling attractive non-conference games by adding Big Ten foe Michigan State and Southeastern Conference opponent Alabama to future schedules, the program announced on Thursday. WKU will travel to East Lansing for the first time in program history on Oct. 2, 2021 to take on the Spartans and returns to Tuscaloosa for what will be the third meeting since 2012 when the Hilltoppers and Crimson Tide face off on Sept. 16, 2023. WKU also traveled to Tuscaloosa in 2008 and 2016.
• Baseball: WKU Hosts FIU in Season’s Final Home Series: Every game for WKU Baseball has been crucial to the team's goal of qualifying for the 2018 Conference USA Championship, and this weekend's series is no different. The Hilltoppers host FIU for a three-game set at Nick Denes Field today through Sunday. Due to University graduation ceremonies this evening, today’s opening game will begin at noon, with the Saturday and Sunday start times at 1 p.m. Saturday's contest will be free admission for all fans. Then on Sunday, the 10 WKU seniors will be recognized prior to the series finale, with ceremonies set to begin at 12:25 p.m. More: Morrison Earns 2018 CoSIDA Academic All-District Honors
• Softball: McElroy Named 2018 CoSIDA Academic All-District Selection: For the first time since 2014 a WKU Softball student-athlete has earned Google Cloud CoSIDA Academic All-District II recognition as sophomore Morgan McElroy was announced as an honoree on Thursday. A native of Madisonville, Ky., McElroy marks the 12th Hilltopper in program history to collect an Academic All-District distinction.

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

WKU in the News

• WKU Glasgow hosts May 2018 Graduand Ceremony: When Trista Childress, a senior at WKU Glasgow, addressed her fellow graduates during the Graduand Ceremony on Thursday evening at the T.J. Health Pavilion Community Center, she referenced the theme song for the television show “Cheers.” “Sometimes you want to go, where everybody knows your name, and they’re always glad you came,” Childress said. “At WKU-Glasgow, people know our names. The people on our campus have shown us they are glad we came. Because of this, the relationships developed have been life-changing.”
• Sanford revamps recruiting efforts with added focus on evaluation: Mike Sanford, metaphorically of course, took an eraser and cut a swath across his recruiting board in February. “What we found is how important it is for us to not only recruit very aggressively, but also to evaluate the players,” the second-year coach explained Wednesday. “That’s something that I think from a coaching standpoint is a lost art. The Internet wants to say who the best players are, coaches no longer watch the films themselves, they no longer go and have a chance to watch players play in person and see how they interact on gameday.”
• Collins intent on keeping WKU's success rolling: At Indian Hills Country Club in Bowling Green on Wednesday, Greg Collins sat in front of a room of WKU supporters – volleyball coach Travis Hudson and football coach Mike Sanford to his left – and asked a simple question. “If Central Michigan can get to the Sweet 16, why can’t Western Kentucky? If Buffalo can advance? If Loyola Chicago’s men’s team can get to the Final Four then why can’t Western Kentucky?” he looked out at the small crowd. “All the kids have that same kind of vision.”

More: Check out WKU in the News page.

WKU Alumni

• Upcoming WKU Alumni events: Homecoming 2018 has been set for Oct. 27; game time and additional details TBA. 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. 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); 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.
• WKU Summer Office Hours. May 14-Aug. 10. 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 7:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Friday.

Friday, May 11

• Final Exams End.
• 9 a.m.: Board of Regents Meeting. Martin Regents Room, Jody Richards Hall. Contact Bob Skipper, (270) 745-4295.
• 11 a.m.: Mahurin Honors College Graduation Luncheon. Knicely Conference Center. Contact Mahurin Honors College, (270) 745-2081.
• Noon: WKU Baseball vs. FIU. Nick Denes Field. Contact Athletic Communications, (270) 745-4298.
• 1 p.m.: Department of Public Health Hooding and Award Ceremony. Mahurin Honors College-International Center, room 1011. Contact Public Health, (270) 745-2015.
• 1 p.m.: Doctor of Physical Therapy Pre-Commencement Awards Ceremony. Downing Student Union Auditorium. Contact Physical Therapy, (270) 745-4071.
• 2 p.m.: Organizational Leadership Hooding and Awards Ceremony. Downing Student Union, room 3020. Contact Organizational Leadership, (270) 745-8973.
• 2 p.m.: ROTC Commissioning Ceremony. Diddle Arena. Contact ROTC, (270) 745-4293.
• 3 p.m.: Dental Hygiene Pinning Ceremony. Downing Student Union, room 3023. Contact Dental Hygiene, (270) 745-2427.
• 3 p.m.: Recreation and Sport Administration Recognition Ceremony. Downing Student Union, room 3003. Contact Recreation Administration, (270) 745-2498.
• 5 p.m.: Topper Walk for WKU Class of 2018. Kentucky Museum to Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium. Graduates should arrive by 4 p.m. Contact Registrar, (270) 745-3351.
• 6 p.m.: 183^rd Commencement Ceremony. Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium. Contact Registrar, (270) 745-3351.
• 6:30 p.m.: Starz Elite Spring Recital. Van Meter Hall. Contact Campus and Community Events, (270) 745-2497.
• 7 p.m.: Gatton Academy Class of 2018 Senior Night. Sloan Convention Center. Contact Gatton Academy, (270) 745-6565.
• 7 p.m.: Big Red Bash. WKU South Lawn. Commencement celebration includes food, music and fireworks. Contact Registrar, (270) 745-3351.

Saturday, May 12

• 8 a.m.: College of Health and Human Services Recognition Ceremony. Diddle Arena. Contact College of Health and Human Services, (270) 745-2425.
• 10 a.m.: University College Recognition Ceremony. Diddle Arena. Contact University College, (270) 745-4092.
• 10 a.m.: Gatton Academy Graduation. Van Meter Hall. Contact Gatton Academy, (270) 745-6565.
• 11:30 a.m.: Southern Kentucky Team Penning. L.D. Brown Agricultural Exposition Center. Contact Ag Expo Center, (270) 745-3976.
• 11:30 a.m.: College of Education and Behavioral Sciences Graduate Reception. Gary Ransdell Hall, second and third floor atrium. Contact College of Education and Behavioral Sciences, (270) 745-4664.
• Noon: Ogden College of Science and Engineering Recognition Ceremony. Diddle Arena. Contact Ogden College, (270) 745-4449.
• 1 p.m.: WKU Baseball vs. FIU. Nick Denes Field. Contact Athletic Communications, (270) 745-4298.
• 1 p.m.: Department of Folk Studies & Anthropology Reception, Awards and Hooding Ceremony. Kentucky Museum. Contact Folk Studies & Anthropology, (270) 745-6549.
• 1 p.m.: Department of Political Science Graduation Reception. Downing Student Union, room 1037. Contact Political Science, (270) 745-4559.
• 1:30 p.m.: Department of Philosophy and Religion Graduation Reception. Cherry Hall, room 316. Contact Philosophy and Religion, (270) 745-3136.
• 2 p.m.: College of Education and Behavioral Sciences Recognition Ceremony. Diddle Arena. Contact College of Education and Behavioral Sciences, (270) 745-4662.
• 4 p.m.: Gordon Ford College of Business Commencement Reception and MBA Gathering.  Grise Hall backyard. Contact Gordon Ford College of Business, (270) 745-6311.
• 4 p.m.: Potter College of Arts & Letters Recognition Ceremony. Diddle Arena. Contact Potter College, (270) 745-2344.
• 4 p.m.: Master of Accountancy Hooding Ceremony and Reception. Downing Student Union, room 3020. Contact Accounting, (270) 745-3895.
• 6 p.m.: Gordon Ford College of Business Recognition Ceremony. Diddle Arena. Contact Gordon Ford College of Business, (270) 745-6311.

Sunday, May 13

• 10 a.m.: Residence Halls Close. Note: Bemis Lawrence Hall open for summer sessions. Contact Housing, (270) 745-4359.
• 1 p.m.: WKU Baseball vs. FIU. Nick Denes Field. Contact Athletic Communications, (270) 745-4298.
• 2 p.m.: Hardin Planetarium Show: MoonBeings. Hardin Planetarium. Contact Planetarium, (270) 745-4044.

Monday, May 14

• May Session Classes Begin. Contact Summer Sessions, (270) 745-5011.
• 7:30 a.m.: WKU Summer Office Hours Begin. Through Aug. 10. 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 7:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Friday.
• 6 p.m. ET: WKU Elizabethtown-Fort Knox Commencement Ceremony. Hardin County Schools Performing Arts Center, 384 W.A. Jenkins Road, Elizabethtown. Contact WKU Elizabethtown, (270) 706-8870.
• 6:30 p.m.: WKU Owensboro Graduation Ceremony. RiverPark Center, 101 Daviess St., Owensboro. Contact WKU Owensboro, (270) 684-9797.

Tuesday, May 15

• 7 p.m.: Hardin Planetarium Show: Happy Birthday, Earth. Hardin Planetarium. Contact Planetarium, (270) 745-4044.

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