WKU News

Ashley Salmon of Crestwood has been selected as WKU’s Ogden Foundation Scholar for fall 2020.

“Receiving the Ogden Foundation Scholar Award is an immense honor,” said Salmon, a Mathematical Economics major and Finance minor who is among more than 1,100 WKU students graduating this week. “I have so much respect for all my peers and love for the university, so receiving the award is very significant to me.”

The Ogden Foundation Scholar, WKU’s top undergraduate academic award, is presented to one graduating baccalaureate degree senior who has demonstrated exceptional academic achievement and outstanding university and civic engagement.

“College came with its challenges,” said Salmon, the daughter of John and Stacy Salmon. “After my first semester, I really considered transferring but decided to stick it out. Now, I feel like this award encompasses all the work I have put in over the past three years to have a great college experience, and to positively impact the people around me on the way. WKU has truly bettered me as a person and given me memories I will always cherish.”

Salmon has served as president and treasurer of WKU's chapter of Omega Phi Alpha National Service Sorority, a Gordon Ford College of Business Student Ambassador, a member of the GFCB Student Advisory Council, a volunteer for HOTEL INC. nonprofit organization, and a tutor for WKU’s Student Athlete Success Center.

“Reflecting on my WKU experience, I am walking away with much more than a degree. I am leaving with countless relationships, leadership experiences, a heart for service, and invaluable memories,” she said.

Salmon was the first student from WKU to receive an internship with the Corporate Strategy team at Humana and plans to return to the team full-time post-graduation. “WKU has prepared me with the soft and technical skills needed to be successful in our global society, as well as with a desire to continue learning, to better the world, and to walk humbly,” she said.

Due to COVID-19 changes, Salmon and the Fall 2020 graduates will be recognized with Spring 2021 graduates in Commencement celebrations scheduled for the weekend of April 30-May 1, 2021. December degree recipients include eight doctoral, 150 master’s, 831 bachelor’s and 43 associate as well as 79 certificates.

“For all the hardships 2020 has brought, I think it has also brought me more love for the WKU community,” Salmon said. “We have seen unprecedented efforts to come together and make sure no one is left behind. 2020 has shown how strong each individual at WKU is, and how much we can overcome when we work together. While I would never hope for a repeat of the events that have happened in 2020, I hope to see a repeat of the progress and innovation we have made.”

For information and updates on Commencement and college recognition ceremonies, visit https://www.wku.edu/commencement/ As a reminder, Commencement celebrations for Spring 2020 graduates are scheduled for the weekend of May 7-8, 2021.

#WKUGrad series: As part of our #WKUGrad series, WKU News shares articles on graduating students. See all of their stories at https://www.wku.edu/news/articles/index.php?view=default&categoryid=799&multinewsid=187.