WKU Sisterhood

The WKU Sisterhood awarded grants to three projects at its annual meeting on Sept. 25.

The WKU Sisterhood awarded the following grants:

• $15,500 to the Department of Music for the purchase a new Celesta. The Celesta is similar to an upright piano where the inner hammers strike metal plates rather than strings as in a traditional piano. The sound created is unique and is highly popularized through Tchaikovsky’s “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” from the Nutcracker, the theme to Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, and many movie soundtracks including the Harry Potter films. The instrument will be used throughout the department in the Symphony, Wind Ensemble, Chamber Music and Choral performances.
• $15,000 to the Department of Theatre and Dance for its “Theatre in Diversion” program, which is a partnership between WKU Theatre, WKU Sociology Department and the Warren County Administrative Office of the Courts. Each spring, a group of low-level juvenile offenders comes to campus for a semester-long theatre class in lieu of traditional community service. The class is taught by WKU theatre students and culminates in a performance written, staged and performed by the diverted teenagers. Throughout the course, WKU sociology students interview the participants and collect data to measure both the short-term and long-term effects of the program. The program is entering its fifth year and has published preliminary findings in the most recent issue of Theatre Symposium. The program will make a presentation this fall at the American Criminology Society’s annual conference in Washington, D.C. The Sisterhood grant will cover the costs of transporting the teenagers to WKU from their local schools, as well as snacks and supplies for the final showcase performances for the next five years.
• $5,250 to the Department of Counseling and Student Services for “Bringing Counseling Skills to Schools,” a web-based professional development program that will benefit school counselors across Kentucky and surrounding areas. The grant will provide seven webinars for Kentucky school counselors. Dr. Imelda Bratton and her colleagues will present current topics relevant for the school setting, such as career, integrating expressive arts in counseling, and crisis. Webinars will be provided free via Adobe Connect after school hours. School counselors may log in from anywhere to view and participate in the webinars. The webinars will be recorded for participants who are not able to view the live webinar. Kentucky school counselors will have an opportunity to earn EILA credit hours, which is a requirement of the Department of Education.

The WKU Sisterhood, chaired by Julie Ransdell and Kristen Miller, is an organization of women advancing university priorities through philanthropic engagement and a collective voice. Any alumna, friend, faculty or staff member of WKU is invited to join this group of women. Members pool their financial gifts and award funds to a limited number of university designations to maximize the impact of their philanthropy.

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