Previous WKU Sisterhood Grants
Established in 2009, the WKU Sisterhood awarded its first grants in 2010. Since then, 45 grants totaling more than $768,130 have been awarded to the University community. The amount of money available for distribution is dependent upon the number of members and can vary each year. Although funds stay within the WKU community, benefits extend beyond the University campus.
The following grants were awarded for 2023:
Impact Grants:
- $45,648 for the WKU Digital Concert Hall. The WKU Digital Concert Hall will provide a worldwide platform for students, faculty, and guests to stream and record their performances in high-definition video and audio from the WKU Recital Hall.
- $25,000 for Elevating the WKU Community and Beyond with Personal Finance Education. Support from the grant will elevate the profile of the WKU Center for Financial Success. This allows for the creation of content for 100-150 micro-learning videos and coaching. This program provides participants with the ability to make sound and educated personal finance decisions.
- $20,000 for the Catalyst Cohort in the Mahurin Honors College. Support from the grant will provide scholarships for high-potential Pell-eligible, first-generation, and underrepresented minority Honors scholars with the goal of incentivizing and supporting participation in high-impact practices of study abroad and research.
Small But Mighty Grants:
- $5,327 for New State Registered Nurse Aide Textbooks/Workbooks. This project will enable the program to continue offering an affordable, high-quality course for WKU pre-health profession students to obtain their State Registered Nurse Aide (formerly called CNA) certificate and begin gaining clinical work experience while completing their studies at WKU, thereby enhancing their professional school applications and addressing the community’s SRNA shortage.
- $6,566 for Refuge Bowling Green Service-Learning Music Class. WKU faculty in the Department of Music aim to provide WKU music students with a culturally diverse service-learning classroom experience through a partnership with a local nonprofit (Refuge Bowling Green), as well as provide both classroom readiness and a long-term vision to children in the community who may not otherwise be college minded. The grant provided 114 instruments, classroom materials, technology and three scholarships to refugee children to pre-college music programs.
- $3,970 for the WKU Equestrian Team Impact Fund. This fund will establish a legacy that supports WKU Equestrian Team riders as they compete at intercollegiate levels by providing show outfits and 58 class entry fees for competitions.
The following grants were awarded in 2022:
Impact Grants:
• $32,900 for Modernize Multimedia Equipment for Student Media. The project will update multimedia equipment available to students working on staff
of the Herald, Talisman and Cherry Creative to give more students hands-on opportunities
to gain experience with a new generation of visual technology and develop industry-standard
skills, while building WKU’s reputation as a state-of-the-art University.
• $45,062.38 for the WKU Summer Math Academy. The WKU Summer Math Academy is a summer transition program that will provide meaningful
access to higher education for a group of first-time, full-time students by constructing
an immersive and supported introduction to the genuine college environment. The program
will allow students to move to campus early and complete two college courses, both
of which apply toward general education requirements, with personalized support to
ensure their success.
Small But Mighty Grants:
• $2,095 for Herstory@WKU. The Herstory@WKU 2023 event is an afternoon of free activities for girls in grades
1 through 8 and their families. The celebration of amazing women of the past, present
and future will empower girls to follow their passions, ultimately finding careers
that will engage their minds and spirits for a lifetime.
• $6,000 for DNA Sequencing of Virus Genomes. This project will provide students in the WKU Department of Biology with enhanced
bioinformatics research experience by working with DNA sequence data gathered from
the viruses they discover and characterize.
• $10,000 for Minding My Math Business. This project will engage African American and Hispanic/Latinx students in grades
6 through 12 in rigorous mathematics, supported by mindfulness and meditation practices,
to develop their confidence and skills to be successful students.
The following grants were awarded in 2021:
Impact Grants:
- $44,000 for a Film Student Equipment Van. This purchase will offer a reliable, cost-free way for students in the Film Program
to transport their equipment to and from on-location filming.
- $25,000 for the Bridge to Independence Program for Young Women with Autism. This LifeWorks scholarship program will allow four young women with autism the opportunity to gain independent living and career-readiness skills to successfully transition to leading lives of independence, self-direction and employment.
Small But Mighty Grants:
- $4,250 for the MCAT Prep Advantage Program. This project will prepare students from rural or underserved areas to enter medical school.
- $10,000 for Why Knot Us TOO? (WKU2). This project will improve the mental, emotional, environmental and academic success of women of color who are WKU students.
The following impact report was submitted in 2021:
- The WKU Sisterhood Research Internship Grant (awarded in 2016) has provided full-semester immersive internships for young , underrepresented women between their junior and senior years of high school while attending the Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky, located on WKU’s campus. To learn more about these young women's successes and achievements, please view our Sisterhood Booklet.
After the tornadoes on Dec. 11, 2021, that affected many WKU students, the WKU Sisterhood allocated $5,000 for Emergency Student Assistance that was provided through the WKU Opportunity Fund.
The following grants were awarded in 2020:
• $12,000 for the Food Pantry at WKU. The Office of Sustainability offers non-perishable food and toiletries to
all WKU students, faculty and staff. In response to increasing food insecurities
in the region linked to widespread
unemployment due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the food pantry services were
expanded to benefit all community
members in the region. To stay fully stocked and supplement donations, the
Food Pantry staff purchases
approximately $3,000 worth of food each month. A steady increase in use was
seen in summer 2020, and an
increased need as we move into the winter months is anticipated.
• $10,000 for the One WKU Academy. The University has leveraged the combined power of Academic Affairs and
Enrollment and Student Affairs to create One WKU – a safe and welcoming campus
with top-ranked faculty and staff,
inclusive infrastructures and services, ethical and transparent policies,
and dedication to a thriving, diverse student
body prepared for success as global citizens. The grant will assist the One
WKU Academy with aligning inclusive
leadership and cultural change through collaborative action among faculty
and staff in building a diverse, equitable
and inclusive college campus to the Commonwealth of Kentucky, the region
and nation.
• $8,000 for the Kelly M. Burch Institute for Transformative Practices in Higher Education
at WKU.
Established in spring 2018, the Kelly M. Burch Institute for Transformative
Practices in Higher Education was created
to be a catalyst in the cultivation and support of innovative and transformative
practices and research initiatives
related to student success. The Burch Institute is the manifestation of a
dream of Provost Emeritus Dr. Barbara
Burch and is named in honor of Drs. Ken and Barbara Burch’s late daughter
and former WKU professor, Dr. Kelly M.
Burch. The grant will be used for strategic University initiatives to support
recruitment and retention.
The following grants were awarded in 2019:
- $15,500 for the Affordable Textbook Initiative to make course materials available at no cost to WKU students by incentivizing faculty adoption of library-licensed or Open Education Resources in lieu of traditional textbooks.
- $12,700 for the Center for Financial Success to provide Finance students with internships, support Center operations and create opportunities for WKU students and community members to receive financial coaching. Additionally, a “WKU Sisterhood-Sponsored Associate Financial Coach” internship position will be established.
- $12,000 for the Wired This Way: Gender Equity in Collegiate eSports project to identify current contributors to the gender gap in collegiate eSports and establish a Women in eSports organization at WKU to provide a sense of safety and welcome for women interested, but hesitant, to join eSports.
- $11,900 for the Big Red Radio Telescope to Bring Invisible Universes to WKU project to complete the assembly and installation of a new radio telescope to observe radio wave emissions from the Sun, planets and other celestial objects for research, education and public outreach.
- $10,000 for the Feed the Need: Addressing Food Insecurity at WKU project to purchase meal vouchers and dorm-friendly food that will be distributed via the campus food pantry. Students will conduct pre- and post-tests to measure the success of this method of addressing food insecurity.
- $860 for the “Boys to Men” and “Girls with Pearls” Documentary Project in which WKU PBS will partner with the Warren County Public School system-based Boys to Men and Girls with Pearls leadership groups to provide film equipment and training for elementary students to create short films about their lives and interests. Elementary students will direct and film the documentary, while WKU students assist in the editing process.
The following grants were awarded in 2018:
- $6,602 to create an online State Registered Nurse Aide Program to create an affordable, high-quality course for WKU pre-health profession students to obtain their State Registered Nurse Aide certificate and begin gaining clinical work experience while completing their studies at WKU, thereby enhancing their professional school applications and addressing their community’s SRNA shortage.
- $5,000 to the Xposure High School Journalism Workshop to identify a diverse group of high school students interested in journalism, particularly those from backgrounds underrepresented in the news industry, and give them an immersive experience learning all facets of journalism over nine days at WKU at no cost to the student.
- $30,000 to the Professional Clothes Closet in the Gordon Ford College of Business to ensure that every business student has the attire he or she needs to be confident and prepared to enter the job market.
- $14,000 to the 100th Anniversary Celebration of Women’s Right to Vote to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment which granted women the right to vote. In preparation for this historic event in 2020, funding will allow WKU and the greater Bowling Green community to celebrate through a series of events throughout the year leading up to the anniversary.
The following grants were awarded in 2017:
- $20,000 to the Intercultural Student Engagement Center (ISEC) Academy to support the fall 2018 cohort of students. The ISEC Academy is a project designed to assist students who identify as students of color (Black, Hispanic/Latin, Asian, Native American and Multiracial) and/or who are first-generation, Pell Grant-eligible students with transition, persistence and graduation. The ISEC Academy, which supports students throughout their college career, includes three layers of mentorship, a Living and Learning program, weekly study requirements, involvement in monthly academic and cultural campus events, study away and study abroad opportunities, career readiness and intercultural celebratory events.
- $20,000 to the Department of Music for “Bridging Cultures through Music,” a project in which a team of student teachers and volunteers from WKU will teach violin to English as a Second Language (ESL) students, many of whom are refugees, at Bowling Green High School. The team of teachers will include undergraduate and graduate students studying music at WKU and students from the WKU Pre-College Strings Program. The pairing of WKU student teachers and ESL students will not only provide the opportunity to establish relationships with individuals from different cultures, but will also help all those involved develop compassion for other cultures and nurture the discipline and confidence that result from both learning and teaching an instrument.
In 2016, the following grants were awarded by the WKU Sisterhood:
- $19,000 for the WKU Sisterhood Research Internship Grant to offer internships for young, underrepresented women between their junior and senior years of high school while attending the Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky, located on WKU’s campus.
- $30,000 to the Hardin Planetarium to support renovation of the star chamber through a new sound system. The same was when the building was dedicated on October 14, 1967, updating the badly deteriorated and out-of-date audio components provided a much improved experience for audiences. The audio system represented the most pressing need at the time of an overhaul which included plans for new lighting and a completely new surface for the dome of the star chamber.
- $10,000 to the Julie Ransdell Endowment to honor Julie Ransdell, WKU Sisterhood former Chair and Co-Founding Member.
The WKU Sisterhood awarded the following grants in 2015:
- $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.
In 2014, the WKU Sisterhood awarded the following grants:
- $20,000 for Study Abroad Diversity Grants to help overcome one of the primary barriers to study abroad, which is lack of funding. The financial support assisted diverse and underfunded students planning to study abroad.
- $20,000 for Big Red Readers to support the program, which helps with literacy efforts in local elementary schools.
In 2013, the WKU Sisterhood awarded the following grants:
- $20,000 for Textbooks for Troops to support the program which helps provide textbooks for military, veterans, and eligible dependent students enrolled in WKU courses who do not receive a book stipend/scholarship. The program operates through qualified students checking out textbooks for an entire semester and returning them when their course is completed.
- $20,000 for Get Set Go, an innovative arts and wellness program targeting youth ages 5 to 13. The program directly affected 450 youth weekly, many of whom were overweight or at the risk of becoming overweight who were involved in after school programs at the Boys and Girls Club, Bowling Green Parks and Recreation, and Bowling Green-Warren County Community Education. The program encourages youth to become physically active and eat healthy foods to help combat childhood obesity; and it was provided free of charge.
The following grants were awarded in 2012:
- $20,000 forProject C.L.A.S.S. to increase retention and graduation rates of women of color through programming, workshops and lectures to enhance the productivity of future WKU alumni. The population targeted by this group is considered “at-risk” and “under prepared” in several cases, so this program aims to afford these students to opportunity to succeed when they otherwise may not have the opportunity. Participants in this program are provided the resources necessary to prepare them and acclimate them to WKU’s academic curriculum to ensure their progression to graduation.
- $20,000 for Lifetime Experience Grants through the The Office of Scholar Development (OSD), a program open to students in all majors across all campuses, designed to help students become more competitive for national scholarships. Profiles of current national and international scholarship recipients emphasize prolonged international engagement, research that has produced published results, and compelling and deep involvement in the discipline outside the classroom. These experiences require institutional support. OSD plans to use WKU Sisterhood funds to invest in the development of talented students who will later be eligible to apply for nationally competitive scholarships and prestigious graduate programs.
In 2011, the WKU Sisterhood awarded:
- $38,000 for Study Abroad Student Teaching Grants to provide life-changing international experiences for 80 students in WKU’s teacher education program. The WKU Sisterhood funding provided $500 scholarships to 80 teacher education students. A total of 43 students are scheduled to student teach internationally during the spring 2012 semester in South Korea, Ecuador, Spain, the United Kingdom, Sweden, and Germany. The international teaching experiences not only benefit the students in the classroom but in gaining employment. Thanks to the funding from the WKU Sisterhood, 43 students next spring and 37 next fall will have an opportunity for international experiences. According to the program coordinator, many of these students would not have been financially able or prepared to make this trip without the generosity of the WKU Sisterhood.
In 2010, the WKU Sisterhood awarded:
- $36,000 to Women in Transition, a program assisting non-traditional female students. The program used the grant to improve the WIT meeting room at the WKU South Campus with new furniture and computers, provide scholarships and create a marketing and mentoring program.
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