The newsletter for the WKU community
April 9, 2021
WKU extending educator discount to teachers in Kentucky's border states
WKU will extend its educator discount to teachers in Kentucky’s border states. The decision comes on the heels of the $350 Kentucky Educator Discount announced last summer and exists as another recruitment tool to ensure WKU receives high-caliber teacher candidates.

“We recognize that educators interested in pursuing their graduate degrees may live just across state lines,” Corinne Murphy, Dean of the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences, said. “The new initiative aims to consider those educators who may have interest in our Masters of Advanced Teacher Education programs or be WKU alumni interested in resuming study at their alma mater.”

The discounted credit hour rate will afford teachers access to a graduate education from a national leader in educator preparation. Program options allow teachers the flexibility to specialize in the advanced teaching and learning of focused areas which serve to support the unique needs of their home districts and communities such as gifted education, instructional design, and teaching English language learners. Additionally, students participating in the recently redesigned master’s degree program may benefit from job-embedded practicum opportunities.
Faculty Award winners announced
Provost Cheryl Stevens has announced this year’s university award recipients. Congratulations to our 2021 winners!
  • Faculty Teaching Award: Associate Pedagogical Professor Natalie Mountjoy, Department of Biology
  • Faculty Research and Creative Activity Award: Professor Christopher Groves, Department of Earth, Environmental, and Atmospheric Sciences
  • Faculty Service Award: Associate Professor Jenni Redifer, Department of Psychology
  • Faculty Student Advisement Award: Professor Janet Tassell, School of Teacher Education
  • Part-time Faculty Teaching Award: Instructor Craig Heckman, School of Public Health
Check WKU's Healthy on the Hill website for COVID-19 information, including Vaccine Information, FAQs, Reported Cases Dashboard, Symptoms & Health Checks and more.
CLIMBING HIGHER
Congratulations to Allyson Copeland, who is the recipient of an NSF Graduate Student Fellowship Grant. She will graduate from WKU with dual degrees in Philosophy and Psychological Sciences. Learn More
WKU photojournalism professor honored by NPPA
WKU Photojournalism Professor Jeanie Adams-Smith is this year’s recipient of the National Press Photographers Association’s Robin F. Garland Educator Award, which recognizes outstanding educators who shape a new generation of visual communicators and photojournalists through their lessons. Adams-Smith, who earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a master’s in communication from WKU, joined the faculty in WKU’s Photojournalism program in 2002.
Spotlight: Spirit Masters
Twenty-six WKU students have been selected as Spirit Masters for 2021-22. The group will celebrate its 40th anniversary this month.
Graduate Student Appreciation Week events April 12-16
The Graduate School will celebrate Graduate Student Appreciation Week with a series of virtual receptions next week:
  • Monday, April 12, 4-5 p.m.: WKU 3MT® Award
  • Tuesday, April 13, 4-5 p.m.: Graduate Student Research Grant Awards
  • Thursday, April 15, 4-5 p.m.: Graduate Assistant Teaching Institute Awards
  • Friday, April 16, 4-5 p.m.: College Outstanding Graduate Student Awards and John D. Minton Award
CPE Program for Accountants
Accountants in Kentucky and Tennessee can earn up to four hours of Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits through the WKU CPE Program for Accountants sponsored by the Gordon Ford College of Business Department of Accounting. The program will take place from 8 a.m. to noon May 26 via Zoom.
View from the Hill
WKU’s rich history of scholarly engagement for students will be on display this weekend at the annual Student Research Conference. The conference has been going on since 1970 and it continues providing research opportunities to students as WKU’s Amy Bingham shows us in this week’s View from the Hill.
Athletics
April
9
Friday
Student Research Conference

WKU's 51st Annual Student Research Conference will begin at 2 p.m. today with a keynote address by Dr. Ruth Karron of Johns Hopkins University. The conference will continue Saturday with student presentations. Learn More
April
10
Saturday
Evening of Dance

The WKU Dance Company will present Evening of Dance 2021 at 7 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at Van Meter Hall. Tickets are $10; seating is limited. Learn More
April
12
Monday
Steelband Concert

The WKU Caribbean Steelband will perform at 11:30 a.m. Monday on the Ivan Wilson Fine Arts Center lawn at the William "Gander" Terry Colonnade. Learn More
More events: Check WKU Events calendar or follow @wkuevents on Instagram
Western Kentucky University 
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Bowling Green, KY 42101