The newsletter for the WKU community
October 14, 2019
WKU announces recipients of inaugural Summit of Excellence awards
The inaugural Summit of Excellence will be held Thursday and will kick off on-campus Homecoming festivities on the Hill. The event will honor and recognize outstanding contributions of WKU alumni, faculty, staff, friends and students. Graves Gilbert Clinic, a longtime supporter and partner of the University, is the presenting sponsor of the event.

“We are very excited to present this new event to honor those who have invested their time to advocate for WKU and our fundraising initiatives or have invested their own financial resources to support the University,” said Amanda Trabue, Vice President for Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement. “Private support is critical, and without the work of dedicated individuals and groups like those we will honor, WKU would not be where we are today.”

The 2019 Summit of Excellence recipients include: Belle Lady Hunt , 2019 Philanthropist of the Year; Kim Menke and Garry Watkins , Distinguished Service Medal; Logan Aluminum Inc. , Outstanding Corporate Excellence in Philanthropy; Dr. Barbara Burch , Outstanding Faculty Excellence in Philanthropy; and Bike4Alz , Outstanding Student Excellence in Philanthropy.
Homecoming Week on the Hill
It's Homecoming Week on the Hill as WKU celebrates Decades of Spirit with events Thursday through Sunday.

Highlights include the following:

CLIMBING HIGHER
The WKU Arabic Club and international students in the  Applied Human Science  department joined forces in the CHHS cooking lab for a demonstration led by Professor Julie Lee . This collaborative project brought over 60 students together to learn more about how to prepare, cook and enjoy international cuisine. Watch Video
TRAFFIC ADVISORY
Here's a reminder that the U.S. 31W Bypass will be closed in downtown Bowling Green between Park Street and State Street beginning at 10 a.m. today. The closure will last for 14 days as utility crews work in the area. Detours will be in place. Citizens needing access to medical facilities and WKU faculty, staff and students needing access to the WKU Medical Center facility may be affected by this closure. Allow extra travel time. For information, contact Parking & Transportation at transportation@wku.edu or (270) 745-2361. Learn More
Spotlight: J. Scott Applewhite
Three new members of WKU’s Hall of Distinguished Alumni will be inducted Friday as part of Homecoming 2019 activities. Today we congratulate J. Scott Applewhite, a Pulitzer Prize-winning senior photojournalist with The Associated Press in Washington, D.C., where for nearly four decades, his primary beat has been the White House.
Benefits Open Enrollment
WKU Human Resources reminds all benefits-eligible employees that open enrollment begins today and continues until Oct. 25. An “Open Enrollment 101” webinar will begin at 2 p.m. today. The annual Benefits Fair will be held from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Kentucky Museum.
October
14
Monday
Introduction to C3

Faculty and staff are invited to attend the Commonwealth Commercialization Center presentation at 11:30 a.m., while students are welcome at the 2 p.m. presentation. Both sessions are at Downing Student Union, room 3020. More Info
October
14
Monday
Basketmaking Presentation

The Kentucky Folklife Program will host A Conversation with Jackie Abrams at 5:30 p.m. at the Kentucky Museum. More Info
October
15
Tuesday
Cultural Enhancement Series

The 2019-20 Cultural Enhancement Series continues with Poetry in Context: An Evening with Eve L. Ewing at 7:30 p.m. at Van Meter Hall. More Info
Western Kentucky University 
1906 College Heights Blvd. 
Bowling Green, KY 42101