The newsletter for the WKU community
March 24, 2022
3 WKU students awarded Critical Language Scholarships for summer 2022
Three WKU students -- Kerby Gilstrap, Olivia Blackmon and Heather Keen -- have been awarded Critical Language Scholarships for summer 2022. An additional seven have been designated alternates and will be promoted if additional funding becomes available. 

The Critical Language Scholarship Program (CLS), a program of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, is an intensive overseas language and cultural immersion program for American undergraduate and graduate students enrolled at U.S. colleges and universities. Recipients spend eight to ten weeks abroad in intensive language instruction and structured cultural enrichment designed to promote rapid language gains and cultural proficiency.
CLIMBING HIGHER
Dr. Ashley Stinnett, assistant professor of anthropology in the Department of Folk Studies and Anthropology, has assumed leadership of the Society for Visual Anthropology. Learn More
Education faculty member receives grant for research
Dr. Jessie Torelli, an Assistant Professor of Special Education in the School of Teacher Education, was recently awarded a grant from the KY IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence. The Investigator Development Award (IDeA) is a two-year grant that provides support to promising junior investigators at Kentucky colleges and university that is competitive for National Institute of Health (NIH) funding.
Spotlight: Justin Cato
Justin Cato says the job of director of Campus Recreation and Wellness at WKU “checked all the boxes.” “The location was a huge draw. The campus is beautiful. It is a great opportunity that gave me a chance to achieve a goal I had set for myself when I started my career.”
Student transfers to WKU to pursue career in criminology
While Jeremiah Debique’s college journey did not start at WKU, the sophomore from Texas was able to make the transition to WKU with help from the WKU Transfer Center. However, the process of transferring had its rocky moments. “There were rough patches because sending my transcripts and finishing my semester at my old school and then re-submitting my grades was a lot, but I am glad that I got it done,” Debique shared.
Agriculture major studies methods to control diseases in crops
Laney Newton, a senior from Caneyville majoring in agriculture, spent last summer as an intern at the University of Kentucky Research and Education Center in Princeton with Extension Plant Pathologist Dr. Carl Bradley and his team conducting research on diseases of soybeans and small grains.
WKU Greeks celebrate academic achievement
WKU fraternities and sororities celebrated the year of academic achievement, positive retention rates and graduation rates during the 45th Annual Greek Academic Banquet on Wednesday at the Downing Student Union. Awards were presented to chapters that placed in the top 3 in grades for new members, members and combined GPAs. Students with the highest GPAs from the freshman to senior classes also were recognized. Professors of the Year from each of WKU’s five colleges were honored during the banquet as well.
Alternative Spring Break Trips
During the 2022 spring break, WKU Student Activities sponsored two alternative break trips.
Registration open for Gifted Studies' summer programs
Applications are now available for residential and nonresidential summer camps offered by The Center for Gifted Studies at WKU. More: Summer Arabic program
Women's History Month Gallery Talk tonight
The Kentucky Museum, in partnership with WKU Phi Alpha Theta honor society, will host a Women’s History Month Gallery Talk at 7 tonight for an in-depth look at three women-centered exhibits -- Kentucky Women Rising, Seat at the Table and Style &thegistofit.
Music Colloquium Tonight
The WKU Department of Music’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Colloquium Series will continue with The Innocents, featuring Allen Otte and John Lane, at 7:30 tonight at Ivan Wilson Fine Arts Center Recital Hall.
Recital Friday Night
Potter College of Arts & Letters and the Department of Music will present In Recital, featuring Dr. Tiffany Bostic-Brown, Laurelie Gheesling and Dean Terrance Brown, at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Ivan Wilson Fine Arts Center Recital Hall.
Southern Kentucky Book Fest events Friday and Saturday
The Southern Kentucky Book Fest, presented by Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Warren County Public Library and WKU Libraries, will be held Friday and Saturday at the Knicely Conference Center, 2355 Nashville Road. Teen and Children’s Day will begin at 9 a.m. Friday. The SOKY Book Fest and the Kentucky Writers Conference will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday.
View from the Hill
Nearly 200 research projects will be presented Saturday at WKU’s 52nd annual Student Research Conference. Among the topics, how sleep apnea affects the immune system and how a family of beetles could help us learn more about climate change. WKU’s Amy Bingham has more in this week’s View from the Hill.

Athletics
March
24
Thursday
Faculty Senate

The WKU Faculty Senate will meet at 3:45 p.m. today via Zoom. Learn More
March
25
Friday
Lone Star Rodeo

The Lone Star Rodeo will present four shows this weekend at the L.D. Brown Agricultural Exposition Center. Show times are 8 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday. Learn More
March
28
Monday
Blood Drive

The WKU Tug Blood Drive will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday at the Preston Health and Activities Center. Schedule An Appointment
Western Kentucky University 
1906 College Heights Blvd. 
Bowling Green, KY 42101