A university, more than any other social institution, will typically stir strong emotions, document a meaningful history, and foster special traditions. Few universities enjoy emotional loyalties as deep, a history as rich, and traditions as unique as Western.

Beginning this fall and continuing through 2006, WKU will commemorate its Centennial. We will celebrate our wonderful academic history from our roots in the Normal School tradition, to Potter and Ogden Colleges, to the Business University. We will celebrate our unique hilltop campus and the grounds and architecture which define our place. We will celebrate the character of our people and the characters who built our traditions and institutional values. We will celebrate our unique and deep seeded spirit. We will salute our first 100 years and confidently leap, with all of the energy and talent we can muster, into our next century of service and discovery.

What a great time to be part of this university family! What a great moment to share! What a great opportunity to further enrich our campus and our traditions!

It has been said that there are few earthly things more beautiful than a university. I believe that to be true. I believe it to be true, however, because I know that there are few earthly things more beautiful than my university. I invite you to be personally involved in this yearlong celebration. I also invite you to select something on this Centennial gift list or identify another opportunity where you might like to offer a 100 th birthday present to WKU.

If you have never made a gift to WKU, now would be a good time to show your support. I hope we can provide a tangible way to strengthen our University and celebrate over 100 years of tradition and pride. Julie and I are giving 100 cherry trees which will be planted along the new Campus Mall which will flow through the center of campus. Find something you would like to support, create, or enhance.

Make a Centennial gift to Western today.

Thank you,
Gary Ransdell

CENTENNIAL GIFT SUGGESTIONS

• 100 cherry trees--$20,000
• A collection of 100 trees of various species--$30,000
• 25 trees--$6,000
• One tree--$300
• A campus bench--$1,000
• Spoon holder bench--$5,000
• Ten campus benches--$10,000
• A new suit for Big Red--$2,500
• Red Corvette go-cart for Big Red--$10,000
• A huge inflatable Big Red--$10,000
• A smart classroom (IT equipped)--$50,000
• A classroom renovation--$25,000
• 100 library books--$10,000
• Ten library books--$1,000
• One library book--$100
• A library journal subscription--$2,500
• A program on WKYU-TV--$1,000
• A landscaped bed--$5,000
• An exact replica of the colonnade for the south end of the campus--$1 million
• Ten street lights--$25,000
• One street light--$2,500
• 25 feet of stone wall--$10,000
• An outdoor sculpture--$50,000
• A gazebo--$10,000
• A flagpole--$5,000
• A centrally located electronic message board for campus events--$500,000
• T-shirt launcher for promo items at athletic events--$10,000
• 30 dance team and cheerleading uniforms--$6,000
• One cheerleader or dance team uniform--$200
• Red towels for 100 Toppers--$200
• One clock for retiring faculty--$300
• 100 computer workstations--$250,000
• One computer workstation--$2,500
• Centennial “throwback” uniforms for basketball, football, and baseball teams--$25,000
• A big screen TV for residence hall lobby--$5,000
• 1,000 bricks for a new or renovated campus building--$100,000
• One brick for a new or renovated campus building--$100
• One shuttle bus--$250,000
• A shuttle bus stop--$25,000
• One building sign--$1,000
• 50 international flags for the International Center--$5,000
• One flag for the International Center--$100
• 100 Centennial banners--$10,000
• One Centennial banner--$100
• 20 banners depicting athletic history for front of Diddle Arena--$4,000
• 50 new WKU Centennial flags (to be circulated throughout the campus and community)--$5,000
• One new Centennial flag for campus use--$100

ONLINE GIVING FORM