Name: Semra Ascigil
Degree/Department: Management
Class Year: 2003-04
Your memories: As a Fulbright Visiting professor during Fall/Spring 2003-4 academic year, I had unforgettable memories at Western. Among these, I can firstly mention the honor of working with Dr. Nace Magner. We wrote a joint paper during which I learned a lot from him. He has the spirit and character of an ideal researcher and a very supportive co-author. I keep on working with him and learning from him even after I came back. President Ransdell and Dr. Burch showed kindest hospitality during my stay. Accessibility was the award they gave to me. Dean Jefferson and Dr. Reber were great in making my life easier ar Western. They encouraged me to make organizations for Western. Dean Jefferson was a leader who acknowledged good work even if you are a temporary visitor at the School.When he awarded me with meeting my expenses for a conference I attended, this was a great surprise for me. As a great friend, I can remember Jim Lindsay. He and his parents created one of a great memories for me and my son who accompanied me during my visit. This was an invitation to Easter lunch where we had nice time and participated in a traditional event. Carroll Ledbetter, Paula Newby and the assistants (Susanna and Christina) showed greatest effort to give me a feel of the city. As I look back, I remember studying at Mass Media Lab at nights, enjoying the relaxing atmosphere in the building. Free printing provided made me wish this for my university in Turkey.

Attending the seminars organized in Mass Media Hall at nights (right accross my residence) was another thing I liked about campus. Yoga classes I attended at Sports Center, exercising and swimming were good times to remember. Drying my swimsuits after swimming was a comfort I still miss. Basketball games I enjoyed, football at nights followed by fireworks after victories were very other nice memories. The band at the games as well as concerts of the BG chorus made me feel that music was part of Western's spirit. The smell of coffee at Java center at the Library is still a fresh memory. The squirrels were always on the roof of visiting scholar's residence on Normal Drive awakening me early in the mornings. But, they made me sad when I saw them dead after rainy nights. To sum up, this campus with all the facilities provided, its leaders,people and small conveniences created attracts you in a particular way. These good memories made me visit Western many times after the scholarship was over. I believe that even the smallest things helped in creating the spirit and is important in Western's journey to excellence.

Name: Alisha Schweitzer
Degree/Department: Communications
Class Year: 2002
Your memories: There are a lot of things that I remember about WKU. My very first night there was in January of '99. I started at WKU mid semester and the first night in the dorms we had 10 fire drills. Which, maybe wouldn't be so bad, but it was raining ice...literally. WKU has the most beautiful campus and there are so many times where I wish that I was there again. When I come back to Bowling Green to visit with friends, I always make sure that my first stop before going anywhere is to drive through campus. It makes me cry everytime!!

Name: Chris Martin
Degree/Department: Bachelor of Arts History and Social Studies
Class Year: 2006
Your memories: I have many fond memories of my years at WKU. I gained very much from my history classes taught by Dr. James Baker who with his teaching style did very much to help awaken my mind to critical thinking and accademic achievement. I also remember the good times I had as a member of the WKU College Democrats and the many friends I made there and in my classes. It seems like there was always a fun activity or event going on at the campus or place to hang out. Java City was my favorite place to sit and study while enjoying a strawberry smoothie. Sometimes it was nice to just walk across campus to my car on a nice spring or fall afternoon. There is something about the physical beauty of the campus that always brought me a sense of peace and relaxation even on a stressful day! On a personal level, I met a girl Jill Fisher who I feel very much in love with and has made me so very happy. So WKU brought me very much in terms of accademic success and personal happiness!

Name: David A. Collins
Degree/Department: Music/Theatre
Class Year: 1994
Your memories: One of my fondest memories of WKU was getting up at 2:00 am and walking alone on campus when it was snowing in the winter-it was so peaceful and beautiful. I also remember the great times I had with the music and theatre departments and how Dr. Kenneth Davis BREATHED fire into music for me and how my voice teacher, Elizabeth Volkman,
not only taught me to sing but to be a better person and musician. What a great place to have gone to school. Thanks WKU!

Name: Terry Fizer
Degree/Department: BA Social Studies/MAE Student Affairs
Class Year: 2003
Your memories: In 2004 I brought my girlfriend to Western to show her the great place that I had been talking about for a year. We drove 10 hours to get back to Western. Little did she know I was going to propose. While walking around campus I had to stall because there were students studying next the creed monument. After they finally left I walked up on the Kissing Bridge and told her the story of the bridge and dropped to one knee and proposed. We were married on June 25, 2005. She had a western garter and I had a WKU groomsman cake. We are expecting a baby girl who is already being groomed to
be a Hilltopper, even though she isn't here yet.

Name: Deborah Neal
Degree/Department: B.S. Elementary Ed.
Class Year: 1977
Your memories: I remember Central Hall and timing our visits to DUC based on who was heading into it. I remember those 3 Kdgn classes and my professor Sara Taylor. Those were very hard classes, but she became the teacher I had the most respect for and the one I loved. I remember being an RA and having to patrol the halls when we had Open Houses for male visitors. And doors had to be slightly ajar! I remember long straight hair, bellbottoms and midriff braless tops. I remember the Doobie Brothers, the Spinners, Barry Manilow, and Seals and Croft. Even though I am back in Bowling Green, I still have dreams of being on the Hill as it was. Of course I love it now.

Name: David Ritson
Degree/Department: Sociology
Class Year: 2008
Your memories: The snowfall of the fall of the fall of 2002. At the time i was a first semester freshman living in Keen Hall. I was awoken around 3:45am for a fire drill. I can remember standing in the grass across from Keen, directly behind the baseball field when the sleet and snow started to fall. It had been all over the news the previous night. After getting a short 3 hours of sleep it was time to wake up and shower before morning class. We had all hoped for class cancellation but i was quickly informed Western had not cancelled class for a snow related incident in some time, so my hopes were pretty low. The snow kept falling and falling, eventually the grass was covered, then it was up to the tops of our shoes, then it was approaching our knees! Buses were having trouble getting up the hill as were commuters alike, fender benders were all the rage that morning. Eventually we got word from our hall staff that school had been cancelled. Wow is all i can say.

The only thing that really topped it off that semester, was seeing my friends on the floor who were from south Florida see snow for the first time! They were outside in their pajamas throwing it at one another, all this while the video cameras rolled on. It goes down in my mind as 1 of the funnest days I've ever experienced.

Name: Donald E. Pierce
Degree/Department: Industrial Arts
Class Year: 1965
Your memories: My memories of the Hilltopper Cafe Where Gladis and Hubert Powell were the owners and operators. They served great food and shared wonderful experiences with the students that passed through the doors for about 3 decades. The other memory was time spent organizing and getting Xi Psi Chapter of Alpha Phi Omega chartered in May of 1964. The chapter no longer has any members and has now gone inactive. Sorry to hear.

Name: Leslie Anderson
Degree/Department: Chemistry
Class Year: 2005
Your memories: I remember stepping on this campus in the spring of 2001. I was being recruited for the first ever women's soccer team. I met Jason Neidell in Diddle Arena, walking up those concrete ramps! From there the rest is history, as alongside 19 other freshman girls and two upperclassmen we developed this program into it's winning ways. I will never forget all the firsts for this program as well as the people who became my teammates and best friends. Thanks so much for a wonderful four years.

Name: Joe Guinane
Degree/Department: English/Allied Language Arts
Class Year: 2003
Your memories: When the tragedy happened with Melissa Autry in 2003, I will never forget how generous Preisdent Ransdell and his wife were to the students that lived in Poland. I was a senior and living in the building and President Ransdell and his wife went out and brought the students some drinks and breakfast since we had been outside fro about five or six hours. I never thought of a President doing something like that for his student body. Thank You President Ransdell and your wife for
caring for Western and its students like you do.

Name: Tim Simpson
Degree/Department: Music
Class Year: 1984
Your memories:How does one start. My affiliation with WKU began with my birth because my father Dr. Robert E. Simpson was a student/athlete class of 53 and later a Professor of Psychology in the College of Education. After having lived in Louisville my first 5 years we moved when my father obtained a faculty position at Western in the Psychology department. I was a Hilltopper from Grade 1. Talk about indoctrination! My brother and I were both students of the "Training School" which is now housed by the Engineering Technology Building next to Cherry Hall on the top of the Hill. It was really an awesome experience. Already in the 1st grade I was with college students on their campus. I absolutely loved it. I thought I was a college student! It was great!

Those were the mid 60's when Kelly Thompson was president, E.A.Diddle still lived in his house, the former Diddle Dorm, behind the "Training School". He used to tell us to get off of "his floor" if we had on hard leather shoes on when we went down to Diddle to shoot baskets. There was no campus below "The Hill". It was the old Colonnade football stadium, the Student Union building where we ate lunch as students and Diddle Arena was one of the shining stars of campus Basketball stadiums in the country. We used to play in the trenches of the old fort, with the Water Tower overhead, the old Bridge and the "Log House" faculty center.

It was the time of social upheaval, a time of exploration, a time of hope and a time of change. In those years they built the Planetarium and we used to go often to it. I remember hearing the music of the times, especially the Beatles and I'll never forget the haunting melody from the movie, "The Good, The Bad and the Ugly." My folks disapproved of that awful "Rock" music, Elvis and all. Now I don't know why, they are great musicians and had only positive messages to

My Dad worked in the now Business building, name fails me, and my mother worked in a white house across from Cherry Hall in the, I believe, extension office. These were the days when Clem Haskins, Dwight and Greg Smith were among those great teams back then. These were the times when the student section covered the entire side of the arena down to the floor up to the ceiling and you were lucky if you got a ticket in a stadium that held over 13,000 seats. These were truly great times.

Being so young took I took to heart the sayings and mottos that I feel are the true spirit of the University, which was a State College when we first arrived. The two mottos, "The Spirit Makes the Master" and "Life More Life" I carry with me today. I do not know what life would be like without these ideals.

I cannot say enough about the utter beauty of the campus. It reflects high ideals. A city on a hill, dedicated to all that is good and positive for mankind. As time went by, my love for this campus, and its people increased and increased.

Upon graduation from high school, unfortunately the Training School no longer existed, I returned to the campus to go to college. I really had no serious design to go anywhere else. It was natural to go there. As a University student I experienced an awful lot. It was now 1978 and the world looked a lot different then. We, our nation, our university and our society had become transformed and I must say not for the good. Our country for one had leaders assisinated, a President resigned, our military was in shambles after Vietnam, the energy crisis, inflation, soaring interest rates, the basketball program had been crippled from Probation because one player broke the rules and everything had recessed into obsurity. The glory years of basketball and football success were now mere visions of the past. It seemed all so vague.

My goals and visions were also vague and I must say that had it not been for the great Western Kentucky University I would have not survived it. At Western the relative low cost of tuition and living expenses afforded me the opportunity to try out several majors. From Mechanical Engineering to Business, from Pre law to Broadcasting, I tried all of these things. Then my real dream was able to be realized. Music. I, after this and that, was selected by Dr. Virgil Hale to do a role in the Music & Theater Department's production of "Carmen" the opera. This was one of the most incredible events in my

I remember after a rehearsal in the great Van Meter Auditorium walking out the front door in mid January and snow was falling over the entire area and three or four inches had accumulated on the ground. It was so quiet and I thought to myself, "I have spent the last four hours rehearsing some of the greatest music ever written, with people I enjoy being with, and I come outside and breath the fresh winter air and snow is falling....I can't think of anything more beautiful. I was transfixed. Thank you WKU for giving me that. Looking over northern Warren County from the steps of Van Meter that night was a pivotal moment. I wish for everyone such a beautiful moment.

So with the Music department I met my mentors, my teachers and my friends who will stay with me in my heart until time ends. The Productions of Carmen, Fiddler on the Roof, Faust were incredible experiences. The 1982 European Tour with our Chamber Singers and my Voice Teacher, Choral Director Dr. Charles S. Hausmann was awesome. What Dr. Hausmann taught during those semesters was invaluable. Gosh, I wished I had more time there now to have really taken advantage of all of the great people who were my professors at that time, Elizabeth Volkman, Virgil Hale, Sylvia Kersenbaum, David Livingston, Edward Pease, Ruth Morris, Dwayne Hobbs, Dwight Pounds and so on. What a truly great faculty I had, and they all supported me in every way.

So here I began and I miss my university more than I can say. My message to the students of today would be, take very seriously your education, your professors and your colleagues. Students have no idea what these people will mean to them in the years to come.

I applaud Dr. Randsdale for his dedication and intensity for furthering the University. I believe he is a true "Hilltopper" and I
believe that it is hopeful and inspired leadership that will catapult WKU into the 21st Century with the right "Spirit" and the right

Long live WKU and may its greatness increase!

Timothy Simpson, Class of 84

Name: Phil Syphrit
Degree/Department: Bachelors in Speech Communication
Class Year: 1982
Your memories: I loved my time at Western!! I lived for two years on the 24th floor of Pearce Ford Tower, and loved it up there. The view was great! I sadly remember the summer Margaret Greenwell, the director of McCormick Hall, passed away very unexpectedly. I hope the memorial tree planted for her still grows. Western was in the OVC then, and I really enjoyed our arch-rivalry with Eastern at football and basketball. I was there for Coach Keady's last season or two before he went to Purdue. I minored in Folklore, and remember when that program was incorporated into the department of modern languages. I remember many of my teachers: Barbara Johnson, Lyn Montell, James Pearce. I had a work-study plsition at The Kentucky Museum, and that set me on the widest swath of my career. I went on to work at museums in Maine for several years because of that. I loved my time at Western!

Name:Lecia House
Degree/Department:Associates General Studies with emphasis in Social And Behavior
Class Year: 2001
Your memories: I attended the community college and had a great experience with the staff there as I had several medical problems during the time I was there and they were always willing to go the extra mile to help me catch up. Two instructors that stick out in my mind are Tim Miller and James McMahn.

Name: Martha Diane Woodson-Wilkerson
Degree/Department: B.A. Elementary Education
Class Year: 1979
Your memories: I remember all the times that I would walk to class, out of breath, and hoping not to be late, then to walk into class, not late, and hear a great lecture, at Cherry Hall, by JoeBoggs, Gretchen Niva, or all the times I called on my advisor Virginia Mutchler, in a worry over a grade I had gotten, she always encouraged me to keep going. I also enjoyed very much a class taught by Prof. Peterie, he told me I had the quality of perseverance, I guess I do, I have been teaching for 25 years and have loved it all, of course there have been trying times, I now teach Head start in Evansville, Indiana with some fine people who I am very proud to be associated with. I am also attending a University here to further my education in Early childhood, as well. I love teaching and western played a major part in this love.

Name: DeAnna M. Coles
Degree/Department: BA/Psychology
Class Year: 2002
Your memories:
1. Moving into my first dorm (or as they call it now-residence hall) Central Hall
2. Hanging out at DUC
3. Walking up the hill :-(
4. Passing Psych 201/210 (stats)
5. Meeting some of my best friends :-)
Most of all: GRADUATION!!!!

Name: Thomas Lanier Harned
Degree/Department: BS Business
Class Year: 1967
Your memories: My family, headed by my Grandfather, John Clinton Lanier 1866-1950, goes back for several generations in the Woodburn (Kentucky) community of Warren County. Western Kentucky University has had a huge influence on the Lanier family, starting with my mother, Ruby Lanier and her three brothers Ervin, Noble and Ed Lanier. All four attended Western in the 1920’s and 30’s. Ruby Lanier worked as a secretary in the President’s Office, working directly for Dr. Cherry on many occasions. She spoke often of personal encounters with Dr. Cherry and Ed Diddle. Her husband and my stepfather Henry Oliphant worked for Western in the 1960’s and 70’s. Noble Lanier began a very successful business career while attending Western in the 30’s. Noble’s sons William and Collins also attended Western in the 70’s Ervin Lanier was educated in Accounting at BU and worked for Kentucky Utilities in Frankfort before returning to Woodburn to farm. His daughter Lou Lanier graduated From Western in 1965. Ed’s son John graduated from Western in the 70’s.

My wife, Judy Smith from Simpson County, and I met at the Military Ball in the Garrett Student Center in 1961 while both were attending Western. We married and I went on to graduate from Western in 1967. Our daughter Kathy Harned attended Western in the 80’s. Three generations and counting, as our grandson Thomas will be attending college in a few years. I am sure that there are other families in South Central Kentucky with similar experiences. Western Kentucky University has impacted, influenced, enhanced and improved the lives of my family and many others! Go Western!!

Name: Shannon Miller
Degree/Department: BS Elementary Education Class Year
Class Year: 2003
Your memories: Being a part of the bands at Western truly made me part of the Western family. If it hadn't been for that experience not only would I not have met friends that will be with me forever, or had the opportunity to immerse myself in a wonderful organization that is so important to the University, but I would also not have met my husband on that very first day I began my education at Western.

Name: Kent Lucas
Degree/Department: Communications
Class Year: 2006
Your memories: I will never ever forget my freshman year when WKU beat Kentucky at Kentucky. I was not fortunate enough to go but we had the game on with about 15 people in my cramped dorm (Rhodes) and when the buzzer went off, it sounded like all of campus like out a huge cheer for the toppers. With the dorm window open you could here people all over campus releasing excitement. I will never forget that.

Name: Stacy Ann Clarke
Degree/Department: English
Class Year: 2005
Your memories: I graduated with my bachelors five days ago. As I walked down that line in Diddle Arena I remembered all the wonderful memories I will always have of Western Kentucky University. I spent four and a half years on the hill and have grown to love it. I have great memories such as rooming with a student from Bulgaria and becoming best friends, living in Florence Schneider and dancing in the ball room, and learning for the first time how to deal with homesickness. I fell in love with the man I married there. I studied writers I also fell in love with such as Faulkner, Poe, and Hemmingway. Congratulations class of 2005, I am sure you will join me in saying part of us will always remain home at Western, wherever our lives may take us.

Name: John Smith
Degree/Department: B.S. Physical Education
Class Year: 1979
Your memories: Working as track team manager. The Eastern basketball game where they scored after the horn. The gang in Barnes-Campbell.

Name: L. Miller
Degree/Department: Music. Majors - French Horn & Voice
Class Year: 1965-68
Your memories: My memories at WKU were stopped in 1968 when the draft called me into service. I have many wonderful memories of interesting classes, new friends, and events that were important to everyone who attended at that time.

I was in the choir in front of Cherry Hall when Western Kentucky College became Western Kentucky University. I was there when Coach Oldham took players like Greg Smith, Dwight Smith, and Clem Haskins to the National Basketball finals against Michigan with players like Cazzie Russell. I was in the music department when the now movie director, John Carpenter, was a gangly freshmen with a beatle hair cut. I was in the choir and band when Larnelle Harris was a shy drummer and tenor. I remember being in fantastic musicals and operas directed by the wonderful Dr. Miller of the drama department. Musicals like South Pacific, Revenge of the Bat, and The Opera Carmen with Leo Burmester.

All the memories I have are of times I spent with some of the greatest people that one individual can only be lucky in one life time to meet. Most memorable professors would have to be Mr. Pauli our choir director, Dr. Livingston our band director, Dr. Carpenter head of the Music Dept., Mr. Beach, Dr. Pease.

One more memory is of the Thanksgiving parade in down town Bowling Green when the Western Kentucky University Marching Band led the parade in smoky and sooty uniforms one day after the Music Building almost burnt down.
There is more but not enough space. Go Hilltoppers.

Name: Cindy Troutman
Degree/Department: B.A. - Sociology Class
Class Year: 1998
Your memories: More than anything else, I remember my favorite teacher! I started WKU at 20 years old, with a 1 1/2 year old at home. I remember the feeling of not fitting in and questioning whether or not I had made the right decision in coming to WKU. This feeling of uncertainty brings to mind my favorite college memory - I went to see my advisor, a man I had never met before, Dr. Bohlander. I walked in his office feeling like I didn't belong in a university setting and I walked out knowing that I did! Through the next 4 1/2 years Dr. Bohlander acted not only as my advisor, but as my mentor. He always took the time to listen and encourage me along the way - just as I've seen him do for so many.

Name: Kevin Wagner
Degree/Department: BA/Government, MPA/Government
Class Year: 2000,2003
Your memories: One of my best memories was during my graduate years. WKU had the Sun Belt tournament. I went with a friend and we watched 6 or 7 games in one day. The best memory was the last game that had WKU playing. I'll never forget how many people were in Diddle and how loud it was. It was like a concert with all the crowd noise. I remember looking around and almost being in awe about what happening before my eyes. Western won the game because of the great crowd.

Name: Kay White Zoretic
Degree/Department: BS - Biology, MA Reading Specialist
Class Year: 1964, BS - 1969 - MA
Your memories: My most memorable teacher was Sybil Stonecipher, Latin and German instructor. I only intended to take Latin 2 semesters, but Ms. Stoneciper was so engaging, I wound up taking Latin for 4 semesters and after that, she explained that with another class or two, I would have a minor in Latin, and "just think how impressive that would be"! So, I have a minor in Latin. I wonder if that ever impressed anyone? I loved to hear her tell the stories about working as a mid-wife in China where her parents had been missionaries. I was "with child" during one of our small classes, and each day, she would remind all of us, that if necessary, she could deliver the baby. She was a sweet lady whom I loved dearly, and even today, my Latin experiences are helpful in understanding new words.

Name: James Henry Snider, Ed.D.
Degree/Department: BS--Admin Serv, Pol Science; MA--Guidance & Counseling
Class Year: 1975 & 1977
Your memories: I remember the challenge of getting the needed classes at the right time at registration. I remember working as a photographer in Public Relations with Don Armstrong, Dee Gibson, Ed Given, Paul Just, Shelia Conway, Mike Morse, Mike Giorgio, Jack Wright, Skip Church, Ricky Rogers, Mike King, Robert Stuart, and special unnamed people, in case somebody feels left out.

I remember teachers who cared enough to learn our names. I remember President Downing calling me by name as I walked with a teacher across campus. He didn't know the teacher, but I got an A in that class. I remember hunting for parking places--looks like some things never change, I remember a counselor ed professorr that constantly shared quotes with us.

Working on my Masters, I remember Dr. David Lee's first (I think) year teaching Western Civ and telling us we needed to watch TV movies WKU would show for credit. Since it was a night class, we asked if the movies could be shown at night. He asked and said he was told it was too much trouble, and since he was low on the totem pole, he did not feel comfortable pushing the matter. I decided to push it and wrote the department head-Dr. Thacker, I think, Dee Gibson, and Pres Downing a very nice letter expressing my concern. Dr Lee announcced at the next class that the movies would be shown after class, but he needed me to lock the door and put the key under his door. Questioning and persistence may pay off. I was very pleased.

I could go on and on. I remember carrying cameras under my gown at graduation to take pictures for Public Relations, so I got paid and helped out. Don Armstroong told us to watch for, and photograph (to identify) any streakers, but there were none-boring-haha. Guess I have already written too much--thanks..I do appreciate my WKU.

Name: Ms. Dana W. R. Boden, Ph.D.
Degree/Dept: B.S. & M.A.E. Agriculture & Education
Class Year: 1979 & 1980
Your memories: One of my first classes at W.K.U. was U.S. History before 1865 with Dr. Lowell Harrison. I was totally unaware going in of what level of historian he was. Our class marveled at his ability to walk-in with a thin folder (to check the seating chart for attendance) & then launch in where he'd left off, making U.S. History entertaining, as well as interesting. I later got to know he & his wife Penny better, when I was a student worker in Manuscripts at the Kentucky Library. Having come from New York, they opened my local (Allen County, KY) eyes to the level & caliber of worldwide scholars W.K.U. was, & is, able to attract & make its own. The W.K.U. Family is very special -- that's a wonderful part of the Tradition!

Name: Greg Britt
Degree/Dept.: Bachelor music education/Master of Arts in Education
Class Year: 1988/1993
Your memories: I have many favorite memories of my years at WKU. I remember the deep snows when we would get out of school and go sledding down the hill in front of Van Meter Hall on anything that would go. I'm thinking the biggest snows happened winter term 84 and again in 88. I recall the choral concerts I was a part of with Dr. Kenneth Davis and the operas too "The Bartered Bride", "Three Penny Opera" and "The Magic Flute". I also remember being on stage at graduation to sing the College Heights Alma Mater and The Star Spangled Banner in 1988.