Association Named
Bowling Green, Ky. - Western Kentucky University's award-winning speech and debate program, the school's oldest student organization, has formed an alumni group that bears the name of a 1956 graduate and champion debater.
The Western Kentucky University
Forensic Team announced today that its new alumni group will be called the
Elizabeth McWhorter Harden Forensics Alumni Association.
Dr. Harden, a longtime English professor at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, said she was honored to provide a gift to establish the alumni association.
"As a Western Kentucky University forensics alumna, I am thrilled by the stunning successes of the undergraduate program and am equally optimistic about the future of our newly formed forensics alumni program," she said. "I have pledged both my professional and personal commitment to the alumni program and am confident of its success."
The Western forensics program, which traces its roots to the Southern Normal School, has a tradition of success including a sweep of major national and international titles in the past two years.
Dr. Harden created an outstanding public speaking and debate record in the 1950s. As a freshman, she won the AAUW oratorical contest, Western's only major speech competition for women. She was twice selected as second best speaker in state debating tournaments (1953 and 1954). In 1954, she was elected the first woman president of the Congress Debating Club, formerly open only to Western's male students.
And in 1955 she made debate history when she and team coach Raymond Cravens defeated Harvard University. It was the first occasion in Western's history for a debate contest with an Eastern university.
At the state tournament in 1956, she was chosen one of the four best in Kentucky and named the best of 44 speakers in Western's first oratorical tournament. In the same year, she was also named Grand National Winner in the Women's Division of Original Oration, held at Mary Washington College, Fredericksburg, Va. In the spring of 1956, President Thompson selected her to represent the student body at Western's annual KEA breakfast in Louisville; later that year, she represented the student body at High School Senior Day, an event that drew some 3,000 high school seniors from across the state.
Judy Woodring, forensics director and a WKU debater from 1965-68, said the formation of the alumni group began last year when Dr. Randall Capps, a former coach, invited several alumni to a luncheon.
"We felt that with our national reputation, our program needed to have an alumni association," Woodring said. "We want this group to become a good support group, sort of like the W Club, and to become an influential alumni group on campus."
Alumni of the forensics program include university professors, politicians, business executives, attorneys, medical professionals and educators.
"Our alumni will play an important role as this program continues to grow and enhances its reputation," Woodring said.
Biographical Sketch of Elizabeth McWhorter-Harden
Name: Dr. Elizabeth McWhorter Harden
Home: Dayton, Ohio
Family: Husband, Dennis C. Harden (real estate broker and investor)
Education: B.A. in English from WKU (1956); M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in English (1958
and 1965, respectively) from the University of Arkansas
Professional Career
Professor of English, Wright State University (Dayton, Ohio) from 1966-1993
First female full professor in WSU's English Department
First female Assistant and Associate Dean in WSU's College of Liberal Arts
First female Executive Director of General University Services (an all-male academic support services organization)
President of the University Faculty (a position elected by the faculty)
First female President of the WSU Retiree Association
Winner of WSU's distinguished Alumni award for teaching excellence and of the University President's award for outstanding service
Listed in 20 biographical directories, including "Who's Who of American Women," "Outstanding Educators of America," "Who's Who in the Midwest" and "Who's Who in America."
Author of two scholarly books and numerous articles and papers
Traveled in 47 countries
Teaching positions other than WSU: Southwest Missouri State, Murray State, Northeastern Oklahoma State and Wichita State
Student Career at Western
Won AAUW oratorical contest (Western's only major speech competition for women in the 1950s)
Elected the first woman president of the Congress Debating Club (1954), formerly open only to Western's male students
Made debate history (1955) by defeating Harvard University, the first occasion in Western's history for a debate contest with an Eastern university
Won best speaker awards in Kentucky state tournaments throughout student career. In 1956, chosen one of the four best in Kentucky and named the best of 44 speakers in Western's first oratorical tournament in the same year. In addition, she was named Grand National winner in the women's division of original oration, held at Mary Washington College, Fredericksburg, Va.
Active in drama; starred in "Medea," the first classical drama presented at Western, and an apt celebration of the drama department's 10th birthday. Described by The College Heights Herald (April 26, 1956) as a "memorable characterization that is a splendid technical achievement."
Active in student leadership; president of the Art Club and Leiper English Club; co-vice president of the Religious Council; selected for inclusion in "Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities'; member of President Kelly Thompson's Student Advisory Council.
Quote: "My speech and debate training at Western was a masterful preparation for my career and my entire life experience. It taught me the importance of language, the power of articulate communication, and enabled me to fulfill my full leadership capabilities."
