March 1, 2000

Bowling Green, Ky. -- Western Kentucky University will use nearly $800,000 in gifts to support a variety of programs from scholarships to athletics.

"These gifts will have significant impact on our University's capacity for education, public service and relevant research," said WKU President Gary Ransdell. "We cannot fulfill our mission of being the best comprehensive university in the state without this kind of support."

A $300,000 gift from Commonwealth Health Corporation's Center Care Managed Care Programs will create a visiting professor in the Nursing Department. Western will seek matching funds from the Kentucky Regional University Excellence Trust Fund to endow the professorship, which will help attract top-notch professors to teach in the classroom, enhance the strengths of the program and drive special projects.

"Through this visiting professorship, we will bring leaders in the health care profession to our campus to serve as role models for students," Dr. Ransdell said. "These teachers and activists can serve to energize faculty and students while offering focused attention on timely issues that experience rapid change."

A $100,000 gift from Janet and Robert Hensley of Bowling Green will be used to support a variety of athletic activities, including the Men's Basketball Enhancement Fund ($50,000), Hilltopper Football ($35,000), cheerleading ($10,000) and the Hilltopper Athletic Foundation ($5,000). A previous gift from the Hensleys created the Mary E. Hensley Lecture Series.

A $100,000 gift from Dr. Phillip Holland of Bowling Green will be used to create the Benson G. Leichardt Endowed Scholarship Fund. The fund will provide $1,000 renewable scholarships each year to five eligible students with preference given to those entering Western's pre-pharmacy program.

A $100,000 gift from Houchens Industries will support University Athletics and Public Broadcasting. The gift will help fund athletic marketing initiatives ($50,000), the Basketball Enhancement Fund ($35,000) and WKYU-PBS' Basketball Production Fund ($15,000).

A $100,000 gift from the University Plaza Hotel in Bowling Green will mean support for the Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management program ($25,000), Western's Public Broadcasting Service ($25,000), the Men's Basketball Enhancement Fund ($15,000) and in-kind services ($35,000).

A $93,000 gift in property from Bob Armstrong of Bowling Green will be used to support the Men's Basketball Enhancement Fund.

Tom Hiles, vice president for Development and Alumni Relations, said the gifts "not only represent enhancements to the individual programs, but also demonstrate a significant vote of confidence in the University's ‘Challenging the Spirit" strategic plan. We are very grateful for the support of these donors."