August 14, 2001

WKU Honors First Recipients Of Diversity Awards

Bowling Green, Ky. - Western Kentucky University honored the first recipients of the President's Award for Diversity at Tuesday morning's Opening Convocation.

Recipients of the initial diversity awards were Dr. John O'Connor, retired head of the Psychology Department; Thomas Grinter, a May 2001 graduate; and Nathan Jordon, center manager of WKU Campus Child Care and a community volunteer.

The recipients of the President's Award for Diversity were chosen by an 11-member committee from 20 individuals or groups nominated.

"The awards are our way of involving the institution in a concerted effort to make diversity a part of the Western experience," said Dr. John Hardin, co-chair of the University Diversity Committee.

The purpose of the award is to recognize and reward a WKU student or organization, employee and community member for contributing exemplary leadership and achievement in advancing diversity at Western and the communities served by Western.

"I've tried in campus activities and groups to exemplify the best that Western has to offer and try to show that to everybody I've met," said Grinter, who held leadership roles in groups such as Campus Activities Board, Student Government Association, Ethnic Relations Task Force, NAACP, Amazing Tones of Joy and Omega Psi Phi fraternity.

"I'm happy that Western chose me for the award," said Grinter, who was unable to attend Tuesday's ceremony because he's attending a theological seminary in Salisbury, N.C. "The three people chosen are just a small example of the overall effort of Western on diversity issues."

Dr. Hardin and Dr. Monica Burke, co-chair of the University Diversity Committee, agreed that the recipients exemplify the strides Western has made on diversity.

"John O'Connor has been involved with diversity issues before they were known as diversity issues," Dr. Hardin said, noting that Dr. O'Connor served as co-chair of the first Race Relations Task Force in 1974, chair of the Concerns of Black Students Committee from 1978 to 1984, co-chair of the Ethnic Relations Task Force in 1996 and set the standard for minority hiring in the 1970s and '80s by hiring two African American faculty in his department.

"I've always had a sense of fairness and justice about working to help people of other cultures and races," Dr. O'Connor said.

At the WKU child care center and as a community volunteer, Jordon comes in contact with people from a variety of ethnic, social and economic backgrounds and strives to help all people in need.

Jordon assists agencies like the Special Olympics, Bowl for Kids Sake and Habitat for Humanity, delivers food to senior citizens during holidays and collects food and clothing for food banks, but he may be best known for cooking Sunday dinner for students. "He's a great cook," Dr. Burke said.

"When I was in college, some people took care of me," Jordon said. "I guess I'm just passing it on. And I hope the people I'm helping now will pass it on. I know a lot of times, I wouldn't have made it without people helping me out."

The $1,000 award cannot repay the individuals for the work they do, but the President's Award for Diversity goes a long way in recognizing that work and acknowledging "how diversity is good for the student body, good for faculty and staff and good for the communities Western serves," Dr. Hardin said.