WKU News & Events

December 07, 2001

WKU's 150th Commencement
Ceremony Set For Dec. 15

Bowling Green, Ky. - As a former student, faculty member, registrar and president, Dr. Dero Downing has a lifetime of memories about commencement at Western Kentucky University.

Those memories include a ceremony that was moved from the Colonnade to Van Meter Hall when heavy rain began, the brief commencement address by Gov. Bert Combs who recognized that graduation was a time for students and the graduations of himself and other members of the Downing family.

"I recall with a great deal of appreciation for the manner in which Western placed great emphasis upon the educational, cultural, historical importance of graduation," Dr. Downing said.

Next week, Western will celebrate its 150th Commencement. The ceremony begins at 10 a.m. Dec. 15 at E.A. Diddle Arena.

"Commencement at Western has had a certain value in the fact that it flies an important flag and presents an important symbol," said Dr. Downing, a 1943 graduate and WKU president from 1969-79.

In this month’s ceremony, 836 students will join the nearly 95,500 who’ve received degrees from Western. The University will confer 88 associate degrees, 619 baccalaureate degrees and 129 master’s degrees.

In a tradition that was renewed in 1989, the names of each graduate will be read as they cross the stage. That personal touch makes commencement more significant for families, especially those of first-generation college students, said Registrar Freida Eggleton.

Dr. Downing, who served as registrar from 1959-62, said the tradition of recognizing those students provides a message about the significance of education and the support of families.

"The importance that is placed on completing a degree by individuals who may be the first member of a family who graduates from college continues to be something of an inspiration," he said.

From the opening processional to the singing of "College Heights," "we have been able to maintain the dignity of our ceremony," said Eggleton, registrar since 1986. "Certainly the students are jubilant about the event but they maintain a sense of dignity."

Dr. Downing agreed that the efforts of administrators, faculty, staff and students make commencement at Western a special day. "I applaud the continued attention that’s given to the graduation ceremony, making it an important occasion," he said.

A collection of commencement memorabilia is on display at the Wetherby Administration Building through Dec. 12. The display will be moved to the Diddle Arena lobby for commencement weekend.

Western’s Public Television Service, WKYU-PBS, will broadcast the commencement ceremony live on channel 24. The event will be rebroadcast at 2 p.m. Dec. 17.

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