WKU News & Events

December 15, 2001

WKU Confers 836 Degrees At
150th Commencement Ceremony

Bowling Green, Ky. - Western Kentucky University honored its past, celebrated its present and looked to its future Saturday during its 150th Commencement.

"As I looked back at commencement ceremonies throughout Western's history, I was struck not by how much they had changed, but by how much they had remained the same," WKU President Gary Ransdell said. "This speaks to the rich tradition of this university. Then, as now, commencement was the most significant event on campus."

In the ceremony at E.A. Diddle Arena, Western conferred 836 degrees -- 88 associate, 619 baccalaureate and 129 master's. The graduates included students from nearly every county in Kentucky and every state in the nation along with 19 students from 14 other countries and one U.S. territory.

"The history and the tradition of this institution is evidenced nowhere so much as in its commencement ceremonies," Dr. Ransdell said.

That tradition includes Miss Flora M. Stallard, the first graduate with a life teaching certificate from Western Kentucky State Normal School in 1908; the first presentation of bachelor's degrees in June 1924; the first commencement in Diddle Arena in May 1964; the presentation of the first honorary doctorate in August 1979 to William H. Natcher; the return of outdoor spring commencement in May 1998; and the introduction of international flags to the processional in May 2001.

Dr. Ransdell also reminded the 2001 graduates of what Dr. Herman Lee Donovan told graduates at Western's 50th Commencement in August 1956.

Dr. Donovan, a member of Western's first graduating class in 1908 and then-president of the University of Kentucky, "gave a moving speech about responsibility, values and hard work," Dr. Ransdell said. "He ended his speech with the following: 'May I wish for you who are graduating today, work that will be pleasant, wealth that will suffice, and happiness unlimited.'

"One hundred commencement ceremonies later, I wish the same for those of you seated before me today," Dr. Ransdell said.

Western also recognized seven honor graduates. The winners of the Ogden Trustees Award had a 4.0 grade-point average with all coursework completed at Western. Scholars of the College had the highest GPAs in their colleges while completing at least 64 credit hours at Western.

Regan Kays, a performing arts major from Louisville, was named scholar of the Potter College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences and received the Ogden Trustees Award. She is the daughter Jimmy and Sharon Kays.

Ryan K. Meredith, a finance and history major from Bowling Green, was named scholar of the Gordon Ford College of Business and received the Ogden Trustees Award. He is the son of Lowell Meredith and Terry Cosby.

Krista Mattern, a psychology major from Germantown, Tenn., was named scholar of the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences. She is the daughter of Fritz and Karla Mattern.

Heather Sanders, an exceptional education major from Owensboro, was named scholar of the College of Education and Behavioral Science. She is the wife of Howard Sanders and the daughter of Bob and Diane Zapfe of Greensburg, Ind.

Kristin Thomas, a communication disorders major from Cross Plains, Tenn., was named scholar of the College of Education and Behavioral Science. She is the daughter of Terry and Anita Thomas.

Vicki Askins, an agriculture major from Bowling Green, was named scholar of the Ogden College of Science and Engineering. She is the wife of Bradley Askins and the daughter of Veola Clark of Monticello and the late Fred Clark.

Jennifer Boley, a social work major from Elkton, was named scholar of the School of Health and Human Services. She is the daughter of Curtis and Martha Boley.

Student regent Leslie Bedo, president of WKU's Student Government Association, congratulated the graduates and reminded them that they're part of the Western family.

"Each of you have reached the destination you set out for several years ago," Bedo said. "You are now college graduates and the journey is just beginning. Take what you have learned, what you have experienced at Western Kentucky University and do great things with it."

Western's Public Television Service, WKYU-PBS, will rebroadcast the commencement ceremony at 2 p.m. Monday, Dec. 17.

More WKU news is available on the World Wide Web at www.wku.edu. If you'd like to receive WKU news via E-mail, send a message to WKUNews@wku.edu.