March 28, 2001

Gheens Foundation Gift To WKU To Support WKU Minority

Bowling Green, Ky. - A Louisville-based foundation is helping support minority educators in Jefferson County through a gift to Western Kentucky University.

Tom Hiles, WKU's vice president for Development and Alumni Relations, said the Gheens Foundation will give $80,000 over four years to create the "Gheens Scholars Program" in support of scholarships for teacher education students who agree to teach in the Jefferson County public schools.

"This is a unique and wonderful gift that will provide tangible incentives for perspective teachers to go to Jefferson County," Hiles said. "Through the 'Gheens Scholars Program,' Western will partner with the Gheens Foundation to offer a scholarship program which will train teachers, with a preference for minority teachers, who are committed to teach in the Jefferson County Schools. WKU officials will work with the Gheens Foundation and other potential donors to endow this program over time."

Stephen Daeschner, superintendent of the Jefferson County Public Schools, who provided his endorsement and support for the project, said the "Gheens Scholars Program" will provide an excellent opportunity for the University and the District to work collaboratively in the identification and development of area minorities who aspire to become teachers.

"Our District has committed significant funds and staff time to minority teacher recruitment," he said. "We celebrate the racial diversity of our District as a primary strength."

Daeschner said the most successful way to obtain minority teachers is not through recruitment initiatives outside of Kentucky, but rather through local identification and development of candidates who are committed to living in the Jefferson County area.

"Western Kentucky University has a long history of working with the Jefferson County Schools to recruit minority teachers," he said. "This project will provide direct measurable results in our quest to have a teacher work force that is reflective of the diversity of our community."

WKU President Gary Ransdell said this gift highlights the unique relationship between Western and Jefferson County. "Currently, we have 1,023 students from Louisville and Jefferson County. Jefferson County is also home to some 6,600 WKU alumni," Dr. Ransdell said. "With help from the Gheens Foundation, we can ensure that minority students and future teachers will be a larger part of these numbers."

Luther Hughes, Western's associate vice president for Enrollment Management, said one factor critical to the recruitment and retention of minority students is the level of competitive scholarships offered to potential students.

"The Council on Postsecondary Education has outlined a number of guidelines related to minority recruitment and retention for each of its public postsecondary institutions," Dr. Hughes said. "The 'Gheens Scholars Program' will not only offer a wonderful opportunity for many Jefferson County students, it will also allow Western to move toward its target goals for student recruitment."

Joseph Stopher, president of the Gheens Foundation, said the group is pleased to partner with Western in support of this program. "We are particularly pleased that this project was also endorsed by the Jefferson County school system," he said. "It is our hope that this project will encourage many minority educators to return to Jefferson County as they begin their professional careers."

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