Journalist Helen Thomas Honored
At WKU Commencement
December 13, 2003
Bowling Green, Ky. - Journalist Helen Thomas offered messages of hope and peace Saturday to graduates of Western Kentucky University.
"It is my deepest hope that you graduates today will become the great leaders of the 21st century," said Thomas, a longtime White House correspondent who closed each presidential news conference with "Thank You, Mr. President."
The native of Winchester, Ky., received an honorary doctor of humane letters degree Saturday at Western's 154th Commencement.
Thomas, who covered the White House from John F. Kennedy to Bill Clinton for United Press International and continues to write a syndicated newspaper column for Hearst Newspapers, said she has been saddened to see the 21st century begin with war.
"It's up to you graduates to make sure this new century is not a repetition of the 20th century marked by two world wars, Korea, Vietnam, Gulf War and other conflicts," she said.
Thomas said the United States should promote democracy peacefully. "We as the only superpower in the world must promote peace and a better life for all mankind," she said.
In its largest December commencement since starting the ceremonies in 1996, Western conferred degrees to 1,202 graduates – 139 associate, 697 baccalaureate and 366 master's.
Western President Gary Ransdell congratulated the students who are part of more than 100,000 graduates in Western's 97-year history. "When you entered Western, you made a decision to become part of the Western family," he said. "Whether or not you knew it at the time, you made a lifelong decision."
Accounting professor Charles T. Hays, the University's longest tenured faculty member, led the processional as chief marshal and carried the University Mace for his sixth and final time before retiring. Dr. Hays has served WKU for 39½ years.
The fall graduates included 65 international students from 13 countries. Their nations' flags were carried as part of the processional.
The University also recognized the following honor graduates:
Rebecca Butorac, an English major from White House, Tenn., was named scholar of the Potter College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences and received the Ogden Trustees Award. She is the daughter of John and Diana Butorac.
Lisa Ford, an English and allied language arts major from Glasgow, was named scholar of the Potter College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences and received the Ogden Trustees Award. She is the daughter of Donald and Kathy Ford.
Ashley Hale, an English and allied language arts major from Beaver Dam, was named scholar of the Potter College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences and received the Ogden Trustees Award. She is the daughter of Roger and Saundra Hale.
Brittney Long, a mass communication major from Bowling Green, was named scholar of the Potter College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences and received the Ogden Trustees Award. She is the daughter of Curtiss and Elizabeth Long.
Brian Lowder, a political science and sociology major from Bowling Green, was named scholar of the Potter College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences and received the Ogden Trustees Award. He is the son of Larry and Barbara Kitchens.
KeKe Vencill, a broadcasting major from Richmond, was named scholar of the Potter College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. She is the daughter of Larry and Sylvia Vencill.
Donna Huskins, an accounting major from Portland, Tenn., was named scholar of the Gordon Ford College of Business. She is the mother of Bethany and Emily Huskins.
David Lehfeld, a general studies major from Newark, N.J., was named scholar of the interdisciplinary studies program. He is the son of Joan and Donald Lehfeld and the husband of Susanne Lehfeld.
Marcie Carr, an elementary education major from Evansville, Ind., was named scholar of the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences. She is the daughter of Eric and Vickie Heilman and the wife of Jeff Carr.
Suzanne Phelps, an elementary education major from Morgantown, was named scholar of the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences. She is the daughter of Richard and Helen Phelps.
Benjamin Sandefur, a chemistry major from Calhoun, was named scholar of the Ogden College of Science and Engineering. He is son of Bill and Janet Sandefur.
Joe Thomas, an agriculture major from Elkton, was named scholar of the Ogden College of Science and Engineering and received the Ogden Trustees' Award. He is son of Billy and Patty Thomas and the husband of Lindsay Thomas.
Heather Payne, a hospitality management and dietetics major from Utica, was named scholar of the College of Health and Human Services. She is the daughter of Larry and Gennie Payne.
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.
The ceremony will be broadcast on Western's Public Television, WKYU-PBS, at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 14.
For more information, contact Registrar Freida Eggleton at (270) 745-5432. 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.
