Bowling Green, Ky. - In the largest fall graduation class in its history, Western Kentucky University conferred degrees to 1,215 students on Saturday.

The graduates at WKU’s 158th Commencement included 126 associate, 788 baccalaureate, 297 master’s, two specialist and two cooperative doctoral degrees. About 700 students participated in the ceremony at Diddle Arena.

WKU President Gary Ransdell reminded graduates that they’ve witnessed a university redefining itself by utilizing a focus on teaching and learning to identify and solve problems, drive the region’s economy, improve the quality of life and foster citizenship and service.

“We are becoming a comprehensive university of national consequence. We intend to become a leading American university with international reach,” he said. “The graduates assembled here today have played a major role in this transformation.”

Dr. Ransdell encouraged the graduates to live by the Western motto “The Spirit Makes the Master.” “A few weeks ago as we initiated our Centennial, we dedicated a plaza just outside this building,” he said. “Carved into granite stones on that plaza are the words that define the Western Spirit – wisdom, loyalty, character, respect, responsibility and leadership. Words to live by. Words that define this place and its people.”

WKU, which has conducted a December ceremony since 1996, has seen the number of fall graduates increase in recent years as the University’s enrollment has grown, Registrar Freida Eggleton said. The recent trend of December WKU graduates is: 2004 – 1,185; 2003 – 1,202; 2002 – 906; 2001 – 836; 2000 – 1,019.

The ceremony included recognition of 10 honor graduates and a parade of flags in recognition of 68 international students from 19 countries.

On Wednesday in Jefferstown, Ky., Dr. Ransdell and other WKU administrators presented 101-year-old Josephine Isbell Miller with a bachelor of science degree in education. Miller, a longtime teacher, left Western in 1938 and was 12 hours short of her degree.

Cooperative doctoral degrees in an educational administration program offered with the University of Louisville were presented to Connie Fort Mayo of Chapmansboro, Tenn., and Brent McNeill VanMeter of Bowling Green.

WKYU-PBS, Western’s Public Television, will replay the ceremony at 3 p.m. Dec. 18.

More WKU news is available at www.wku.edu. If you’d like to receive WKU news via e-mail, send a message to WKUNews@wku.edu.

For information, contact Freida Eggleton at (270) 745-5432.