Bowling Green, Ky. - Western Kentucky University recognized honor graduates, faculty award winners and others Friday night during the 157th Commencement.

Western conferred degrees to 2,167 May and August graduates -- 158 associate, 1,527 baccalaureate, 468 master's, 10 specialist and four cooperative doctoral degrees. The graduating class included 115 students from 26 countries. Flags from those nations were carried in the processional and placed next to the stage.

The University also provided a computer link to the WKYU-PBS broadcast so Sgt. Bryan Vargo of Radcliff, a team leader with a military police unit in Iraq, could watch the graduation of his wife, Jeanette, a magna cum laude graduate in elementary education. After the ceremony, the Vargos planned to communicate via a webcam.

Honor graduates
The University recognized 24 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.

Melinda Hamilton, an accounting major from Glasgow, was named scholar of the Gordon Ford College of Business. She is the wife of Cedric Hamilton and the daughter of Edward and Sandra Bradley.

Jeff Zoglmann, an accounting major from Elizabethtown, was named scholar of the Gordon Ford College of Business and received the Ogden Trustees' Award. He is the son of Bob and Debbie Zoglmann.

Amanda Biggs, a music major from Glasgow, was named scholar of the Potter College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. She is the daughter of Jeff and Darla Biggs.

Hilary Bogert, a religious studies and history 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 of Christopher and Ronnah Bogert.

Jennifer Corum, a communication studies major from Auburn, was named scholar of the Potter College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences and received the Ogden Trustees' Award. She is the daughter of Allen and Tammy Corum.

Allison Deep, an anthropology and sociology major from Lebanon, was named scholar of the Potter College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences and received the Ogden Trustees' Award. She is the daughter of Eddie and Louise Deep.

Samuel Ford, an English, communication studies, news editorial journalism and mass communications major from McHenry, was named scholar of the Potter College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. He is the husband of Amanda Ford and the son of David and Betty Ford.

Deanna Gipson, a sociology major from Auburn, was named scholar of the Potter College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences and received the Ogden Trustees' Award. She is the wife of Shaun Gipson and the daughter of Keith and Sharon Blewett.

Hollan Holm, a history and political science major from Paducah, was named scholar of the Potter College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences and received the Ogden Trustees' Award. He is the son of Jimmy and Nancy Holm.

Jonathan Hughes, a philosophy and French major from Lawrenceburg, was named scholar of the Potter College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences and received the Ogden Trustees' Award. He is the son of Tim and Debby Hughes.

Malinda Elizabeth Williams, a communication studies major from Scottsville, was named scholar of the Potter College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences and received the Ogden Trustees’ Award. She is the daughter of Edward and Martha Williams.

James Matthew Dawson, a mathematics major from Portland, Tenn., was named scholar of the Ogden College of Science and Engineering and received the Ogden Trustees' Award. He is the son of Jim and Margaret Dawson.

Justin Grieves, a mathematics major from Portland, Tenn., was named scholar of the Ogden College of Science and Engineering and received the Ogden Trustees' Award. He is the husband of Natasha Grieves and the son of Boyce and Lynn Owen.

Matthew Sexton, an agriculture major from Columbia, was named scholar of the Ogden College of Science and Engineering and received the Ogden Trustees' Award. He is the son of Mike and Sheila Sexton.

Brittany Sutherland, a biology major from Lawrenceburg, was named scholar of the Ogden College of Science and Engineering and received the Ogden Trustees' Award. She is the daughter of Dave and Sharon Sutherland.

Sarah Witten, a physics major from Elizabethtown, was named scholar of the Ogden College of Science and Engineering and received the Ogden Trustees' Award. She is the daughter of Danny and Darlene Witten.

Danielle Meredith, a dental hygiene major from Bowling Green, was named scholar of the College of Health and Human Services and received the Ogden Trustees' Award. She is the daughter of Larry and Regina Meredith.

Alexandra Ellis, a communication disorders and Spanish major from Drakesboro, was named scholar of the College of Health and Human Services. She is the daughter of Rex and Sharon Ellis.

Jill Bryant, a psychology major from Franklin, was named scholar of the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences and received the Ogden Trustees' Award. She is the daughter of Jimmie and Cathie Bryant.

Daniel DeCaro, a psychology and philosophy major from Bowling Green, was named scholar of the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences and received the Ogden Trustees' Award. He is the son of Holly Katzman.

Lindsey Farris, an elementary education major from Marion, Ill., was named scholar of the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences and received the Ogden Trustees' Award. She is the daughter of Jim and Robin Farris.

Amanda King, a psychology and Spanish major from Versailles, was named scholar of the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences and received the Ogden Trustees' Award. She is the daughter of Ron and Susan King.

Jennifer Norris, a middle grades education major from Glasgow, was named scholar of the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences and received the Ogden Trustees' Award. She is the daughter of Ron and Lynn Norris.

Elizabeth Nicole Vance, a general studies major from Glasgow, was named scholar of the Interdisciplinary Studies program. She is the daughter of Tim and Pam Vance.

Faculty awards
Provost Barbara Burch recognized the following faculty award winners, who will be formally honored at the fall faculty convocation: Dr. Les Pesterfield, chemistry, excellence in teaching; Dr. Sharon Mutter, psychology, excellence in research/creativity; Dr. Stacy Wilson, engineering, excellence in public service; Bob Adams, journalism and broadcasting, excellence in student advising.

Distinguished University Professor

Dr. Afzalur Rahim, a professor in the Department of Management, was recognized as Distinguished University Professor. Dr. Rahim, who joined the Western faculty in 1983, has developed a national and international reputation for his research and writing, especially in the field of conflict management.

Cooperative doctoral degrees
Four graduates who have completed cooperative doctoral degrees in programs offered by WKU and the University of Louisville were recognized. They are: Shawn A. Kellie of Mount Washington, chemistry; Lisa Downing Murley of Bowling Green, Carol Dianne Raubenheimer of Clayton, N.C.; and Anthony Ray Sanders of Hopkinsville, all in educational leadership.

U.S. Army commissioning
Eleven members of the Hilltopper Army Reserve Officer Training Corps program were commissioned as second lieutenants. They are: Isaiah Abbott, Sarah Holley, Jason Miles, Jose Sanfeliz, Michael Shoults, all of Elizabethtown; John Campbell of Hendersonville, Tenn.; Jacob Huber of Springfield, Tenn; Lee Humphrey of Aiken, S.C.; Stephen Martin of Bowling Green; Matthew Moore of Madisonville; and Michael Porter of Rineyville.

Retiring faculty
Dr. Burch also recognized the following faculty members who are retiring or taking optional retirement: Dr. Ron Eckard, English; Dr. Marion Lucas, history; Dr. Larry Ruff, theatre and dance; Dr. Robert Jefferson, dean of Gordon Ford College of Business; Dr. Linda Ellis Johnson, computer information systems; Dr. John Wassom, economics; Dr. Lynn Clark, psychology; Dr. David Coffey, agriculture; Dr. Patricia Bailey, nursing; Nancy Rascoe, associate of nursing program; Dr. Kenneth Utley, business and computer studies.

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For information, contact Freida Eggleton at (270) 745-3351.