Bowling Green, Ky. - The Gordon Ford College of Business at Western Kentucky University held the 9th Annual Student and Faculty Recognition Dinner on April 28 at the Knicely Institute for Economic Development.

Faculty and staff receiving recognition for the 2005-06 academic year included:  Dr. Craig Martin, Outstanding Teaching Award; Dr. Sam Thapa, Outstanding Research Award; Dr. Brian Strow, Outstanding Public Service Award; Dr. Jerry Bennett, Outstanding Student Advisement Award; Dr. Jan Colbert, Outstanding MBA Teacher; Sheri Henson, Prida Student Service Award; Ruthene Glass, Anne and Dan Greenwell Support Staff Award; Dr. Harold Little, Gordon and Glenda Ford Faculty Award for Faculty Excellence; and Dr. Leo Simpson, The Vitale Award for Initiative, Innovation and Leadership. Carole Ledbetter was recognized upon retirement for her outstanding service to the college and university. 

Two awards were given to acknowledge achievement by Gordon Ford College of Business alumni. Dr. Lee Goodpaster Knight was recognized as the 2005-06 Outstanding Alumni for the Ford College. Dr. Knight, a 1974 accounting graduate, serves as the Director of the Accountancy Program and the Delmer P. Hylton Professor of Accountancy at Wake Forest University. Alan Taylor, a 1995 MPA graduate and partner with the regional CPA firm of BKD, LLP, was the 2005-06 Recent Alumni Award recipient.

Students receiving presentation awards were as follows: Jessica Malloy of Bowling Green (first place), Ashley Schonhoff of Bowling Green (second place), and Wayne Jackson of Park City (third place) for the Ramsey “Best Paper” in Economics Award; Lauren Hilgadiack of Portland, Tenn., Eaton Student Leadership Award; Leah Shiloh Pendley of Rochester, Delta Sigma Pi Golden Key Award; Ashley Schonhoff of Bowling Green, The Wall Street Journal Award in Economics; Chris Staley of Bowling Green, The Wall Street Journal Award in Finance; and Ashley Pinson of Franklin, the Leon Page Scholar.

The Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation recognized David “Seth” Burkhart of Woodlawn, Tenn., and Kristopher D. Upchurch of Edmonton with Entrepreneurial Spirit Awards for their participation and leadership service with the Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) Program at WKU. 

The Gordon Ford College of Business recognized the following as outstanding students for the 2005-06 academic year: Jin Wang of Bowling Green, Outstanding Junior in Accounting; Cora Newsom of Jasper, Ind., Outstanding Junior in Economics; Rebecca Jewell of Bartlett, Tenn., Outstanding Junior in Finance; Shane Bradley of Bowling Green and Megan Cleveland of Glasgow, Outstanding Juniors in Information Systems; Michael Lee Meredith of Brownsville, Outstanding Junior in Management; Lauren Hilgadiack of Portland, Tenn., Outstanding Accounting Senior; Leah Shiloh Pendley of Rochester, Outstanding Economics Senior; Juraj Lord of Bowling Green, Outstanding Finance Senior; Joshua Knight of Bowling Green, Outstanding Information Systems Senior; Melissa Shields of Glasgow, Outstanding Management Senior; Jennifer Hutton of Villa Hills and Elizabeth “Kristin” Land of Richmond, Outstanding Marketing Seniors.

Millie Mathew of Bowling Green was recognized as the Outstanding MBA Student for 2005-06. Jennifer Hutton of Villa Hills received the Robert W. Jefferson Award for the Outstanding Gordon Ford College of Business Senior for 2005-06.

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For information, contact Paula Newby at (270) 745-6311.

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