Owensboro, Ky. - Filmmaker John Carpenter will receive an honorary doctorate from Western Kentucky University.

At its quarterly meeting Thursday, WKU’s Board of Regents approved a recommendation to award an honorary doctorate to Carpenter, a successful director, screenwriter, producer and composer.

Carpenter will receive the award at the December 2006 or May 2007 commencement depending on his schedule, Provost Barbara Burch said.

Carpenter’s films include “Halloween,” “Escape from New York,” “The Thing,” and “Vampires.” Carpenter is a graduate of College High and attended WKU from 1965 to 1968 before leaving Bowling Green for film school at the University of Southern California. He was inducted into WKU’s Hall of Distinguished Alumni in 1999.

Carpenter’s father was a professor in WKU’s Music Department and the family lived in the log house next to the Kentucky Museum.

Carpenter won an Academy Award for his 1970 short subject “The Resurrection of Bronco Billy,” which was completed while he was a film student at USC.

The Board of Regents met at the Owensboro Community and Technical College campus as part of a daylong Centennial celebration in Owensboro. Other activities included the chamber of commerce breakfast, meetings with local officials, an alumni reception and a free concert by the Bowling Green Western Symphony Orchestra.
At the board meeting, new regent James G. Meyer of Bowling Green took the oath of office.

The board also took the following action:

* Approved new master’s degrees in mathematics and adult education.

• Approved an amended contract for Lady Topper basketball coach Mary Taylor Cowles and a contract for Lady Topper assistant Nikki McCray.
• Approved a two-year contract extension through 2011 for Hilltopper basketball coach Darrin Horn.
• Approved a contract for Dr. Sadiq Shah, associate vice president for research and development.
• Approved the purchase of property at 506 Regents Ave.
• Approved the transfer of property on Morgantown Road/Forrest Drive between Bowling Green Municipal Utilities and WKU.
•  Approved a resolution authorizing a bond issue of $10 million for campus construction projects.

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For information, contact University Relations at (270) 745-5428.

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