December 05, 2007
Bowling
Green, Ky. - The Western Kentucky University Recreation Administration program is celebrating 40 years of educating students.
Established in 1967 by the late Dr. Fred Kirchner, the program included a Bachelor of Science Degree and a Master of Public Service (MPS) Degree. A Master of Science Degree replaced the MPS Degree in 1974. The program received its initial national accreditation in 1980 and continues as an accredited program today.
To help celebrate, a 40th Anniversary Breakfast was held Nov. 10 in E.A. Diddle Arena as part of homecoming weekend. Several faculty, alumni, current students and guests attended the event. Among the attendees were two former WKU Recreation Administration Program faculty members Dr. Alton Little and Dr. Dale Adkins. Dr. Little was recently honored with receiving the Jefferson Award for Public Service and the naming of the Kummer-Little Recreation Center, a new Bowling Green Parks and Recreation facility. Dr. Adkins is the Chair of the Western Illinois University Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration.
Ron Timberlake, chair of the Health and Physical Education Department at Volunteer State Community College, was recognized during the breakfast as one of the “charter students” who entered the WKU Recreation program in 1967. He was accompanied at the breakfast by his wife, Mel Timberlake, also an employee at Volunteer State Community College.
The WKU Recreation Administration program is housed in the Department of Physical Education and Recreation within the College of Health and Human Services. Other programs in the department include: B.S. Sport Management, B.S. Exercise Science, B.S. Physical Education (Teacher Education), M.S. Recreation and Sport Administration, M.S. Physical Education, M.S. Physical Education (online), Rank I Athletic Administration, and minors in American Humanics (Nonprofit Administration), Athletic Coaching, Facility and Event Management, Outdoor Leadership, Recreation Administration, and Tourism.
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 Raymond Poff at (270) 745-2498.
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