WKU News

WKU's 183rd Commencement will be held May 11 at Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium.

WKU will reimagine an old tradition with some new additions for its 183^rd Commencement on May 11.

For the first time since May 2006, WKU’s spring ceremony will be conducted outdoors at Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium. Two new events will bookend the ceremony – the Topper Walk as WKU faculty and the Class of 2018 make their way from the Kentucky Museum into the stadium and the Big Red Bash on the WKU South Lawn as graduates celebrate with family and friends. (More: Details about the 183^rd Commencement are online at www.wku.edu/commencement)

WKU will confer degrees and certificates to 3,283 spring and summer graduates -- 144 associate, 2,184 bachelor’s, 702 master’s, 10 specialist, 27 doctor of physical therapy, nine doctor of education, 13 doctor of nursing practice and four doctor of psychology degrees and 95 undergraduate certificates and 95 graduate certificates. (More: 64 WKU student-athletes to receive degrees)

Members of the Class of 2018 should arrive in front of the Kentucky Museum by 4 p.m. May 11 to gather with other graduates of their academic colleges. The Topper Walk, led by WKU faculty members and the parade of U.S. and international flags, will begin at 5 p.m. (More: Parking map for May 11 events; parking video)

Graduates will wave Class of 2018 red towels during the Topper Walk as they make their way down the Hill into the stadium. Family and friends are invited to watch the procession along the sidewalks or on the videoboard inside the stadium.

The Commencement ceremony will begin immediately following the seating of students at the stadium and will include the official conferral of degrees, remarks from President Timothy C. Caboni, the commissioning of 16 ROTC cadets and the recognition of Lillian Nellans as the Ogden Foundation Scholar (top undergraduate award) and Nicole Musgrave as the John D. Minton Award recipient (top graduate student). The ceremony will take place rain or shine. (More: View from the Hill on Ogden Scholar.)

At the conclusion of the ceremony, the graduates, their families and friends will make their way to the South Lawn for the Big Red Bash, a celebration that will feature entertainment by Tyrone Dunn and Kin-foke, food and fireworks. GradImages, the official Commencement photographer, will be set up at the WKU Alumni tent for portraits of graduates.

On May 12, WKU’s six academic colleges will host special recognition ceremonies at Diddle Arena to celebrate the accomplishments of their graduates who will walk the line and shake hands with President Caboni. The schedule is as follows: College of Health and Human Services at 8 a.m.; University College at 10 a.m.; Ogden College of Science and Engineering at noon; College of Education and Behavioral Sciences at 2 p.m.; Potter College of Arts & Letters at 4 p.m.; and Gordon Ford College of Business at 6 p.m. (More: Parking map for May 12 events; parking video)

The May 11-12 ceremonies will be broadcast live by WKU PBS and webcast live on WKU YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/wkunews and on the WKU Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/WKUNews/ For information about Commencement photography, visit https://www.wku.edu/commencement/photography_media.php

Got questions about Commencement? Visit https://www.wku.edu/commencement/faq.php or contact the Registrar’s Office at (270) 745-3351. For social media posts about Commencement, follow #WKUGrad

Gatton Academy graduation

In addition to the WKU ceremonies, The Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky will recognize 88 students from 48 counties in the Class of 2018, its 11^th graduating class. The ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday (May 12) at Van Meter Hall. Guest speaker will be Hood Harris, President of the AT&T Kentucky.

Other recognition events

• Lavender Recognition Ceremony, 7 p.m. May 8 at Augenstein Alumni Center
• ISEC Graduation Celebration, 2 p.m. May 9 at Downing Student Union Auditorium
• International Graduation Reception, 4:30 p.m. May 10 at Mahurin Honors College/International Center multipurpose room
• WKU Glasgow Graduand Ceremony, 6 p.m. May 10 at TJ Pavilion Community Room, 310 N L Rogers Wells Blvd., Glasgow
• Graduate Student Awards Dinner, 6 p.m. May 10 at Knicely Conference Center
• Mahurin Honors College Graduation Luncheon, 11 a.m. May 11 at Knicely Conference Center
• Department of Public Health Hooding and Award Ceremony, 1 p.m. May 11 at Mahurin Honors College-International Center, room 1011.
• Doctor of Physical Therapy Pre-Commencement Awards Ceremony, 1 p.m. May 11 at Downing Student Union Auditorium
• Organizational Leadership Hooding and Awards Ceremony, 2 p.m. May 11 at Guillaume Auditorium, Grise Hall 235
• ROTC Commissioning Ceremony, 2 p.m. May 11 at Diddle Arena
• Dental Hygiene Pinning Ceremony, 3 p.m. May 11 at Downing Student Union, room 3023
• Recreation and Sport Administration Recognition Ceremony, 3 p.m. May 11 at Downing Student Union, room 3003
• Gatton Academy Class of 2018 Senior Night, 7 p.m. May 11 at Sloan Convention Center
• Gatton Academy Graduation, 10 a.m.-noon May 12 at Van Meter Hall
• College of Education and Behavioral Sciences Graduate Reception, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. May 12 at Gary Ransdell Hall, second and third floor atrium
• Department of Folk Studies & Anthropology Reception, Awards and Hooding Ceremony, 1-3 p.m. May 12 at Kentucky Museum
• Department of Philosophy and Religion Graduation Reception, 1:30-2:30 p.m. at Cherry Hall, room 316
• Gordon Ford College of Business Commencement Reception and MBA Gathering, 4 p.m. May 12 at Grise Hall backyard
• Master of Accountancy Hooding Ceremony and Reception, 4 p.m. May 12 at Downing Student Union, room 3020
• WKU Elizabethtown-Fort Knox Commencement Ceremony, 6 p.m. ET May 14 at Hardin County Schools Performing Arts Center, 384 W.A. Jenkins Road, Elizabethtown
• WKU Owensboro Graduation Ceremony, 6:30 p.m. May 14 at RiverPark Center, 101 Daviess St., Owensboro        

Contact: Registrar's Office, (270) 745-3351