WKU News

Thirty-two Western Kentucky University students have been selected as Spirit Masters for the 2026-27 year. 

Spirit Masters, known as the official student ambassadors of WKU, serve to preserve traditions, strive for excellence and make the spirit of WKU contagious. They do this through service to the university. 

According to the organization’s mission, Spirit Masters work with each other and WKU officials to extend the spirit of WKU to others so they, too, can understand how “The Spirit Makes the Master.” Spirit Masters were first presented to the University in the spring of 1981. 

Fourteen WKU students have been newly selected as Spirit Masters for 2026-27. They are: 

• Gage Czirr, a junior from Thompson Station, Tenn., majoring in Sport Management. 
• William Fowler, a junior from Franklin, Tenn., majoring in Business Economics. 
• Jordan Fredericks, a sophomore from Madison, Tenn., majoring in Marketing. 
• Alexa Garcia, a junior from Greensburg majoring in Spanish with a concentration in Professional Legal Studies. 
• Jacy Hargiss, a freshman from Henderson majoring in Psychology and Professional Legal Studies. 
• Hope Hensley, a freshman from Bowling Green majoring in Communication Sciences and Disorders. 
• Annabelle Long, a freshman from Bowling Green majoring in Biochemistry. 
• Cameron McCullough, a sophomore from Elizabethtown majoring in Psychological Science. 
• Annie Pilbean, a freshman from Louisville majoring in Middle Grades Mathematics, Science and Math Education. 
• Charlie Preston, a sophomore from Georgetown majoring in Finance and Vocal Music. 
• Carter Smith, a freshman from Bowling Green majoring in Personal Finance. 
• Jackson Smith, a freshman from Bowling Green majoring in Finance in Business Economics. 
• Elliott Tapp, a sophomore from Hardinsburg majoring in Professional Legal Studies and Philosophy. 
• Praise Tendo, a freshman from Kampala, Uganda, majoring in Biochemistry. 

Eighteen Spirit Masters are returning for the 2026-27 year. They are: 

• Peter Aung, a junior from Bowling Green who is majoring in Health Sciences. 
• Jakob Barker, a sophomore from Wilmore who is majoring in Mathematical Economics. 
• Grayce Basham, a sophomore from Murfreesboro, Tenn., majoring in Music Education with a concentration in Vocal Music. 
• Demani Bell, a sophomore from Danville majoring in Musical Theatre. 
• Veronica Butler, a sophomore from Lexington majoring in International Affairs, Political Science, and Mandarin Chinese. 
• Marlowe Hanel, a junior from Louisville who is majoring in Mechanical Engineering, Visual Journalism and Photography. 
• Hannah Hash, a sophomore from Versailles who is majoring in Legal Studies and History. 
• Gracie Hurt, a junior from Richmond who is majoring in Public Relations and Sport Management. 
• Morgan Hicks, a sophomore from Clarksville, Tenn., who is a Nursing major. 
• Marissa Mudd, a junior from Crestwood who is majoring in International Affairs and Spanish. 
• Emily Oden, a junior from Guthrie who is majoring in Communication Sciences and Disorders. 
• Luke Phelps, a sophomore from Bardstown majoring in Civil Engineering. 
• Chloe Ralston, a sophomore from Stanford majoring in Nursing. 
• Emaun Riley, a sophomore from Owensboro majoring in Management. 
• Sophia Stirling, a sophomore from Troy, Ill., who is majoring in Political Science and Legal Studies. 
• Jagger Tomes, a sophomore from Sonora majoring in Visual Journalism and Photography and Creative Writing. 
• Amelia Tucker, a junior from Owensboro majoring in Agriculture. 
• Pace Wiseman, a sophomore from Bowling Green majoring in Biochemistry with a Pre-Medicine Professionals concentration. 

For more information about WKU Spirit Masters, visit https://www.wku.edu/spiritmasters/ or email spirit.masters@wku.edu.

-WKU-

Western Kentucky University prides itself on positioning its students, faculty and staff for long term success. As a student-centered, applied research university, WKU helps students expand on classroom learning by integrating education with real-world applications in the communities we serve. Our hilltop campus is located in Bowling Green, Kentucky, which was recently named by Reader’s Digest as one of the nicest towns in America, just an hour’s drive from Nashville, Tennessee.