WKU News

Graduating senior Jay Macy from Bowling Green knew he wanted to work in healthcare at a young age, and earning his bachelor’s degree from WKU continues his path toward achieving that childhood dream.

“My degree in science (with a focus in pre-med) has been my goal since very early in high school. I’ve been drawn to working in healthcare from a young age. Making a living by being able to help other people has always seemed like a dream to me,” Macy said.

He is earning two degrees with majors in Health Sciences and Environmental and Occupational Health Science.

A doctor in sports medicine is what Macy ultimately wants to become; therefore, his interest led him to involvement in the HRSA Kentucky AHEC Scholars Program. “Through the AHEC Scholars Program, I was able to amplify my experience and volunteer work within the healthcare field,” Macy said. “I was also able to access incredibly helpful resources in my journey studying the MCAT through the AHEC program, of which I am extremely grateful for.”

Challenging himself through coursework as a Mahurin Honors College student, Macy expanded his knowledge in topics relevant to his future. “Through the honors college, I was offered classes and more in-depth course material for specific courses that would not be available otherwise,” he said. “Being able to meet others outside of my specific major through the honors program was a great experience.”

Macy explains that the connections he established have been important to his time on the Hill.

“The best part of my experience at WKU has definitely been the relationships built with friends and professors at the university,” Macy said. “Being able to learn at a high level while also feeling like your professors care about what you are doing and your goals for the future is extremely empowering and motivating.”

Macy’s motivation led to strong academic performances, including earning recognition on the Dean’s List for five semesters and the President’s List for one semester. Students making the Dean's List have a grade-point average of 3.4 to 3.79 in a 4.0 scale. Students on the President's List have GPAs of 3.8 to 4.0.

Achievements in the classroom circle back to what led Macy to choose WKU. “I chose WKU due to the experience I had through classes at the university in high school,” Macy said. “From when I first took the campus tour, I could tell Western would be a great balance between a bigger city college and a smaller hometown feel. It always felt like the right choice from the beginning.”

On May 7, Macy will graduate from WKU. He plans to attend medical school starting in the fall of 2027.

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#WKUGrad series: For more stories on graduating students in the #WKUGrad series, visit https://www.wku.edu/news/articles/index.php?view=default&categoryid=799&multinewsid=187