WKU News

Chaise Bethmann, a graduating senior and Mahurin Honors College student from Thompson’s Station, Tenn., said she didn’t come to WKU as a leader, but she’s leaving as one.

“I arrived with potential, and WKU helped me grow into someone who leads with more confidence, intention and heart. More than anything, my experience taught me that leadership is not something I hold. It is something I live every day in how I serve others,” said Bethmann.

Bethmann is WKU’s spring 2026 recipient of the Ogden Foundation Scholar Award, WKU’s top undergraduate award. 

She will graduate on May 7 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics. She also earned minors in Organizational Leadership and Finance and a certificate in Data Analytics.

“The legacy I hope to leave at WKU is one of service. I want people to remember that I showed up for others, cared deeply about my community and used my time here to make a positive impact,” Bethmann said.

WKU’s highest undergraduate honor is selected by a faculty committee and presented each semester to one graduating senior who has demonstrated exceptional academic achievement in addition to outstanding university and civic engagement.

In a letter of recommendation for the Ogden Foundation Scholar Award, Dr. Evelyn Thrasher, Dean of WKU’s Gordon Ford College of Business, wrote about Bethmann’s scholarship, character and leadership.

“This award recognizes the very best of WKU’s graduating seniors, and Chaise is a wonderful example of what we hope our students become – an exceptional scholar, a strong and thoughtful leader and someone who genuinely cares about making a difference for others,” said Dr. Thrasher.  

Bethmann has always had a heart for serving others. When she was in high school, she had the opportunity to volunteer with Homes of Hope, an international mission program operating through Youth With a Mission (YWAM) that builds, secures and furnishes homes for families in need.

“My time in Tijuana, Mexico, with Homes of Hope, remains a profound travel experience. I didn’t fully grasp what to expect until we drove through neighborhoods where families lived in makeshift tents and weathered sleeping bags. Arriving at a bare concrete slab, the foundation of a future home, I was overwhelmed by the disparity between my life and theirs,” Bethmann said.

“Over the course of the week, we built a two-bedroom home from the ground up framing walls, painting, etc. The most transformative moment was the final dedication circle, sharing prayers and reflections with the family of three. Seeing their gratitude despite their trials taught me multiple lessons.”

In college, she had the opportunity to step in as Vice President of Finance for WKU Snowtoppers and has since watched the organization grow. 

“My involvement with Snowtoppers began in a very unexpected way,” Bethmann said. “This extreme sports club started as a seed in 2024 when my sorority sister, Maggie, approached me to help with the financial side of the new organization. At the time, I had never stepped on a ski slope, but I believed deeply in showing up when there is a need, even when it is outside my comfort zone.” 

Alpha Delta Pi is another important part of Bethmann’s WKU story. Each role she served in taught her about leadership and service. Over the years, she served her sorority as Spirit Chair, Recruitment Analyst Assistant, Financial Specialist and Vice President of Finance.

“Beyond formal roles, I have fully embraced the sisterhood and service culture of ADPi, from painting banners for our Hustle for the House philanthropy event to competing in intramural sports and being ranked number one in games played and wins last year, to simply showing up for my sisters in everyday moments. Some of my most meaningful memories are celebrating my sisters and the community we have built together.”

Bethmann said that at first she wrestled with choosing a major area of study at WKU. 

In high school, she was heavily involved in news broadcasting, and she genuinely loved being part of storytelling and media. WKU felt like the natural next step to continue that passion, so she originally came to study broadcasting.

However, during orientation, she became uncertain about career plans. She switched her major to undeclared and decided to take some time during her freshman year to explore different courses across multiple colleges.

“Everything changed when I took an economics course with Mr. Kevin Owens. It was one of the most engaging and impactful classes I have ever experienced. He had a way of turning complex ideas into something meaningful and understandable,” Bethmann said, “One moment I will never forget is when he stood on a table and said, ‘Trade creates wealth.’ It captured the energy, passion and purpose he brought into every lecture. Each class felt like a story that made economics come alive.”

“Over time, I grew to love how economics explains decision-making and how deeply it connects to everyday life. It gave me both perspective and purpose, and it is a field I am genuinely excited to continue growing in,” Bethmann said.

Through her coursework, she participated in real-world problem solving. In her FIN 332 Investment Theory course, she had the opportunity to complete a comprehensive investment portfolio analysis. 

“Working as part of a team, I was tasked with drafting a junior analyst report centered on two specific stocks. The project pushed me to dive deep into professional financial platforms, which we used to track market data and project performance. Beyond the technical side, this project significantly advanced my professionalism. It taught me that while powerful tools and data are essential, their true value lies in the analyst’s ability to interpret and explain what the data means.”

Bethmann did multiple internships, but one of the most impactful experiences was her internship with Pulte Group where she had the opportunity to work with another intern named Rishab, an international student from India.

“That experience completely changed how I think about connection,” Bethmann said.

“We spent time together on and off the job, including car rides to construction sites where I would help transport him since he did not have a car at the time. We learned about each other’s cultures, families and personal journeys. On one occasion, we shared a meal of Indian cuisine together. He explained each dish and its significance. It reminded me that connection is built through kindness and curiosity.” 

Discovering that she had been selected as this semester’s Ogden Foundation Scholar was another highlight of her time at WKU.

“When I found out I was selected, I was in bed early in the morning and immediately jumped up in disbelief. I ran to my roommate, showed her the email and we both jumped with joy and screamed for a solid minute. We were overwhelmed with joy and excitement.”

This summer, Bethmann will conduct independent research in Morocco as part of her graduate studies. She plans to pursue a graduate program in Applied Economics with a concentration in Business Economics and a certificate in Applied Data Analytics at WKU. After graduate school, she will explore job opportunities in data analytics and entrepreneurship.

For information about a degree in Economics, visit https://www.wku.edu/economics/. 

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

-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.