WKU News

WKU graduates started Thursday evening with one last walk across campus during Topper Walk and ended it with a fireworks display at Big Red Bash as Western Kentucky University gathered the Class of 2026 for WKU’s 199th Commencement at Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium. 

WKU conferred 3,395 degrees and certificates to spring and summer 2026 graduates -- 98 associate, 2,011 bachelor’s, 578 master’s, 50 doctoral, 12 specialist degrees, 523 undergraduate certificates and 123 graduate certificates.

President Timothy C. Caboni addressed the Class of 2026, asking them to assess their relationship with AI technology in a rapidly changing, AI-driven world. 

“The ability to begin with nothing and build something meaningful is among the most distinctively human capacities we possess. As AI grows more powerful and more prevalent, and it will, we will face an increasing temptation to outsource our thinking along with our tasks. There is a significant difference between using a tool to sharpen your ideas and allowing a tool to replace them. One enhances your abilities. The other quietly erodes them,” President Caboni said.

“I am asking you tonight to consider your relationship with this technology - deliberately, thoughtfully and early. The graduates who thrive in an AI-influenced world will be those who never stopped thinking for themselves,” he continued.  

“Your WKU education was designed precisely for this moment – to enable you to lead in an AI driven world. To ask the questions the algorithm never thinks to ask. To challenge the output it produces with the judgment only a human can bring. To ensure technology serves people,” President Caboni said.

In his remarks to graduates, Student Government Association President Rush Robinson, a graduating senior from Benton, Ky., offered advice to graduates, asking them to embrace three things: curiosity, nervousness and people.  

“Finally, and most importantly, I ask that you embrace people. Of course, embrace your close friends. They are the people that have kept you going these past few years. They have been there for you. But don’t forget to embrace the people you are not so familiar with,” Robinson said. “A successful life happens because of the people that help you along the way.”

Minton Award

Zoe Brown, of London, Ky., was recognized as the John D. Minton Award recipient. She is earning a Master of Science degree in Mathematics with a concentration in Computational Mathematics. WKU Graduate Studies’ top award is named for Dr. John D. Minton, who was a history professor and WKU’s first graduate dean and served as vice president for Administrative Affairs and as WKU’s fifth president. The award was presented by John D. Minton Jr., retired Chief Justice of the Kentucky Supreme Court, and Dr. Ernie Minton, Dean Emeritus of the College of Agriculture at Kansas State University, both alumni of WKU. (Read more about the Minton Award recipient at https://www.wku.edu/news/articles/index.php?view=article&articleid=13078) 

Ogden Foundation Scholar

Chaise Bethmann, of Thompson’s Station, Tenn., was recognized as the Ogden Foundation Scholar. Bethmann earned a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Economics and minors in Organizational Leadership and Finance. She also earned a certificate in Data Analytics. The Ogden Foundation Award, WKU’s top undergraduate graduation honor, is presented to one graduating senior who has demonstrated exceptional academic achievement and outstanding university and civic engagement. The award was presented by Dr. David Hartman, a member of the Ogden Foundation Board of Trustees. (Read more about the Ogden Foundation Scholar at https://www.wku.edu/news/articles/index.php?view=article&articleid=13087) 

ROTC Commissioning

The Hilltopper Army ROTC Program commissioned 14 graduates as second lieutenants in the U.S. Army to serve in the active Army, National Guard or Army Reserve.

Lieutenant Colonel David Schnaak, Professor of Military Science, administered the oath of office to the following cadets (name, hometown, first duty assignment):

Cadet Martin Buckminster from Louisville, Ky., will serve as a Logistics Officer in the Kentucky National Guard; Cadet Samuel Costello from Elizabethtown, Ky., will serve as a Logistics Officer on Active Duty; Cadet Jack Fairman from Franklin, Ky., will serve as a Field Artillery Officer in the Kentucky National Guard; Cadet John French from Bowling Green, Ky., will serve as a Logistics Officer in the Tennessee National Guard; Cadet William Futrell from Hopkinsville, Ky., will serve as a Logistics Officer in the U.S. Army Reserves; Cadet Hayden Harrell from Bowling Green, Ky., will serve as a Military Intelligence Officer in the Kentucky National Guard; Cadet Clayton Hockman from Glendale, Ky., will serve as an Infantry Officer on Active Duty; Cadet Samuel Humble from Bowling Green, Ky., will serve as an Infantry Officer on Active Duty; Cadet Joshua Ingram from Cadiz, Ky., will serve as a Field Artillery Officer in the Kentucky National Guard; Cadet Celia Johnston from Leitchfield, Ky., will serve as a Signal Officer in the Kentucky National Guard; Cadet Thang Lian from Bowling Green, Ky., will serve as a Logistics Officer on Active Duty; Cadet Zachary Owens from Elizabethtown, Ky., will serve as an Army Nursing Corps Officer on Active Duty; Cadet Robert Stewart from Nashville, Tenn., will serve as a Medical Services Officer on Active Duty; and Cadet Austin Stinson from Scottsville, Ky., will serve as a Field Artillery Officer in the Kentucky National Guard.

WKU recognized graduates and those in attendance who are serving in the U.S. military or are military veterans.

Commencement notes

Commencement activities began with Topper Walk along the Avenue of Champions and concluded with the Big Red Bash on the South Lawn.

Dr. Julia Link Roberts, the Executive Director of The Center for Gifted Studies and The Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science, carried the Mace to lead the procession of platform guests. The honor of carrying the mace is given to the faculty member in attendance who has served the longest tenure. Dr. Roberts, the Mahurin Professor of Gifted Studies, has taught at WKU for over 40 years.

Keelin Murrell, a graduating senior and Music major from White House, Tenn., led the National Anthem with sign language provided by graduating senior Audrey Richards, a Communications Studies major from Vine Grove, Ky.

Kevin Mays, president of the WKU Alumni Association Board of Directors, welcomed graduates to the WKU Alumni family.

The spring/summer 2026 graduates included 62 student-athletes with spring graduates earning an average GPA of 3.27.

More: Commencement information; Commencement program

College Recognition Ceremonies

On Friday at Diddle Arena, WKU’s five academic colleges will host recognition ceremonies to celebrate the accomplishments of their graduates who will walk the line and shake hands with President Caboni.

The ceremony schedule is: Gordon Ford College of Business, 8 a.m.; Potter College of Arts & Letters, 10:30 a.m.; Ogden College of Science and Engineering, 1 p.m.; College of Education and Behavioral Sciences, 3:30 p.m.; and College of Health and Human Services, 6:30 p.m.

WKU is expecting heavy traffic throughout the day. To accommodate traffic flow for graduates and guests, WKU Parking & Transportation is providing parking recommendations for the ceremonies, including shuttle service to Diddle Arena, at https://www.wku.edu/commencement/directions.php as well as live updates at https://www.wku.edu/eventparking. More: Event parking information; parking map

Gatton Academy graduation

The Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science will recognize 82 students from 36 counties in the Class of 2026, its 19th graduating class. The ceremony will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday at Van Meter Hall.

Contact: Communications & Marketing, (270) 745-4295

-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.