WKU News

Western Kentucky University celebrated the Class of 2025 Thursday evening starting with Topper Walk and ending with a fireworks display at Big Red Bash.

Joined by faculty from each academic college, the 2025 graduates waved red towels and greeted family and friends as they made their way down the Hill into Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium for WKU’s 197^th Commencement.

WKU conferred 3,420 degrees and certificates to spring and summer 2025 graduates -- 97 associate, 2,108 bachelor’s, 598 master’s, 50 doctoral, 15 specialist degrees, 442 undergraduate certificates and 110 graduate certificates.

President Timothy C. Caboni addressed the Class of 2025, asking them to assess areas of personal growth and leaving them with a challenge for the future.

“Graduates, as you conclude your careers as students and reflect on your time on the Hill, I hope that you can see your personal growth - socially, intellectually and emotionally - and recognize that you have transformed, you are a different person today than when you began with us. And you leave WKU with our shared institutional values,” he said.

“And I challenge you with this: be a light in a sometimes-dark world. Choose good over evil, right over wrong, integrity over expediency, selflessness over selfishness. And make sure that you're not just focused on making a good living, but that you make a good life for yourself, for your families, for your communities and for our world,” President Caboni said.

In his remarks to graduates, Student Government Association President Sam Kurtz, a graduating senior from Bowling Green, offered advice to graduates.

“There is currently a lot of crazy things going on in the world. But there is one thing that is in your direct control, and that is your character,” Kurtz said.

“I’m here today to give you some of my pillars that I live by that made me the person I am today,” Kurtz continued. “The first and most important thing I have learned is that whatever you do, do it to help others.”

Minton Award

Uthman A. Rasaq, of Saki, Oyo State, Nigeria, was recognized as the John D. Minton Award recipient. He earned his master of science in Mathematics with a concentration in Computational Mathematics in December. 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. (Read more about the Minton Award recipient at https://www.wku.edu/news/articles/index.php?view=article&articleid=12548)

Ogden Foundation Scholar

Brett Phelps, of Bardstown, was recognized as the Ogden Foundation Scholar. Phelps earned dual degrees, a bachelor of arts with a major in Visual Journalism & Photography and a bachelor of science with a major in Marketing with a concentration on Strategic Marketing. He also earned a minor in Computer Information Systems and a certificate in Applied Data Analytics. The Ogden Foundation Award, WKU’s top undergraduate graduation honor, is presented to one graduating baccalaureate degree senior who has demonstrated exceptional academic achievement and outstanding university and civic engagement. The award was presented by Daryl Greattinger, 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=12521)

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 Anthony Struzik, Professor of Military Science, administered the oath of office to the following cadets (name, hometown, first duty assignment):

Cadet Evan Alexander from Hendersonville, Tennessee, assigned to Fort Gregg-Adams, Virginia; Cadet Caleb Dixon from Lebanon, Tennessee, assigned to Fort Novosel, Alabama; Cadet Knik Durman from Lexington, Kentucky, assigned to Fort Gregg-Adams, Virginia; Cadet Derek Hall from Owensboro, Kentucky, assigned to Fort Moore, Georgia; Cadet Gabriel Hamilton-Canabal from Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, assigned to Fort Moore, Georgia; Cadet Tiffany Jessop from Vine Grove, Kentucky, assigned to Fort Moore, Georgia; Cadet Isaiah Kindle from Spring Lake, North Carolina, assigned to Fort Jackson, South Carolina; Cadet Jase Phillips from Bardstown, Kentucky, assigned to Fort Jackson, South Carolina; Cadet Mason Satterley from Frankfort, Kentucky, assigned to Fort Jackson, South Carolina; Cadet Christian Silvano from Bowling Green, Kentucky, assigned to Fort Sill, Oklahoma; Cadet William Stanley from Fresno, California, assigned to Fort Eisenhower, Georgia; Cadet Jacob Sutherland from Louisville, Kentucky, assigned to Fort Sam Houston, Texas; Cadet Thurnapuf Valle from Union City, California, assigned to Fort Eisenhower, Georgia; and Cadet Ethan Yaste from Alvaton, Kentucky, assigned to Fort Gregg-Adams, Virginia.

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.

• WKU junior Donari Merritt, a Music major from Hopkinsville, led the National Anthem with sign language provided by graduating senior Rowan Finley, a Chinese major from Thompsons Station, Tennessee.

• Sedrik Newbern, President of the WKU Alumni Association Board of Directors, welcomed graduates to the WKU Alumni family.

• The spring/summer 2025 graduates included 60 student-athletes with an average GPA of 3.36.

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 each ceremony, 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 83 students from 39 counties in the Class of 2025, its 18th 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.