Western Kentucky University facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Western Kentucky University

Former names	Western Kentucky State Normal School (1906–1922) Western Kentucky State Normal School and Teachers College (1922–1930) Western Kentucky State Teachers College (1930–1948) Western Kentucky State College (1948–1966)
Motto	The Spirit makes the Master Life more life
Type	Public university
Established	1906; 119 years ago (1906)
Academic affiliations	ORAU Space-grant
Endowment	$209.5 million (2022)
President	Timothy C. Caboni
Academic staff	932 (658 full-time) (Fall 2020)
Administrative staff	1,691 (1,101 full-time) (Fall 2020)
Students	16,762 (Fall 2024)
Undergraduates	14,593 (Fall 2024)
Postgraduates	2,169 (Fall 2024)
Location	Bowling Green , Kentucky , United States 36°59′10″N 86°27′20″W / 36.98611°N 86.45556°W / 36.98611; -86.45556
Campus	200 acres (0.81 km2)
Colors	Red and White
Nickname	Hilltoppers and Lady Toppers
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division I FBS – CUSA
Mascot	Big Red

Western Kentucky University (WKU) is a public university in Bowling Green, Kentucky, United States. It was started by the state of Kentucky in 1906. WKU also has smaller campuses in other cities like Glasgow and Owensboro. The main campus is on a hill that looks over the Barren River valley.

History of WKU

A statue of Dr. Henry Hardin Cherry, WKU's founder, stands in front of Cherry Hall.

The story of Western Kentucky University began in 1876. A school called the Glasgow Normal School and Business College was founded in Glasgow, Kentucky. This school later moved to Bowling Green in 1884. It became known as the Southern Normal School and Business College.

In 1906, Henry Hardin Cherry became the president of a new state school. This school was called the Western Kentucky State Normal School. It took over the students and buildings from the Southern Normal School. Classes officially started on January 22, 1907. In 1911, Western moved to its current location on "The Hill."

Over the years, the school's name changed several times. In 1922, it was allowed to give out four-year degrees. It was then called Western Kentucky State Normal School and Teachers College. The first four-year degrees were given in 1924. In 1930, the name changed again to Western Kentucky State Teachers College. The school started offering Master of Arts degrees in 1931. In 1948, it became Western Kentucky State College.

In 1963, Western Kentucky State College joined with the Bowling Green College of Commerce. This led to the school being divided into different colleges. Finally, in 1966, Western Kentucky State College became Western Kentucky University.

For many years, people often called the university "Western." However, in recent times, leaders prefer to call it "WKU." On July 1, 2017, Timothy C. Caboni became the university's 10th president. He had earned a degree from WKU in 1994.

WKU Presidents

Western Kentucky University has had ten presidents since it was founded.

Note: Paul Cook was an interim president from 1985 to 1986.

What Students Study at WKU

WKU has five main colleges, an honors college, and a graduate school. These are like different schools within the university.

• College of Education and Behavioral Sciences
• Ogden College of Science & Engineering
• Potter College of Arts & Letters
• Gordon Ford College of Business
• College of Health and Human Services
• Mahurin Honors College
• The Graduate School

WKU's Achievements

The university's motto, "The Spirit Makes the Master," is on the pylon at the entrance.

Pearce-Ford Tower is one of the largest dorms at WKU.

Jody Richards Hall is home to WKU's School of Journalism.

Many WKU students who studied photography and journalism have won important awards. As of 2007, twenty-seven alumni have won thirteen Pulitzer Prizes. The school also has its own newspaper, the College Heights Herald.

A view from the middle of the WKU campus.

Mahurin Honors College

The Mahurin Honors College at WKU was the first Honors College in Kentucky. It opened on July 1, 2007. This college helps over 1,300 students who are very good at their studies. In 2016, the average test scores of new students in the Honors College were among the top 6% in the country.

Center for Gifted Studies

WKU also has a Center for Gifted Studies. This center does research and creates special programs. These programs are for students who are very talented and smart. They also help teachers and parents of these students.

The Carol Martin Gatton Academy

The Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky opened in 2007. This special school is for high school juniors and seniors. About 100 high school juniors are accepted each year. Students can earn college credits while still in high school. The Gatton Academy was named "America's Best High School" by Newsweek in 2012 and 2013.

WKU Sports Teams

E.A. Diddle Arena is where WKU's basketball teams play.

The sports teams at Western Kentucky University are called the Hilltoppers for men's teams. The women's teams are called Lady Toppers. Their fun mascot is named Big Red. Big Red has even been in commercials on ESPN!

WKU is part of NCAA Division I, which is the highest level for college sports. They mostly compete in the Conference USA (C-USA). WKU has 16 different sports teams. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, and football. Women's sports include basketball, soccer, and volleyball.

Swimming

The WKU swim team used to be very successful. They often ranked among the top teams in the nation. The men's team was undefeated in 2006 and won their conference championship. The women's team won five championships in a row from 2001 to 2005. After the 2014–15 season, the swim program was suspended due to serious issues. As of 2025, the program has not started again.

Baseball

The baseball team has also had good seasons. They won the Sun Belt Conference tournament in 2009. In 2010, they beat the University of Kentucky in a game with a huge crowd. In 2025, WKU baseball had one of its best seasons ever. They won 46 games, which was almost a record for the team. They also won the Conference-USA Championship for the first time.

Basketball

The men's basketball team has won many games throughout its history. They are known for having one of the most victories in NCAA history. In 2008, they won their conference tournament and went to the NCAA Tournament. They made it to the "Sweet 16" round, which was their first time since 1993. In 2009, they again won their first game in the NCAA Tournament. In 2012, they had an amazing comeback win against Mississippi Valley State.

Football

The Hilltopper football team won the NCAA Division I FCS National Championship in 2002. This was under coach Jack Harbaugh. In 2006, the school decided to move the team to a higher level of competition, the Division I Bowl Subdivision. Since 2014, WKU football has been a member of Conference USA.

WKU Campus

A special thing about Western Kentucky University is that it sits on top of a hill. This is something that people at WKU are very proud of. "The Hill" is a common nickname for the campus in Bowling Green. The sports teams are even called the "Hilltoppers."

Many buildings and places on WKU's campus are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are important historical sites. These include:

• Henry Hardin Cherry Hall
• Fort Lytle
• Helm Library
• The Industrial Education Annex
• Industrial Arts Building
• The Kentucky Building
• President's Home

Student Groups

In 1965, Western Kentucky University allowed national fraternities and sororities to start chapters. These are social groups for students. Today, there are about 33 active groups with around 1,500 students involved.

WKU Media and Publications

The Adams-Whitaker Student Publications Center is where the student newspaper and yearbook are made.

Students at WKU create many different types of media.

• College Heights Herald: This is WKU's student-run newspaper. It has been published since 1924.
• Talisman: This is WKU's yearbook.
• Rise Over Run Magazine: This is WKU's online magazine about independent culture.
• WKU SPIRIT: This is a magazine for WKU's alumni (former students).
• WWHR, Revolution 91.7: This is WKU's college radio station.
• WKU NewsChannel 12: This is a TV newscast run by students.
• The Extra Point: This is a TV sports show run by students.

Partnership with University of Akureyri

In 2015, Western Kentucky University (WKU) signed an agreement with the University of Akureyri (UNAK) in Iceland. This agreement created the North Atlantic Climate Change Collaboration (NAC3) project.

The NAC3 project helps students and teachers from both universities work together. They do research and create courses about important topics. These topics include climate change, health, ocean studies, and how to live in a way that protects the environment.

Famous People from WKU