Western Kentucky University facts for kids
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Former names
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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) |
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| Motto | The Spirit makes the Master Life more life |
| Type | Public university |
| Established | 1906 |
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Academic affiliations
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| Endowment | $209.5 million (2022) |
| President | Timothy C. Caboni |
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Academic staff
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932 (658 full-time) (Fall 2020) |
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Administrative staff
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1,691 (1,101 full-time) (Fall 2020) |
| Students | 16,495 (Fall 2022) |
| Undergraduates | 14,442 (Fall 2022) |
| Postgraduates | 2,053 (Fall 2022) |
| Location |
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United States
36°59′10″N 86°27′20″W / 36.98611°N 86.45556°W |
| Campus | 200 acres (0.81 km2) |
| Colors | Red and White |
| Nickname | Hilltoppers and Lady Toppers |
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Sporting affiliations
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NCAA Division I – C-USA |
| Mascot | Big Red |
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Western Kentucky University (WKU) is a large public university. It is located in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The state of Kentucky started the university in 1906. However, its beginnings go back even further. WKU also has smaller campuses in other cities. These include Glasgow, Elizabethtown-Fort Knox, and Owensboro. The main campus sits on a hill. From there, you can see the Barren River valley.
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History of WKU
The story of Western Kentucky University began in 1876. That year, A. W. Mell started a private school. It was called the Glasgow Normal School. This school moved to Bowling Green in 1884. It then became the Southern Normal School. In 1906, Henry Hardin Cherry took over the Southern Normal School. He became the first president of the new Western Kentucky State Normal School. This new school was created by the state of Kentucky. Classes officially began on January 22, 1907.
In 1909, Western bought the buildings of Potter College. This was another local school. By 1911, Western moved to its current location. This was the same property that Potter College used to be on.
Over the years, the school's name changed several times.
- In 1922, it became "Western Kentucky State Normal School and Teachers College." It could now give out four-year degrees.
- In 1930, the name changed to "Western Kentucky State Teachers College."
- In 1948, it was simply "Western Kentucky State College."
In 1963, Western Kentucky State College joined with the Bowling Green College of Commerce. This made the university bigger. The school also started to have different colleges for different subjects. Finally, in 1966, the school became Western Kentucky University.
For a long time, people just called it "Western." But now, many people call it "WKU." The current president is Timothy C. Caboni. He became president on July 1, 2017.
WKU Presidents
Here are some of the people who have led Western Kentucky University:
- Henry Hardin Cherry (1906–1937) - The first president.
- Paul L. Garrett (1937–1955)
- Kelly Thompson (1955–1969)
- Dero Downing (1969–1979)
- Donald Zacharias (1979–1985)
- Thomas Meredith (1988–1997)
- Gary Ransdell (1997–2017)
- Timothy Caboni (2017–present) - The current president.
What You Can Study at WKU
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WKU has many different schools and colleges. They offer a wide range of subjects to study.
- 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
Many WKU graduates have become successful journalists and photographers. As of 2007, twenty-seven alumni have won thirteen Pulitzer Prizes. This is a very important award for journalism. The school also has its own newspaper. It is called the College Heights Herald.
Mahurin Honors College
WKU has a special program called the Mahurin Honors College. It was the first Honors College in Kentucky. It helps over 1,300 students who want to challenge themselves. Students in this program often have very high test scores.
Center for Gifted Studies
The Center for Gifted Studies at WKU helps smart and talented students. It also provides resources for their teachers and parents. They do research and create special programs.
Gatton Academy
The Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky is a unique school. It opened in 2007. This school is for high school juniors. Students can earn college credits while still in high school. Newsweek magazine named the Gatton Academy "America's Best High School" in 2012 and 2013.
WKU Sports Teams
The sports teams at Western Kentucky University are called the Hilltoppers. The women's teams are called the Lady Toppers. Their fun mascot is named Big Red. Big Red has even been in TV commercials! WKU is part of NCAA Division I. They mainly 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 strong. They often ranked in the top 5 nationally for mid-major teams. In 2006, the men's team won all their dual meets. They also became Sun Belt Conference Champions. The women's team won five championships in a row from 2001 to 2005.
Baseball
The baseball team has also had good success. They won the Sun Belt Conference tournament in 2009. In 2010, WKU played against the University of Kentucky. WKU won the game 24-8. Over 6,000 fans watched the game. This was the biggest crowd ever for a college baseball game in Kentucky.
Basketball
The men's basketball team has won many games. They are among the top 15 teams in total wins in NCAA history.
In 2008, the men's team won the Sun Belt Conference tournament. This allowed them to play in the NCAA Tournament. They won their first two games. One win was on a last-second shot! They made it to the Sweet 16. This was their first time there since 1993. In 2009, they again won their first NCAA Tournament game. In 2012, they made an amazing comeback. They were losing by 16 points with five minutes left. But they won the game 59-58! Even U.S. President Barack Obama watched that game.
Football
The Hilltopper football team won a national championship in 2002. This was in the NCAA Division I FCS. Their coach was Jack Harbaugh. In 2006, the team moved to a higher level of competition. They now play in the Football Bowl Subdivision. WKU used to have a big rivalry with Eastern Kentucky University. This was called the Battle of the Bluegrass.
Student Life and Groups
WKU has many student groups. In 1965, the university allowed national fraternities and sororities to start chapters. These are social groups for students. Today, there are about 33 active groups. Around 1,500 students are part of them.
WKU Media and Publications
WKU students create many different types of media:
- College Heights Herald: This is WKU's student newspaper. It has been running since 1924.
- Talisman: This is WKU's yearbook.
- Rise Over Run Magazine: An online magazine about independent culture.
- WKU SPIRIT: This magazine is for WKU alumni (former students).
- WWHR, Revolution 91.7: This is WKU's college radio station.
- WKU NewsChannel 12: A TV news show run by students.
- The Extra Point: A TV sports show run by students.
Working with Other Universities
In 2015, WKU signed an agreement with the University of Akureyri in Iceland. They also partnered with the Icelandic Arctic Cooperation Network. This project is called the North Atlantic Climate Change Collaboration (NAC3).
The NAC3 project helps students and teachers from both universities. They work together on research. They study things like climate change, health, and how oceans work. They also share ideas about technology and water.
Famous People from WKU
Many people who went to Western Kentucky University have become famous. They have achieved success in many different fields.
