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INSIDE
Summer 2010
A Leading American University with International Reach
1 Professorship Spotlight
WKU
6 2010
President’s Circle Gala
8 Program Spotlight
10 Giving Spotlight
12 Scholarship Spotlight
Hall Professor of Civil Engineering
Fleischaker-Greene Scholars Program
WKU dedicates interfaith chapel
Newsletter of the Campaign for Western Kentucky University
Todd Gibbs Memorial Scholarship Fund
WKU Engineering Students Work to Mitigate Future Flooding in Area
Hall Professorship Supports the First Floodplain Management Minor in the U.S.
WKU student Aaron Wallace, Nick Winter Scholarship winner, at Lake Tahoe.
This past spring, the rains came down and the floods
came up in south central Kentucky. Thanks to the support of
Kenneth and Irene Hall, who created a Professorship in Civil
Engineering in 2000 with a $500,000 gift and $500,000 match
through the Commonwealth of Kentucky's Regional
University Excellence Trust Fund, a WKU professor is working with Civil Engineering students to determine ways to
keep this type of future disaster at bay.
Dr. Warren Campbell, who has served as the Hall
Professor of Civil Engineering for the past four years, said the
unfortunate flooding has provided his students with a project
for the fall semester that will allow them to make a real
impact on the area. “I believe we will be looking at some areas
along Nashville Road with some serious flooding,” he
explained. “These include the Unitarian Church and the
white frame apartments near the intersection of Woodland
and Nashville Road.”
In early May, more than 10 inches of rain poured down
upon Bowling Green in 24-hour period, eventually leaving
the lower level of the Unitarian Universalist church’s new fellowship building sitting under more than six feet of water.
The 7,500-square-foot building—which included classrooms,
a conference room, a kitchen and fellowship hall—was within two weeks of completion.
Continued on Page 4.
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Dear Supporter,
Thomas S. Hiles,
Vice President for
Institutional Advancement
On August 1, 2010, I will start my new
responsibilities as Vice President for
Institutional Advancement at Bowling Green
State University in Bowling Green, Ohio. Yes,
I have heard all the jokes about going to
another Bowling Green. However, the good
news is that when the Hilltoppers face the
BGSU Falcons on December 8, I can truly say
that I will be rooting for the team from
Bowling Green.
On a serious note, I did want to express my deep appreciation to
President Ransdell. When I was 38 years old, he took a chance and made
me his Vice President for Institutional Advancement. I will always be
grateful for his confidence and support.
We have teamed together with the advancement team, the campus
community, and thousands of loyal alumni and friends to create a new
culture of philanthropy at WKU. To illustrate, let me show you the
changes that have taken place since Dr. Ransdell took office:
President’s Circle Membership
Total Endowment
Cash Flow
Number of Alumni Events
1998
376
$24.9 million
$4.2 million
112
2010
2,331
$106.2 million
$19 million
237
We also teamed together to build WKU’s first successful campaign.
The Investing in the Spirit Campaign had a $78 million goal, and we finished
at $103 million. In the New Century of Spirit Campaign, we are tracking
ahead of schedule at about $160 million toward a $200 million goal.
But these are just the numbers. Much more meaningful is the creation of 21 new endowed professorships of $1 million or more, nine visiting professorships of $500,000 or more, and four endowed chairs of
$1.5 million to $2 million. There were also hundreds of new endowed
scholarships, important capital gifts such as $2 million raised in support
of our new campus chapel, and dozens of gifts to start new programs
like the highly successful Clinical Education Complex.
The credit for this success goes to Dr. Ransdell’s leadership, a hardworking advancement team, and, most importantly, a very loyal and
generous group of alumni and friends. Sara and I will miss our WKU
family. You will always hold a special place in our hearts.
Sincerely,
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Rick and Ann Guillaume Named
WKU’s Philanthropists of the Year
Ann (’65) and Rick (’65) Guillaume
Rick (’65) and Ann (’65) Guillaume of
Louisville were recently honored as WKU’s
2009 Philanthropists of the Year at the National
Philanthropy Day luncheon in Lexington.
Guillaume is the former President of BB&T
and currently serves as the organization’s
Kentucky Chairman Emeritus and State
Marketing Director. Ann spent 25 years as a
Research and Statistical Assistant at the
Kentucky Bankers’ Association and now
works, on a full-time volunteer basis, as Music
Administrative Associate at Christ Church.
In 1988, Rick was awarded the WKU
“Westerner” of the Year award. He currently
serves on the WKU Board of Advisors and as
Co-Chair of the New Century of Spirit
Campaign Cabinet. He is a former member of
the WKU Foundation Board and WKU Alumni
Association Board of Directors. Ann is a former
board member for the WKU Alumni
Association. Rick and Ann are Alumni
Association Lifetime members and members of
the Society of 1906. They have financially supported numerous programs at WKU, including
the proposed Alumni Association building and
the Sigma Chi house.
Previous recipients of the WKU
Philanthropist of the Year are Don Greulich,
Suzanne Vitale, Jerry Baker, Gordon Ford,
Lowell Guthrie, Bud Layne, Leon Page, Don
Vitale, and Raymond and Hattie Preston and
the Preston Family Foundation.
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CURRENT
TOTAL
2012
GOAL
PEOPLE
$45.36M
$75M
PLACES
$35.64M
$25M
PROGRAMS
$81M
$100M
TOTALS
$162M
$200M
Highly credentialed faculty and exceptional students
Campus capital enhancements
Academic and programmatic excellence funds
(as of 6/30/10)
WKU Sisterhood members Catherine Lowe, Katie Ward and Dr. Julie Ellis
visit during a Sisterhood event at the home of Julie Ransdell.
Sisterhood
The WKU Sisterhood is a group of women with shared values who enjoy collaborating to advance the mission of WKU. The structure of the WKU
Sisterhood allows members to combine their philanthropic support to have a
tremendous impact on a single university program or project. Through the
grant review process members learn more about exciting initiatives at WKU
and have the opportunity to choose those projects that are of special importance to the WKU Sisterhood. For more information or to join this exciting
new group, please contact Amy Hardin at 270-745-6490 or via email at
amy.hardin@wku.edu.
WKU Sisterhood members Linda Skaggs, Dixie Mahurin and Dr. Julie Ellis.
Summer 2010
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PROFESSORSHIP SPOTLIGHT
Students work to mitigate future flooding in area
Continued from page 1
Aaron Wallace at the Arizona spillway of Hoover Dam
“The Bowling Green/Warren County flood maps show
no special flood hazard area, or flood zone, at the Unitarian
Church,” Campbell explained. “However, the sinkhole
across the street has a 100-year flood elevation of 467 feet
above sea level. The lowest part of the road between the
sinkhole and the Unitarian Church is about 473 feet. At the
height of the flood, water was flowing across the road from
the sinkhole. This means the sinkhole flood elevation was at
least six feet above the 100-year flood elevation. The lowest
part of the Unitarian property is about 464 feet. Since the
building was not in an official flood zone, it could be built at
the current height, which resulted in significant damage. As
a result, the low part of the building was flooded to a depth
of six feet.”
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As a result, Campbell's students will be looking at possible methods of mitigating flooding in the area through property Floodproofing, Relocation, Elevation and Demolition
(FRED). They will also look at the possibility of acquiring
some properties and constructing one or more detention
ponds to reduce flooding, as well as the use of dry wells in the
area. WKU has the distinction of being the only university in
the United States with a minor in Floodplain Management, a
program that was begun under Campbell’s direction.
Kenneth and Irene Hall of Charlotte, N.C., and St.
Petersburg, Fla., established the Kenneth and Irene S. Hall
Professorship in Civil Engineering in 2000 to help support
a faculty position and provide programmatic support for
Civil Engineering.
With funding from the Hall Professorship, Campbell
has been able to travel to conferences and to sites of major
floods and of engineering interest in the United States and
even Europe. “This has allowed me to see the Golden Gate
Bridge, the lower 9th ward in New Orleans, Katrina damage
on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, the site of the worst alluvial
fan flood in the United States, the Salton Sea created by
floods on the Colorado River beginning in 1905, and flood
warning systems in San Diego,” he said. “It also allowed me
to take one of my students to a national conference in Reno
to be recognized for winning the Nick Winter Scholarship
awarded to one U.S. student each year. I have seen massive
detention ponds in Las Vegas and in Los Angeles. I am one
of those boring people who goes to Vegas to see flood control works. Casinos are of no interest to me, but the fact that
Clark County, Nev., has spent $1 billion on flood control
since the formation of their flood control district is.
Everywhere I travel, I take photographs and collect information that I use in the classroom. It helps me bring major projects such as Hoover Dam to life, explaining the creativity,
benefits, and costs of the project and the lack of ethics of the
builders, as 400 people died in the construction of Hoover
Dam. This has allowed me to bring many of these stories to
life for my students in the classroom.”
Everywhere Campbell travels and with every conference he attends and every person he meets, he tries to
spread his so-called “gospel” of floodplain management.
“When people think of formal university education in floodplain management, I want them to think of WKU,” he said.
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“We are making some progress. When I came to WKU in
2004, I was only the seventh Certified Floodplain Manager
(CFM) in the state. In the last four years, 31 of my students
have passed the national certification exam and can write
CFM after their names. To better appreciate the students’
accomplishments, consider that 14 states, Puerto Rico and
the District of Columbia each have fewer than 31 CFMs.”
With the support of the Hall Endowment, Campbell is
also able to serve on the Association of State Floodplain
Managers (ASFPM) Certification Board of Regents (CBOR).
With 13,000 members, ASFPM is the largest professional
organization in the United States dedicated to floodplain
management. “CBOR oversees the floodplain manager certification program,” he explained. Serving as a regent on
that board involves three week-long trips each year and
gives me the opportunity to work with some of the best and
best-known floodplain managers in the country. Travel to
conferences provides opportunities to become known within this vital community.”
Funds from the Hall Professorship endowment have
also provided important equipment for laboratories and
research, which has helped analyze air circulation in
Mammoth Cave and will aid Warren County with its
stormwater permitting process.
“With my floodplain management students, we began
the WKU Stormwater Utility Survey devoted to an excellent
method of funding stormwater programs,” Campbell
explained. “This survey has led to information requests
from floodplain officials, consultants and lawyers in
Washington state, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee and
Illinois, and from reporters from the Philadelphia Inquirer
and the Birmingham News. It has been cited by
Environmental Protection Agency as a source of useful
information for communities wishing to form a utility and
was also cited in testimony leading to the formation of
stormwater utilities in Oldham County, Ky., and Newark,
Del. Other student projects have developed information
useful for improving flood risk maps in Bowling Green and
in other karst (cave and limestone) areas. In the process, we
have developed better methods of calculating sinkhole
flooding that could be used in any sinkhole area.”
Campbell said the Hall Professorship in Civil
Engineering is helping WKU build a vital and progressive
Civil Engineering Program that can flourish during all economic situations. “Their donations and those of other generous donors help insulate us from the problems encountered by so many other universities,” he concluded. “We are
able to provide an excellent engineering education for students who will make significant contributions to this state
and to the nation.
About Dr. Warren Campbell
Dr. Warren Campbell (Far Right) has taught at WKU since 2004. Prior to
that, he served as the city hydrologist for Huntsville, Ala., and as a senior
engineer at two Huntsville corporations. He also served as a consultant to the
Madison County, Ala., Water Department and taught water resources courses
at the University of Alabama, Huntsville. He received his Bachelor of Science
in Electrical Engineering from the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, and his
Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Alabama,
Huntsville. He received his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Colorado State
University. Campbell teaches courses in water resources, including engineering hydrology, hydraulics, environmental engineering and floodplain management. Next on Campbell's agenda is the creation of an interdisciplinary
major in Floodplain Management at WKU. Like the existing minor, it will be
the first of its kind in the nation and will be aimed at meeting one of the
nation's critical needs.
Summer 2010
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2010
PRESIDENT’S CIRCLE
Gala
Karen Matchus accepts the Colonnade award at the President’s Circle Gala.
Cody Tellis, Wealth Management Advisor for BB&T,
accepts the award for the John B. and Brownie Young
Scholarship Fund.
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Jim Wiseman, Vice President for Corporate Communications, Toyota Motor
North America, accepts the Colonnade award from President Ransdell.
Steve and Vickie Newberry of Commonwealth
Broadcasting, accept the award from President
Ransdell for reaching the Colonnade level of the
Cherry Society.
Steve and Cheryl Kersey, owners of Kersey and Kersey
Architects, are honored at the President’s Circle Gala for
reaching the Colonnade level of the Cherry Society.
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Bob and Judy Armstrong receive the Colonnade award
from President Gary Ransdell.
Katherine Sikora, Co-vice chair of the Laura Goad Turner
Charitable Foundation, accepts the award for reaching
the Spirit of Western level of the Cherry Society from
President Ransdell.
Summer 2010
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PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT
Kim Greene and Jon Fleischaker
Thanks to a gift from two attorneys known for
their work with the media and defense of the First
Amendment, WKU junior Colleen Stewart has
taken her journalism training into the trenches
with once-in-a-lifetime investigative reporting
opportunities.
Stewart is a Fleischaker-Greene Scholar, a program that was made possible by gifts of $400,000
from Jon Fleischaker and Kim Greene of Louisville.
Their gifts have been matched by $150,000 through
the Commonwealth of Kentucky’s Regional
University Excellence Trust Fund, providing a total
impact of $550,000 for the fund.
According to Dr. Pam Johnson, head of WKU’s
School of Journalism & Broadcasting, the
Fleischaker-Greene Scholars program provides journalism students the opportunity to take an
advanced special-topic class once a year. “This class
is taught at the junior/senior level and offers
unique opportunities that include a field trip,
speakers, a First Amendment module, a gallery
exhibit and the development of a Web presentation,” Johnson said. “The course also places an
emphasis on using First Amendment tools, such as
open records laws.”
Fleischaker and Greene are attorneys with the
Louisville office of the law firm Dinsmore & Shohl
LLP. Fleischaker specializes in media law and First
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Gift From
Jon Fleischaker and
Kim Greene
Enhances Scholars
Program for WKU
School of Journalism
& Broadcasting
Amendment cases and has more than 30 years of
experience representing newspapers and broadcasters. Greene, who retired from practicing law in 2004,
worked with numerous media organizations in her
24 year career.
“We have both made our careers representing
journalists in Kentucky, and we both believe journalism is a vital profession that needs to be strengthened and grown in Kentucky and elsewhere if our
democracy is going to work,” Fleischaker said. “We
wanted to do something in Kentucky, which is significant because neither of us went to school at
WKU or in Kentucky. We wanted to invest in
WKU’s program. We thought journalism and photojournalism and everything connected to the school
was the best in Kentucky, and we wanted to be connected to it and grow it.”
He said they were pleased to be able to enhance
the program with this new gift. “We never thought
of ourselves as giving a certain amount of money
and being through,” he said. “We have tried to be
active in our participation at WKU, and we are very
excited about the program and the opportunity to
help it grow. We’ve had some interaction with the
students and are looking forward to having even
more. We have been very pleased. We are impressed
with the quality of people, as well as their academic quality and the quality of their work.”
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WKU Senior Colleen Stewart (Left) shares photographs (Below) from
her Spring 2010 trip to India, which was partially funded through the
Fleischaker-Greene Scholars Program. For more information, visit
www.fgscholars.com
Colleen Stewart, a 21-year-old junior from Covington,
Ky., has been a Fleischaker-Greene Scholar for the past two
years. Majoring in news/editorial journalism, she will graduate in May 2011. As part of this program, she has participated in many opportunities, from completing a detailed
report on a Liberian refugee to traveling to India to take part
in a WKU multimedia reporting team.
“The class has given me an opportunity to pursue the
type of journalism I have always wanted to do,” she said.
“I’ve gained important knowledge from other classes and
from working for student publications, but the FleischakerGreene Scholars class is a whole different kind of journalism. The stories are part of a cohesive project. They are powerful. As a journalist, it has forced me to be persistent and
creative. I’ve had so many doors slammed in my face. I’ve
been yelled at over the phone. But it is a beautiful feeling to
Summer 2010
care so much about a story that you feel unstoppable. Doing
so is exhausting, but so fulfilling.”
After graduation, Stewart plans to pursue a journalism
job that will allow her to do in-depth investigative reporting
and use a variety of media to tell her stories. Ultimately, she
hopes to pursue a graduate degree and become a journalism
professor.
Sara Shipley Hiles is a part-time faculty member in the
School of Journalism & Broadcasting who has taught the
Fleischaker-Greene Scholars course. “WKU already has one
of the top journalism schools in the country. This program
gives our students another opportunity to shine,” she said.
“Not only have Jon and Kim been so generous financially,
but they also have given their time and knowledge to advise
the class on its work. Their expertise has been invaluable.”
Stewart agrees. “I can’t thank Jon Fleischaker and Kim
Greene enough for funding this class and also for coming to
class last semester,” she said. “Their passion for media and
the First Amendment are alive. In funding it, they have given
us students a rare opportunity to do this kind of work, but
they have also brought attention to important issues in the
community. They have enabled voices, and hopefully, fostered a better understanding amongst people in our community. On a personal level, I can’t imagine my life or career having not been able to take the class. I am infinitely grateful.”
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WKU Dedicates Interfaith Chapel
GIVING SPOTLIGHT
Chandler Memorial Chapel
On May 7, WKU dedicated the Chandler Memorial
Chapel on campus. Built entirely with private funds, this
$1.8 million facility was made possible by gifts from 90 individual donors, and an additional $300,000 was raised for
enhancements and endowment to support maintenance and
preservation.
This interfaith chapel, envisioned by WKU President
Gary Ransdell and announced during the 2008
Homecoming celebration, is located on College Heights
Boulevard, adjacent to the Craig Alumni Center. It will be a
place for the campus community to come together during
times of both celebration and tragedy.
“As we transform this campus, I’ve observed that
there’s a missing element in our first 100 years and that is a
place in which our faculty, staff, students and alumni can
express their faith,” Ransdell explained. “For some time
now it has been my intention to help bring about that place
on our campus—a place for peace, solitude and private
expressions in a completely non-denominational manner
where every person is embraced. Those who just seek solitude and inspiration without religious context can find comfort in this place.”
David Chandler of Bowling Green, who made a lead gift
to begin the program, said the Chapel will add an important
element to WKU. “It’s an honor to be a small part of Dr.
Ransdell’s vision for a chapel on the WKU campus. My hope
is the chapel will provide a place of solitude for faculty, staff
and student body to worship and practice their faith.”
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Bob Kirby of Bowling Green has been a key volunteer
for the fund-raising initiative and he and his wife, Norma
Jean, also made a gift in support of the project. “I see it as a
quiet place where students, faculty and anyone else can go
and get things off their minds,” he said. “It will be a place of
refuge, and the beautiful setting only adds to it.”
George Nichols said he and his wife, C.J., who met as
students at WKU, were pleased to support the chapel project.
“When we learned of the project, it was a perfect thing for us
to invest in, as it was the church community that played such
an important role in our lives as we were growing up. That
foundation is the bedrock of our family today. For us, being
able to be a part of providing a unique place on campus for
students to go to practice their faith is a blessing. Also, my
mother passed away 11 years ago. Having our family name
be a part of the Chapel is also a memorial to her.”
Benefactors of
$25,000 and above include:
David G. Chandler
Ray Buckberry Family
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas A. Donnelly
Pat and Thomas Gorin
Islamic Center of Bowling Green
Bob and Norma Kirby and Family
Michael and Louise Lynch
Joe and Cheri Natcher
Cynthia and George Nichols III
Kim, Mike and Cleveland Simpson
Sodexho Education Facilities Solutions
Carol and Denny Wedge
Confidential Donors
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WKU Receives $500,000 From Toyota USA Foundation
Grant Will Support Math and Technology Leadership Academy
Dr. Sam Evans, Jim Wiseman and WKU President Gary Ransdell
WKU has been named the recipient of a nationally competitive $500,000 grant from the Toyota USA Foundation.
According to Dr. Sam Evans, Dean of WKU’s College of
Education and Behavioral Sciences, the grant will be awarded over three years and will help fund WKU’s Math and
Technology Leadership Academy (MTLA) which aims to
increase K-5 student interest and achievement in math and
technology among high-risk youth in the Bowling Green
Enterprise Community, as well as other areas of Warren
County, Ky.
“With a focus on student learning, this initiative will
provide opportunities for educators to enhance their knowledge and skills relative to mathematics and technology as
they develop and implement learning experiences for elementary age students in an environment that not only promotes student success but also prepares students for success
in middle and high school settings and fosters interest in
possible careers in these areas,” Evans said.
WKU will develop the MTLA by providing intense math
and technology professional development to educators in
order to strengthen their own skills, develop a national
model for teacher preparedness and, in turn, increase student achievement in these areas. Professors from WKU’s
Ogden College of Science and Engineering, College of
Education and Behavioral Sciences and The Center for
Summer 2010
Gifted Studies will partner with representatives from
Bowling Green Independent Schools, Warren County Public
Schools and the Housing Authority of Bowling Green to
develop unique, challenging experiences for the MTLA
teachers and the students they serve. In addition, the MTLA
will aim to increase the number of diverse students qualifying for advanced math opportunities while encouraging
family involvement through Math and Technology
Community School events.
“We are very grateful for the generosity of the Toyota
USA Foundation,” said WKU President Gary Ransdell.
“Thanks to their support, WKU and its partners can move
ahead in their efforts to make the MTLA a reality. By increasing the effectiveness of teacher leaders, we believe we can
better engage young students and introduce them to new
opportunities in math and technology. At the outset, a total
of 18 schools and nearly 9,000 students stand to benefit. But
over the long term, we believe the positive impact for families and communities will be far greater.”
“We’re proud to support WKU’s Math and Technology
Leadership Academy and strongly believe in its mission to
engage and increase achievement among young students in
high-risk, diverse communities by developing teachers’
skills and experiences,” said Jim Wiseman, Group Vice
President of Corporate Communications and Chief
Communications Officer of Toyota Motor North America.
“We are highly confident that the University’s partnership
with area educators, school districts and the Housing
Authority of Bowling Green will yield great results not just
in Western Kentucky, but ultimately in communities across
the country.”
About the Toyota USA Foundation
The Toyota USA Foundation is a $100 million charitable
endowment created to support education programs serving
kindergarten through 12th grade students and their teachers
in the United States, with an emphasis on mathematics, science and environmental science.
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SCHOLARSHIP SPOTLIGHT
A Legacy of Spirit:
The Todd Gibbs Memorial Scholarship Fund
The name “Todd Gibbs” brings a strong reaction for his
appreciative of what I was trying to accomplish in promotfriends at WKU. Personal memories of Todd and his enthuing WKU activities. I didn’t know it then, but it would be the
siasm for life bubble to the front of one’s thoughts, along
beginning of a very special friendship and relationship
with a deep sense of thankfulness for the scholarship named
established with him.”
for Todd or a desire to know this person who is always
When Todd decided to pursue a degree at WKU,
remembered with such reverence. Todd Gibbs lived a full
Younglove, who had then moved to Radio-TV Services,
and happy life, though it was not without its struggles. Todd
immediately thought Todd would make a great member of
had Cystic Fibrosis, but he never let that stop him.
the team, so he hired him as a student worker. While at
He attended WKU in the early 1990s as a non-traditionWKU, Todd also helped make the basketball games more
al student studying Mass Communication and Political
fun. He even went as far as to use his own sound equipment
Science. LaRecea Gibbs, Todd’s mother, said, “To Todd,
for music at the games to get fans more excited. Todd’s
WKU meant so much more than just a university to go to
excellent work ethic and drive to accomplish each task betand get a degree. When he first came, he thought he’d feel
ter than the last showed through in all he did, and he gradout of place because he was older than most students.
uated in May 1994.
Instead, WKU engulfed Todd.”
In 1995, Todd Gibbs passed away from complications
Todd quickly made friends and
connected to others through classes
and campus activities. He also
found mentors within the administration, and former WKU presidents
Dr. Dero Downing and Dr. Kelly
Thompson both took him under
their wing. “WKU is where I went
and where Todd’s sisters went,” his
mother said. “Among us, Todd
developed the greatest bond with
WKU.”
Jeff Younglove, WKU’s Director
of Campus & Community Events,
became friends with Todd even
before Todd ever arrived at WKU. “I
was working as a graduate assistant
for Radio-TV Services through
WKU’s Office of Public Information
and Todd was working as news
director for WVLE radio in
Scottsville, Kentucky,” he said. “I
From left to right: Craig Martin, Angela Gibbs Martin, student recipient Betsy Tracy,
always found Todd friendly and
LaRecea Gibbs and student recipient Alaura Pearson.
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Page 13
Todd Gibbs: 1964-1995
with his Cystic Fibrosis. Immediately, the loss of such a
vibrant person could be felt. Later that year, Todd’s co-workers established the Todd Gibbs Memorial Scholarship.
Quickly the donors for this fund grew beyond just those
who worked with Todd, and 15 years later nearly $80,000 in
scholarships has been awarded to WKU students in his
memory.
“Todd would have been honored to know that there is a
scholarship fund in his name,” LaRecea Gibbs said. “Todd
didn’t have the top grades in college because he was in and
out of the hospital so much. He would have been proud to
know that this scholarship exists for students who not only
work hard in school but also in the community. We base this
scholarship on more than just grades.”
Betsy Tracy of Bowling Green received the Todd Gibbs
Memorial Scholarship during her sophomore, junior and
senior years at WKU. “Receiving the scholarship meant a lot
Summer 2010
to me and my family,” Tracy said. “My family worked hard
and was prepared to pay for college but this relieved much
of the burden. We were all shocked that my tuition would be
paid.”
Like Gibbs, Tracy’s story is also one of overcoming powerful odds. At 20 years old and in her junior year of college,
she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. “After I went
through that experience, the scholarship meant even more to
me,” Tracy said. “I could relate to Todd Gibbs and his struggles. It was definitely a tough experience. I was able to meet
his mom and sisters. That was really special.”
Betsy Tracy received a bachelor’s degree in Consumer
and Family Sciences in 2005 and a Master of Arts in
Communication in 2009. She now works for the University
of Kentucky as the Warren County Extension Agent for
Family and Consumer Sciences.
WKU meant so much to Todd and he, in turn, has meant
so much to the faculty, staff and students of WKU. “Having
this scholarship keeps Todd’s spirit alive at a school where
he really embodied the motto ‘The Spirit Makes the
Master,’” LaRecea Gibbs said. “I would hope that recipients
of the scholarship would learn about Todd’s life and his passion for living. I also wish that they would not only use
money for their education but also to try to pattern their life
by his example.”
“In Todd, I had witnessed an individual who would
never admit defeat in any capacity,” Younglove said. “He
inspired anyone he met, and especially me, with his will,
zest and outlook to always not only overcome odds, but
make a lasting impression on how he went about overcoming them.”
Todd once spoke these words to his sister: “Sis, the
worse thing CF can do is kill me. It can’t stop me from living.” He certainly lived these words to their fullest. Todd’s
memory also lives on at WKU, and his spirit continues to
affect those who call the Hill home.
LaRecea Gibbs has written a book about Todd’s journey
that includes excerpts from his personal journals, Todd’s
journey through his mother’s eyes, and tributes and reflections of Todd by people who knew him well. “Not a Wasted
Breath: Living and Dying With Cystic Fibrosis” will be published by Tate Publishing in the fall of 2010.
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PLANNED GIVING SPOTLIGHT
In Loving Memory of Jeanne
Julian "Jack" Moore
Jeanne Leach and Julian “Jack” Moore met on a blind
date in Louisville, Ky., and knew it was meant to be. After
serving in WWII and playing baseball at Clemson
University for two years, Jack decided he wanted to study
electronics and radio/television engineering. He worked for
Arvin Industries out of Columbus, Ind., for more than 37
years, and he and Jeanne had many happy years together.
When Jeanne passed away in 2005, Jack wanted to honor her
memory. To do this, he turned to WKU, where his wife had
attended college. “She loved WKU,” Jack said jokingly. “It
was unfortunate she had to marry me and move away.”
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Jack Moore initially established two different funds in
his estate plans and also made an in-kind gift to the
Kentucky Museum. As part of that commitment, he established the Jeanne Leach Moore Scholarship Fund, which will
provide assistance to students who are faced with adversity
or handicap.
The guidelines spell out that a “recipient must possess
the personal qualities of character, integrity, dependability,
industriousness and human compassion which produce
leaders and merit the honor of the award.” The Moores
lived their lives to these characteristics and wish for their
recipients to do so also. “I hope that the recipients will use
these funds to their full advantage,” Moore explained. “The
object of a scholarship is to support a student who really
needs it so they can become proficient in their profession.
Aside from recognizing my wife’s connection to WKU, that
is the main reason I give.”
As a hobby, Jeanne Moore collected cookbooks, and Jack
has donated more than 3,000 cookbooks from her collection
to the Kentucky Library and Museum in her memory. He
also designated $50,000 in his estate to create the Julian
“Jack” Moore and Jeanne Leach Moore Kentucky Library
Special Collections Endowment Fund that will provide funding for the Department of Special Collections. This fund has
a special focus on cookery and the culinary arts, which will
allow the Kentucky Library to supplement Jeanne Moore’s
collection. “The Kentucky Library has always collected cookbooks, which support several academic programs at WKU,
but the Moore Endowment will allow us to purchase new
and historic cookbooks that we could not otherwise afford,”
said Jonathan Jeffrey, Manuscripts & Folklife Archives
Coordinator. “The endowment will allow us to augment a
significant collection that will continue to bring recognition
to the Moore family and to WKU. It will also allow us to
exhibit and repair cookbooks from the collection.”
Due to recent health concerns, Jack Moore decided to
forward fund the scholarship in memory of his wife, gifting
$100,000 from his estate before his passing. “I just thought
somebody ought to get the advantage of the scholarships
sooner rather than later,” he said.
Newsletter of the Campaign for Western Kentucky University
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ANNUAL GIVING SPOTLIGHT
Generations of Spirit
Stan and Cathy Marks Support the Parents’ Fund at WKU
Stan, Cathy, Alex and Grady Marks
Stan and Cathy Marks are part of an amazing legacy at
WKU. The 1920 incoming class at WKU included E.B. Liles
and Vera Poole, Stan Marks’ grandfather and great aunt.
Continuing with the second generation was Stan’s dad, H.R.
Marks, Jr., in 1951. In the third generation, Stan entered the
picture, coming to WKU in 1972 and meeting his wife,
Cathy, who is a 1977 graduate. In the current generation,
their son, Grady, is a 2007 graduate and their daughter, Alex,
will graduate in December 2010.
The Marks family has given their financial resources
and their time. Stan and Cathy served on the Parents’
Summer 2010
Advisory Board for four years, spending two years as cochairs and one year as fundraising chairs. During their
tenure, they also started a Parents’ Endowment, which has
a $100,000 goal and, when fully funded, will support scholarships and other goals of the Parents’ Advisory Board.
Cathy has also been chosen to serve on the WKU Alumni
Association’s National Board of Directors and will begin
her term of service in July.
When asked why they give back to WKU, Stan was very
clear, “Western gave us so many things while we were in
school and afterwards as well,” he said. “While some of
those things we may have gotten from most universities—
education, independence and social opportunities — we
got things from our time at Western that were special and
we probably did not realize it until many years afterward.
Our friendships made there have been life-long, and our
opinions and values that were learned once we were on our
own at Western have served us well all our lives.”
Stan said WKU also influenced the choices he and Cathy
made about the kind of place they wanted to live and work
and raise a family. “There is also no doubt that our ability to
give back is related to the time we spent there,” he said.
“We were fortunate enough to have families who made big
sacrifices so we could attend Western and, now that we can,
we want to support WKU so others will be able to do the
same. I also have to add that we are very confident in the
fact that the contributions made to Western are used to build
the spirit of its students. The leadership at the university is
exceptional and the vision is clear. We are so pleased that our
children could not have had a better college experience than
they did there.”
Stan and Cathy Marks make their home in
Franklin, Tenn., where Stan is director of franchise
development for Gorilla Games, and Cathy is an
agent for State Farm Insurance.
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VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT
Home: Louisville, Ky.
Family:
Glenda Ford
Son: Gregory N. Ford (Michelle)
Grandchildren: Jonathon and Jennifer Ford, Caroline Root (Tom)
Great-grandchildren: Owen and Emma Root
WKU Volunteer Positions:
WKU New Century of Spirit Campaign Cabinet;
Search Committee for the Dean of the Gordon Ford College of Business
Why I Support WKU: It has always been a passion of mine to see WKU and the Gordon
Ford College of Business to be in a position in which they are able to educate students with experiences they need before entering the working world. It is my belief that being able to prepare
students for the global economy with intellectual challenges, the highest of education, and phenomenal programs will set a
precedent of economic success. In 1998, my late husband (Gordon Ford) made a gift to WKU. I remember making a statement, “Education is the foundation for life and is most important for the future of our country.” I have always believed this
to be true and it is an honor to see WKU attract high caliber students and offer them an exceptional quality of education. It
will always be my greatest wish to see WKU graduates meet their expectations of successful leaderships in their prospective
work and I firmly believe WKU holds all the attributes necessary to accomplish these rewarding tasks!
Most rewarding experience with WKU: Western Kentucky University was a very influential and prominent aspect
of Gordon’s life. After his passing, it was an honor and blessing that WKU continued with Gordon’s legacy and dreams for
the College of Business by including me within the WKU family. Naming the Business College in his honor and the dedication will always be cherished memories. I was asked to speak at a Scholarship Awards Banquet, sharing with the WKU family, the students and their families the impact the Bowling Green College of Commerce, forerunner to WKU, had on my late
husband’s life and the meaning of education to them.
Newsletter of the Campaign for Western Kentucky University
Contributing Writers:
Carol Cummings
Amy Hardin
Deanna Jenkins
Amy Miller
Carol Cummings, Editor
Clinton Lewis, Photographer
Additional Information can be
obtained by contacting:
Thomas S. Hiles, Vice President
for Institutional Advancement
Western Kentucky University
1906 College Heights Blvd. #11005
Bowling Green, KY 42101-1005
(270) 745-6208
1-888-WKU-ALUM
tom.hiles@wku.edu
www.wku.edu
Bowling Green, KY
42101
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