INSIDE
1
A Leading American University with International Reach
Professorship Spotlight
Mattie Newman Ford Professorship in
Entrepreneurship
8 Program Spotlight
10 Scholarship Spotlight
Fall 2009
WKU Sisterhood
Football Scholarships
Confidential Football Lead Trust
12 Giving Spotlight
McChesney Gift
Newsletter of the Campaign for Western Kentucky University
Dr. Wil Clouse:
Mattie Newman Ford
Professor of
Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneur: a person who organizes and
manages any enterprise, esp. a business,
usually with considerable initiative and risk.
Dr. Wilburn (Wil) Clouse is most definitely an entrepreneur at heart. He serves as director of the Center for
Entrepreneurship & Innovation in WKU’s Gordon Ford
College of Business, as well as the Mattie Newman Ford
Professor of Entrepreneurship. The Center is an interdisciplinary program that is uniquely designed to maximize the
entrepreneurial talents and expertise of WKU faculty, staff,
students, and community in partnership with entrepreneurs.
The Mattie Newman Ford Professorship was created in
1998, as part of a $10.6 million gift to the College of Business
from Glenda and Gordon Ford of Louisville, Ky. In appreciation for this gift, WKU named the Gordon Ford College of
Business in Mr. Ford’s honor. Gordon Ford passed away on
March 3, 2005, at the age of 81. Glenda Ford continues to be
active with the Gordon Ford College of Business.
At the time of the gift, Gordon Ford said he chose to give
because he has “been interested in education for many years,
believing that education is the hope of the world.” The Ford
family has had a connection with WKU for more than 100
years. Mr. Ford’s mother, Mattie Newman Ford, for whom
the professorship is named, attended Western from 19071909, just after it moved to its present location on the “Hill” in
Dr. Wil Clouse
1906, and received a teaching certificate. Mr. Ford came to
Bowling Green in 1931, graduating from the Bowling Green
Business University in 1943. BU merged with Western in 1963
to become the Bowling Green College of Business
Administration, the predecessor of the Gordon Ford College
of Business.
Clouse, the second person to hold the Ford Professorship,
received the honor in July 2009. His areas of expertise are in
entrepreneurship, creativity, humor, and organizational development. He teaches courses in Innovation Management and
Small Business Analysis and Strategy and leads the Center.
Continued on Page 4
Thomas S. Hiles,
Vice President for
Institutional Advancement
Dear Friends of WKU,
Our New Century of Spirit Campaign continues to move forward in spite of a challenging economic climate.
The campaign—which passed its midpoint earlier this year—has raised more than $151 million toward a $200 million goal. It will conclude in June 2012.
This is an outstanding achievement in light of the fact that our country has been through one
of the most challenging economic environments since the Great Depression. In spite of these challenges, WKU’s donors are continuing to support our goals to attract and retain highly credentialed
faculty and students, enhance WKU’s physical campus, and provide academic and programmatic
support for all areas of the University. Private support is having a real impact. We are very grateful.
Some of the examples of the impact of contributors’ gifts in the first half of the New Century of Spirit Campaign are:
• 76 percent of the $200 million Campaign has been achieved to date.
• Approximately 200 new endowed scholarships have been created.
• Five new endowed faculty positions have been created. These include the BB&T Professorship in Economics
for the Study of Capitalism; Greulich Endowed Chair in Energy Systems; Jarve Endowed Professorship in
Honors; Leichhardt Endowed Professorship in Horticulture; and the Hays Watkins Endowed Professorship
in Corporate Leadership.
• A $15 million gift from Jerry Baker was announced. This tied for the largest gift to a public university in the
history of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
In order to achieve the $200 million goal, we will continue to clarify to our valued donors the impact of their giving. We will
also continue to be flexible and creative in structuring donor gifts through end-weighted gifts, matching funds, gifts of property,
and other planned gifts.
Thank you for the role you are playing in helping WKU become a leading American university with international reach.
Sincerely,
Tompkinsville Class of 1959
Creates Scholarship Fund at WKU
There are many ways to create and structure a gift to
WKU. One group—the Tompkinsville High School Class of
1959—found a unique way to make a gift. Recently, the
group got together and created the Tompkinsville High
School Class of 1959 Scholarship Fund. This fund was the
first scholarship at WKU to be named for an individual graduating class.
Housed in the College Heights Foundation, the scholarship is available to beginning freshmen graduates of Monroe
County High School. Recipients are selected by the
University Scholarship Committee and must demonstrate
financial need and the personal qualities of character, integrity, dependability, industriousness, and human compassion
Page 2
Scholarship donors Patsy Gillenwater and Charlotte Hundley
pose with their student recipient, Ryan Dowell.
which produce leaders and merit the honor of the award.
Applicants must also submit an essay, which will be used in
the selection process.
Delroy Hire, a 1962 alumnus of WKU, was a member of
the Tompkinsville High School Class of 1959. “I think this is
a great example for others to follow,” he said. “Actually, I
have already suggested it to other friends, and they are willing to discuss it and look into the possibility. Suppose every
high school class did that? It would make a huge difference
for students from their home high schools. I’m glad to be a
part of it!”
Newsletter of the Campaign for Western Kentucky University
PEOPLE
CURRENT
TOTAL
2012
GOAL
$42.8M
$75M
Evelyn Thurman
Highly credentialed faculty and exceptional students
PLACES
$32.2M
$25M
Campus capital enhancements
PROGRAMS
$76.6M
$100M
Academic and programmatic excellence funds
TOTALS
$151.6M
$200M
(as of 9/30/09)
Evelyn
Thurman
was
known for her great storytelling
abilities and her dedication to
the
field
of
education.
Graduating from Bowling Green
Business University in 1946 with
a diploma in Bookkeeping, Ms.
Thurman did not stop at one
degree. She continued to study
and later received an A.B. from
Asbury College and an M.A. in
Library Science from Peabody
College. She also taught for the
Defense Department in Japan,
Germany,
and
Bermuda.
Eventually, Ms. Thurman’s path
led her to Western Kentucky
University where she joined the
library faculty as general reference librarian and juvenile biographer in 1966. She retired from
the library in 1990 but continued
to teach in the College of
Education until 1995.
Ms Thurman was the author
of several children’s books
including The Canary Who Wants
to Talk (1975) and Little Houses on
Fall 2009
the Prairie with Search and Find the
Word Puzzles (1983). She traveled all over the United States
presenting stories and encouraging children to read.
Ms. Thurman was also
known for her generous spirit.
She set up several scholarships
for the Libraries and the College
of Education including ones for
studies in Elementary Education
and the Library Media Education
program. WKU was also included in her estate plans. Overall,
Ms. Thurman’s gifts to WKU
total more than $89,000 dollars.
Evelyn Thurman truly loved
what she did. She once said, "My
happiest moments are when
someone (in the library) has
been looking for something . . .
and I am able to find the information for them. Making them
happy makes me happy."
Thanks to her gifts to WKU, Ms.
Thurman’s legacy of service will
continue to make a difference.
Page 3
PROFESSORSHIP SPOTLIGHT
Mattie Newman Ford Professor of
Entrepreneurship Continued from page 1
“
For me, holding the Mattie
Newman Ford Professorship is
very special because of the values
that were held by Mr. Gordon Ford
and the influence that his mother,
”
Mattie, had on his life.
— Dr. R. Wilburn (Wil) Clouse
Mattie Newman Ford Professor of Entrepreneurship
Dr. Wil Clouse with several of his students.
The Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation serves to
educate students, prospective business owners, and employees about starting and growing a business. Such enterprises
create jobs, increase work force skills and employability, and
add to the economic base. A spirit of enterprise is encouraged, and skills and knowledge that foster entrepreneurship
are required. In addition, the Center fosters entrepreneurial
understanding, education, and the creation of new ventures.
“Holding an endowed professorship is the greatest
honor any professor can receive,” Clouse said. “It is the top
of the profession for a faculty member. For me, holding the
Mattie Newman Ford Professorship is very special because
of the values that were held by Mr. Gordon Ford and the
influence that his mother, Mattie, had on his life. I can
strongly identify with this value system because of the influence my mother and father have had on me and what gives
me the ‘e’ spirit and innovative mindset.”
Clouse’s work as the Ford Professor greatly impacts
WKU's vision to be a leading American university with
international reach. In the first few months of his professorship, he was able to secure more than $400,000 in grants. He
has also co-directed the Play Golf America Program, a crossdisciplinary activity for the Gordon Ford College of Business
Page 4
and the Center, and he conducted a Think Tank institute that
developed strategic plans for eight counties in Kentucky.
Clouse also created the Glenda Ford Entrepreneurship
Forum series, named in honor of Mrs. Ford.
“I am honored to hold this important endowed chair for
several reasons,” Clouse said. “It gives me the opportunity
to engage with other ‘e’ chair holders from around the world
and puts me in unique circle of the most knowledgeable
people in the world about entrepreneurship and innovation.
It provides a platform for developing relationships with
other universities across the world, gives me credibility in
the state of Kentucky to interact with state officials and other
universities, and, of course, credibility to influence students
at WKU and across the world. But perhaps, more importantly, I agree with the values of the Ford family and want to
continue uphold these important values.
“I am most grateful to Mrs. Glenda Ford for her support
of my work and for my appointment as the Mattie Newman
Ford Professor in Entrepreneurship,” he said. “I am very
pleased that we can honor her by establishing the Glenda
Ford Entrepreneurship Forum Series. I am also grateful for
the vision that Mr. Gordon Ford had to establish the Gordon
Ford College of Businesss and to endow a professorship in
honor of his mother. This is a great honor for a son to bestow
upon his mother and says volumes about her influence on
his life and values. I am very proud to continue to carry the
flag of Gordon Ford and his family, and I thank them for
that privilege.”
Newsletter of the Campaign for Western Kentucky University
About
Dr. R. Wilburn (Wil) Clouse
Dr. Wil Clouse concentrates on developing organizations for the future including new business startups. His
work emphasizes the spirit of creativity and entrepreneurship, and investigates the intersection of new technology
and the development of new enterprises. His research and
programs in interdisciplinary research deal with Learning
in Actions which includes Entrepreneurs in Action,
Creative In Action, and Humor in Action; all are web-based
learning systems designed to create the Entrepreneurship
spirit. He has authored more than 100 research articles and
monographs, and his work is internationally known, as he
has conducted research in Brazil, Costa Rica, the United
Arab Emirates, the Republic of Philippines, Japan,
Tanzania, Mexico, and Venezuela, and has been recognized
with grants from NSF Foundation, The John F. Kennedy
Foundation, and the Coleman Foundation.
Prior to his appointment as the Ford Professor
Professor at WKU, Clouse was the founder and director of
a faculty-generated center for entrepreneurship education
at Vanderbilt University. He has served on a variety of
national editorial and advisory boards. In his earlier years,
Fall 2009
he worked in Biochemistry Research at the Vanderbilt
Medical Center, in research and development at E. I.
DuPont Company, and was one of the founding faculty
members who created Columbia State Community
College—Tennessee’s First State Community College in
Columbia, Tenn. Wil also served as an independent contractor - consultant to IBM for 12 years in marketing for
computer systems. Wil is the Founder and President of
Matrix Systems, Inc. and Clouse and Associates—two
small consulting ventures.
Wil Clouse has provided many individuals with a spirit that encourages almost a spiritual revolution about seeing new opportunities and developing new business ventures. He has fostered the “e” spirit in countless individuals over his lifetime. His students serve in many different
roles including president, vice president, deans, and faculty members at major universities, as school system directors, as small business owners and independent contractors, and entrepreneurs. He is described by his colleagues
as one of a kind with a new idea every 15 seconds. He has
a creative and entrepreneurial spirit and has always lived
“out the box.” He says he was an entrepreneur before
entrepreneurship was “cool.” Clouse holds degrees from
David Lipscomb University, Middle Tennessee State
University, and Peabody College of Vanderbilt University
and conducted post-Doctorial studies at the University of
North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
Page 5
Matching Funds Create Unique
Opportunities for Donors
Valerie C. Brown
Matching gifts through the Commonwealth of
Kentucky’s Regional University Excellence Trust Fund
have played an important role in helping WKU achieve its
objectives. Since 1998, WKU has received more than $14.1
million in “Bucks for Brains” matching funds, which has
allowed the University to match gifts from private donors
to create one endowed chair, 26 professorships, 15 scholarships, and 29 mission support funds. WKU has also been
able to utilize matching funds to create exciting opportunities for the region it serves.
Sustainability at WKU
For example, Valerie Brown (’78, ’91) of Bowling Green
took advantage of matching funds to support sustainability efforts at WKU. Brown gave a gift of $10,000 to supplement a $40,000 prize won by WKU students through the
“Chase Go Green” Facebook competition on sustainability
issues. The Green Toppers won this competition by earning
Page 6
the most points by taking a Green Quiz, by asking other
students to participate, and by learning about Chase banking for students. The award was presented by Chase, a
commercial banking brand of J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.
Brown, who serves as President/CEO of Service One
Credit Union, gave an additional $10,000 to make the entire
$50,000 eligible for a match through Bucks for Brains. The
Green Toppers will use income from the $100,000 endowment to support student-led sustainability projects on campus. This gift was a logical fit for Brown, as Service One is
leading the way in Bowling Green to sustainable building
practices by achieving LEED (Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design) certification at the Platinum Level.
LEED is an internationally recognized green building
certification system, developed by the U.S. Green Building
Council, that provides third-party verification that a building or community was designed and built using strategies
aimed at improving performance across all the metrics that
matter most: energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions
Newsletter of the Campaign for Western Kentucky University
reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts.
“Josh Hawkins in the WKU Development Office let me
know about this special matching sustainability grant,” she
explained. “Because of my professional involvement in sustainability through Service One Credit Union’s LEED-certified building project, this giving opportunity seemed especially appealing. I am an environmentalist at heart, and as a
businesswoman believe that profitability cannot be the only
concern of business; social and environmental responsibility
impacts customer value and market success as well. This
matching sustainability grant enables me to make a difference
locally through supporting WKU’s sustainability efforts.”
Allen County Internship and
Small Business Accelerator
Another unique gift came from Halton Group Americas
in Allen County, Ky. Halton created an internship program
with the University to promote economic development
within its local community. Halton’s $50,000 gift will be
matched by $50,000 through Bucks for Brains to create the
Halton Fund for Economic Development in Allen County.
“Once it is fully funded, income from $100,000 endowment will be instrumental in the start-up of the Allen County
Small Business Accelerator and will solely benefit Allen
County’s economic development by assisting business and
industry in Allen County,” said WKU President Gary
Ransdell.
Dr. Ransdell said that, on an annual basis, the Allen
County Technical Innovation and Vocational Education
board (ACTIVE) will determine, through a county economic development needs assessment, where each student’s
internship should be focused.
“The recipient of the scholarship and internship may
come from different disciplines, depending upon the county’s needs, providing flexibility and truly making the program interdisciplinary,” Dr. Ransdell said. “The program
Fall 2009
Green Toppers
will be managed by a partnership between the WKU
Foundation and the WKU Small Business Accelerator.”
Halton Group Americas President Rick Bagwell said it is
a strongly held belief at Halton that a good company always
gives back to the community in which it is located. “The
community itself is a stakeholder within the company, and
the community should prosper due to the locating of our
operations within it,” he explained.
Bagwell said WKU was a logical partner for this program, as it demonstrated the ability to make a large impact
with the available resources. “WKU has proven, time and
time again, its own commitment to our communities, our
children, and to the advancement of our region as a whole,”
he said. “The expertise within the WKU team in looking at
the advantages and disadvantages of gift applications
ensures that the resource given will be optimized to receive
the greatest impact.
“If you want to gain insight into the role WKU is playing
in regional economic development, one need look no farther
than the WKU Small Business Accelerator, located in the WKU
Research and Development Center,” he said. “The brainchild
of WKU President Gary Ransdell and Representative Jody
Richards, under the direction of Buddy Steen, the operation is
a model for fostering entrepreneurship within the region. The
resources and financial commitment the University displays to
the economic development of the region is to be commended,
and it is exciting and comforting to know that the development and operation of the Allen County site will be under the
direction of the same management team.”
Page 7
PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT
We are pleased to announce WKU’s newest philanthropic program: the WKU Sisterhood. This initiative is a
way for women—whether they are alumni, friends, faculty
or staff—to combine an annual monetary gift with other
women who are focused on furthering the priorities of the
University so that collectively they are able to have a
greater impact than with individual gifts.
Many women from the WKU community have also
already joined The WKU Sisterhood. “I am proud to say
that I am a member of The WKU Sisterhood,” Julie Ransdell
‘75 said. “This initiative has the ability to do great things
through the strength of the women of Western. There is a
special place for WKU in my heart, and I am glad to be able
to support my alma mater in this unique fashion.”
Amanda Coates Lich, Director of Development at
WKU, says programs like the WKU Sisterhood are gaining
momentum at other colleges and universities. “Programs
of this nature offer women an opportunity to become more
engaged with organizational priorities while simultaneously creating a network of friends who share philanthropic
interests,” she explained. “It is a great opportunity for this
group to impact the future of the institution with a very significant gift.”
To become a member of the WKU Sisterhood, one must
contribute a minimum of $1,000 annually. This gift will be
placed in a restricted fund and held until the WKU
Sisterhood meets. The designation of the fund will be chosen by the majority vote of the full membership. Gifts may
be made in a single payment or spread out (biannually,
quarterly, or monthly). WKU faculty and staff also have the
option to make their gifts through payroll deductions.
Founding membership status will be offered to members
who make their commitment prior to December 31, 2009.
Once a member, one can decide how involved she would
WKU
Sisterhood
“An organization of women advancing university priorities
through philanthropic engagement and a collective voice.”
Page 8
Newsletter of the Campaign for Western Kentucky University
like to be; she can serve in a leadership position or only
make her annual gift.
The WKU Sisterhood will annually accept grant proposals from the WKU campus community. Each member will
have one vote to cast in the selection of the recipient(s) of the
WKU Sisterhood’s funds. The recipient(s) will be obligated
to make a presentation at a full membership meeting to show
how they utilized the funds for their program or initiative; a
written report is also acceptable. The amount that is available
to be awarded each year is directly related to the number of
members and amount of gifts made that fiscal year.
"I happily invite all the women of the WKU community
and beyond to join me in this endeavor," Ransdell said. "The
more women who join, the greater the impact the WKU
Sisterhood will make. This is a special opportunity for
women to work together to make an impact."
The WKU Sisterhood has set a goal of 100 members by
June 30, 2010. This important philanthropic initiative is now
accepting membership of female alumni, friends, faculty,
and staff. The collective voice that the WKU Sisterhood will
provide for the women of WKU will help ensure the
advancement of the University and community.
Julie Ransdell
For more information on the WKU Sisterhood
and how to join, please contact:
Amanda Coates Lich
WKU Director of Development
1906 College Heights Blvd. #11005
Bowling Green, KY 42101-1008
270.745.2340
amanda.lich@wku.edu
Amy Hardin
WKU Assistant Director of Annual Giving
1906 College Heights Blvd. #31016
Bowling Green, KY 42101-1016
270.745.6490
amy.hardin@wku.edu
Fall 2009
Page 9
SCHOLARSHIP SPOTLIGHT
Lead Trust for Scholarships
Has Significant Impact on Football Program
University Athletics provide a rallying point for people
of all ages and backgrounds. When a school’s athletics program flourishes, a sense of pride and unity is created and the
powerful effects are immeasurable. WKU is reaching new
levels of excellence, but in the competitive world of collegiate athletics it is difficult to remain among the very best.
One family has had a tremendous impact on moving the
Hilltopper Football Program to that critical next level.
Through a $3.2 million confidential lead trust, countless student-athletes will be able reap the benefit of an athletic
scholarship at WKU.
Director of Athletics Wood Selig said WKU will forever
thankful for the lead trust that has made such an impact on
the program. “It was a transformational gift in so many
ways,” he explained. “It enabled WKU football to extend
scholarships to an additional six to eight student-athletes
each year, which in turn increased the overall competitiveness of our team. These additional student-athletes became
the true margin of excellence for our football program.”
In fact, Selig said the increased competitiveness of WKU
Football helped the team earn the first national championship in any sport for WKU with a I-AA National
Championship in 2002. “Earning that national titled helped
Page 10
propel discussions of WKU participating at the highest possible football level, the I-A level, and a subsequent vote by
our Board of Regents in November of 2006 to do just that.”
Being one of just 120 I-A football programs and competing against many of the finest institutions in the country
helps all of our programs recruit better, helps brand WKU to
a national audience, helps better position WKU for potential
students and faculty, and keeps WKU visible to tens of thousands of alumni and friends during the course of a given
year, Selig said. “The lead trust in so many ways changed
forever the face of WKU athletics and the positioning nationally of WKU in general,” Selig continued. “Since we received
the lead trust a number of substantial gifts have also followed, perhaps largely in part due to the vision represented
in this exceptional gift to WKU athletics. Others quickly saw
the confidence felt in WKU athletics. Other more recent
donors were comforted in knowing WKU athletics was seen
as a worthwhile investment providing sizable returns with
respect to high graduation rates, championship performances, and outstanding individuals. This particular gift was
such a catalyst for change and accomplishment that we will
never be the same athletic program we once were.”
This lead trust supports the University’s vision for WKU
Newsletter of the Campaign for Western Kentucky University
“
Receiving a scholarship has been a blessing for my family and me.
Not having to worry about the financial aspect of getting a degree
took a huge weight off my shoulders.
”
— Jake Gaebler
Scholarship Recipient
Football to consistently achieve three important goals:
develop leaders that will leave WKU prepared to go out and
have a positive influence, earn a meaningful degree, and
win championships. The scholarships have a life-changing
impact on the lives of the individual students, as well as the
program.
One of these students is Wide Receiver Jake Gaebler, a
fifth year senior who received his Bachelor’s Degree in
Finance and is pursuing a Master of Business
Administration at WKU. “Receiving a scholarship has been
a blessing for my family and me,” he said. “Not having to
worry about the financial aspect of getting a degree took a
huge weight off my shoulders. Knowing that I won’t have
any loans to pay when I graduate is a great feeling. With that
being said, as student-athletes, a lot of demand is placed on
us. We work extremely hard and make a lot of sacrifices. It is
like having a full-time job.”
After graduation, Jake hopes to work in the field of
finance in either Bowling Green or Lexington. He will leave
with great hopes for WKU Football. “I think that the future
is very bright for Hilltopper football,” he said. “Our program has a lot of character and there is no doubt in my mind
that over the next couple years we will continue to improve
and become a dominant team in the SunBelt conference.”
About Charitable Lead Trusts
A charitable lead trust provides income to WKU for a set
term of years, after which the remainder may be transferred
to the donor’s family or heirs.
Fall 2009
Page 11
GIVING SPOTLIGHT
WKU Receives Gift of Property for McChesney Field Campus
Western Kentucky University is expanding its resources
for environmental education, sustainability, and other academic programs with the addition of the McChesney Field
Campus, a 140-acre site along the Green River in northern
Warren County.
This new addition comes through a gift of property from
the McChesney family. The McChesney Field Campus, off
Austin Raymer Road near the Anna community, will honor
the memory of Hardin Field McChesney Sr. and Lucy Blair
McChesney. Several members of the McChesney family
were on hand for the dedication and unveiling of a marker
on the property.
“We’re doing this to honor my father and his dedication
to Western and his love for higher education and our family’s
dedication to Western,” Field McChesney Jr. (’46) said. “It’s
our family’s great honor and pleasure to symbolically turn
this land over to Western Kentucky University. May it be
enjoyed for generations to come and may it strengthen and
advance Western Kentucky University, our community, our
Commonwealth, and our nation.”
President Gary Ransdell said
WKU is appreciative of the
McChesney family’s generosity of “a
Field McChesney Jr. noted that from the time he entered
kindergarten in 1927 until the late 1980s, that one of his
father’s children attended classes on the Hill almost continuously.
“We gave the property to perpetuate my father’s name
since he’d been on the Hill for so long,” McChesney said.
“Our idea was to have a place that was dedicated to the best
uses Western could develop. We hope that all departments
and disciplines on the Hill will have a shot at doing things
out here.”
His sister, Mary Frances Kindell (’34), said the
McChesney Field Campus is a prime location for the study
of nature. “How many people understand this wonderful
world in which we live?” she said.
Kindell, a retired high school teacher, grew up on the
Hill when Henry Hardin Cherry was WKU’s first president.
In recalling Dr. Cherry’s passion for wanting to provide education for every child in Kentucky, she said, “that’s the spirit we want to preserve.”
marvelous environmental asset.”
“The McChesney Field Campus
will be used for generations to come
and offer unique educational opportunities in a stimulating, outdoor
environment,” he said.
H.F. McChesney Sr. came to
Bowling Green in 1927 to teach foreign language at Ogden College.
After Ogden College merged with
Western in 1928, McChesney taught
on the Hill until his retirement in
1959. All eight of H.F. McChesney
Sr.’s children had ties to WKU, either
as former WKU students, WKU graduates, or College High graduates.
Page 12
Field McChesney Jr., Mary Frances Kindall, and WKU President Gary A. Ransdell
Newsletter of the Campaign for Western Kentucky University
The McChesney Family
Faculty and students in the Department of Kinesiology,
Recreation and Sport have taken the lead in developing concepts, plans and uses for the McChesney Field Campus.
However, the facility will provide a unique outdoor experiential learning environment that will be utilized by numerous academic disciplines throughout the WKU campus
community, including recreation administration, outdoor
leadership, physical education, public health, cave and karst
study, geology, geography, biology, chemistry, teacher education, environmental science, agriculture, horticulture,
environmental health, construction, engineering, history,
public relations, marketing, advertising, graphic design,
sustainability, and more.
Access to the Green River also will provide opportunities for environmental research, outdoor leadership, and
physical activity classes. In addition to academic uses, the
site could be utilized by student organizations or community youth groups for retreats or instructional activities.
Dr. Terry Wilson, director of WKU’s Center for
Environmental Education and Sustainability, said the
McChesney Field Campus is “one more feather in our cap”
as WKU continues to take the lead statewide in sustainability issues. “This is a new resource for all of us to make a
reconnection with nature,” he said.
The McChesney Field Campus will complement WKU’s
other environmental education sites, including the Upper
Fall 2009
Green River Biological Preserve, Mammoth Cave
International Center for Science and Learning, WKU
Challenge Course, Agriculture Research and Education
Complex, Shanty Hollow, Kentucky Heritage Corridor, and
Cave Spring Caverns.
Dr. John Bonaguro, dean of the College of Health and
Human Services, thanked the family for providing the property that will have long-lasting implications for WKU and
will impact the entire University. “It’s in good hands at
Western Kentucky University,” he said.
Field McChesney Jr. and Mary Frances Kindell
Page 13
PLANNED GIVING SPOTLIGHT
Rice Gives Back to WKU Through Charitable Gift Annuity
When thinking back on his time at WKU in the 1960s,
Charles “Chappy” Rice laughs over his memories of the
campus and the radical changes that occurred during that
time. Rice, a 1968 graduate, also counts his experiences as
a charter member of WKU’s national chapter of Sigma Nu
as memorable. He says his experiences at WKU taught
him discipline and offered opportunities for things he had
never experienced before. He has fond memories of hearing Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr. speak on campus and
attending concerts by The Four Tops and The Lettermen.
“One day, an advertisement about charitable gift
annuities in the SPIRIT Magazine caught my eye,” Rice
said. He was approaching retirement and the idea of an
option like this seemed very intriguing. “
A charitable gift annuity (CGA) is a way for one to give
to WKU while still benefiting personally,” said Diana
Kinslow, WKU’s assistant director of Planned Giving.
“The CGA is a contract in which a donor makes a gift of
cash or marketable securities—such as stocks, bonds, or
mutual funds—to the WKU Foundation. In receipt of such
a gift, the donor and/or donor’s designee receive payments at a fixed amount for life. Charitable gift annuities
are a compelling option because one can count on annual
payments that will not change based on economic factors.”
Rice agrees. “I was planning on leaving something to
WKU, but this allowed me to take care of myself as well,”
he said.
Rice views a contribution to WKU as a sound investment. He really believes in the goals of WKU and in Dr.
Gary Ransdell, and he can see the remarkable transformation the University has undergone since Dr.
Ransdell became president.
apply such great leadership at our alma mater. It is likely
I wouldn’t have contributed to WKU if it hadn’t been for
the spirit Dr. Ransdell brought to WKU.”
“We shared the same environment at WKU,” he
said. “I am very proud he decided to come back and
For more information on charitable gift annuities,
or to explore other planned gift options, contact
Diana Kinslow at (270) 745-2542 or by email at
diana.kinslow@wku.edu
Page 14
Charles “Chappy” Rice
Newsletter of the Campaign for Western Kentucky University
ANNUAL GIVING SPOTLIGHT
TopperTalk Program Supports WKU Initiatives
WKU is calling! And the voice at the other end of the
line might just be Natalie Price, a caller with the TopperTalk
Program. TopperTalk is the WKU phonathon program that
keeps alumni information up to date and provides information about the numerous ways to give back to the University.
Price, a 19-year-old sophomore from Louisville, is
studying sociology at WKU. She has been a TopperTalk
caller since January. “What I enjoy about working with
TopperTalk is the chance to connect to Western in the past
and in the here and now,” she said. “I enjoy the time I spend
with my coworkers, and I especially enjoy connecting with
alumni of all ages. It has given me a chance to appreciate
how much WKU is growing and changing, and I only hope
it continues on this road in the future.”
Price, who plans to graduate in 2012, is currently completing her general education requirements at WKU.
“Hopefully after getting into my core classes, I would like to
travel and maybe conduct fieldwork while working with
third world countries,” she said.
Tori Hardin, an assistant director of Annual Giving at
WKU, said the dollars pledged through the Topper Talk program support the various academic departments, student
organizations, and athletic programs throughout WKU’s
campus. “Many times, the call you receive from a student
caller is the only contact you will have with WKU in a given
year,” she explained. “Our goal is to not only increase alumni participation in the Annual Fund, but also connect alumni and friends back to the University.”
Last year, 50 TopperTalk callers contacted more than
26,000 individuals and raised nearly a quarter of a million
dollars. Calls are made to alumni, friends, and parents, and
callers make sure your records are up to date and that you
have the latest information on WKU. Callers also provide
information about various initiatives at WKU, and about one
in every five people they reach will make a pledge to WKU.
For more information on TopperTalk, contact Tori Hardin at
(270) 745-2688 or via email at tori.hardin@wku.edu.
Natlie Price, TopperTalk Caller
Fall 2009
Page 15
VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT
Thomas R. “Tommy” Hunt
College High ’60, WKU ’64
Home: Bowling Green, Kentucky
Profession: Hunt Real Estate Group
Family: Wife - Judy Leathers Hunt ’73
Children - Lynn Hunt and Janice Hunt Shepherd
Grandchildren – Hunter Thomas Gann, Summer Rayanne Shepherd,
Tanner Jackson Gann, and Landon Walker Gann
WKU Volunteer Positions:
Real estate consultant
Member, A New Century of Spirit Campaign Cabinet
Member, WKU Board of Advisors
Major Contributor, Lady Topper Basketball and student scholarships
Why I Am Involved at WKU:
“The capital improvements, growth and the image of WKU have taken gigantic strides under the leadership of Dr. Gary
Ransdell and his team. All one needs to do is take a stroll through the campus. Pride and progress are everywhere. Equally
evident is the recognition of WKU in academic excellence nationally and internationally as evidenced through programs like
the Gatton Academy for Mathematics and Science in Kentucky, the accredited Engineering degree, and WKU Forensics. Very
Impressive!! Individuals and Corporate America are stepping forward with their knowledge, expertise and money to ensure
that WKU remains special, not only in Kentucky but in the nation. A very exhilarating experience!”
Newsletter of the Campaign for Western Kentucky University
Contributing Writers:
Carol Cummings
Deanna Jenkins
Tommy Newton
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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