Graduation Section 2015

Monday, May 11, 2015 • Graduation • College heights herald • WKUHERALD.com

2015

Graduation Section

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Argen na Meghan Baumgartner Natalie Buller Ma hew Lawson Shelby Rice Austria Rachel Brady Lindsey Byrd Seth Church Sarah Fox Kimberly Green Dominic Piedmonte Christen Profancik Rebekah Sledge Travis Spradlin Janet Taylor Ashley Tu Australia Abigail Boyd Kevin Carey Victoria Conyers Kelsey Hagan Catherine Havel Kristopher Klausner Cale Middleton David Parks Alexis Query Zachary Van Zant Tara West Christopher Yates Ting ng Zhao Bahamas Natasha Pa erson Andrew Reeder Belgium Erin Burris Brenna Duncan Kimberly Green Laura Hazle Chris e Jewell Llewellyn Li le Erin Napier Katelyn Pendley Madeline Phillips Taylor Reed Sandra Sayne Noel Shaw Anna Young Belize Ann Marie Adcock Anja Arthur Ellen Barringer Jacqueline Brown Cathy Carsen Margaret Greenwell Madison Hayden Kimberly Horan

MAY 11, 2015 • GRADUATION • WKUHERALD.COM

Kyndall Hudson Alison Leino Kelly Levay Hayley Middleton Kaitlyn Murtagh Victoria Peters Courtney Shearon Emily Thomas Samantha Ulrich Ka e Walker Kaylin Walker Claire Warren Lori Zahorodny Canada Caroline Culbreth Catherine Havel Michael McKay Christopher White Chile Taylor Berzins China Luke Brigance Alyna Bloecher Rebecca Center Joanna Chang Angela Cook Ryan Dillion Elizabeth Gribbins Shannon Janitch Ellyn Kerchenski Brandon Kerr Bailey Mack Amy Ni Tyler Prochazka Joseph Stone Elizabeth Whi ers Costa Rica Amanda Belcher Gabrielle Canant Brandon Farmer Victoria Gilkison Ma hew Lawson Gatlin Milam Kasandra Mitchell Benne Peck Hannah Pennington Dylan Ruffra Jennifer Slaton Joseph Stone Daniel Thorn Cuba Lauren Day Ian Dowty Sarah Fox Amy Halligan Natalie Hayden Sarah Haywood

Katherine Jaggers Ka Wang Li Jude Zoeller Czech Republic Seth Church Michael Eichberger Ryan Reed D‘Arcy Revle David Sizemore Janet Taylor Celia Whelan Chloe Williams Ecuador Michaela Ash Porshia Aus n Danielle Berkshire Nicholas Christman Ashley Cleary Travis Combs Margaret Conway Bridge e Davis Olga Durham Callie Franks Ma hew Frazier Isaac Greenwell Loren Gross Crysta Hicks Brandon Holmes Kyle Howard Abbie Hutchison Kelsey Kaetzel Kasey Kinney Kasandra Mitchell Shelby Pedigo Lydia Richardson Stephanie Schaefer Mitchell Schooler Meredith Smith Jeremiah Stringer Wesley Trail Linly Turner Ellen Vice Rachael Walters England (UK) Faith Akhue e-Oni Rachel Archer Nicole Armstrong Jessica Arnold Sarah Beach Hannah Bertram Laura Boone Alyssa Born Abigail Boyd Kimberly Bri Catron Burde e Erin Burris Kayleigh Coffey

Deanna Conner Angela Curran Whitney Davis Maxwell Dierken Brenna Duncan Riley Finwood Sarah Fox Ma hew Frazier Chelsea Fromm Jennifer Gaiko Haley Garrison Kimberly Green Kathryn Greiner Caroline Guthrie Taylor Hartman Lauren Haynes Sarah Haywood Hayley Hilbert Katherine Hinton Rachel Humphries Katherine Jaggers Chris e Jewell Eric Keeling Victoria Knodell Natalie Koppel Abigail Lewis William Linder Emily Li le William Lyle Laura Mahaney Alyson Manley Ashlee Manley Grace McCullough Meghan McGuirk Ka e Meek Samya Monem Bri any Moster Erin Napier Breanna Nuckols Katherine Pasche o Kelsey Peak Phillip Pearson Benne Peck Katelyn Pendley Madeline Phillips Chris na Porter Emily Po er Ashley Presnell Jade Primicias Janie Prui Neil Purcell Taylor Reed Yolanda Reid Shelby Rogers Spenser Sawyers Olivia Sharp Kaitlyn Snyder

Helen Spalding Kyle Stewart Catherine Stone Francis Taylor Allison Teta Cynthia Tope Hannah Vincent Jon Warren Anthony White Hannah Wilson Jude Zoeller France Ashley Avery Sydney Becke Erin Burris Cindy Clemson Emma Collins Alma Combs April Cra Janniqua Dawkins Ian Dowty Nefer -Angela Dukes Brenna Duncan Brian Dunican Ian Dowty Dana Echert Kirby Fields Mary Glia a Kimberly Green Hannah Grimes Ryan Guffy Katherine Halicks Alejandro Hernandez Aldo Torres Jara Chris e Jewell Rebecca Kazi Evgenia Mauzy Kris na Medero Erin Napier Jamaque Newberry Savannah Osbourn Katelyn Pendley Madeline Phillips Taylor Reed John Reynolds Ray Roberts Megan Smith Marissa Tompkins Kim Vickous Rachael Walters Jason Webb Germany Trent Brock Shayla Carter Evere Cislo Margaret Conway

Jenna Hall Hayley Hilbert Taylor Hill Ma hew Hunt Sarah Neal Mackenzie Perkins D‘Arcy Revle David Sizemore Greece Larry Abney Tonya Bowers Michael Greer Jennifer Hail Natalie Hayden Rachel Teal Rebecca Thurman Erin Warren Hungary Seth Church Janet Taylor India Amy Givens Elisabeth Hackworth Ireland Faith Akhue e-Oni Alex Burden Angela Curran Emily Po s Sharon McCrary Kelsey Peak Joshua Ritchie Mary Walsh Israel Maryruth Drescher Italy Courtney Carter Rebecca Chartoff Ian Dowty Rebecca Farmer Stacey Forsythe Maggie Genardi Natalie Gilliam Kaitlyn Haws Holly Hayes Samantha Lynch Sarah McAllister Amanda Reynolds Meaghan Ritchie Megan Short Jonathan Somoza Ginny Steenbergen Jessica Story Candace Thompson Ainsley Wagoner Japan Kendra Kelley Chris na Paige

Jordan Haley Edwards Elizabeth Gribbins Jonathon Wurth Kenya Brandon Farmer Ma hew Frazier Nancy Jolly Kelsey Kaetzel Emily McIn re Mackenzie Perkins Kaitlyn Snyder Brent Webb Malaysia Evgenia Mauzy Mexico Whitley Castro Jessica Cecil Caroline Culbreth Brandon Farmer Morgan Graham Ericka Hardin Kelly Levay Morocco Jessica Bertram Elizabeth Gribbins Wheeler Painter Netherlands Erin Asher Kevin Bielefeld Hunter Cullip Ashley Hadden Paige Harrison Laura Hazle Taylor Helton Kris nna Mason Walter Milam Sarah Travis Trinity Vannoy New Zealand Shannon Boone Panama Bethany Devore Peru Laura Goodwin Beverly Lewis Elizabeth McGrew Poland Seth Church Janet Taylor Russia Leah Turner Scotland (UK) Danielle Berkshire James Davis Samantha Dorsey Mary Kirkwood

Sharon McCrary Zachary Vincent Semester at Sea Chelsea Corne Sarah Hagan Jennifer Hail Mitchell Hale Mackenzie Isenberg Michael McKay Jeffrey Walker Hayley Wilkins South Africa Amy Fehrenbach Haley Garrison Jinglin Li Sydney Jackson Laura Jones Natalie Koppel Chad McGarvie Emily McIn re Mayme Van Meveren South Korea Rebecca Center Jinglin Li Jeffrey Walker Spain Caitlin Belcher Cynthia Block Chloe Brown Erin Burch Amy Calo Whitley Castro Brooklyn Choate Taylor Cobb Ricardo Cordova Julie Crone Caroline Culbreth Emily Cur s Rachel Dake Mallory DePorter Ian Dowty Dorothy Edwards Emily Evanko Makenze Evans Jus n Faircloth Katherine Fane Sarah Fox Carrie Beth Henry Chavez Hita Sarah Keene Isabelle Labarge Megan Lemily Jamie McDonough Allie Meador Destyn Miller Kate Mischel Kirsten Olson

Wheeler Painter Elizabeth Piper Ka e Rankin Kiersten Richards Sarah Ri er Emily Roach Tobi Schafer Hannah Schiller Brianna Sco Kayla Smith Zachary Smith Kelsey Sympson Stephanie Terrell Hayley Wilkins Elizabeth Wirth Taiwan Bailey Mack Tanzania Trevor Davis Jasmon Brandi Harris Samantha Holmes Toppers at Sea Ellen Barringer Molly Keen Kris n Nash Jody Owen Kiersten Richards Trinidad ShaNeeka Brewton Ian Dowty Desmond Hutchinson Michael Lewis Mariah Tibbs

MAY 11, 2015 • GRADUATION • WKUHERALD.COM

TABLE OF CONTENTS SGA President says farewell page 5

Commencement schedule page 6

Herald news editor reflects on time at newspaper, wku page 10

the impact of being a spirit master page 12

Talisman managing editor on coming out of your shell page 14

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WKU PRESIDENT GARY RANSDELL Dear Graduates: Congratulations on completing your WKU degree. I am proud of each and every one of you. I hope that I, and our faculty and staff, have served you well as you have pursued and completed your WKU course of study.

I look forward to seeing you at Commencement on May y 16 and 17. There is not a more special moment for you, your famme ily, and friends than ily tto walk across that rred carpet and experrience the symbolic cculmination of your years of hard work. I ye hope you enjoy that hop special moment as much as I will enjoy greeting you in Diddle Arena.

You are now joining over 100,000 WKU alumni, and your next chapter as a Hilltopper is about to begin. This chapter will be a lifelong love affair with a very special university that will be there for you as much in the future as it has been these last few years. Stay loyal, protect and defend your university, and keep that special WKU spirit at the center of your universe.

I am confident that we have prepared you well for your personal and professional lives. Work hard, serve your family well, be engaged in your community, be a global citizen, and lead people to do things that they did not otherwise think was possible. That is what Hilltoppers do.

Always know that as you bring distinction to yourself and to those with whom you live, work, and play, you will also bring distinction to WKU. Thank you for continuing to strengthen your own name and our university’s strong reputation. We look forward to following your progress and counting you among our many successful alumni.

Congratulations! See you on Commencement weekend!

Go Toppers!

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MAY 11, 2015 • GRADUATION • WKUHERALD.COM

CONGRATULATIONS

to our graduating Library Student Assistants!

Emily Anderson Kelsi Campbell Ashby Danielle Davenport Katie DeCoursey Ling Hao Liu Qi Liu

Christopher McConnell Lyndsey Pender Anna Pettus Cecia Reyes Ayaz Sadal Kameron Simmons

Kelli Storm Hieu Vo Rachel Wyatt Anna Young

MAY 11, 2015 • GRADUATION • WKUHERALD.COM

SGA PRESIDENT | NICKI TAYLOR Is graduation really here already? Knowing that this is the end of my journey on the Hill has brought a mixed bag of emotions: relief for classwork finally being over, excitecitement for the things to come, yet sorrow forr knowing that thiss wonderful, once-ina-lifetime experience e is finally coming to an n end.

It has been a joy, privilege and an honor to serve as the Student Body President and

Student Regent. It hasn’t always been easy, but I have tried my best to do what is right for students here on the Hill. I am almost read ready to pass the job on to m my successor, but not be before I take the opp portunity to provide ssome words of enccouragement to all sstudents, graduating or not. o Graduating is a scary G time for all of us whether we want to admit it or not.

Some of us know exactly what

our plans are after graduation, whether that’s a job, graduate school or enlisting in the Armed Forces. Many of us, however, have yet to figure out exactly what we want to do when we grow up, and that’s fine!

Graduates, don’t feel like you are any less successful if you do not have it all figured out. Break out of the assumption that the path to success has to be straight and narrow. In reality, most of the time people have taken a jagged, crisscrossed, back-and-forth path to get to

where they are today. No experience is a bad experience, so just seize whatever opportunity you can find until you figure out your own way to success.

For those who will be remaining on the Hill, be sure to savor every moment. Take every opportunity that you can to get internship experience, volunteer and be involved in clubs.

On the other hand, ensure that you are not taking too many opportunities that you forget to leave time for your own personal care.

Yes, college is first and foremost about getting an education and job preparation, but don’t forget to stop and smell the roses every once and awhile. Go out to RedZone,

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Waffle House or IHOP late at night with your friends just because. Go to the parade and Big Red’s Roar during Homecoming, even if you are not Greek.

If you are lucky enough to get a good snow, sled down Van Meter or Hospital Hill until you are so sore you can’t move. These are the memories you will look back fondly on after your college experience is over.

To the class of 2015: congratulations, we did it! Whether we have it all of it or none of it figured out, we will find our way in the world; our time here has prepared us for nothing less. To those not graduating quite yet, enjoy your last days, months, or years on the Hill, because it will fly by before you know it.

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MAY 11, 2015 • GRADUATION • WKUHERALD.COM

Commencement schedule Friday, may 15

Saturday, may 16

Sunday, may 17

Graduate Commencement Ceremony 5 p.m., Diddle Arena

underGraduate Commencement Ceremonies

Regional Campus Commencement Ceremonies

Gordon Ford College of Business & College of Health and Human Services 9:30 a.m., Diddle arena

WKU Owensboro Commencement Ceremony 6:30 p.m., RiverPark Center

Ogden College of Science and Engineering & College of Education and Behavioral Sciences 2 p.m., Diddle arena University College & Potter College of Arts and Letters 6 p.m., Diddle arena

WKU Elizabethtown-Fort Knox Commencement Ceremony 6:30 p.m., Hardin County Schools Performing Arts Center

MAY 11, 2015 • GRADUATION • WKUHERALD.COM

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MAY 11, 2015 • GRADUATION • WKUHERALD.COM

WKU Spirit Master Graduates 1st Row (left to right): Catherine Havel (May’15), Jay Todd Richey ( May’17), Rebecca McPhearson (Dec. ’15), Kayla Lofton (Dec. ’15), Meghan McGuirk ( May ’15).

2nd Row (left to right): Nolan Miles ( May ’16), Grace McCullough ( May ’15), Mckinze Willard ( May ’15), Bennett Peck ( May ’15), Catherine Stone ( May ’15).

3rd Row (left to right): Kamilah Champion (May ’15), Natalie Gilliam ( May ’15), Ellie Jolly ( May ’15), Ashlee Manley ( May ’15), Alyson Manley ( May ’15), Kaitlyn Snyder ( May ’15), Eric Marr ( May ’15), Charlie Rhea ( May ’15).

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MAY 11, 2015 • GRADUATION • WKUHERALD.COM

Herald News editor | shelby rogers I decided to major in journalism the day the Chicago SunTimes, one of my favorite publications, filed for bankruptcy protection.

"Why on earth would you decide on newswspapers?" my mom m said. “Why not law w school?”

Little did I know w that her questionss would become one of a series of tough quesestions I’d face when I told people I wanted to be a journalist. Conveniently enough for me, I received an excellent scholarship to one of the nation’s premier journalism

schools, and I didn’t even have to leave the state.

I joined the Herald staff as the academics beat reporter in Spring 2012, having only one semester sem of introductory journalism courses an and voracious reading h habits under my belt.

T The first time I interv viewed Gary Ransdell ffor a story, I couldn't st stop shaking (though adm admittedly, interviewing Jerry of o Ben & Jerry's fame was even more surreal).

When I left the country to study at Harlaxton, I still kept tabs on the Herald. I freelanced overseas and wrote a

couple of jet-lagged stories once I returned from England. The following semester, I participated in the Disney College Program. Yet again, I freelanced, writing a feature on my experience working in Orlando for Mickey Mouse.

I came back to the Herald to write more, and I joined the Talisman staff to train a different set of writing muscles.

This semester has been the most trying. As news editor, I became attuned to sirens wailing at any point around campus. I wrote stories about tuition increases, job losses, discrimination and a certain athletic team’s suspension, and

none of it was easy.

I could not imagine these past four years without Student Publications, especially the College Heights Herald. I want to thank everyone at Student Publications for being encouraging, thoughtful and my family. I learned so much from every editor, every designer, every photographer, every writer, and I will miss you all dearly.

As a journalism student, I spent the past four years hearing about the death of print media, the conflicting messages of collaboration yet doing everything yourself, and how all journalists are corrupted liberals who let their biases seep through into their work. However, journalism isn’t the only major enduring these fallacies. To everyone graduating with a “useless,” “worthless,” “going-to-be-working-as-a-baristaforever” major, take pride in that degree. Own it. Don’t let precon-

ceived notions or societal expectations sway you from following your dreams.

I’ve had to ask a lot of tough questions during my time here, but now it’s time to ask myself some very difficult questions.

What do I really want out of life?

Who am I? Who do I want to be?

How do I get to that point? These existentialist questions seem cliché and Hallmark movie-worthy.

But now I’m realizing maybe those questions became trite after generations of humans pondered those exact qualms. I’m comforted by that knowledge; seeing your predecessors scribe their own adventures and blaze their own paths is reassuring, especially when you’re in a “dying major.”

Sometimes the scariest part of graduating college involves knowing those answers. You just have to be brave enough to write the story.

CONGRATULATIONS TO SIGMA CHI’S GRADUATING SENIORS Tate Downing Phil Sadler Jae Craycraft Will Coker Clay Ahart Ridge Green

Jason Marshall Hayden Sweat Wheeler Painter Cole Sack Cale Middleton Alex Neihoff

MAY 11, 2015 • GRADUATION • WKUHERALD.COM

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MAY 11, 2015 • GRADUATION • WKUHERALD.COM

Spirit Masters | Catherine Havel It is unbelievable to believe in just 10 short days, I will be in E.A. Diddle, bear-hugging President Ransdell and receiving my diploma. This ceremonial act will symbolically represent my change in status from an undergraduate student to a Western Kentucky University alumni.

I believe graduation day is anticipated and experienced in two different paces, or from two different perspectives. Let’s call the first group the sprinters. These fast-paced, forwardthinking individuals would say something along the lines of “this day could not have come sooner.” However, that is not the case for the latter. The second group are those who desire

a slower pace, and would attempt to tell you how they feel, but only mutter a few words before the tears would drown out any and all communication.

And, me? I am just in denial.

I first stepped foot on the Hill in February of 2011 for a campus tour. Up until this point, I cynically discounted the theory of “love at first sight.” Now, more than four years later, I could not think of a better way to describe it.

My freshman year as a Hilltopper was exuberantly-exhilarating, yet equally exhausting.

I got involved in more campus organizations than can be counted on two hands and changed my major three times.

In hindsight, it is clear I was just

trying to find my niche.

As freshman year came to a close, I received a late-night phone call in mid-April that would change my life forever.

On the other end of the line was WKU senior and Spirit Master Chair Alex Faunders, telling me that I had been selected to serve as one of 32 Spirit Masters for the 2012-2013 year.

As stated in our mission, “Spirit Masters are the official student ambassadors of WKU. Through service WKU, we are responsible for preserving traditions, striving for excellence, and making the spirit of WKU contagious.”

I knew becoming a Spirit Master would change the course of my last three years of

college, but never did I expect experiences that would change a lifetime.

When people ask me what is the best part of being a Spirit Master, without hesitation I reply, “the people.” It is a hodgepodge of 32 of the most high-achieving, compassionately-motivated individuals on this campus, from all walks of life.

Being a Spirit Master for three years and serving as chair this last year, I learned that leadership isn't about how many people follow you, but rather how many people you're able to serve.

There is something about this campus that is truly captivating.

Some of my most favorable memories as a Spirit Master were giving campus tours. I gave tours to 5-year-olds and 75-year-olds.

Elementary school students who thought Big Red was a “chewed up piece of Big Red gum” to alum-

ni who cheered on the Tops at the Colonnade. Through my service as a a Spirit Master, I was able to experience the past, present and future of WKU. I will always reflect favorably and thankfully on the three years I was able to wear that gold plated name-tag, black pants and red, sometimes wrinkled polo.

Leaving anything you love is hard. For some, leaving WKU will mean moving away from home for the first time and gaining that extra ounce of desirous independence. For others, it will be the summoning beckon back to your former familiar. For me, however, it means that what has been my current familiar, will soon become former. Although my external, circumstantial situation will change, the internal transformation I have undergone will be eternal. Once a Hilltopper, always a Hilltopper.

Go Tops!

MAY 11, 2015 • GRADUATION • WKUHERALD.COM

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Congratulations to the May and August 2015 Graduates from Ogden College of Science and Engineering.

Ogden College of Science and Engineering Dr. Cheryl L. Stevens, Dean MASTER OF ARTS Mathematics Charity G. Burriss Emily M. Evanko Thomas L. Griggs Kerry J. Koch Terry W. Pelfrey Kayla M. Smith Melinda V. Thompson Matthew E. Wallace MASTER OF SCIENCE Agriculture Danielle L. Berkshire Justin P. Duckworth Paige A. Montgomery Jacob T. Osborne Ryan L. Phelps Zachary P. Vincent Yao Xue Biology Gregory J. Barren Michael A. Barrow Jane J. Bartonjo Olivia F. Boyd Kevin C. Bryan Ashley J. Cox Qian Dong Jennifer E. Dumaine Amy K. Fehrenbach Victoria A. Gilkison Sarah E. Goodyear Megan Grandinetti Laura C. Jones Emily M. McIntire Mary E. Ping Kayla M. Pittman Andrea Sejdic Shawn J. Smiley Caitlin M. Walsh Robyn M. Wilson Ann M. Yaroch Chemistry Ramyasree Annam Benjamin T. Cannon Pavan Kumar Chityala Ali Esmail Karim Sandeep Kumar Kuthadi Xin Liu Tulsi M. Modi• Rachana Neesu Jonathon A. Randolph Hitesh Kumar Waghwani Jingyi Yue Computer Science Robert D. Beverly Harinivesh Donepudi

Gary W. Hutchinson Sai Sandeep Jagarlamudi Vinod Krishna Jeswanth Macha Kavya Madugula Vivek Puligundla Qinglong Sun Naga V K Abhinav Vedanbhatla Sai Sindhuja Veeramachaneni Engineering Technology Management Bright Adu Omar W. Alrawi Augustine O. Amonge Nicholas J. Cross Blake Cvengros Abdulhameed Dawood Samantha J. Duncan Samuel B. Ellsworth Barrett A. Hampton Ning Jin Bright B. Kahindi Pegah Kakavand Vedangi K. Mahashabde Mychal D. Moses Qizheng Ren Troy A. Robertson Richard D. Suchanek Xiaomeng Sun Aldious A. Waite Geoscience Linda M. Baizel Ellen R. Barringer Nathaniel C. Blackburn Kort H. Butler Kianoosh Ebrahimi Christopher R. Hart Andrew D. Reeder Jesse N. Winchester Keri J. Younger Homeland Security Sciences Brandon L. Davis Grace Egbujor Armin Smailhodzic Mayme M. Van Meveren Mathematics Brandy A. Barnette Miriam M. El Farrah Stephen R. Guffey Meltem Uyanik Miky Wright Psychology Jessica P. Arnold Casey L. Biggs Taylor S. Blaetz Nicole E. Chambers Brandon W. Coffey William B. Corley Krista L. Henry Andrew J. Kircher

Jody J. Lecheler Cameron R. Lile Katherine D. Lowry Daniel C. Moore Leah L. Palmer Thomas P. Patterson Douglas L. Rowland Leah J. Shulley Nikolaj Sivek Patrick A. Sizemore Laraine A. Tumblin Pamela N. Wheeler Chloe E. Williams Xingya Xu Technology Management Wen Bo Zhang BACHELOR OF ARTS Geology Kailey E. Anderson Jared J. Graham Mathematics Erin E. Beattie***• Kayla M. Byrd* Brian Coy Molly T. Keen* Vance T. Newberry• Richard B. Roberts Jeremiah J. Stringer** Megan M. Wade* Cameron H. White** BACHELOR OF SCIENCE Advanced Manufacturing Hussain Abdulla A. Ghallab Michael C. Harruff Michael S. McManus Ahmed I. Salvar Agriculture Michaela L. Ash** John M. Baird** Carla O. Beu***• Katelyn D. Boles Caleb L. Brown Zachary R. Burris Nicholas L. Christman Travis K. Combs Ciera S. Dinwiddie Olga B. Durham Jerry E. Edmonds Callie R. Franks John C. Grant Isaac S. Greenwell Loren C. Gross**• Caleb S. Haddock Kaitlyn L. Harris Aubrey A. Harston Charles B. Henning Kyle T. Howard Stephanie N. Jackson

Mitchell T. Johnson Stephen S. Ladd Edward J. Lee Heather A. Lile* Jaclyn M. Lile Mitchell R. Lyons, IV Jacob C. Mitchell Jared A. Moran* Katie D. Muntz Jonathan B. Parker Joseph D. Peterson Kimberly A. Pierce Connor Popeck Alexis J. Query Lydia P. Richardson Eva R. Ross John A. Scarpa Stephanie A. Schaefer Gabrial L. Seymour Jeffrey C. Smith Jacob P. Smithson Benjamin N. Spencer Shelby J. Sullivan William H. Tabor Nicki Taylor***• Meghan E. Tisdale Jason D. Turner Leah Catherine C. Turner***• Kyle Vanderhoof Kaile N. Vierstra Hosea Wells, III Andrew T. Wurth Architectural Science Summer E. Abston** Micah A. Bidwell Andrea R. Dunnaway*** Jennifer L. Gaiko***• Laketta A. Graves Julio W. Hogue Cole C. Manning Dylan W. Nonweiler Michael E. Roberts Randy Rodriguez Anthony G. Thorn Hoang Long Tran Kendra L. Whitaker** Biochemistry Richard W. Dawson, Jr. Ethan D. Gibson*** Ka Wai Kwong*• Kyle B. Mann***• Dharmesh J. Patel**• Jason N. Payne* Biology Cody L. Ashley Lauren N. Badstibner** Dalice R. Ballou Wayde R. Barnes Christian M. Bennett Taylor G. Billings Kenton W. Bottoms, II Daniel G. Brussell* April H. Butler***• Melissa Y. Camargo

Kelsey R. Carter** Lincoln T. Chasteen Lacy M. Cleary Jonathan C. Clements Kaley A. Coffey** Craig A. Coleman Evan S. Cowles Katelyn R. Cox**• Lauren M. Cox Nick C. Deperto Aiste Dobrovolskaite* Jonathan S. Dunn**• Blake W. Ehret Johnny L. England Eli G. Estes*** Aimee M. Evans Brandon C. Farmer***• Jason A. Fort*** Gabrielle N. Fowler Matthew P. Frazier***• Haley S. Freeman*** Zachary A. Freeman Lauren S. Gardner* Karyn E. Garner*• David C. Garst Brian R. Goodman** Sidney A. Greene*** Ashley B. Grimes Caleb D. Hadden Kelly D. Haley Corteney E. Hall Samantha J. Helsley* Louise J. Hill Stirling* Shelby L. Howard Alyssa D. Huff* Rachel K. Huffman*** Nayab I. Hussain***• Kimberly Ibisate Sydney B. Jackson*** Dalton E. James* Nancy E. Jolly***• Kelsey L. Kaetzel***• Steven E. King** Kerry E. Kingry** Jay B. Lankford*** Ka Wang Li*• Chelsea N. Linder Natalie A. Majors*** Mary K. Manion* Melinda A. McGaw Moss* Kayla M. McKnight Dustin L. McQueary* Craig A. Meers Cory L. Montgomery Micaela L. Montgomery**• Katheryn M. Moore** Brynne T. Moseley Clifton S. Nally Lindsey N. Neeley* Kelsey K. Newcome*• Amy Ni** Caleb W. Odle Riya N. Patel Shelby L. Pedigo*• Hannah M. Pennington***•

Westley B. Perry Victoria A. Peters*• Katie E. Prior***• Tomislav Pudic Brittany D. Renfrow*** Fikret Sabic** Tyler L. Scaff***• Alexandra D. Schmidt Mitchell L. Schooler**• Kristin B. Searcy* Cody R. Sheffield*** Emma Z. Sibalich* Jennifer R. Slaton Autumn R. Smith***• James Z. Smith Amanda R. Steger Amber M. Stephenson James A. Stewart*** Kyle R. Stewart**• Jake C. Thompson* Ellen G. Vice** Dai Le Hieu Vo* Yonathan Warren Brent A. Webb*** Sean P. Wineka Timothy C. Zeman Chemistry Ali J. Abdulrheem John A. Biechele Speziale**• Sarah A. Boyd Matthew T. Colonna**• Deanna L. Conner***• Robert N. Cowles** Jessica S. Crafton Kelsey L. Deperto• John T. Ferguson• Caleb D. Hadden Ethan S. Laha Corbin W. LeMieux**• Ka Wang Li* William H. Lyle**• Eric M. Marr* McKenzie M. Nuckols Matthew T. Oakley* Mitchell P. Owens* Nathan C. Puckett• Daedreana B. Ramsey Tyler L. Scaff***• Nicole B. Stambaugh** Kimberly G. Stinnett* Cynthia A. Tope***• Celia J. Whelan***• Samuel T. White***• Ashley N. Young*• Civil Engineering Thad J. Billingsley Jackson L. Daugherty Lucas D. Guinn Dalton T. Hankins Justin F. Hopkins** Dylan T. Jones*** Steven K. Jones Nicholas R. Miller Benjamin T. Mullins*

Ashane C. Netthisinghe Kyle W. Parks** Lindsey B. Phelps Michael C. Pickett Raymond J. Van Zee* Computer Information Technology Wesley C. Adams Kevin T. Bradley Lucas E. Bragg*** Christina M. Cuonze* Raymond J. Farley Steven C. Green Anthony K. Hernandez Shawn D. Hobdy Charles R. Hubbard Jihad I. Jadallah Allison Maupin Tyra D. Murray*** Raj S. Patel Douglas A. Patrick Rachid Rafia Amy M. Rainier Jesse J. Richardson Jacob D. Schwindel Eddie Walker John W. Ward Computer Science Nawaf M. Alsubaie Edvin Bojadzija Jason D. Busby** Richard A. Davidson Samuel Dong* Matthew M. Graham Matthew L. Hunt** Codi R. Huston Morgan E. Lindsey* Taylor C. Martin** Joshua D. McLeod** Colton W. Ramos Vignesh V. Sekar Construction Management Cameron T. Adams Joseph K. Bray Cole A. Cherry Tyler R. Franklin Jonathan P. Guelda David B. Holobaugh Jason B. Marshall Taylor J. McMurtry Richard S. Puryear Aaron P. Smith Trevor J. Thompson* James M. Yowell Electrical Engineering Larry Shane Anderson Alex R. Burden Ryan D. Coleman Eric D. Dennison Joshua C. Dye Jacob N. Hopkins***

Alexandra C. McGee• Geoffrey C. Olszewski Geographic Information Science Taylor D. Berzins Elizabeth A. Goble Austin R. Williams Geography Kami J. Fox Douglas M. Kaiser William R. Robertson Geography and Environmental Studies Brittany G. Austin Geology Brian M. Ahlers Brennan L. Berry Evan S. Crowe Michaela B. Curry** Michelle L. Foley** Jared J. Graham Jacob M. Hughes**• Natasha N. Patterson• Daniel B. Rafferty Ronald D. Waterbury Industrial (Vocational Career and Technical) Education Gregory L. Felkins* Mechanical Engineering Kathleen M. Angerbauer Richard B. Arnold Dillon J. Beckner* Steven H. Buchanan Caitlyn L. Clark** Zachary M. Coots Del Cox Zachary B. Lancaster*** Jared E. McLemore* Timothy G. Moye* Kento Okita Kaitlin P. Oliver Butler** Seth J. Prince Jesse C. Reesor Mariel R. Shumate Ryan D. White* Medical Technology Courtney M. Broyles***• Jacob W. Hood Daniel R. Robinson** Meteorology Victoria A. Hampton**• Zachary T. Leasor Erik T. Smith Derek T. Thompson*• Brian R. Urbancic Middle Grades Mathematics Andrew D. Boston

Kayla M. Byrd* Jordan L. Daniel** Bridgette N. Davis Robert M. Deason, Jr. John F. Drane*** Shannon V. Lay***• Jody B. Owen Jessica P. Pickerell Ryan S. Ramsey Patrick A. Shartzer Kelli E. Warford* Middle School Science Chad A. Mongold Katie J. Wallace Physics Maxwell M. Dierken** Stacy J. Hancock* Mitchell Harmon Julian M. Heinze** Samuel T. White***• Psychological Science Shelby L. Adams*** Jordan T. Bates**• Mariah S. Castlen Emma N. Fleming Helmut Gornik** Kara L. Lengeman** Grace E. McCullough*• Breanna N. Nuckols***• Kurtis A. Pollock Kaitlyn E. Snyder***• Hannah K. Wilson*• Technology Management Abdullah Alqwaiz Justin R. Barbe Christopher Dowell*** Charles F. Gott Thomas S. Mattingly* Aaron D. Meredith Matthew S. Reynolds Justin M. Thompson Michael C. Willen ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE Agricultural Technology and Management Cooper M. Ray Vocational-Industrial and Technical Teacher Education Kenneth H. Hughes Kelley B. Thacker Water Resource Management Jacob C. Miller Keith E. Northcutt

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MAY 11, 2015 • GRADUATION • WKUHERALD.COM

International Student Diplomat | Dharmesh Patel As we approach May graduation, it is important that we hold firm to those who have encouraged and grounded us throughout our years at WKU. Parents, families, friends, faculty and advisors, I want to rt. It thank you for support. or has been a great honor to serve as the presi-dent of the International Student Diplomats. n Since freshman ent year, my involvement rricuin numerous extracurricular activities has shaped me into the leader I am today. From my

involvement in Relay for Life, the Dynamic Leadership Institute and the African Student Union and other organizations, I have made connections with individuals from around the world expanding e my WKU inte international reach expe perience.

I have been able to llearn about different ccultures from around tthe world, and this w would have not been pos possible if it were not for W WKU. WKU has really given me the international experience, and hence it is truly

“A Leading American University with International Reach.”

As an international student from Kenya, WKU was a different setting for me to adapt to, hence I wanted to find new opportunities that would challenge me intellectually and help me prosper academically.

Being among the first international students in the Honor’s College, I was able to publish a Honors thesis as well as present my research at numerous national conferences.

So when people ask me why I chose WKU? I could say I came to WKU for four amaz-

ing years full of fun. I could say WKU offered me the opportunity to make friends and have a family. I could say the history, traditions and spirit of WKU touched my heart. However, WKU has also frustrated me, stressed me out and deprived me of my sleep.

I didn’t come to WKU just to get a degree. I could earn that anywhere. Instead I came to WKU for a particular kind of education, because I desired a college experience that would challenge me. Knowing WKU, with all of its spirit, history and traditions, I knew it would be

my home away from home for the next two to four years. To say the least, WKU is my second home and I am going to miss it.

To the class of 2015, congratulations and best of luck for your future endeavors. Today we are proud of all our accomplishments at WKU, so as we hold our diploma just remember all the hard work you put in to achieve it. I say this because life after college is not about living sedentary lives. Therefore think of your degree as a ticket to change the world rather than a ticket to a good life.

shorts.

That’s graduation in a nutshell. It’s a mess of emotion, equal parts nostalgia and nausea, wonderment and horror.

This essay has been an exercise in retracing my steps, in desperately sifting through four years of memories and experiences for something that might impress all the people I used to think I needed to impress. If I’m being honest—and I am—I’d have to admit that my journey to this submission has been one stymied by more than selfdeprecating humor. I entered WKU with a certain amount of cynicism and skepticism—predispositions that I came to rec-

ognize as symptoms of deeper, often closeted issues: Prufrockian levels of anxiety, low selfesteem and a constant fear that I wasn’t good enough—physically, mentally, etc.—to pursue my dreams.

That internal saboteur grew quiet after I joined Student Publications.

My tenure on multiple Talisman and College Heights Herald staffs shattered my comfort zone in the best ways. In time, my patchwork of experiences made me more willing to take risks. I saw my mistakes, my struggles, as beautiful, for they became chances to grow and, ultimately, to adapt. Through Student Publications, I’ve come to realize that I exist beyond a GPA. I’m more than a semester’s worth of Steak N’ Shake or an obscene number of all-nighters.

I am Josh Beal.

To acknowledge the profound impact others have had in shaping my personal journey is to discover the spirit of WKU. My fondest moments of college are those that allowed me to empower others: afternoons reading to the Burmese ESL students at Briarwood Elementary; morning roundtables with high school journalists; the gleam in strangers’ eyes as they find themselves in an edition of the Talisman.

Sometimes, when I’m lucky, I manage to shed my insecurities and catch glimpses of the way my friends and colleagues see me. It manifests in the tug of a smile or raucous laughter, a pat on the back or a Valentine’s Day card with “thank you” scrawled on the inside. These gems of clarity, in a quiet way, show me that I’ve made a small difference in other peoples’ lives.

I think that’s reward enough.

Talisman | Josh Beal I would be lying if I said that the act of writing this essay weren’t more than a bit surreal.

For the past semester, I have drifted through campus with a countdown clock looming over my head. At first, graduation was a distant prize, rize, something that helped ed me sleep at night. t.

January and February passed, and, as iff all at once, the “even-tually” that prefaced d my final days at WKU KU became “soon.” Inevitable. Immediate. Professors, family and family friends all seemed to suddenly converge on one question: “How does it

feel to almost be done?”

How does it feel?

It’s like tripping on a drainage grate as you cross paths with some beautiful stranger. It’s like watching the lights fade during the premiere of “Avengers: Age of Ultron” only to hear someone ask if Batman would be m making an appeara ance. It’s like entering F Fresh Food immediat ately after the Leaky Cup Purge of 2015: Definitely a welcome change, but still an underwhelming compensation for all the times I left DUC—sorry, DSU—with Diet Coke splattered all over my

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MAY 11, 2015 • GRADUATION • WKUHERALD.COM

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Student Publications

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR GRADUATING SENIORS Josh Beal John Corum Trey Crumbie Ashley Edwards Molly English Riley Finwood Jennie Fowler Luke Franke Jackson French Collin Hancock

Laura Hazlett Katelyn Houge Will Hyde Katie Jaggers Emily Little Sarah Matney Michael McKay Katie McLean Katie Meek

Brittany Moster Aaron Mudd Ryan Pait Jacob Parker Brian Powers Tyler Prochazka Shelby Rogers Shelley Spalding Kayla Swanson Zachary Tatoian

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MAY 11, 2015 • GRADUATION • WKUHERALD.COM