At WKU, we enjoy a rich history of giving dating back to our earliest days as an institution. In 1920, Lalla Boone, a history teacher at Western Kentucky State Normal School (which later became WKU), gave $100 to President Henry Hardin Cherry and requested that he loan it to students in financial need. This gift led to the establishment of the College Heights Foundation, which celebrates its 100th anniversary next summer. Ms. Boone’s act of generosity launched a spirit of giving that thrives today and opens doors for our students, faculty and staff.
Today, we celebrate National Philanthropy Day, providing us an opportunity to reflect on the importance of giving and how our personal philanthropic choices change lives and shape our future. Then, on Tuesday, November 29, we celebrate Giving Tuesday at WKU, allowing us to focus even more intentionally on philanthropy across our university – from scholarship funds and research to athletic programs and the Alumni Association.
Your commitment to and support of philanthropic efforts provide current and future Hilltoppers with lifechanging experiences that strengthen our Commonwealth and beyond. Because of your generosity, our students graduate prepared to make the world a better place; our faculty engage in cutting-edge research; and our staff provide valuable services on and off campus. Giving Tuesday provides each of us an opportunity to further contribute to our campus community’s valuable work and mission. Look for more information soon about how you can participate.
Upon returning to campus after Thanksgiving break, our students have only one week of class before final examinations begin. We must continue to provide them the support they need as they navigate the additional stress that frequently accompanies the end of the semester. I appreciate your steadfast commitment to help every Hilltopper successfully complete the fall semester and prepare to return to our Hill in the spring.
Thank you for your continued efforts to assist our students in their pursuit of a WKU degree. I hope you have a restful and rejuvenating Thanksgiving break with family and friends.
Timothy C. Caboni