News

KWC Celebrates Order of Oak and Ivy Class of 2024

The Order of Oak and Ivy awards are given annually to students who best typify strength of character, dedication of purpose, and devotion of Christian ideals. It also recognizes those who exemplify intellectual ability and leadership in seeking to promote the interest and welfare of Kentucky Wesleyan College.

As is the custom, faculty and administrative staff nominated full-time juniors, seniors, or December graduates who they believed were qualified to receive this prestigious award. Those students who received at least four nominations were named as finalists.

Congratulations to this year’s Oak & Ivy inductees who were recognized at the annual Oak and Ivy Banquet on Apr. 12.

  • Gordon Anaple ‘25
  • Jaylin Bross ‘25
  • Corina Conley ‘24
  • Rebekah Dickinson ‘24
  • MaeKayla Minton ‘25
  • Claire Sloane ‘24
  • Professor Dennis Jewett

Kentucky Wesleyan College announces appointment of Dr. James Cousins as 36th president

The Kentucky Wesleyan College Board of Trustees has announced the selection of James Cousins, Ph.D., as its 36th president. Cousins will begin his appointment on Jan. 1, 2025, and will work alongside the current president, Dr. Thomas Mitzel, through his retirement in December 2024, ensuring a seamless and momentum-continuing transition for the institution.

President-elect Cousins has served as the provost and vice president of academic affairs at Kentucky Wesleyan College since 2021 and has a distinguished career in higher education, including faculty and administrative leadership positions at several other colleges and universities. 

“The Board of Trustees was unanimous in its selection of Dr. Cousins and excited about the future of our College under his leadership,” said Trustee Chair Fred Wright ’80. “Dr. Cousins has proven his abilities as a strategic leader with a strong academic and faith foundation combined with business acumen. We are also blessed to have Dr. Mitzel leading the College through his previously announced retirement in December, thus handing the leadership baton in a seamless and transparent fashion.”

During his tenure as provost at Kentucky Wesleyan, Dr. Cousins spearheaded numerous strategic initiatives. These included the design and implementation of a comprehensive first-year student retention program, which yielded a substantial increase in retention rates. Additionally, he strategically reorganized online education, leading to record levels of online enrollment. Dr. Cousins also oversaw the successful completion of the College’s Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) fifth-year accreditation report, and under his leadership, the College completed several significant institutional partnerships providing Kentucky Wesleyan graduates with expedited graduate and career pathways.

“I am deeply honored to be selected as the 36th president of Kentucky Wesleyan College,” Cousins remarked. “Kentucky Wesleyan holds a unique place in the landscape of higher education and plays a special role in our community. Our campus is held together by bonds of faith, a commitment to liberal arts tradition and unmatched athletic achievement. It has been humbling to work alongside our world-class faculty and staff, each of whom is dedicated to the lifelong success of our students. I am grateful for their support and for the faith and trust of the Board of Trustees as we move the campus forward into the next chapter of Kentucky Wesleyan’s history.”

Kentucky Wesleyan Band presents concert celebrating the 60s

The Kentucky Wesleyan College Band presents their final concert of the 2023-2024 academic year, “All You Need is Love,” wind band literature celebrating the 60s, on April 18 at 6 p.m. in the Jack T. Wells ’77 Activity Center. Music from Leonard Bernstein, Claude T. Smith, Dmitri Shostakovich, Vincent Persichetti and The Beatles represent some of the earliest works for wind band. The concert is free.

Kentucky Wesleyan Alumnus to give Honors Convocation keynote address

Michael Wade ’80 is University of Louisville director of accountancy

Michael Wade ’80 will give the keynote address, “Three Takeaways for Success,” at Honors Convocation on Thursday, April 11, at 12:30 p.m. in the Jack T. Wells ’77 Activity Center. He is director of accountancy, which includes management of graduate and undergraduate programs, at the University of Louisville. He is a certified public accountant. A native of Drakesboro, Ky., he served in the U.S. Army for 31 years.

Honors Convocation celebrates and recognizes individual student achievements and Outstanding Teacher of the Year, Outstanding Staff Person of the Year and Advisor of the Year. The event will be livestreamed on the College’s YouTube channel.

Immediately following convocation, Scholars Day presentations will take place in the Panther Room at the Wells Center.

Meet Sophia Tsiralidis ’24

 

Why did you choose to attend KWC?
“I was very fortunate to be granted the Rogers Fellow scholarship that offered a full ride for the four years.”

What were your first impressions of KWC and Owensboro?
“My first impressions were very memorable. My family and I drove from Las Vegas, Nev., straight to Owensboro and when we arrived, it was nothing like I had imagined. I had seen Google images of downtown, but the thought of my parents leaving me in an unknown city was scary at first.

“The next day we moved into my dorm, and as soon as we pulled into the main entrance of the college, the fear and nervousness vanished. The atmosphere, the people, the greenery was everything I could have wanted and more in a college.”

A Look Back at International Women’s Day: The Wesleyan Way

We featured another incredible 15 Kentucky Wesleyan alumnae on International Women’s Day March 8! Thanks to these women and the MANY more who represent Kentucky Wesleyan so well. Keep reading to learn more about this year’s #WomenofWesleyan.

Kentucky Wesleyan seniors announce Class of 2024 Senior Gift

Kentucky Wesleyan College’s Class of 2024 has announced plans for its Senior Class Gift. The graduating seniors will give a historic mural created by KWC alumnus and local artist K.O. Lewis ’08. The mural will be in the first-floor lobby inside the Barnard-Jones Administration Building.

“Senior gifts are a long-standing tradition here at Kentucky Wesleyan,” explained Summer (Crick) Aldridge ’14, senior director of engagement. “Some of our most memorable spaces on campus include the entry gates on Wesleyan Way, the bronze Panther statue in front of the Winchester Community Center, the Wesley N. Panther wood-carved mascot in front of the Barnard-Jones Administration Building and, most recently, and the beautiful archway that frames the Suzanne Ahnell ’82 Fountain. All were gifts left to the College by previous graduating classes. This tradition is our students’ way of leaving their legacy, a tradition of leaving the campus better than they found it and paying it forward for future generations of Kentucky Wesleyan students. This is a great example of living The Wesleyan Way.”

Philanthropy Feature – Justin Jones ’12

“The reason I give is simple. Someone I did not know gave to the College to help make my education affordable. Without the academic scholarship, I likely would not have been able to attend Wesleyan. There are future students out there who are in the same position. By donating, I can give back to help make their educations more affordable.

“I joined the Alumni Association Board of Directors three years ago. This has been an opportunity to give back to KWC. I am extremely grateful for my time and experiences at Wesleyan, and this is another way I can return the favor. My favorite activity with the board has been providing dinner to the athletes over Christmas break. I remember being at school during breaks and missing home and home-cooked meals. These students were very appreciative. We were also able to connect with them on a personal level. They learned about KWC alumni, and we were fortunate to learn about them.”

Kentucky Wesleyan to host Spring Career and Graduate School Fair and Free Headshot Day March 19

Kentucky Wesleyan College will host its annual Spring Career and Graduate School Fair on March 19 and expects over 40 employers and graduate programs to attend. The event will take place inside the Winchester Community Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Students attending will be given a Career Passport to encourage exploration among the employers and graduate programs.

“The impressive list of employers and graduate programs registered is a testament to the quality of education and career preparedness our students receive here at Kentucky Wesleyan,” shared Laura Rudolph, KWC Director of Career Exploration. “We are proud of our students and the way they represent the College regularly, and we are confident that next week will be no different.”