Owensboro, Ky. (April 20, 2015) – Kentucky Wesleyan College will honor students at the annual “Celebration of Student Achievement” with a series of events on Thursday, April 23, beginning with a keynote address at Honors Convocation by Owensboro community leader and philanthropist Martha Fitts Clark at 12:30 p.m. at Wesleyan Heights United Methodist Church. Her speech is entitled, “Into the World – Making the World a Better Place.” President Barton D. Darrell remarked, “Martha Clark is a pioneer for women in business, and her incredible civic contributions and commitment to changing lives are an example to everyone. We are honored to welcome her to campus on this special day of celebration.”
Ms. Clark is a native Kentuckian. She received her bachelor of arts from Vanderbilt University and her master of arts in education from Western Kentucky University. After passing her CPA exam, she practiced accounting for 28 years. Now retired, Martha was a 2005 Leadership Kentucky graduate and currently administers, on a part-time basis, the John B. and Brownie Young Memorial Scholarship.
She has long been involved in community service and is co-founder and founding president of
IMPACT 100 Owensboro. She currently serves as governance chair and is a board member emerita. In less than 10 years, the group has awarded nearly $1,900,000 and is expected to far surpass the $2,000,000 threshold in 2015.
Ms. Clark is treasurer of both the Owensboro Symphony Orchestra Board of Directors and the Orchestra Foundation Board of Governors and serves on the RiverPark Center Board of Directors and the “We the People” Leadership Council.
Her honors include the Junior League White Rose Award, the 2009 Steel Magnolia Award from AK Steel, the 2006 Owensboro Board of Realtors Heritage Award and the 2005 Athena Award. In 2007, she was the grand marshal of the Owensboro Christmas parade in recognition of her leadership and service to the community.
Ms. Clark has a daughter, Julie, and three grandsons, Julian, Marcus and Clark.
Scholars’ Day poster and oral presentations will follow from 2 – 4:45 p.m. in the Winchester Center, and Greek Life Awards and the Student Government Association officers’ installation will take place at 5 p.m. in Tapscott Chapel, followed by the 88 Keys Music Recital at 6 p.m. in Tapscott Chapel in the Barnard-Jones Administration Building.
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