The Spring 2020 edition of the Kentucky Wesleyan Magazine is arriving in mailboxes and we can’t wait for you to see it! The issue further introduces our new president, Dr. Thomas Mitzel, and his wife, Rhonda, to our alumni and friends. Additional features include a look at the tremendous success of the KWC Teacher Education program, profiles of Mitch ’92 and Laurie (Weida) Major ’92 and women’s soccer All-American Madisyn Hunt ’21, Alumni Scrapbook, Class Notes and more.

The issue is also available online by CLICKING HERE or by clicking the cover if the current issue at right.

Click Here to view past issues of Kentucky Wesleyan Magazine.

Health and safety of the Kentucky Wesleyan College community is a top priority, and we continue to monitor all developments related to COVID-19. College administration is maintaining contact with the health department and we have created a campus response team with representatives from residence life, facilities, and dining services. Additional measures have been set with regard to campus cleanliness and food preparation with outgoing messages to our community on how to maintain good health practices.

We have created a page with up-to-date communications and official resources to keep our community informed and vigilant. The situation is rapidly evolving and recommendations from the health officials change daily, if not more frequently. We encourage students, faculty and staff to monitor the page regularly.

www.kwc.edu/coronavirus 

This article appeared in the Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer on Thursday, March 12

By Bobbie Hayse Messenger-Inquirer

Owensboro Public Schools has announced a partnership between its innovation high school and Kentucky Wesleyan College, which are soon to be neighbors.

Beginning in the fall of 2020, Owensboro Innovation Academy students will have the opportunity to take dual-credit courses at Kentucky Wesleyan College. At that time the OIA will have completed its move from its downtown campus to the new Innovation Campus location at 2631 South Griffith Ave., the former site of the Owensboro Middle School South Campus, which was previously the OPS 5-6 Center. At that campus will also be housed the Owensboro Innovation Middle School that opened its doors for the first time this school year.

Matthew Ruark, the KWC vice president for admissions and financial aid, said the new OIA location provides a unique opportunity because of its proximity.

“Their students can walk to our campus to take part in classes on campus,” he said. “And as needed, the Owensboro Innovation Academy will be able to use spaces on our campus for what they may need as well.”

KWC will have the same partnership it has with most of the other high schools in the region, Ruark said.

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Mark Shook arrived at Kentucky Wesleyan in September 2019 from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he was the assistant athletic director for academic services. Mark has a deep background in college athletics with experience at a variety of higher education institutions. He shares that he wanted to serve at a smaller institution where he could make a real impact and difference, support the athletic director closely and get to know the students on a more personal level. “This is my first experience in the small private setting, and I find it very appealing,” he remarked. “It’s all about personal relationships, and I have the opportunity here to play a big part in helping our student-athletes be successful in the classroom, on the playing field, in their lives and in the community.”

He is a native of Rittman, Ohio, where he says he learned the blue collar values that have guided his life: integrity, perseverance, work ethic, loyalty, teamwork and competition. “I started playing sports when I was 8 years old, and I’ve learned so much from my parents, coaches, teachers and colleagues. They played a part in my success, and I work hard every day to set the same good example I saw in them.”

In light of the current situation concerning COVID-19, the Kentucky Wesleyan Center for Engaged Teaching and Learning (CETL) has suspended its VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) income tax preparation services for 2019 tax filing returns.

VITA is a free tax preparation program that is offered to low income, elderly and disabled members of the community who are not able to pay for these services. The VITA program is an Internal Revenue Service (IRS)-sponsored program established more than 40 years ago by the Federal Government. Kentucky Wesleyan has partnered with the Green River Asset Building Coalition (GRABC) to offer the services in the current tax season, and has been doing so since Feb. 1.

Please call (270) 685-1603 for alternative sites.

Kentucky Wesleyan College junior Gloria Endicott has been selected as a member of Campus Compact’s 2020-21 cohort of Newman Civic Fellows. She is one of 290 students from 39 states, Washington, D.C., Greece, Lebanon and Mexico chosen for the fellowship.

“Gloria Endicott is an exceptional leader here at Wesleyan,” said President Thomas Mitzel. “She is active in addressing issues women’s issues on campus and beyond, and she founded the Feminist Club her freshman year as a way to make women’s voices heard. We are pleased that she has received this honor and know she will use the experience to grow and learn and improve our world.”

“Wesleyan gave so much to us and continues to today! Many of our closest friendships began there. Our successful careers were built on the foundation of our education at Wesleyan. We continue to meet and find common bonds with alumni of all generations from KWC – And now, our son is beginning his adult life walking those same halls.

“We give an unrestricted donation, so the monies can be used where deemed best at the time. They may just be paying for chocolate chip cookies!”

Kentucky Wesleyan College has announced it will become a tobacco-free campus, effective May 1, 2020. The campus is already smoke free, and the new policy will prohibit the use of any tobacco product on campus property including but not limited to cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cigars, hookah and smokeless tobacco.

“The adoption of this policy reflects our students’ concern for the health and well-being of our campus and local community,” said Rebecca McQueen-Ruark, vice president of student affairs. “Kentucky Wesleyan is proud to join the growing number of colleges and universities who have made their campuses tobacco free.”

The new policy will apply to all parties on campus, including faculty, staff, students and visitors. Kentucky Wesleyan adopted its no smoking policy in 2011.

“We are thankful to the administration for adopting this policy,” said Kylie Foster ’20, president of KWC’s Student Government Association. “This was an important initiative for the Student Government Association and provides a public health benefit.”

Kentucky Wesleyan is committed to providing resources linking individuals with resources to help educate and break the nicotine/tobacco addiction. Student Health Services has an array of available materials and resources related to tobacco impacts and support. The Student Health Services Office is located in Room 213 on the second floor of the Barnard-Jones Administration Building. Director of Health Services Tonya Marksberry may be reached at (270) 852-3288 or via email at tmarksberry@kwc.edu.

Kentucky Wesleyan College celebrated the dedication and naming of the Terry Woodward Center for Business Studies during a ceremony with the College’s Board of Trustees on Thursday, Feb. 6. A 2019 inductee of the Owensboro Business Hall of Fame, Woodward has been an influential leader in the Owensboro business community and a generous benefactor of Kentucky Wesleyan College for decades. He established the College’s first endowed chair, the W. Terry Woodward Endowed Chair of Entrepreneurial Studies, in 2007.

“It’s quite an honor having anything named after you, and particularly if it has to do with business because that has been my life,” Woodward said at the ceremony. “What I learned at Kentucky Wesleyan gave me the confidence to face the world.”

“I was called to the Tell City High School guidance counselor’s office in 1976 and learned of a very lucrative financial aid package that would allow me to attend KWC and play baseball. I was very excited to share this information with my parents!

“I earned a B.A. with a major in business administration, making me the only non-accountant in my family. At 55, I decided to become a certified tennis instructor and have logged over 100 hours of education. I recently earned my certification to teach pickleball.

“Being a part of the KWC family helped me land my first two jobs, where I worked for two KWC alumni – David Epling ’74 at the Earle men’s shop and then Terry Woodward ’64 at WaxWorks. The opportunity at WaxWorks allowed me to spend 30 years in entertainment distribution.