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.

“I chose Wesleyan because I am from Owensboro, the small nature of the College appealed to me, and I wanted to play soccer.

“I have many fun memories of soccer trips and the long bus rides when I developed some deep friendships. We got to spend time exploring cities between games, and I particularly remember Chicago and St. Louis, where we visited the Arch. I’m still friends with a few teammates, and that means a lot to me. My best friend Stephanie (Pfirman) Pintard ’04 used to visit me in the library for much-needed study breaks, and I lived with three other soccer players – all good memories.

“I majored in chemistry because I wanted to be a pharmacist. The chemistry faculty had a huge impact on me, and I eventually changed my direction in the field through their guidance and encouragement.

Kentucky Wesleyan College’s Center for Engaged Teaching and Learning (CETL) has announced it is once again partnering with the Green River Asset Building Coalition (GRABC) to offer VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) income tax preparation services free of charge for low to moderate income filers this tax season.

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.

In 2019, Kentucky Wesleyan processed 113 returns with more than $163,000 in refunds for clients from the local community and campus.

Through this partnership, Kentucky Wesleyan students and staff are trained as VITA volunteers, either as certified greeters and screeners or as IRS-certified tax preparers. Volunteers help students and staff, as well as members of the public, to understand and file federal income taxes. All volunteers undergo ethics training to ensure confidentiality.

Services are offered on the Kentucky Wesleyan College campus in the Howard Greenwell Library from 1-4 p.m. on Saturdays and 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays from Feb. 1 through April 1. As part of the Prepare to Prosper program, an incentive to promote savings, all tax filers who agree to save a portion of their refund are eligible to enter a drawing instant gift cards or cash.

For more information, please contact the Center for Engaged Teaching and Learning at 270-852-3254 or cetl@kwc.edu.

KWC Online achieves national recognition for fifth straight year, ranking in top 100

For the fifth straight year, Kentucky Wesleyan College’s online bachelor’s degree program has earned recognition as a 2020 Best Online Program by U.S. News & World Report. Wesleyan moved into the top 100 nationally (No. 80) with a total of 345 programs ranked in 2020.

“It is an honor to appear in the U.S. News & World Report rankings for Best Online Programs for the fifth straight year,” said Dr. Rebecca Francis, director of adult and online education and associate dean of the College. “This is a testament to the students, faculty and staff who provide engaging, encouraging and intellectually stimulating online environments for learning and teaching.”

Harrison ’11 and Adair Price are members of the President’s Circle and proud to continue supporting Kentucky Wesleyan College. Harrison recently shared his appreciation and reasons for giving back to his alma mater:

“I serve clients in various capacities, including tax preparation, planning and consulting engagements for individuals, small businesses, trusts and non-profit organizations.

“As an alumnus, I look back and realize that the College provided experiences and opportunities that I’m benefiting from today, and I can’t put a price tag on that. KWC became an integral part of my life while I was a student, and I appreciate the impact it has had on my life and career.

Kentucky Wesleyan College officially welcomed Dr. Thomas Mitzel as the 35^th president of the College with an introductory news conference on Wednesday, Jan. 8. The event was hosted in Rogers Hall in the Winchester Campus Community Center.

Dr. Mitzel shared remarks outlining his guiding principles, objectives for Kentucky Wesleyan College and his excitement at joining the Wesleyan, Owensboro and Daviess County communities. Preceding Dr. Mitzel and offering words of welcome and introduction were Trustee Chair, Hon. Phillip Shepherd, and Student Government Association president, Kylie Foster ’20.

The news conference was streamed live and you can watch On Demand by Clicking Here (Click the “On Demand” tab to see the appropriate “Watch” button).

You may also listen to the entirety of Dr. Mitzel’s remarks courtesy of WKWC, Panther Radio by Clicking Here.

View photos of the event by Clicking Here.

The Kentucky Wesleyan College Office of Advancement was again recognized with several awards, including Best Practices in Fundraising, from the Kentucky chapter of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) at the organization’s annual conference in Lexington on Dec. 6.

Wesleyan was recognized with the Best Practices in Fundraising honor, given to the top performing institution, for the third time in four years, and also received the top award for its 2018 Homecoming mailer brochure along with an Award of Merit for the Winter 2019 issue of the Kentucky Wesleyan Magazine.

“Our advancement team works tirelessly to provide engagement opportunities for alumni while communicating all that is happening at KWC and encouraging support for our College.,” said Eddie Kenny, vice president of advancement. “Peer recognition is always rewarding and exciting, and these awards are the result of support from committed alumni volunteers, investors and colleagues.”

The Kentucky Wesleyan College Office of Advancement has earned numerous awards from the Kentucky chapter of CASE as well as the District III region in the last several years.

CASE is an international association of educational institutions and the advancement professionals who work on their behalf in the areas of alumni relations, communications, development, marketing and allied areas.

New records established during College’s signature two-day event 

Kentucky Wesleyan College received $211,999 in charitable gifts during its Giving Tuesday effort, marking the most successful single day of giving in school history. The total was a 35% increase over last year, bringing the five-year donated total to $816,400 on Giving Tuesday. The fifth annual Wesleyan Way Day of Service on Monday resulted in a record 456 hours being dedicated to the community by Wesleyan students, employees and alumni. The Wesleyan community has committed more than 1,600 hours since the inception of the service day.

“The results of these two days are simply remarkable, and we cannot thank participants enough,” said Eddie Kenny, Wesleyan’s vice president of advancement. “There is a lot of excitement and gratitude here on campus in response to the tremendous generosity of our alumni and friends. We are so thankful that investors see the value in supporting Kentucky Wesleyan College and The Wesleyan Way.”