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Celebrate a Decade of Impact: Give to KWC on Giving Tuesday!

At Kentucky Wesleyan, your gifts not only make a difference, but your gifts ARE the difference—the difference between an adequate education and the high caliber, academically rigorous liberal arts foundation that has been the hallmark of Kentucky Wesleyan College since it was founded in 1858.

KWC will join thousands of colleges and nonprofit organizations around the world in the global day of giving on Dec. 3. Our goal – to surpass the $650,000 raised last year, and we can do it together! Through your generosity, we have raised over $2.7 million since our first Giving Tuesday in 2015, and we have set a record five straight years. Let’s do it again and celebrate a decade of giving.

Kentucky Wesleyan to present annual Festival of Lessons and Carols at St. Stephen Cathedral

Kentucky Wesleyan invites the community to begin the Christmas season at the Festival of Lessons and Carols, “The Tree of Life,” Dec. 5 and 6 at 7 p.m. at St. Stephen Cathedral at 610 Locust St. The Kentucky Wesleyan Singers and Shepard Brass Quintet will present Owensboro’s adaptation of the famous Nine Lessons and Carols, offered since 1918 at King’s College in Cambridge, England, and broadcast around the world by the BBC.

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Visiting Assistant Professor of Music Patrick Ritsch is the conductor and James Wells ’14, director of music at the cathedral, is the staff collaborative pianist. Associate Professor of Music Dr. Lisa Clark is a soloist.

“The service of Nine Lessons and Carols is one of my favorite services of the Anglican tradition,” said Ritsch. “I am honored to continue this tradition at Kentucky Wesleyan. It began with my dear friend, Professor Dennis Jewett, and the late Professor Paul Oakley. This service is a wonderful way to welcome the Christmas season.”

Tickets ($10, $5 for senior adults and students with ID) are available by CLICKING HERE, by calling 270-852-3117 and at the door.

KWC Band to Present “Paris Sketches” Nov. 21

Join the KWC Band for ‘Paris Sketches’ on Nov. 21 at 6 p.m. in the Jack T. Wells ’77 Activity Center at 3300 Frederica St.

You will be transported across the Atlantic Ocean to celebrate music from French composers, life in Paris and beyond. The featured soloist is Associate Professor of Music Dr. Lisa Clark, soprano, and the conductor is Associate Professor of Music Dr. Patrick Stuckemeyer. The program will include works by Mashima, Delibes, Gershwin and Milhaud.

The concert is free and open to the public.

Philanthropy Spotlight – Allison (Estes) Ross ’02

During her time at Kentucky Wesleyan, Allison (Estes) Ross ’02 was a James Graham Brown Scholar, Women’s Basketball player, SGA President and Vice President, Member of the Order of Oak & Ivy and many other things that she admits, she has surely forgotten by now.

As a now proud alumna of the College, Allison enjoys giving back to Wesleyan both financially and with her time.

“From a financial perspective, I typically give back to the Women’s Basketball program that poured so much into me for four wonderful years. I truly believe my time on that team transformed my life. I love watching the current teams play and they are always so thankful for any support.”

Kentucky Wesleyan Singers to present fall concert, “This & That”

The Kentucky Wesleyan Singers will present their fall concert, “This & That,” on Nov. 14, 2024, at 7 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church at 1328 Griffith Ave. in Owensboro. Patrick Ritsch, visiting assistant professor of music, is the conductor, and James Wells ’14, staff collaborative pianist, is the pianist.

Selections presented come from the standard choral repertoire and will also feature choral arrangements of familiar popular tunes. The thematic idea of this concert is pairings of texts – “this & that.” Each set of songs has texts that are married in some way, and in most cases, traditional choral pieces are paired with a popular tune. In addition to the choral music presented, several KWC piano and vocal students will perform solos and duets.

There is no admission. However, donations will be accepted.

Kentucky Wesleyan College Announces Inaugural Forward Under 40 Class

The Kentucky Wesleyan College Alumni Association announced its inaugural class of Forward Under 40, a new alumni recognition program celebrating the accomplishments of alumni who are under 40 years old.

This year’s class featured 24 alumni ranging in age from 29 to 39 with career paths varying from accounting and law to nonprofit leadership and medicine. It includes a variety of Kentucky cities as well as four other states and Washington, D.C. Selection was left entirely up to the College’s 8,000+ alumni base through anonymous voting after an open nomination process.

Kentucky Wesleyan to host Abel and Earle Duo Recital Nov. 17

Violinist Alfred Abel and pianist Diane Earle will present a Duo Recital on Sunday, Nov. 17, at 2 p.m. in Tapscott Chapel at Kentucky Wesleyan College. The pair will perform music by Beethoven, Brahms and Gershwin/Heifetz.

Abel is visiting artist in violin at Kentucky Wesleyan College, conductor of the Wabash College Chamber Orchestra and instructor of violin and viola at Purdue University. He also performs as concertmaster of the Lafayette Symphony and Kokomo Symphony, principal second violin of the Danville (Ill.) Symphony and Sinfonia da Camera (Ill.), and associate principal second of the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra.

Earle is professor emeritus of music at Kentucky Wesleyan College, principal pianist of the Owensboro Symphony and a busy solo and chamber music performer. Her upcoming season includes performances for Royal Caribbean Cruise Line and Carnegie Hall, among others.

The hour-long recital is free and open to the public as part of the Dr. Paul W. Hagan Chamber Music Series.

Kentucky Wesleyan College to celebrate Homecoming and Family Weekend Oct. 24-27

Kentucky Wesleyan College will celebrate Homecoming and Family Weekend presented by Owensboro Health on campus and throughout the Owensboro community from Thursday, Oct. 24 through Sunday, Oct. 27.

Signature events for the weekend include:

  • A Taste of the Arts, presented by Wonder Boy Media, on Thursday, Oct. 24, at 6 p.m., which will feature live performances from theatre, band and choir along with various exhibits and “tastes” of Owensboro-themed cuisine by McHenry Event Planning (limited number of tickets still available!)
  • The Pillars Lecture Series on Friday, Oct. 25, at 4 p.m. featuring mini lectures by Dr. Kyle Besing, Allyson Sanders ’04 and Chase Andrews ’21 (no advanced registration required)
  • An already sold-out Alumni Hall of Fame and Awards Celebration, presented by Independence Bank, on Friday, Oct. 25, at 6 p.m., which will honor the 2024 Alumni Award recipients with the induction of Lilburn “Ray” Harper ’85 into the Alumni Hall of Fame
  • The 4th Annual Panther Pride 5k, presented by Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline, on Oct. 26 at 8 a.m., which will offer a unique behind-the-scenes tour of Kentucky Wesleyan’s beautiful campus and a picturesque finish line in Steele Stadium (day-of registration will be offered)
  • Football vs. Hillsdale on Saturday, Oct. 26, at noon at Steele Stadium
  • The 4th Annual Bash on the Lawn, on Saturday, Oct. 26, from 3-6 p.m., is free and open to the entire community. This year’s Bash will feature live music by Soul N The Pocket, food trucks, vendors, putt-putt by Holes to Go, inflatables from Wild Child Inflatables, live characters from Magical Memories Character Co. and more (no advanced registration required)

Kentucky Wesleyan and OCTC to present “Hamlet”

KWC’S Theatre Works, in collaboration with Owensboro Community and Technical College, will present “Hamlet” Oct. 17-19 at 7 p.m. and Oct. 20 at 2 p.m. at the Wells Activity Center at 3300 Frederica St.

According to KWC Theatre Director Nate Gross, in this reimagined production of Hamlet, the timeless tale of power, revenge and existential crisis is set against the backdrop of an old money aristocratic world, infused with the issues of modern societal and personal struggles.

The production seeks to highlight the tension between legacy and progress and privilege and accountability, offering a new perspective on this familiar Shakespearean tragedy that modern audiences can relate to. This production of Hamlet seeks to bridge the timeless themes of the Shakespearean classic with contemporary issues surrounding privilege, mental health and societal decay.

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KWC Community Celebrates Milestone

Members of the Wesleyan community celebrated the 70th anniversary of the opening of the Barnard-Jones Administration Building on Sept. 26 with special guests including the Board of Trustees, Leadership Wesleyan students, Jim ’69 and Sandy Jones, and Joe Roop ’56.

KWC arrived in Owensboro from Winchester in 1951, and ground was broken for the Administration Building in December 1952. Construction began in early 1953 and the building opened in September 1954. In 1bet365中文, the building was renamed the Barnard-Jones Administration in memory of John “Pete” Barnard, founder of Modern Welding Company, and his grandsons, John Jones ’67 (1943-2011), James Jones ’69 and Leland Jones ’70 (1946-2017).

Joe Roop ’56 was a student from 1952-1956 and later dean of students. He eloquently shared memories of his years on campus and his love and appreciation for his alma mater.

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