Western sets new enrollment record

Western set a new spring enrollment record with 16,827 students enrolled for the 2003 spring semester.

The all-time enrollment record is currently 17,818 students, set in fall 2002.

The 2003 spring semester enrollment is 1,017 more students than the 2002 spring semester. Western’s enrollment has grown 20 percent since 1997, making it the fastest growing university in Kentucky.

Western photojournalism program captures first place in Hearst competition

Western’s photojournalism department was awarded first place in the 43rd annual Hearst Journalism Awards Program.

Western had students finishing in the top three spots in all three contests of the Intercollegiate Photojournalism Competition. Western won the photojournalism competition for 11 consecutive years before finishing second the last two years.

Five of the twelve students qualifying for the the Hearst photo competition semifinals were from Western. They include Bowling Green senior Shannon Guthrie; Shelbyville senior Lauren Clifton; Brett Flashnick, a sophomore from Columbia, S.C.; Amanda Odeski, a senior from Dallas; and Brian Wagner, a senior from Knoxville, Tenn. A $1,500 award will be given to each of the semifinalists. The students will be competing for one of six finalist spots. Finalists will compete in the national photojournalism championships June 2 through 8 in San Francisco.

Team captures world title

Western’s forensics team won their fourth international title at the International Forensics Association Championship that concluded March 18 in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Eight forensic team members were also named champion in eight of 10 events in the competition.

Florence sophomore Nicole Estenfelder won for informative speaking and programmed oral interpretation. Jennifer Purcell, a sophomore from Lewisville, Texas, won for impromptu speaking. Fulton freshman Chris Brasfield won for prose interpretation. Keith Blaser, a senior from Evansville, Ind., won for after-dinner speaking. Lindsey Nave, a junior from Harrisburg, Ill., won for persuasive speaking and Raegan Gibson, a senior from Evansville, Ind., won for the Lincoln-Douglas debate.

Members also placed in the other two events. David Burns, a sophomore from Dayton, Ohio, and Stacy Bernaugh, a senior from Seaside, Calif., placed second in duo interpretation. Evelio Silvera, a junior from Fort Myers, Fla., and Caleb Williams, a sophomore from Lewisville, Texas, placed third in parliamentary debate.

This month, the team will compete in two national competitions. The American Forensics Association tournament will be held on April 4-7 in Oxford, Miss. The National Forensics Association tournament will be held on April 17-21 in Muncie, Ind.

-Meghan Nacke