Thursday, March 26, 2026
Hilltoppers behold the beauty of Ohanami
Consulate-Genral of Japan in Nashville Cultural Programs Coordinator Johnathan Contrades speaks with students about the Japan Exchange and teaching Program during WKU Global’s second annual Ohanami Festival at Centennial Park on Wednesday, March 25, 2026. The JET Program offers cultural exchange opportunities to work in schools, boards of education, and government offices in Japan.(Sam Huffman)
Light pink cherry blossom petals danced in the spring breeze, decorating the sidewalk of Centennial Mall while students mingled and ate free Japanese cuisine served by WKU Catering.
Bella Johnson, sophomore animation and Chinese double-major, stood with her food and watched the petals as sunlight shone through the branches of the cherry blossom trees.
“The cherry blossoms are all falling,” Johnson said as she looked up to the sky. “It’s just so scenic and beautiful.”
Read more byAbigail Vickers
Leaving Her Mark: The story of Sydney Hackett’s success
WKU Women’s Golf is hot off the heels of its best season in program history. The Lady Toppers surpassed all expectations, earning their first-ever Conference USAtitle. WKU was also home to the CUSAIndividual title for just the second time ever.
VISUALS: WKU Baseball
takes down UofLCardinals 10-5
Lady’s Golf | Photos by Steve Roberts. (Steve Roberts/WKUAthletics)
Read more by Peyton Reid
Western Infielder LaneArroyos (26) runs to first base after Louisville First Baseman Tauge Davis (13) catches the ball at Western’s game against University of Louisville, Tuesday, March 24, 2026 at Nick Denes Field. (Bradi Hawkins)
View the gallery by Bradi Hawkins
WKU History’s annual Harrison lecture on Thursday will feature Rabia Belt, a historian at Stanford Law School.
Belt, an advocate for people with disabilities and a former councilmember to the National Council on Disability under former President Barack Obama, will “Explore the disenfranchisement of civil war veterans,” Brielle Freeman, administration communication and outreach coordinator for the English, History, and Modern Language departments at WKU, said.
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Read more by Isaiah Merricks