Western Kentucky College devoted Munday Corridor on Friday, October 28, in honor of Margaret E. Munday, the primary Black undergraduate pupil to enroll on the college. Ms. Munday, who graduated from WKU with a level in music in 1960, was readily available for the dedication ceremony together with relations, pals, former college students and college students from space faculties.
WKU President Timothy C. Caboni initially introduced that Northeast Corridor can be renamed Munday Corridor in July 2021 and famous at the moment that the constructing can be the primary on campus named after an African American.
Margaret Munday transferred from Kentucky State Faculty after Kentucky’s greater schooling establishments, together with the precursor to WKU, Western Kentucky State Faculty, had been desegregated in September 1956. President Caboni famous that this easy act of transferring from one establishment to a different led to vital change at WKU. “She turned the very first African-American undergraduate pupil to enroll in courses on our campus, and her journey into unchartered territory helped usher in an period of social and educational change at WKU,” he said. “She is a trailblazer in each sense of the phrase, her life marked by a sequence of firsts that made a path seemingly troublesome for therefore many just a bit bit simpler.”
President Caboni additionally famous that the school and directors on the establishment, together with President Kelly Thompson, Librarian Margie Helm, and Professor Ivan Wilson, supplied fixed assist throughout her time as a pupil. “This dedication to make sure that all members of the Hilltopper household know they belong on our campus stays deeply embedded in our institutional tradition in the present day,” he stated.
Ms. Munday earned her bachelor’s diploma in music 4 years after enrolling and launched into a educating profession that may final for greater than 30 years. After educating for 4 years at Johnstown College in Olmstead, she turned the primary Black trainer at Auburn Excessive College. Ultimately, she taught at each faculty within the Logan County faculty system. Her profession was marked by quite a few distinctive accomplishments. For 15 years, she directed the Union District Youth Choir, consisting of members from over 30 totally different church buildings. In 1999, she acquired an honor from WKU’s Society of African American Alumni, and in 2012, she was inducted into the college’s Corridor of Distinguished Alumni, the best honor the establishment bestows on its alumni.
Along with the title of the constructing that had already been put in on the residence corridor’s exterior, a plaque that can grasp within the constructing to honor Ms. Munday was unveiled by the primary recipients of the brand new Munday Corridor Scholarship, Jeremiah Morrow and Ashanti Groves. Ms. Munday was introduced with a smaller model of that plaque by President Caboni. The housing scholarship, made potential by a present from George and C.J. Nichols, offers funding for 2 college students every year who reside in Munday Corridor.
Ms. Munday famous that she was pleased with her legacy at WKU and that she desires her actions to serve for example for others. “Historical past is within the making for me and WKU,” she stated. “When climbing for a purpose and also you attain that purpose, keep. I hope that college students will bear in mind the significance of stepping exterior of their consolation zone to pave the best way for others.”
President Caboni thanked Ms. Munday for her contributions to the college. “On behalf of all of us at WKU, thanks,” he stated. “Your fortitude made our establishment stronger, extra inclusive, and extra welcoming to all.” He additionally famous that she offers an instance for all college students to comply with. “Every day, we problem our college students to make use of their skills for the advantage of others. This cost is made simpler after we can level them to examples of people who’ve devoted their lives to doing simply that.”
Contact: Jace Lux, (270) 745-4295
– WKU –
Western Kentucky University prides itself on positioning its college students, college and workers for long run success. As a student-centered, applied research college, WKU helps college students develop on classroom studying by integrating schooling with real-world functions within the communities we serve. Our hilltop campus is positioned in Bowling Green, Kentucky, which was lately named by Reader’s Digest as one of many nicest cities in America, simply an hour’s drive from Nashville, Tennessee.
