In the aftermath of attacks in Paris and San Bernadino, there lay a new weight on the shoulders of young Muslims living in the United States. The search for acceptance and fight for religious freedom became a daily challenge for Muslim students on campus under the pressure of stereotypes and cultural misconception. SEE THE STORY
Marcos Espinoza, 17, who is half Guatemalan and Mexican is born and raised in the U.S. He’s a son of illegal immigrants. He represents a generation of Hispanics, the biggest and youngest minority group in the States currently counting 54 million people (2013). Never before in the history of America has a minority ethnic group made up such a large share of the youth in America. One-in-five schoolchildren are Hispanic and every fourth child born is Hispanic according to Pew Research Center.
WKUPJ Student Betina Garcia introduces us to the Espinoza and Barrillas family, giving us a better understanding of the changing population that makes up the U.S. today.
Western Kentucky Senior, Corinn Sprigler, wears a beard made of 1500 bees at the Downing Museum at Baker Arboretum, October 22, 2015. Sprigler is a member of the bee keeping club at WKU. JAKE HURDT
The sun rises over the a barn resting in the rolling hills of Frankfort, Ky., on October 23, 2015. BRITTANY GREESON
Before going to a local Halloween party, Ella Lemley, 14, of Frankfort, Ky., pause in the door way of the kitchen while wearing her hand made Phoenix costume at her family’s organic farm in Frankfort, Ky. BRITTANY GREESON
Burlington’s Community Development & Parks Director Eric Tysland walks up a staircase Monday, Oct. 19, 2015, during a tour of the Apollo School building in Burlington, Iowa. The former school was constructed in 1908. The city of Burlington is seeking a developer for the dilapidated facility. JEFF BROWN
Trent Zinner (left), 8, hugs his father, J. R., before heading to bed. Trent is in second grade and suffers from apraxia, a speech disorder, sometimes resulting from brain damage. “We are very fortunate that Trent’s mind is all the way there,” J. R. says. “He’s very intelligent. He just lacks the ability to express his frustration sometimes.” WILLIAM KOLB
Topping of his look for a night of dancing at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #1493 in Frankfort, Kentucky, Arnold Clark, 87, puts on one of his several cowboy hats in his home on Friday, Oct. 23, 2015. NICHOLAS WAGNER
Virginia Hensley, 85, hugs her dog Jet after taking her outside on October 20, 2015. After VirginiaÕs last dog died last winter she vowed not to get another dog. That changed after a quick trip to the local canine adoption facility in Frankfort, Kentucky.ÓThere were a lot of pretty dogs, but he just stood out,Ó said Hensley. ÒIt is amazing how much dogs can love people, and Jet loves me.Ó HARRISON HILL
Leiajon Frazier, a cornerback for a local football team, the Gators, waits during practice at the Panther Athletic Complex. JUSTIN GILLILAND
“I was the pumpkin because my husband took the clown costume,Ó said Ann Stansbury. Ann, 70, was one of dozens of citizens who dress up during the annual Party Night at the Senior Citizens Center in Frankfort, KY. HARRISON HILL
By Betina Garcia
April Cole is overcoming personal struggle living her dream of being a photographer in Frankfort, Kentucky, USA. Made a the Mountain Workshop with the coaches Bob Sacha, Liz O. Baylen, Leslye Davis, Julie Winokur and Josh Davis.
By Lauren Nolan
As you walk into Poor Richard’s Books, you might smell the stories of Jane Austen and Nancy Drew waft through the many shelves that hold tens of thousands of books. Walk upstairs to the attic, full of antique treasures awaiting their rightful owner.
The woman who owns this store, Lizz Taylor, uses the detective skills she learned at a young age from Harriet the Spy to help her customers find the perfect book – the perfect book that will find them at the exact right moment in their life and teach them something that they didn’t even realize they needed to know.
Lizz helps others escape the hardships in their life through escaping into the magical realities of stories. She doesn’t sell books. She sells ideas.
By Emilie Milcarek
On workdays Frankfort bustles with capitol business. After hours the city’s vivacious warmth rewards those wise enough to linger.
WKU’s wide receiver Taywan Taylor (2) dives into the end zone to score a touchdown during the WKU Hilltoppers 58-28 win against the Middle Tennessee State University Blue Raiders football game on Saturday at L.T. Smith Stadium.SHABAN ATHUMAN
Ayden Jones, 5, sets up fall and halloween decorations at his grandmother’s house in Bowling Green, Kentucky, on October 10, 2015. Jones loves decorating for halloween, and plans to dress up as Olaf from the movie ‘Frozen’ this year. His grandmother, Jennifer Johnson, loves to oblige him with everything from window stickers to giant inflatable witches and ghouls. LAUREN NOLAN
Victoria and Fanny run from the waves while on Autumn holiday in Klitmøller, nicknamed Cold Hawaii due to its great surfing conditions. Located on the west coast of Denmark, Klitmøller is a traditional fishing village that has developed into a developing surf mecca. Since 2010 54 new residents have moved to the town of 822, most young families who have decided to leave bigger cities for the surf lifestyle. NICOLE BOLIAUX
A suffer runs to the reef to catch some waves in Klitmøller, nicknamed Cold Hawaii due to its great surfing conditions. Located on the west coast of Denmark, Klitmøller is a traditional fishing village that has developed into a developing surf mecca. Since 2010 54 new residents have moved to the town of 822, most young families who have decided to leave bigger cities for the surf lifestyle.NICOLE BOLIAUX
Anna Larsson tends to her two month old while her boyfriend Victor Rosario tickles their youngest son Elliot in their hometown of Klitmøller, known to many as Cold Hawaii due to its perfect surfing conditions. Larsson is originally from Sweden and met Rosario when visiting the Dominican republic. They have three kids together and live in Klitmøller where Rosario is a surf instructor and Larsson works as a nurse. NICOLE BOLIAUX
Ricky and Pedro Nuñez are the owners of Baja Autoservice specializing in the sale, maintaining and shifting of tires. Ricky Nuñoz bought the building in March 2011 and opened it with his dad in April of the same year. Last year they got in to an argument because they wanted different things. Ricky took his money, gave the shop to his dad and took off. After Ricky’s return the two now work well together, although it can be difficult working with your dad sometimes, Ricky says. BETINA GARCIA
Margaret Baker brings new life to old furniture and antiques at The Resurrection Shop, which she opened two years ago with her sister-in-law, Mary Dale Reynolds. Baker, a pharmacist by trade, converts consignment store wares, yard sale treasures and flea market finds into unique pieces for the home. “This is what I do for fun,” she said. “I love picking out the pieces.” The shop also holds classes, where members of the community can bring their own pieces of furniture and learn how to restore them. LAUREN NOLAN
Robert Gammon of Bowling Green Kentucky waits for his friends in front of Family Dollar in Bowling Green, Ky on Friday October 1st, 2015. At 19, Robert just got out of jail and is trying to get his life back in order. BETINA GARCIA
10 year old Alex Murillo hides in a miniature cave in the play area of the Lost River Cave attraction. Murillo and several other children spent the morning learning about nature and climate during the first day of the Fall Break Nature Discovery Camp. BRIA GRANVILLE
Bowling Green’s Christ Episcopal Church held their annual “Blessing of the Animals” on Sunday, October 4, 2015. The custom is conducted in remembrance of St. Francis of Assisi’s love for all creatures. Interim Rector of the church, Judith Foster Reese, gave each animal at the ceremony a word of blessing, saying to each animal “May God bless you and keep you; and may the love between you and your human family be a sign of God’s love.” LAUREN NOLAN
Moriah Ruelez reacts after having cake smashed in her face as part of her 14th birthday celebration outside of La Luz Del Mundo (The Light of the World) church. At 14 young adults in the church are given the opportunity to decide whether or not they would like to stay with the church or leave. In this particular instance Moriah decided to stay. BRIA GRANVILLE
Fans wait for the start of an NFL football game between the Tennessee Titans and the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, September 27, 2015, in Nashville, Tennessee. WESTON KENNEY
The Annual Honey Festival draws crowds of all ages to Leitchfield, KY. The festival consists of carnival rides, food carts, craft vendors and, of course, lots of honey. JENNIFER KING
On Saturday September 26, 2015 Elisa Yamileth celebrates her Quinceañera, a mexican tradition celebrating the 15th birthday, by riding in a horse drawn carriage down the streets of Bowling Green, Ky to the church where her family will gather for a ceremony. Her cousin Paco made a selfie for her and her cousin as her uncle Juan Barillas and two friends of the family ride behind them for the parade. In Mexico the quinceañera is considered a milestone when a young girl enters womenhood. BETINA GARCIA
A cyclist bikes up the hill on Avenue of Champions between class changes on Tuesday, Sept. 22. In 2013 WKU received a bronze level certification for bike friendliness from the League of American Bicyclists. JAKE POPE
Dancers wait patiently back stage before performing in the annual Festival Latino de Lexington at Robert F. Stephens Courthouse Plaza on Sept. 19, 2015. The festival boasted a display of traditional dances from numerous organizations around the lexington area. HARRISON HILL
Florida International University sophomore middle blocker, Brianna Gogins, (9) attempts to block a hit by Western Kentucky University sophomore setter, Jessica Lucas, (1). The Lady Toppers defeated the Panthers in the first three sets. JAKE POPE
Paige Lauren McCord prepares for her role as Jean McCormack the mistress secretary in the Plaza Suite play by Neil Simon at the Phoenix Theatre in Bowling Green, Ky. McCord is a Music Ed major and takes part in various plays for fun and to gain first hand experience. MICHAEL NOBLE JR.
Greenwood Gator Noah Pillow,6, waits with teammates to enter the field against Logan County in a non-conference homecoming game at the Swamp on September 18, 2015 in Bowling Green, Kentucky. MICHAEL NOBLE JR.
Tommy Warmsbecker plays in his superhero costume at Potter Children’s Home. He is one of 4 children of Sarah, who declined to give her last name, who lives in the single parent program on Potter’s campus. ABBY POTTER
Greenwood Gators Cole Kremlin, number 73, left, Kevin Fields, number 65, and Jackson Fletecher, number 69, pray before taking the field against Logan County in a homecoming game at the Swamp on September 18, 2015 in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Fields was emotional due to the loss of his brother Kyle Fields, number 61, who committed suicide in May. MICHAEL NOBLE JR.
Left to Right. Lily Martin and Martin Junior, poked fun at their sister, Lidia, by imitating her as she pouted while waiting for her mother to get out of class at WKU on Wednesday, September 19, 2015. WESTON KENNEY
Marlene “Mo” Beach, left, was headed to a wedding when she was bombarded by a swarm of zombies in downtown Bowling Green, Saturday. Jacob Glass, right, participated in the Zombie Walk that was held to raise awareness and funds for the third-world tetanus crisis. WESTON KENNEY
Members of the Daviess County High School football team put on their pads before their 49-21 loss to Owensboro High School on Sept. 18, 2015 at Daviess County’s Reid Stadium in Owensboro, Ky. MIKE CLARK
Flower girl Scottie Russell plays with bride Kaitlin Westbrook’s dress and shouts “Princess Kaitlin of Arendelle,” thinking Westbrook resembles a princess from Disney’s Frozen. ABBY POTTER
The dreary weekend of the 25th Anniversary of Balloons Tunes and Barbecue hosted by United Way of Bowling Green, Kentucky, was closed out with a perfect morning of flying. Many of the pilots and crews participating in the event have been coming for over ten years. For some balloonists the event was a way to connect to the hot air balloon community, which kept spirits high despite the rain. ALYSE YOUNG
Fully painted, Russell Shanahan, left, and Alec Broughon cheer on the WKU football team during the season opener against Louisiana Tech on Thursday, September 10, 2015. The Hilltoppers defeated the Bulldogs 41-38. WESTON KENNEY
Luke Stang, 3, of Winchester, Kentucky hold on to his families horse Filly, while watching his grandpa take part in the Southern Kentucky Team Penning Association contest on September 5, 2015 at the L.D. Brown Agricultural Center in Bowling Green, Kentucky. MICHAEL NOBLE JR.
Cass holds onto his owner Jeana Fowler during the Puppy Paddle event, Sept. 12. The dog had never been in the water before. KATIE ROBERTS
Pilot Dave Bobel of Rochester, In. examines the external part of his hot air balloon to make sure there are no problems before taking off in the balloon race on September 13. 2015. ABBEY TANNER
Kristina Thames, left, and Jamie Davis, right, take a smoke break from attending class at WKU. The Academic Complex’s underpasses on WKU’s campus is a well-known oasis for many of the students, especially on hot September day. WESTON KENNEY
The reception for our current gallery show, Girls of Atomic City, will be Tuesday, September 22 at 6:00 pm.
Following this, the award-winning author Denise Kiernan will be speaking at Van Meter Auditorium at 7:30 p.m.
Please join us for these free events!
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