Jackson Cofer has completely separated himself from Tina Maria. Tina is a person of the past as Jackson now leads a new life in Lexington, KY with support from friends and family.
Further From Alone
While struggling to reclaim his life, Terry Kessenger finds a way to reconnect with his son.
Second Time Around
After a marriage each and 16 years apart, James and Barbara Taylor reconnected and shortly thereafter were exchanging vows. Now, the two have found contentment halfway through life and turned hobby into profession. Operating out of a shop beside their home in Bowling Green, Ky., the couple have worked and lived together in harmony for over 24 years.
– Danny Guy and Rae Emary, WKU
Culture of Wrestling
Who better to understand the ins and outs of a sport than a photographer who has not only covered it over the years but was a successful high school athlete.
WKU photojournalism Senior Ian Maule was a competitive wrestler in high school and has focused his cameras on the sport at the pinacle of the high school season, the state championships.
Photo by Ian Maule
Brighton head coach Sam Amine kisses Aaron Calderon after beating Detroit Catholic Central’s Alec Mooradian, winning the MHSAA Division 1 Individual Wrestling Finals at 152lbs. “He had the choice to go 145 but he told me he wanted to be the best. I said to be the best you got to beat the best,” says Armine on Calderon’s win over Mooradian, who was going for his 4th state championship, “I promised him this.”
Practicum Class of 2012 Presents Two Group Projects
Our Practicum course spent several weeks during the semester divided into two teams working on group-wide projects. Each team was required to select the project of their choice, plan their coverage and present their final presentation in an online environment. The two projects can be seen below.
VOICES OF OUR NEIGHBORS
ONE ROAD TO VICTORY
Loving Mallory
Adam Dobson was becoming part of growing trend seen in the gay and transgender population. He was trying everything from Xanax to hydrocodone, and even a horse tranquilizer called ketamine to find a high. According to www.americanprogress.org, up to 30% of the gay and transgender community abuse substances, compared to only 9% in the general population.
A couple of years ago Dobson began to perform in drag which, he says, helped him get his life on a more positive track. He now performs drag as Mallory in nightclubs throughout Kentucky, Tennessee and Indiana, and his number one fan is his mom, Cathy.
Cathy attends almost every drag performance that she can. “He never disappoints me,” she says, “I’m always amazed by his performance.”
The love and support Cathy gives her son is significant. Not every gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender young adults’ parents are supportive, which experts believe may be a factor that leads many LGBT youth to depression or other risky behavior. A study done by the Official Journal of The American Academy of Pediatrics in 2009 found that, “lesbian, gay, and bisexual young adults who reported higher levels of family rejection during adolescence were 8.4 times more likely to report having attempted suicide, 5.9 times more likely to report high levels of depression, 3.4 times more likely to use illegal drugs, and 3.4 times more likely to report having engaged in unprotected sexual intercourse compared with peers from families that reported no or low levels of family rejection.”
“I’m going to live life the way I want to live it, and I refuse to let anyone bring me down,” Dobson said.
Young in Heart
Brenda Smith, 56, used to think that when she reached a certain age, she and her husband Bruce would be celebrating their golden years together, with no one else in the house.
That thought changed about eight years ago, when the Smith household began to take care of Shylar, Bruce’s grandson and Brenda’s step-grandson.
According to AARP, more than 2.5 million grandparents in the United States are taking in their grandchildren and becoming responsible for them.
Brenda takes great pride in raising Shylar as her own son, but Shylar isn’t the only person in the household living under her care.
In Dec. 2011, her father Bill Wilcox was diagnosed with cancer and after being faced with the reality of going to a nursing home, Brenda made the decision to take him into her home and take care of him.
She experiences life’s joys and struggles as she splits her time between raising her 8-year-old grandson, and caring for her 84-year-old dad.
The Herald – Fighting for Free Speech
Twenty-five years ago the students who ran the newspaper at Western Kentucky University fought a battle of David and Goliath to preserve their independence and free speech that helped pave a path of self-governance for student publications across the country. The story is told through archival news footage and current interviews with those who were involved at that time.
The end of the road, but the beginning of the highway
Below is a sample of some of our Senior Capstone course Projects in Photojournalism. The student’s will take the entire semester to work on one project of their choosing. Enjoy the stories.
Ben Severence – “Leaving a Legacy”
“I have come to believe that a great teacher is a great artist and that there are as few as there are any other great artists. Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit.” -John Steinbeck
The nationally renowned journalism program and award winning student newspaper at Western Kentucky University have not always been so prestigious. From humble beginnings and through controversy they were formed by the work of thousands of friends, colleagues and students.
This is the story of a little newspaper in Kentucky that would stop a nothing to be the considered the best and one man who for over 40 years guided the paper, touching the lives of every student involved.
Zach Conkle – “Wright’s Law”
An amazing educator in the Louisville School System, Jeffrey Wright pours his heart and emotion into the well being of his students. Little do they know that Wright’s life at school is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the love he carries for his own family.
Leslye Davis – “My Blessing, My Boy”
When Andrew Holland was 13, he was diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma after a tumor was discovered in his spine. Doctors gave him 50-50 odds of survival.
On March 14, 2012, he underwent his last chemotherapy treatment. Less than three weeks later, his mother Regina received a phone call from the hospital. An MRI revealed four new tumors in Andrew’s spine. He immediately returned to chemotherapy as doctors worked to determine what his treatment options would be.
Andrew and Regina worry that a bone marrow transplant will be a tragic step in his journey to recovery.
“It’s just scary because to do that, they have to take the kids as close to death as they possibly can.” Regina said. “We’ve been coming here for a while and I’ve seen too many kids die from it.”
“I don’t think I’m going to die,” Andrew said. “ I think I can come really, really close to it— just not going to die.”
Even in his hospital bed, he will sing to his mother, his visitors, and even the nurses as they come and go on their routines.
Some day Andrew hopes to be an author. Although he rarely betrays the optimism that defines his character, through his writing a darker side to his struggle is revealed.
Alyssa Orr – “Loving Mallory”
Adam Dobson of Bowling Green, Ky., gets his life on a more positive track after getting involved with drugs. The unconditional love and support coming from Adam’s mom, Cathy, continues to strengthen the bond they share.
Kelly Lafferty – “Young in Heart”
56-year-old Brenda Smith revolves her life around her family. She experiences life’s joys and struggles as she raises her grandson and takes care of her ailing father.
A Portrait of a My Neighborhood
Photo by Austin Koester
Every city is divided into neighborhoods, sometimes for economic reasons, and sometimes for issues relating to race or income. The following photograph shows a neighborhood different from the city it belongs to. There’s no clear line that separates it from it’s better half. Some say it’s divided by a set of railroad tracks. Some say it begins in an alley way between Kentucky and Adams st. Wherever it begins and whatever it may be called, I know it as my backyard. This is one photograph that represents a collection I put together for my capstone photojournalism class. It aims to give viewers a glimpse into the neighborhood and it’s inhabitants.