Head of WKU dept. returns from 15-day tour of EuropeDavid Keeling, head of Western Kentucky Universitys Department of Geography and Geology, recently returned from a 15-day educational tour in Eastern and Southern Europe. Representing the American Geographical Society and WKU, Keeling helped lead the tour through eight European cities. Keeling is a national councilor and Web master of the American Geographical Society (www.amergeog.org).The 24 participants traveled aboard a private jet through Europe to explore changes in the urban conditions of eight cities and to learn more about European integration, urban redevelopment and the political geography of the region. The group visited Budapest, Hungary; Salzburg, Austria; Dresden, Germany; Krakow, Poland; Prague, Czech Republic; Bilboa, Salamanca and Seville, Spain. Keeling gave three formal lectures titled Hidden Urban Treasures of Europe, European Expansion and Integration and Sevilles Role as a Bridge Between the New and Old Worlds. Two highlights of the tour were an exploration of bull raising and training in Andalusia, Spain, and an examination of the impacts of joining the European Union for Hungary, the Czech Republic and Poland. Four Warren County students honored with scholarshipsFour students from Warren County have received scholarships to attend Western Kentucky University. Laura Beth Cooksey, a graduate of Bowling Green High School whose parents are Rick and Betsy Cooksey, received a Gatton Scholarship to honor Sarah Jo Mahurin and plans to major in elementary education. Brian Fisher, a graduate of Bowling Green High School whose father is Eddie Fisher, received a Bowling Green Rotary Club Merit Scholarship and is undecided on a major. Matthew Scott Whitaker, a graduate of Greenwood High School whose parents are Steve and Kim Harris and the late Jeffrey L. Whitaker, received a Bowling Green Rotary Club Merit Scholarship and is undecided on a major. Mindy Wilson, a graduate of Warren Central High School whose grandmother is Bernice Lee, received a Bowling Green Rotary Club Merit Scholarship and plans to major in nursing. New math, reading center set to openKumon Math and Reading Centers has opened a center in Bowling Green. Located at 1111 Shive Lane in suite 104, the new Bowling Green Kumon Center is operated by Haripriya Kanuparthy. A grand opening celebration will be Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon at the center. The event includes a ribbon-cutting ceremony, appointments for placement testing, refreshments and information about Kumon Math and Reading Centers. Kanuparthy, whose son attended a Kumon Center in Tennessee, wanted to bring the after-school, supplemental education program a little closer to home. We were traveling 55 miles to Hendersonville for my 9-year-old to attend Kumon, she said. I saw the confidence and mastery my child was gaining. Carrying a passion for helping children, I decided that Bowling Green needed Kumon. Since the development of the Kumon Method of learning in 1954, millions of students around the world have benefited from the program, which promotes independent study. Students start work independently on daily worksheets to build confidence and self-learning skills. They visit their local center twice a week and work for 20-40 minutes on assignments. The Bowling Green Kumon Center is open Mondays and Thursdays 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.For more information, call Haripriya Kanuparthy at 782-1211. For Kumon Centers in other areas, call 800-ABC-MATH or visit www.kumon.com. Teachers honored with appreciation dinnerA teacher-appreciation dinner was held for local school teachers May 16 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to honor them for their great work. Students pre-school age through college age chose a teacher who has been a great influence in their life. The following teachers were chosen: Catherine Poteet, Bruce Poteet, Bettelynn Dutton, Patrice McCrary, Delores Buchanon, Beverly Oliver, Ann Rudolph, Windy Cline, Laura Sanders, Kim Stout, Sheri Brittinham, Lisa Jenkins, Cindy Clark, Jayne Ferry, Kathy Deere, Jennifer Clark, Lisa Jones, Carol Spinks, Dana Duncan, Rhea DeVillez, Jeanine Cherry, Kathy Kerr, Gail Gum, Debbie Miller, Linda Livers, Marla Estes and Marilyn Mitchell. Tami Layton was honored for teaching early morning seminary for all high school students. Warren students get WKU scholarshipsEight students from Warren County have received scholarships to attend Western Kentucky University. Heather Renee Cowherd, a senior at Bowling Green High School whose parents are Charles and Theresa Cowherd, received a Joseph A. Dear Memorial Scholarship and plans to major in English/journalism. Brandon Lee Cummings, a senior at Warren Central High School whose parents are Cathy and Jim Cummings, received a Reece Honeycutt Scholarship and is undecided on a major. Megan Hazel, a senior at Greenwood High School whose parents are Paul and Jo Hazel, received a Bowling Green Womans Club Scholarship and is undecided on a major. Alex Hudson, a senior at Warren Central High School whose parents are Duane and Terrie Hudson, received a Henry F. Moss Scholarship and plans to major in accounting. Rad Hudson, a senior at Greenwood High School whose parents are Joyce Hudson and James Hudson, received an Ashland Commonwealth Scholarship and plans to major in civil engineering. Jamie Elizabeth King, a senior at Greenwood High School whose parents are Ray and Donna King, received a Bowling Green Womans Club Scholarship and is undecided on a major. Giau Vo, a senior at Warren Central High School whose parent is Dan Vo, received an Aaron P. Turner Memorial Scholarship and plans to major in accounting. Emily Katherine Willis, a senior at Greenwood High School whose parents are Tom and Bonnie Willis, received a Bowling Green Womans Club Scholarship and is undecided on a major. Tinsley awardedReynolds ScholarshipDaniel Pearson Tinsley of Scottsville has received a Yvonne Reynolds Scholarship to attend Western Kentucky University. Tinsley, whose parents are Steve and Darlene Tinsley, is a graduate of Allen County-Scottsville High School and is undecided on a major. Warren school officialto retire this monthAaron Milliken, coordinator for Safety Management and Emerging Programs for Warren County Public Schools since 1997, will retire at the end of June. Because of vacation days, his last day on the job will be June 20. He has been with the school district for 27 years and has held positions ranging from classroom teacher to coach to principal and to Central Office administrator. After graduating from WKU in 1976, he began teaching social studies at Warren Central High School. He taught social studies until 1984, also serving as assistant basketball coach for two seasons. He was a guidance counselor at Central from 1984 through 1987 and Centrals assistant principal from 1988 through 1993. He was Warren East High School principal from 1993 until he moved to Central Office in 1997. In his current position, his duties have included: Student and Family Enrichment (SAFE) program coordinator, coordinator for student/athlete drug testing, director of monitoring athletic eligibility, district Title IX coordinator, district home-bound coordinator, district drop-out prevention coordinator and alternative education supervisor. Cave City studentwins poetry contestWhitney Taylor of Cave City won the seventh and eighth grade division of the seventh annual Classical Music Poetry Contest sponsored by the Public Radio Service of Western Kentucky University and the law firm of Harned, Bachert and Denton. Whitney, a pupil at Glasgow Middle School, will receive a $200 savings bond and her poem will be broadcast on Westerns Public Radio and published in the monthly program guide Choice.