ChallengE Accepted
8-year-old Gabriella Bilbrey has overcome the challenges of her disability since birth. Born without fully devleoped legs, Gabi’s physical therapist encouraged her to participate in the local climbing gym’s children …
Student Work
Documenting ICE in Chicago
WKUVJP Senior Dominic Di Palermo’s internship at the Chicago Tribune this past fall put him on the front line of the federal government’s immigration crackdown in Chicago. What started as …
Collecting Memories by Myah Griffin
Over the past 50 years, hammer enthusiast Scotty Fulton has built a collection of over 27,000 hammers. But something is missing. What started as a story at 50th Mountain Workshops, …
“Duffer’S House” by Von Smith
Junior Von Smith from Louisville documented Jimmie Duffer of Park City, Kentucky as he works to renovate one of the oldest homes in the town, dating back to the 1880s. …
Strength to Inspire
WKU Senior Adin Parks documents the journey of Kevin Goode during his training to compete in a bodybuilding competition in the “transformational” category. Goode had lost 250 pounds during an …
Senior Spotlight – Eli Randolph
Eli Randolph a senior VJP major from Murfreesboro, TN had the opportunity to intern at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch this past summer as apart of a WKU Student Publication Fellowship. …
Senior Spotlight Dominic Di Palermo
Dominic Di Palermo, a senior from outside of Chicago has had a chance to take a semester off to return to Illinois and intern for the Chicago Tribune. This past …
The 2025 Senior Capstone Projects
Each spring, the graduating seniors of the Western Kentucky University Visual Journalism & Photography program offer a final, unforgettable look at stories that captured their attention. These deeply personal and …
Together in Totality
A year ago students in our Visual Journalism and Photography program spread throughout three states to document the total eclipse. Our students were out on assignment for our student newspaper …
Busy Bees by Madeline Powell
What started as a hobby with two hives, 10 years ago, ended up with the Simon Family taking on a new career. Simon Apiearies now cares for over 600 hives, …
The Joy In Little Things
Coy Richmond, a resident of Bowling Green, Ky., has always lived a life full of adventure and independence. In his younger years, Richmond was very active, enjoying backpacking, fishing, and …
48 Minutes
Friday Night lights was the assignment for the Advanced Short-Doc class. Students spread throughout the state gaining access to local High School football teams searching out their stories. Senior VJP …
All Too Human by Arthur Trickett-Wile
According to a federal report released by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Kentucky saw a nearly 10 percent increase in the number of individuals experiencing homelessness from …
Life in the Garden, By Sean McInnis
Faced with eviction, residents of Kentucky Gardens Mobile Home Park, come together to find a solution to help relocate after rezoning allowed for development of condominiums on the property. Many …
Life Plays On: A caregiver caught between two generations – By Madeline Powell
Virgil Bowlin balances the care of his music, children, and mother. Ultimately navigating being a caregiver across different generations. Senior Visual Journalism & Photography major Madeline Powell documents the life …
A New Road to Travel – By Brett Phelps
Eighty-one-year-old Jim Henry has always lived life to the fullest. However, on June 6, 2017, Henry’s life changed forever when he experienced a series of debilitating strokes. While Henry grieves …
Student Spotlight – Adin Parks
Adin Parks is a Junior, Visual Journalism & Photography major from Louisville, Kentucky. Last summer he interned at the Evansville Living Magazine and is the chief photographer on staff at …
Student Spotlight – Kayden Mulrooney
Kayden Mulrooney is a Junior, Visual Journalism & Photography and a Political Science major from Louisville, Kentucky. She will intern at the Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer this summer as their staff photographer. …
Emilee Arnold
Senior Visual Journalism and Photography student Emilee Arnold of Bowling Green, Ky heads into her final year at WKU, documenting some of her strongest work. Spring 2024 Advanced Photojournalism class …
Dominic Di Palermo
A junior transfer student from Chicago, Dominic Di Palermo has spent his past year in WKU\’s Visual Journalism and Photography program, becoming involved in student publications and and trying to …
ROUTE – A visual journey down Historic Dixie Highway
Stretching from the tip of Florida to the top of Michigan the historic Dixie Highway created communities along its Route. Travel with Anna Leachman and Gabi Broekema as they document …
Survivors – Finding Hope Beyond Domestic Violence
Ever so often students do a project that shakes you and makes one stop to notice the depth of storytelling that our students are capable of producing. Survivors is a …
Aging in America by Brett Phelps
Junior Visual Journalism & Photography major Brett Phelps has spent the past year documenting 87-year-old Billy Salsman as she struggles to live on her own as a childless widow. Her …
Losing Cherokee by Sean McInnis
Western Kentucky University\’s Photojournalism & Documentary Sean McInnis, a junior, explored the culture and language of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians tucked away in the Great Smokey Mountains. While …