There are few moments as profound and transformative as graduation. It marks the culmination of years of dedication, perseverance, and unwavering commitment to learning. As Elijah Hopkins (Adairville, Kentucky) stands on the threshold of a new chapter, he is filled with a kaleidoscope of emotions—pride in his accomplishments, excitement for the adventures that lie ahead, and perhaps a hint of bittersweet nostalgia for the moments he left behind (namely, having his WKU and Honors experience begin in Fall 2020).
Despite being a part of the “COVID graduation class” Elijah curated his WKU experience with care, choosing to double major in journalism and political science, while also being involved in the Mahurin Honors College, Greek Life, Housing and Residence Life, and working a part-time job at a local eatery.
Elijah credited his high school AP Literature teacher as encouraging him to pursue journalism, describing the teacher as someone “whom I think very highly of…. as a mentor” and when he also considered his own interests, he decided that he “prefer[s] writing and journalism. Good journalism, is what I value a lot.” Elijah also decided to pursue Political Science because he “enjoyed political theory classes and getting to read about foundational people behind our systems.”
Both majors have provided Elijah with opportunities to personalize his journey and to develop different kinds of skillsets. He described his journalism major as “hard skills” because of its emphasis on “video, photography, editing, what it takes to be a good storyteller” and he’s completed several investigative news pieces as part of his major, for example, examining environmental issues on- and off-campus, issues regarding public education in his hometown, and most recently, childcare access concerns in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Elijah explained that “being more socially aware and being able to invest yourself in these issues is fulfilling and empowering” and an opportunity to effect change.
Elijah’s internship experiences with the Office of Antiterrorism Assistance and Appalachian Voices have informed his decision to pursue law school and public policy work, stating that “there’s a lot of issues in the US that need to be worked on… to make social change.” After graduation, he plans to take a gap year to study for the LSAT exam and hopefully continue his role with Appalachian Voices, a non-profit organization that “brings people together to protect the land, air and water of Central and Southern Appalachia and advance a just transition to a generative and equitable clean energy economy” where he works on the advancement team writing donor stories and organizational spotlights.
As he plans for his next phase of life, Elijah observed that Western Kentucky University “was always my home” due to his hometown’s proximity to Bowling Green, and he always found WKU to be “just a welcoming and beautiful campus” where he was able to get involved in organizations and programs like the Mahurin Honors College and the FIJI fraternity. Describing his experience in the MHC, Elijah remembered “read[ing] about great things, great resources, and I knew I wanted to apply immediately.” Elijah has been an HonorsTopper (student ambassador for MHC) since 2022, and, most recently, was also their representative as the Coming Home King nominee in Spring 2024.
Elijah’s favorite Honors experience was a colloquia class on Karl Marx and John Locke taught by Professor Emeritus Edward M. Yager of the Political Science department. He described him as “my favorite professor I’ve had. He cares so much about what he’s teaching. I was excited every day, I would do the readings, which were 50-100 pages of political theory.” This class was even more motivating for Elijah because Dr. Yager’s class set-up was “old school – no blackboard, no PowerPoints – he just stands up and he goes,” but his presence and passion for the topic was contagious to Elijah and he only missed a class session once on Election Day.
While his freshman year in 2020 was marred by COVID-19, his sophomore year in Fall 2021 was one of finding his community and connecting to campus, which Elijah accomplished by pledging Phi Gamma Delta (FIJI). This fraternity stood out to him for its values and their philanthropic focus – Alzheimer’s research. In the Summer of 2023, Elijah, alongside eleven of his fraternity brothers, completed a 3,600-mile bike ride to raise money for Alzheimer’s research. You can read more about his experience here.
Elijah’s words of encouragement for the incoming class are to “try to get involved to the point where it’s challenging. That’s the point of college and education, and you’re growing… you want to make sure you’re growing in the right direction, find your limit, but stay at that limit because that’s how you grow. Meet as many people as possible – you meet so many people from completely different paths of life, and this is the moment where your paths will cross.”
Congratulations on your graduation, Elijah, and while your journey has only just begun, we have no doubt that the future holds limitless possibilities for you. Embrace it with courage, seize it with conviction, and always remember the indelible mark you’ve left on the WKU and MHC campus community.
