July 15, 2025

WKU Alumni to be Inducted into Hall of Distinguished Alumni

News Summary

George Nichols III and Connie Moreland Smith, esteemed WKU alumni, will be honored in the Hall of Distinguished Alumni. Their achievements in finance and healthcare reflect their significant impact on the community. The induction will take place during the Hilltopper Excellence Awards at WKU’s Knicely Conference Center. This event recognizes alumni who have made lasting contributions across various fields, celebrating their dedication and success.

Bowling Green, KY – Two distinguished alumni from Western Kentucky University (WKU), George Nichols III and Connie Moreland Smith, are set to be inducted into the university’s Hall of Distinguished Alumni during the 2025 Homecoming celebration. The induction ceremony is scheduled for October 30, 2025, as part of the Hilltopper Excellence Awards at WKU’s Knicely Conference Center.

George Nichols III, who graduated from WKU in 1983, currently serves as the 10th President and CEO of The American College of Financial Services. Prior to his role at The American College, Nichols spent 17 years at New York Life. He holds the distinction of being Kentucky’s first Black insurance commissioner, a position in which he oversaw the state’s $10 billion insurance industry. Alongside his professional achievements, Nichols and his wife, Cynthia Jean “CJ” Nichols, a WKU alumna from the Class of 1982, are recognized for their significant contributions to WKU, having been named the University’s Philanthropists of the Year in 2018. In recognition of their commitment, WKU named the Cynthia and George Nichols III Intercultural Student Engagement Center after the couple in 2017. Nichols also serves as Chair of the National Board of Trustees for City Year, a nonprofit organization committed to providing educational support in urban areas, and he has held various leadership roles within WKU’s governance structure, including positions on the Board of Regents and the Board of Advisors.

Connie Moreland Smith, another honoree, graduated from WKU in 1982 before returning to obtain a second degree in 1991. With more than 40 years of experience in the healthcare sector, Smith has been at the helm of Med Center Health as President and CEO since 2011. Under her guidance, Med Center Health has grown vastly, expanding to over 30 locations that include seven hospitals and a network of more than 500 healthcare providers across more than 50 specialties, making it the largest healthcare employer in south central Kentucky. Smith was instrumental in establishing the University of Kentucky College of Medicine-Bowling Green Campus, recognized as the state’s first four-year regional medical school. Additionally, she helped foster a key public-private partnership with WKU, resulting in the development of The Medical Center-WKU Health Sciences Complex, enhancing healthcare education and resources within the region.

The 34th class of the Hall of Distinguished Alumni will be officially inducted at the Hilltopper Excellence Awards, presented by Franklin Bank & Trust, which will also spotlight additional alumni and supporters of WKU. This annual event celebrates the achievements and contributions of WKU graduates who have made notable impacts in their respective fields and communities.

For those seeking more information about the induction ceremony and the Hilltopper Excellence Awards, the WKU Alumni Association can be contacted at (270) 745-2586.

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Author: STAFF HERE BOWLING GREEN WRITER

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