Western Kentucky University’s Munday Hall dedicated to first Black undergrad

On Friday, October 28, Western Kentucky University dedicated a building to Margaret E. Munday, calling it Munday Hall. Munday was the first Black student to enroll in an undergraduate program at the school. She graduated back in 1960 with a degree in music. She was at the ceremony along with friends, family, former students, and students from around the area.

The announcement of the dedication was made by WKU’s President, Timothy C. Caboni, back in July 2021, stating at the time that the building, then called Northeast Hall, would be named after an African American - a first for the school. 

Kentucky’s higher education institutions were desegregated in September 1956, which is when Margaret Munday transferred from Kentucky State College to Western Kentucky State College. President Caboni was quoted in an article on the school’s website about the impact her transfer had on the school, saying, “She became the very first African-American undergraduate student to enroll in classes on our campus, and her journey into unchartered territory helped usher in an era of social and academic change at WKU. She is a trailblazer in every sense of the word, her life marked by a series of firsts that made a path seemingly difficult for so many just a little bit easier.”

President Caboni talked about how the staff and administration at WKU at the time worked to make sure that Munday felt at home at the school, naming then-president Kelly Thompson, processor Ivan Wilson, and librarian Margie Helm as central figures in that effort. “This commitment to ensure that all members of the Hilltopper family know they belong on our campus remains deeply embedded in our institutional culture today,” he said.

Margaret Munday took four years to earn her bachelor’s degree in music and then went on to be a teacher for more than three decades. She taught at Johnstown School in Olmstead for four years before going on to become the first Black teacher at Auburn High School. She later went on to teach at every school in the Logan County School System. While teaching, she was also an engaged  member of the community, serving for fifteen years as the director of the Union District Youth Choir, which contained members of more than 30 different churches. Western Kentucky University’s Society of African American Alumni honored her accomplishments in 1999, and in 2021 she was given the highest honor WKU can give its students, an induction into the University’s Hall of Distinguished Alumni.

A plaque will be displayed by the door of Munday Hall to honor Margaret Munday, and to inform students of the reason behind the name of their residence hall. The plaque was presented by Jeremiah Morrow and Ashanti Groves, the first recipients of the new Munday Hall Scholarship. President Caboni presented Munday with a smaller version of the plaque that she can keep for herself. The Munday Hall Scholarship is funded by a gift from C.J. and George Nichols and will be awarded to two students every year who live in Munday Hall.

Munday also spoke at the ceremony. She noted the importance of the dedication and her pride at what she has accomplished in her life, saying, “History is in the making for me and WKU. When climbing for a goal and you reach that goal, maintain. I hope that students will remember the importance of stepping outside of their comfort zone to pave the way for others.”

President Caboni offered Muday his appreciation for the example she has set for the students and administration at WKU: “On behalf of all of us at WKU, thank you. Your fortitude made our institution stronger, more inclusive, and more welcoming to all. Each day, we challenge our students to use their talents for the benefit of others. This charge is made easier when we can point them to examples of individuals who have dedicated their lives to doing just that.”

More information about Western Kentucky University can be found on the school’s website.