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Lindsey Wilson College Community Welcomes First Members of Lindsey Wilson University Class of 2029

New Student Orientation a homecoming and family reunion for legacy Blue Raiders.

by Duane Bonifer

COLUMBIA, Ky. (06/07/2025) — The Lindsey Wilson College community started to welcome the first members of the first four-year undergraduate class of Lindsey Wilson University on Friday, June 6, and on Saturday, June 7, with the first two sessions of New Student Orientation.

Four more sessions will be held in July and August. When fall classes begin on Aug. 25, about 450 freshmen are expected to be enrolled, 55 days after Lindsey Wilson becomes Lindsey Wilson University on July 1.

"It's really exciting to welcome you all to our first New Student Orientation for Lindsey Wilson University," Lindsey Wilson Dean of Students Chris Schmidt told parents and family members during a session in V.P. Henry Auditorium. "You all will be part of history for the next four years."

In addition to getting an overview of Lindsey Wilson programs, policies and procedures, the new students and their guests were also welcomed into the Lindsey Wilson family.

"What I love most is that Lindsey Wilson is family," said Schmidt, who has served at Lindsey Wilson since 1995 and has been dean of students since 2001. "For a kid that grew up in New York City it's the family at this college, now university, it's the community and it's the people that made me want to stay here. It's what your student will love about this place."

Although most of the members of the Lindsey Wilson Class of 2029 are freshly minted high school graduates, Schmidt told the weekend's guests that Lindsey Wilson faculty and staff were already thinking about the outcome of the next four years.

"The greatest day for all of us will be commencement," said Schmidt. "It's an absolutely fantastic feeling when your student walks across that stage after our vice president for academic affairs says their name, and then they shake hands with the president and have their picture taken receiving their diploma. After 30 years, it never gets old watching your sons and daughters celebrate their graduation, and this is when it starts."

Making besties

While parents and family members met with Schmidt and other Lindsey Wilson administrators, students spent the morning sharing their interests with new classmates and getting a sneak preview of Lindsey Wilson University at sessions led by New Student Orientation leaders.

Holly Blaydes '26 of Edmonton, Kentucky, said she saw "two students become besties during one of our sessions."

"It's such a fun and helpful day," said Blaydes, an elementary education major who is a two-year New Student Orientation leader. "As a first-generation college student, this day was extremely helpful for me because it made me feel comfortable with my decision to come here."

For Marshall Miller of Louisville, Kentucky, and his parents, Angel and Marcus, New Student Orientation was an exciting milepost in his life. Miller, who plans to major in business administration and play football, recently graduated from DeSales High School.

"I enjoyed the games we played with other students and meeting new people," said Miller. "I'm ready to get started.'

'Feels like a family reunion'

For several members of the Class of 2029, New Student Orientation was a mix of a homecoming and family reunion.

Easton Mefford of Belton, Kentucky, was one of several legacy students who attended the weekend's sessions. His mother, Ashley, and his father, Seth, are 2000 Lindsey Wilson undergraduate alumni, and Seth also earned his master's degree from Lindsey Wilson.

"It already feels like home," said Easton, a Muhlenberg County High School graduate who plans to major in business administration and follow in his father's footsteps by playing on the Lindsey Wilson baseball team. "I've heard Lindsey Wilson stories since I was a kid."

For his mother, New Student Orientation "feels like a family reunion."

"The people we knew when we went to Lindsey Wilson were like our own family as well," said Ashley, who graduated from Adair County High School. "It feels good sending him here because I know he will be in good hands with the same people who took care of us when we were Lindsey Wilson students."

Trevor Huff of Bowling Green, Kentucky, attended New Student Orientation with his mother, Marci, who earned her Lindsey Wilson master's degree in 2004.

Huff, who graduated from Bowling Green High School, said he was "excited to be a legacy at Lindsey Wilson."

"I've been welcomed a lot," said Huff, whose father, Scott, graduated from Lindsey Wilson in 2001.

For Marci, New Student Orientation was as much a trip down memory lane as it was to finalize her son's registration.

"It's been such a nostalgic experience for me because I've seen so many people and places that were part of my Lindsey Wilson experience," she said. "The campus is so different than it was when we were here because so much has been added. But it's good having him come here, knowing what kind of environment it is here."

Marci said the experience also reminded her that "the Lindsey Wilson community is pretty awesome."

Perhaps no member of the Lindsey Wilson Class of 2029 can claim a deeper connection to the school's history and heritage than Cayden Bragg of Bowling Green, Kentucky. His grandparents, Darrel '75 and Rebekah '78 Bragg, are Blue Raider alumni, and his late great-grandfather Doug Moseley was a legendary Lindsey Wilson professor and administrator in the 1960s who also served in the Kentucky State Senate and received an honorary doctorate from Lindsey Wilson. The Doug & Betty Jean Moseley Auditorium in the Norma and Glen Hodge Center for Discipleship is named in honor of his great-grandmother and late great-grandfather.

"It's been a really exciting day," said Bragg, a South Warren High School graduate who plans to major in psychology and play trumpet in the Lindsey Wilson bands. "Attending here as a legacy gives me a stronger connection to (Doug Moseley) and what he did."

Lindsey Wilson College is a vibrant liberal arts college in Columbia, Kentucky. Founded in 1903 and affiliated with The United Methodist Church, the mission of Lindsey Wilson is to serve the educational needs of students by providing a living-learning environment within an atmosphere of active caring and Christian concern where every student, every day, learns and grows and feels like a real human being. Lindsey Wilson -- which will become Lindsey Wilson University on July 1 -- has an enrollment of more than 4,000 students, and the college offers 28 undergraduate majors, five graduate programs and a doctoral program. The college's 28 intercollegiate varsity athletic teams have won more than 120 team and individual national championships.

Media Attachments

Lindsey Wilson College New Student Orientation leaders welcome members of the Lindsey Wilson University Class of 2029 to campus on Friday, June 6, in V.P. Henry Auditorium. Pictured, alphabetically, are: Holly Blaydes of Edmonton, Kentucky; Kiara Collins of Columbia; Braxton Crook of Watertown, Tennessee; Aimee Flynn of Powell, Tennessee; Tezon Mitchell of Campbellsville, Kentucky; Seth Ousley of Lancaster, Kentucky; Elma Selimovic of Louisville, Kentucky; Connor Wilhoit of Campbellsville; Mattie Willis of Columbia; Jay Woodall of Somerset, Kentucky; and Raylee Yadon of Danville, Kentucky.

Blue Raider Bob makes one of his final appearances as the Lindsey Wilson College mascot as he welcomes members of the Lindsey Wilson University Class of 2029 to campus on Friday, June 6, in V.P. Henry Auditorium during New Student Orientation.

Incoming Lindsey Wilson University freshman Easton Mefford of Belton, Kentucky, participates in one of the icebreaker games on Friday, June 6, in the Doris and Bob Holloway Health & Wellness Center during New Student Orientation. Mefford’s parents, Ashley and Seth, are 2000 Lindsey Wilson alumni.

Incoming Lindsey Wilson University freshman Cayden Bragg of Bowling Green, Kentucky is flanked by his grandparents, Darrel ’75 and Rebekah ’78 Bragg on Friday, June 6, in the Doris and Bob Holloway Health & Wellness Center during New Student Orientation. His late great-grandfather Doug Moseley was a legendary Lindsey Wilson professor and administrator.

Incoming Lindsey Wilson University freshman Trevor Huff of Bowling Green, Kentucky, is joined by his mother, Marci, who earned her master’s degree from Lindsey Wilson College in 2004, on Friday, June 6, in the Doris and Bob Holloway Health & Wellness Center during New Student Orientation. Huff’s father, Scott, is a 2001 Lindsey Wilson graduate.

Incoming Lindsey Wilson University freshman Marshall Miller of Louisville, Kentucky, is joined by his parents, Angel and Marcus, on Friday, June 6, in the Doris and Bob Holloway Health & Wellness Center during New Student Orientation.

LWC New Student Orientation 07 -- Incoming Lindsey Wilson University freshman Kaydence Karnes of Columbia is assisted by Associate Director of Admissions Hannah Peck on Friday, June 6, in the Doris and Bob Holloway Health & Wellness Center during New Student Orientation.

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