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Russell County High School Seniors Addison Hart, Luke Popplewell Named Lindsey Wilson College John B. Begley Scholars

Lindsey Wilson's most prestigious scholarship, the Begley Scholarship provides students with unparalleled academic- and cultural-enrichment experiences.

by Duane Bonifer

COLUMBIA, Ky. (05/16/2025) — Two Russell County High School students have received Lindsey Wilson College's most prestigious scholarship.

Addison Hart of Jamestown, Kentucky, and Luke Popplewell of Russell Springs, Kentucky, have been named a John B. Begley Scholar at Lindsey Wilson. The Begley Scholarship is a full-tuition, room-and-board scholarship that provides students with unparalleled academic- and cultural-enrichment experiences.

The daughter of Ryan Hart, Hart plans to major in biology and minor in chemistry to prepare for medical school with the goal of becoming a pediatrician. In addition to being a peer tutor, Hart was a member of the Russell County basketball, softball and volleyball teams -- "I've played every kind of sport you can imagine since I could walk" -- but she doesn't plan to play sports in college.

Hart, who has a perfect 4.0 grade point average, said she was attracted to Lindsey Wilson because of the atmosphere she experienced on visits to the campus.

"I was attracted to the personal attention offered at Lindsey Wilson," said Hart. "The people I met on campus were so nice. It just felt like I was surrounded by good people who would help me."

The Begley Scholarship is one of the most unique college scholarships in U.S. higher education. Begley Scholars take enrichment trips to Earnest Hemmingway's four "Great American Cities" -- Chicago, New York, New Orleans and San Francisco -- and take part in cultural learning opportunities alongside Lindsey Wilson President William T. Luckey Jr. and First Lady Elise Luckey, who serve as directors of the Begley Scholars Program. Regular meetings and discussions about current events are also held at the Emily Hundley President's Home.

Popplewell was familiar with Lindsey Wilson because his father, Tim Popplewell '05, and stepmother, Kendra Popplewell '06, gave him multiple opportunities to see the school while he was growing up. But Popplewell said he became even more impressed with the school when he sat in on a couple of classes, especially one taught by political science professor Matt Powers.

"I just loved the way Dr. Powers teaches his class -- very open, just a great guy," said Popplewell, whose mother is Susan Taylor. "His class really did catch my attention."

Popplewell -- who has been a member of his high school's football team, Sources of Strength Club and DECA Club -- plans to major in business administration with an accounting emphasis and possibly double major in political science.

Regardless of his major, Popplewell said it will be exciting to be at Lindsey Wilson this fall as a member of the first four-year class of Lindsey Wilson University, which the Luckeys reminded him when they called him with the news that he had been named a Begley Scholar.

"When I was talking to President Luckey, he said, 'Lindsey Wilson is like a rocket ship, and it's about to take off, and we want you on board,'" he said. "That made me feel like, 'Oh, my gosh, it's about to take off. I'm glad I'm going to be on the ship.'"

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.

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Russell County High School senior Addison Hart of Jamestown, Kentucky, has been named a Lindsey Wilson College John B. Begley Scholar at Lindsey Wilson, the college’s most prestigious scholarship. She is pictured with Lindsey Wilson’s mascot, Blue Raider Bob.

Russell County High School senior Luke Popplewell of Russell Springs, Kentucky, has been named a Lindsey Wilson College John B. Begley Scholar at Lindsey Wilson, the college’s most prestigious scholarship. He is pictured with Lindsey Wilson’s mascot, Blue Raider Bob.

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