Lindsey Wilson University

Lindsey Wilson University Bonner Scholar Program Forges Strong Connections with Florida Groups

After more than a decade of volunteer work with three nonprofit organizations, Lindsey Wilson students have left their mark in northeast Florida community.

by Duane Bonifer

COLUMBIA, Ky. (03/09/2026) — If you want to see the benefits of a long-term relationship, follow members of the Lindsey Wilson University Bonner Scholar Program the next time they travel to St. Augustine, Florida.

Every March, the Lindsey Wilson service-leadership group takes an alternative spring break trip to the northeast Florida community where its members volunteer their time with three local nonprofit groups.

It's an annual service trip that has taken place every year since 2011, except in 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This year's trip -- which took place during the week of March 2-6, during Lindsey Wilson's spring break -- was the first the Bonner Scholar Program made as members of Lindsey Wilson University, and it included work with three long-standing nonprofit partners: St. Johns Housing Partnership, St. Johns County Conservation and the St. Augustine Lighthouse.

During their week in the Florida community, 20 members of the Lindsey Wilson Bonner Scholars Program helped clean up a house and its grounds, installed signs, performed other routine maintenance jobs and cleaned up beaches along the Atlantic Ocean.

"The longevity of the trip speaks to the importance and the connection we've made with the community," said Lindsey Wilson Bonner Assistant Director Yayi Sonnabend '23, who also made the service trip as a student. "Our partners look forward to having us every year. We've built personal connections with the people who run the nonprofits, and every year they know to set aside certain projects for us."

For most of the Bonner Scholars, this year's alternative spring break was the first time they had been involved with a service project outside of Southcentral Kentucky, according to Lindsey Wilson Director of Civic Engagement, Student Leadership and the Bonner Scholar Program Kisha Burton '13.

"It was wonderful to see our students hop in every day on the projects and see the value their work added," said Burton.

'Made my heart full'

As an example of the group's longstanding relationship with the St. Augustine nonprofit groups, Burton said that the maintenance director of St. Augustine Lighthouse had a special present this year for the Lindsey Wilson group -- a copy of his new young adult fantasy fiction novel, inscribed to members of the newly named university.

"It was just a really sweet moment," said Burton.

Burton, who has been on a majority of the alternative spring break trips, said the week away from campus is also a good opportunity for Bonner Scholars to develop deeper bonds with one another, which they will carry through the program and often after graduation as well.

While most of the bonding comes through work on the service projects, it also happens during time students are given to relax. For example, this year, Akram Nejjar '27 of Rabat, Morocco, who is a member of the LWU swimming and diving program, taught Micaela Bailey '27 of Campbellsville, Kentucky, how to swim in the Atlantic Ocean.

"That was an example of how our students get closer on this trip," said Burton.

First-year Bonner Scholar Ada Gass '28 of Columbia said the service trip to Florida "made my heart full."

"It was really inspiring and eye-opening to see all of the different things we were able to witness and help with," said Gass, who is a nursing major. "It helped me fill up my cup."

First-year Bonner Scholar Anahi Centeno-Mendoza '29 of Russell Springs, Kentucky, said her first trip to Florida will always be a memorable one -- and one she looks forward to making again in the program.

"I was really happy to use the skills I have to help others in the community and have an impact," said Centeno-Mendoza, who is a biology and criminal justice double major. "Everybody bonded and grew closer together. That was just great."

The other 16 LWU Bonner Scholars who made the service-learning trip to St. Augustine were: Sabrina Anderson '29 of Burkesville, Kentucky; Patience Anderson '29 of Bowling Green, Kentucky; Adelyn Bennett '29 of Columbia; Gabrielle Crawford '26 of Marrowbone, Kentucky; Deborah Seth-Osehahumen '29 of Lekki, Nigeria; McKenzie Elliott '28 of Crab Orchard, Kentucky; Megan Fowler '29 of Bowling Green; Briana Frey '29 of Breeding; Vivian Gemmill '29 of Edmonton, Kentucky; Allee Harris '26 of Harrodsburg, Kentucky; Cecilia Hiatt '29 of Maysville, Kentucky; Aaron Nankeng Ndoungue '28 of Douala, Cameroon; Josephine Posey '28 of Greensburg, Kentucky; Emma Souder '29 of Eubank, Kentucky; Grace Thurman '29 of Owensboro, Kentucky; and Jaydelynn Woodall '28 of Science Hill, Kentucky.

Lindsey Wilson University is a vibrant liberal arts university 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 offers 28 undergraduate majors, five graduate programs and a doctoral program. The university's 29 intercollegiate varsity athletic teams have won more than 120 team and individual national championships.

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LWU Bonner 01

Lindsey Wilson University Bonners arrive in Florida for their annual spring service trip. Pictured, alphabetically, are students: Sabrina Anderson of Burkesville, KY; Patience Anderson of Bowling Green, KY; Micaela Bailey of Campbellsville, KY; Adelyn Bennett of Columbia; Anahi Centeno-Mendoza of Russell Springs, KY; Gabrielle Crawford of Marrowbone, KY; Deborah Seth-Osehahumen of Lekki, Nigeria; McKenzie Elliott of Crab Orchard, KY; Megan Fowler of Bowling Green; Briana Frey of Breeding; Ada Gass of Columbia; Vivian Gemmill of Edmonton, KY; Allee Harris of Harrodsburg, KY; Cecilia Hiatt of Maysville, KY; Aaron Nankeng Ndoungue of Douala, Cameroon; Akram Nejjar of Rabat, Morocco; Josephine Posey of Greensburg, KY; Emma Souder of Eubank, KY; Grace Thurman of Owensboro, KY; and Jaydelynn Woodall of Science Hill, KY; and LWU staff members Director of Civic Engagement, Student Leadership and the Bonner Scholar Program Kisha Burton ’13 and Bonner Assistant Director Yayi Sonnabend ’23.

LWU Bonner 02

Members of the Lindsey Wilson University Bonner Scholar Program gather in front of the St. Augustine Lighthouse, one of three nonprofit organizations they worked with in northeast Florida during their service trip over spring break, March 2-6. Pictured, from left: Anahi Centeno-Mendoza ’29 of Russell Springs, Kentucky; Deborah Seth-Osehahumen ’29 of Lekki, Nigeria; Sabrina Anderson ’29 of Burkesville, Kentucky; Josephine Posey ’28 of Greensburg, Kentucky; Patience Anderson ’29 of Bowling Green, Kentucky; Megan Fowler ’29 of Bowling Green; Cecilia Hiatt ’29 of Maysville, Kentucky; Vivian Gemmill ’29 of Edmonton, Kentucky; and Lindsey Wilson Director of Civic Engagement, Student Leadership and the Bonner Scholar Program Kisha Burton ’13.