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Lindsey Wilson University Celebrates First Commencement with Record Class

University awards 974 degrees at two ceremonies 'under the Lindsey Wilson University banner.'

by Duane Bonifer

COLUMBIA, Ky. (12/14/2025) — Lindsey Wilson University celebrated its first commencement ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 13, by graduating the largest class in the school's 122-year history.

The university awarded a total of 974 degrees -- 121 undergraduate degrees, 851 graduate degrees and two doctorates -- at its 122nd commencement, held in two ceremonies in Biggers Center Center.

The excitement of the historic moment was not lost on Holly Blaydes of Edmonton, Kentucky, a first-generation college graduate who earned a bachelor of arts degree in education.

"We just graduated," an exuberant Blaydes said after she passed through the congratulatory academic gauntlet formed by Lindsey Wilson faculty outside of Biggers Sports Center after the morning ceremony. "It feels amazing. I don't even have any words."

Camryn Schmidt of Georgetown, Kentucky, also searched for words to describe the feeling of what it meant to be among the first graduates of Lindsey Wilson University following the morning ceremony.

"It was very exciting," said Schmidt, who earned a master's degree in business administration. "I was glad that I got to do that. The fact that everyone here got to graduate under the Lindsey Wilson University banner was an honor."

Siddharta Maduri, who delivered the afternoon commencement address, called it "an incredible moment in history."

"I'm honored to be part of the first graduating class to witness Lindsey's transformation from college to university," said Maduri, a Lexington, Kentucky, resident who earned a master's degree in technology management.

Lindsey Wilson College became Lindsey Wilson University on July 1.

A day of firsts

In addition to being Lindsey Wilson's first commencement ceremony as a university, Saturday marked several other firsts in Lindsey Wilson history.

The inaugural School of Graduate Business & Technology Student Showcase was held between the two ceremonies. The first-place prize was awarded to Shawna Kidd of Morehead, Kentucky, and Barbara Mendez of Liberty, Kentucky, for their proposal to develop a mobile nonprofit relief service for underserved residents of Appalachia.

It was also the first commencement ceremony that featured the Lindsey Wilson Band under the baton of Director of University Bands Robert Palmer and the Lindsey Wilson Singers under the leadership of Choral Director Jennifer Bersaglia.

'Not just a piece of paper'

In the morning commencement address, graduate Adia Guidry told her classmates that "this degree is not just a piece of paper."

"It's a symbol of every sacrifice, every moment of doubt that turned into faith and every small victory along the way," said Guidry, who earned a master of counseling in education. "It's a reflection of how far God has brought me and a reminder of how much more He has in store."

A California native, Guidry lives in Stuttgart, Germany, where her husband, Jerrod, is stationed as a first sergeant in the Army. Guidry earned her graduate degree through Lindsey Wilson's online program.

"I've come to believe that counseling is more than a career, it's a ministry of healing," said Guidry, a mother of three who said she dreams of opening a practice as a licensed professional counselor.

As Guidry said, the journey to earn a degree was not always on an easy path.

"Being a military spouse for over fifteen years has taught me how to adapt to change and face uncertainty, but this program brought new challenges," said Guidry. "And yet every single time I reached that breaking point, God reminded me of my purpose."

The power of connections

In the afternoon commencement address, Maduri said he learned several valuable lessons on the way to earning a master's degree.

"Wherever we go in life, we have to make friends, because when you have friends, you never truly feel lost," he said.

Kindness and respect are key to connecting with people, said Maduri.

"People are truly kind and loving when you take time to connect with them," he said.

Finally, he urged his classmates and others to "make the best use of your time while you have it."

"Opportunities may not always come twice, grab them when they do," said Maduri.

And, as Guidry noted in her morning address, the real value of the record number of Lindsey Wilson degrees will be measured in the impact their holders have on the world.

"This degree is a milestone, but true success is measured in the people we will serve, the stories we will honor and the lives we will help transform," she said.

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.

Media Attachments

Newly minted Lindsey Wilson University graduate Gabriella Devore of Knob Lick, Kentucky, poses for a picture with her fiance, Ryan Engle ’23 of Glasgow, Kentucky, and paternal grandmother, Sherry Devote, for her first cousin Audrey Young after Lindsey Wilson’s morning winter commencement ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 13. Devore earned a bachelor’s degree in human services and counseling. The university awarded a record 974 degrees at its 122nd commencement, held in two ceremonies in Biggers Center Center.

A quintet of Lindsey Wilson University undergraduates display their decorated mortar boards in the Roberta D. Cranmer Dining & Conference Center before the university’s morning winter commencement ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 13, in Biggers Sports Center. From left: Holly Blaydes of Edmonton, Kentucky, who earned a degree in elementary education; Ryleigh Withers of Russell Springs, Kentucky, elementary education, cum laude; Halee Bunch of Burkesville, Kentucky, elementary education, magna cum laude; Hannah Burton of Columbia, elementary education, summa cum laude; and Tanlee Hudgins of Greensburg, Kentucky, interdisciplinary studies. The university awarded a record 974 degrees at its 122nd commencement.

Lindsey Wilson University graduate student Anthony Stevens Jr. of Somerset, Kentucky, left, adjusts the hood of fellow graduate student Lee Lynn of Stanford, Kentucky, in the Roberta D. Cranmer Dining & Conference Center before the university’s morning winter commencement ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 13, in Biggers Sports Center. Stevens and Lynn both earned a master’s degree in counseling, and the university awarded a record 974 degrees at its 122nd commencement, held in two ceremonies.

Lindsey Wilson University Registrar Susie Powers helps graduate student Bailey Ann Canchola of Smiths Grove, Kentucky, with her hood in the Roberta D. Cranmer Dining & Conference Center before the university’s morning winter commencement ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 13, in Biggers Sports Center. Canchola earned a master’s degree in counseling, and the university awarded a record 974 degrees at its 122nd commencement, held in two ceremonies.

Lindsey Wilson University graduate student Adia Guidry and her husband, Army 1st Sgt. Jerrod, pose for her mother, Donna Duncan, to take a picture on Saturday, Dec. 13, in front the brass rail of the L.R. McDonald Administration Building. Guidry delivered the address at the university’s morning winter commencement in Biggers Sports Center. Guidry earned a master’s degree in counseling, and the university awarded a record 974 degrees at its 122nd commencement, held in two ceremonies.

Lindsey Wilson University graduate student Siddhartha Maduri of Lexington, Kentucky, delivers the address at the university’s afternoon winter commencement on Saturday, Dec. 13, in Biggers Sports Center. Maduri earned a master’s degree in technology management and the university awarded a record 974 degrees at its 122nd commencement, held in two ceremonies.

Lindsey Wilson University Choral Director Jennifer Bersaglia directs the Lindsey Wilson Singers for the first time at a university commencement exercise on Saturday, Dec. 13, in Biggers Sports Center. The university awarded a record 974 degrees at its 122nd commencement, held in two ceremonies.

Lindsey Wilson University Director of University Bands Robert Palmer conducts the Lindsey Wilson Band for the first time at a university commencement exercise on Saturday, Dec. 13, in Biggers Sports Center. The university awarded a record 974 degrees at its 122nd commencement, held in two ceremonies.

LWU Winter Commencement 09 -- Lindsey Wilson University graduate student Barbara Mendez of Liberty, Kentucky, center, receives the first-place award in the inaugural School of Graduate Business & Technology Student Showcase from School of Graduate Business and Technology Dean Helen MacLennan and President William T. Luckey Jr. on Saturday, Dec. 13, in Roberta D. Cranmer Dining & Conference Center. Not present is Mendez’s project partner, Shawna Kidd of Morehead, Kentucky.

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