Lindsey Wilson University Spotlights Undergraduate Work during Academic Celebration Week

Student research, artistic achievements and academic accomplishments take center stage before Dec. 13 winter commencement.

by Duane Bonifer

COLUMBIA, Ky. (12/08/2025) — The final week of classes of the 2025 fall semester at Lindsey Wilson University was a time to celebrate student research, artistic achievements and academic accomplishments.

Undergraduate students presented research projects from the disciplines of art, biology, chemistry, education and nursing, and the university's performing arts groups entertained the Columbia-Adair County community with a pair of Christmas productions as part of Academic Celebration Week, held Dec. 1-7. Lindsey Wilson's 2025 winter commencement will be held at 10 a.m. CT and at 2 p.m. CT on Saturday, Dec. 13.

Throughout Academic Celebration Week, students presented their research all over campus, the Department of Theatre presented A Holiday Cabaret, and the Lindsey Wilson Band performed at a pair of community events.

One step at a time

For seven education seniors who took part in the week, it was an opportunity to explain what they had learned during the semester they spent in area school as student teachers.

Holly Blaydes of Edmonton, Kentucky, learned that she needed to improvise on her educational journey, just as the Europeans did when they explored the Western Hemisphere in the 16th and 17th centuries.

"At first, I thought everything would go perfectly, but then I realized that some assignments take longer than others," said Blaydes, who presented an "Early Exploration" project she implemented with fourth grade social studies students.

Blaydes said she also learned "how important it is to make learning fun and hands-on, rather than just giving students a worksheet."

By the conclusion of her project, Blaydes said all 25 of the students she worked with at Metcalfe County Elementary School had improved in their understanding of the subject.

"Seeing students improve makes my heart happy," she said.

Deric Shearer of Nancy, Kentucky, said he was impressed by the 28 students he worked with at Meece Middle School in Somerset, Kentucky. Shearer taught the students "Argumentative Essay Writing," and he said he learned that seventh-grade students "are capable of doing some pretty impressive things."

He said the key is giving them the support they need to craft a well-reasoned and well-written essay.

"You need to break it down for them and spend time with them," he said. "You help them take one step at a time -- you don't start running, you take one step at a time."

Hannah Burton of Columbia, who spent most of her fall semester working with kindergarteners, said she also learned the importance of utilizing all of the time a teacher has with students, even outside of a formal class setting.

"They need a lot of one-on-one time, and you need to use all of the time you have with them," she said. "Even during bus time, you can play games with them to teach them lessons you have gone over with them in class."

And just as Blaydes learned that hands-on learning often trumps worksheets, Halee Bunch of Burkesville, Kentucky, said she learned that a desk is not always the best place for a kindergartener to learn.

"They do better sitting on the carpet than in their seats," she said. "They seem more fidgety in their seats."

'Community Health Nursing'

Education was also a theme of a research project by nursing seniors Anna Dangelmaier, Kelsey Reynolds and Hannah Williamson. They were part of a "Community Health Nursing" class teaching project overseen by nursing instructor Lindsay Wheat in which students addressed a community health issue that could be improved through behavior and lifestyle modifications.

The three students studied how to better reach people who are at higher risk to contract sexually infectious diseases, with a focus on 20- to 30-year-olds. They learned that getting tested is a big part of the puzzle.

"It's still kind of a stigma among a lot of people," said Reynolds, who is from Eubank, Kentucky. "We hope that more people are comfortable getting tested."

Groundbreaking artist, student research

In art, students in Karly Flynn's "Understanding Visual Art" class shared research of an artist of their choice as a way to deepen their understanding of art. The students researched an artist's biography and recreated some of their better-known works.

"Students are challenged to learn more about the artist's cultural background and how that influences their artwork," said Flynn '17.

One student who explored his artist in great detail was Mynor Chic '29 of Russell Springs, Kentucky, who studied Mark Rothko. Chic said he has been interested in the groundbreaking American abstract painter since discovering him in high school.

"I like how he moved from complexity early in his career to simplicity later in his career," said Chic, an engineering mechanics major. "The range is really interesting."

Groundbreaking was also a way to describe work by Jesse Gossage '26. The biology major from Russell Springs, Kentucky, presented "Retroviral-Defense Hypothesis." In his research project, which he conducted with chemistry professor Andrew Johnson, Gossage speculated whether so-called "junk DNA" could be used to protect the genome from viral infections.

"It's such a simple idea that as far as I know there's never been research on," said Johnson.

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

LWU Academic Celebration Week 01

Lindsey Wilson University student Natalie Jones ’26 of Columbia discusses her research project, “Kindergarten Reading: Learning Letters, Learning Sounds.” Jones presented her research in the Roberta D. Cranmer Dining & Conference Center during Lindsey Wilson’s 2025 fall semester Academic Celebration Week.

LWU Academic Celebration Week 02

Lindsey Wilson University student Deric Shearer ’26 of Nancy, Kentucky, discusses his research project, “Argumentative Essay Writing” for seventh grade students. Shearer presented his research in the Roberta D. Cranmer Dining & Conference Center during Lindsey Wilson’s 2025 fall semester Academic Celebration Week.

LWU Academic Celebration Week 03

Lindsey Wilson University student Jesse Gossage ’26 of Russell Springs, Kentucky, right, presented “Retroviral-Defense Hypothesis,” which he developed while studying under chemistry professor Andrew Johnson. Gossage presented his research in the Jim & Helen Fugitte Science Center during Lindsey Wilson’s 2025 fall semester Academic Celebration Week.

LWU Academic Celebration Week 04

Lindsey Wilson University student Mynor Chic ’29 of Russell Springs, Kentucky, left, discusses his research on American abstract painter Mark Rothko with art instructor Karly Flynn in the Thomas D. Clark Reading room during Lindsey Wilson’s 2025 fall semester Academic Celebration Week.

LWU Academic Celebration Week 05

Lindsey Wilson University student Holly Blaydes ’26 of Edmonton, Kentucky, stands behind “Early Exploration,” her research project for fourth grade social studies students. Blaydes presented her research in the Roberta D. Cranmer Dining & Conference Center during Lindsey Wilson’s 2025 fall semester Academic Celebration Week.

Anna

Dangelmaier