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Lindsey Wilson University to Honor Three Alumni, Longtime Supporter at Homecoming 2025

'New Name, Same Heart' theme of Homecoming Weekend, which will be celebrated Oct. 23-25.

COLUMBIA, Ky. (07/28/2025) — Three alumni and one longtime friend will be honored at Lindsey Wilson University's first homecoming weekend.

Lindsey Wilson's first homecoming weekend as a university will be held Oct. 23-25. The theme is "New Name, Same Heart," in celebration of Lindsey Wilson's first school year as a university.

The weekend will feature several reunions and events, including the annual Lindsey Wilson National Alumni Homecoming Awards Banquet, which will be held on Oct. 25.

This year's homecoming award recipients, which were selected based on nominations submitted to the Lindsey Wilson National Alumni Council, are:

* Outstanding Young Alumna -- Kayla Jones '19 of Sunnyvale, California. A Columbia native, Jones is an oncology research nursing professional who works in early drug development at Stanford Healthcare.

* Distinguished Service -- Pamela Hoots '75 of Columbia. Hoots made Columbia history when she became the city's first female mayor, serving from 1989-93. She returned to the office in 2018 and was reelected in 2022. A 30-year human resources professional, she was named the Human Resources Professional of the Year for the state of Kentucky and was also the first news director of WAIN-AM/FM in Columbia.

* Distinguished Alumnus -- Benson Sexton '04 of Greensburg, Kentucky. An Albany, Kentucky, native, Sexton is dean of the Lindsey Wilson School of Business and Communication. He has served his alma mater as freshman adviser, director of the freshman year experience and communication professor. He has twice been named Lindsey Wilson Student Government Teacher of the Year.

* Honorary Alumnus -- Dr. Neil Farris of Louisville, Kentucky. A retired physician, Farris is a longtime supporter of the Lindsey Wilson Fund and the Lindsey Wilson National Alumni Association. He's also an active member of Fourth Street United Methodist Church.

For more information about Lindsey Wilson's 2025 homecoming weekend, contact the Alumni Office at alumni@lindsey.edu or 270-384-8400.

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

Lindsey Wilson University alumna Kayla Jones ’19 of Sunnyvale, California, will receive the Outstanding Young Alumna award at this year’s homecoming, which will be held Oct. 23-25.

Lindsey Wilson University alumna Pamela Hoots ’75 of Columbia will receive the Distinguished Service award at this year’s homecoming, which will be held Oct. 23-25.

Lindsey Wilson University alumnus Benson Sexton ’04 of Greensburg, Kentucky, will receive the Distinguished Alumnus award at this year’s homecoming, which will be held Oct. 23-25.

Dr. Neil Farris of Louisville, Kentucky, will be named an Honorary Alumnus by the Lindsey Wilson University National Alumni Association at this year’s homecoming, which will be held Oct. 23-25.

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