Lindsey Wilson University Welcomes Record Number of Students into Nursing Program
At 'Blessing and White Coat Ceremony,' future nurses are reminded they will 'have a daily impact on people all over the world.'
COLUMBIA, Ky. (10/03/2026) — The end of the workweek was a time to celebrate for members of the Lindsey Wilson University nursing program as it welcomed a record number of new students into the program on Friday, Oct. 2.
A total of 32 students -- the largest cohort in program history -- received their white coats at the program's "Blessing and White Coat Ceremony," held before family members and friends gathered in V.P. Henry Auditorium.
"What an honor it is to be in a nursing school, and what an amazing and rewarding journey you have ahead of you," Lindsey Wilson Nursing Director Dr. Emiley Button told the students, who are in the first semester of their sophomore year. "You are going to have a daily impact on people all over the world."
The ceremony signifies the students' formal transition from their preclinical courses into the clinical component of coursework. In addition to getting their white coats, the students received a blessing of the hands from retired campus pastor and faculty member the Rev. Carol Weddle.
The students still have five more semesters of coursework to complete before they graduate with a bachelor of science degree in nursing in May 2029, but Friday night was all about celebrating an important milestone on their professional journey.
"It's just been very rewarding to have been working as hard as we did to get to this moment to receive our coats," said student Kaitlin Phillips of Liberty, Kentucky. "It's exciting to get ready to go to clinicals."
Phillipps and her twin sister, Kennedy, are commuter students who transferred to Lindsey Wilson from nearby Somerset Community College. Kaitlin said the sisters were "thrilled and happy to get into the program," although at first they were a little "nervous and scared."
With the exception of two anatomy classes, the twins had taken all of their other college classes online before matriculating at Lindsey Wilson.
"It was very welcoming," said Kaitlin. "It was exciting and nerve-wracking to come here, but we felt very welcomed and supported."
The Phillipps said they were inspired to study to become nurses by their mother, Jennifer, who is a nurse, and also when they helped take care of a family member who developed multiple sclerosis.
"We just want to be able to take care of people like her," said Kennedy.
A family profession
The nursing profession also runs in the family of fellow student Elijah McIntosh of Bowling Green, Kentucky, but he took a more circuitous route to receiving his white coat on Friday night.
"I had multiple other majors," said McIntosh, whose parents, Kevin and Nichole, are nurses. "I bounced around. It took me a couple years to figure out what I wanted to do, but I am very excited and I think this is the right choice for me."
McIntosh said that the difference nurses make in patients' lives also inspired him to major in the profession.
"I've always wanted to do something that is meaningful, and nursing has a direct impact on people's lives," he said. "So I think that can be very powerful."
A growing reputation
A big reason for Lindsey Wilson's record number of nursing students is because of the program's growing reputation in the profession, according to Button. All of the nursing graduates of the classes of 2024 and 2025 who sat for the National Council Licensure Examination -- the nationwide examination for the licensing of nurses in the United States -- passed. Lindsey Wilson's nursing program was also recently named the top nursing program among Kentucky's independent colleges and universities by NursingExplorer.com.
"People know that when they hire our graduates they are well-prepared to be nurses because they are pushed very hard by our faculty," said Button. "We demand the best from them in every class."
Kaitlin Phillips said the hard work of the first six weeks of the fall semester was worth it when she donned her white coat.
"It's just very rewarding to keep working as hard as we have been to get to this moment where we received our coats," she said. "It's exciting to get ready to go to clinicals."
And McIntosh said he felt equally prepared to take the next step toward becoming a nurse.
"My instructors have done a really good job preparing me, and I feel ready to take the next step," he said.
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LWU Nursing Class of 2029
The new members of the Lindsey Wilson nursing program are: Rachel Bolin of Russell Springs, Kentucky; Whitley Bonta of Greensburg, Kentucky; Faythe Bryant of Columbia; Kori Campbell of Valdosta, Georgia; Hannah Carter of Irvington, Kentucky; Vallie Kate Carver of Burkesville, Kentucky; Mikayla Cassady of Bayfield, Colorado; Kendra Coe of Burkesville; Alexis Crabtree of Jamestown, Kentucky; Christian Douglas of Jonesboro, Georgia; Kayla Fields of Summersville, Kentucky; Kandance Fields of Greensburg; Lexus Gilbert of Albany, Kentucky; Gracie Gist of Columbia; Jasmine Hayden of Campbellsville, Kentucky; Kennedy Jackson of Columbia; Brycon Johnson of Columbia; Allison Latham of Albany; Liberty Lindsey of Columbia; Mason Magyar of Louisville, Kentucky; Jade Mazziotta of Jamesburg, New Jersey; Sydney McDonald of Campbellsville; Elijah McIntosh of Bowling Green, Kentucky; Leyda Noyola-Zamudio of Russell Springs; Emerthe Nyiramutuzo of Louisville; Amaya Pablo of Milton, Florida; Macie Phelps of Somerset, Kentucky; Kaitlin Phillips of Liberty, Kentucky; Kennedy Phillips of Liberty; Demi Serman of Auburndale, Florida; Emma Watkins of Eastview, Kentucky; and Savannah White of Campbellsville.
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 30 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
Members of the Class of 2029 Lindsey Wilson University nursing program are joined by their faculty members on Friday, Oct. 2, on the V.P. Henry Auditorium stage following the program’s 17th annual “Blessing & White Coat Ceremony.” The students are, alphabetically: Rachel Bolin, Whitley Bonta, Faythe Bryant, Kori Campbell, Hannah Carter, Vallie Kate Carver, Kendra Coe, Alexis Crabtree, Christian Douglas, Kayla Fields, Kandance Fields, Lexus Gilbert, Gracie Gist, Jasmine Hayden, Kennedy Jackson, Brycon Johnson, Allison Latham, Liberty Lindsey, Mason Magyar, Jade Mazziotta, Sydney McDonald, Elijah McIntosh, Leyda Noyola-Zamudio, Emerthe Nyiramutuzo, Amaya Pablo, Macie Phelps, Kaitlin Phillips, Kennedy Phillips, Demi Serman, Emma Watkins and Savannah White. Not pictured: Mikayla Cassady. Faculty members, alphabetically: Ashley Adamson, Roslin Bradshaw, Kristen Branham, Dr. Emiley Button, Dr. Angie Johnson and Lindsay Wheat.
Lindsey Wilson University nursing student Christian Douglas ’29 receives his white coat from faculty member Roslin Bradshaw at the program’s “Blessing and White Coat Ceremony,” held Friday, Oct. 2, in V.P. Henry Auditorium. A record 32 students were welcomed into the university’s nursing program at the program’s 17th annual ceremony.
Lindsey Wilson University nursing students and sisters Kennedy, left, Kaitlin Phillips, both of Liberty, Kentucky, moments after receiving their white coat at the program’s “Blessing and White Coat Ceremony,” held Friday, Oct. 2, in V.P. Henry Auditorium. A record 32 students were welcomed into the university’s nursing program at the program’s 17th annual ceremony.
Lindsey Wilson University nursing student Liberty Lindsey of Columbia has her hands blessed by retired campus pastor and faculty member the Rev. Carol Weddle at the nursing program’s “Blessing and White Coat Ceremony,” held Friday, Oct. 2, in V.P. Henry Auditorium. A record 32 students were welcomed into the university’s nursing program at the program’s 17th annual ceremony.
Lindsey Wilson University Nursing Director Dr. Emiley Button addresses the Class of 2029 Lindsey Wilson nursing students at the program’s “Blessing and White Coat Ceremony,” held Friday, Oct. 2, in V.P. Henry Auditorium. A record 32 students were welcomed into the university’s nursing program at the program’s 17th annual ceremony.
Lindsey Wilson University nursing student Kayla Fields of Summersville, Kentucky, celebrates after receiving her white coat at the program’s “Blessing and White Coat Ceremony,” held Friday, Oct. 2, in V.P. Henry Auditorium. A record 32 students were welcomed into the university’s nursing program at the program’s 17th annual ceremony.
The Class of 2029 Lindsey Wilson University nursing students recite the “Florence Nightingale Oath” during the program’s “Blessing and White Coat Ceremony,” held Friday, Oct. 2, in V.P. Henry Auditorium. A record 32 students were welcomed into the university’s nursing program at the program’s 17th annual ceremony.
