Partnership with Harlaxton College opens ‘a gateway to global education’ for Lindsey Wilson students and faculty.
COLUMBIA, KY. (05/23/2025) For Lindsey Wilson College senior Kiara Collins, stepping onto British soil was a chance to realize a long-held dream.
“I’ve always thought about studying abroad,” said Collins, a communication major and Columbia native. “But my academic journey didn’t go down that road — until now. This trip gave me the chance to experience what I’d only imagined for years. It reminded me why I value cultural understanding and open-mindedness so much.”
Collins was one of 15 Lindsey Wilson students selected to travel to the United Kingdom in May as part of an immersive study-abroad program at Harlaxton College, an experience that combined academic exploration, cultural exchange and personal growth.
During their nine days abroad, students visited the historic cities of London, Lincoln, York and Cambridge while based at Harlaxton. Harlaxton is a Victorian manor and the University of Evansville’s study-abroad center, located in Grantham, England, which is about three hours north of London.
Moving beyond ‘our own corner of the world’
Beyond sightseeing, the program served a deeper purpose: introducing students to global learning experiences that build cultural awareness, personal confidence and academic growth.
“This trip opened my eyes to how much I can learn from other cultures, languages, and people,” said Connor Wilhoit, a psychophysiology junior from Campbellsville, Kentucky. “It made me realize how small our own corner of the world really is.”
Organized by physics professor Mark McKinnon, the trip introduced Lindsey Wilson students to Harlaxton while also laying the groundwork for participation in semester-long study-abroad programs.
“We have students who have never been on a plane, never left the state,” McKinnon said. “Many of our students don’t get the chance to see the world, so we bring the world to them. This trip let us take them to the world — to show them, firsthand, how broad and beautiful that world can be.”
‘The world is full of stories’
Collins said the experience affirmed her belief in the importance of stepping outside familiar surroundings.
“We get told one story growing up, but the world is full of stories,” she said. “Experiencing a new culture showed me how much we can learn simply by listening, observing and being present in a new environment.”
Wilhoit, who plans to become a physical therapist, noted how the trip shifted his perspective on wellness and public health.
“England’s walkable and bikeable towns made a big impression on me,” he said. “Just taking a walk can be impactful. It’s something I’ll encourage my patients to do — starting small, just like the Brits.”
The trip also included visits to iconic landmarks such as Big Ben and the London Eye, but for McKinnon one of the most meaningful stops was to Woolsthorpe Manor, the birthplace of Isaac Newton.
“It was magical to think that we were sharing the space from which so much greatness came,” said McKinnon. “I also enjoyed punting on the River Cam and walking the narrow streets of York. And of course, Harlaxton Manor itself — what a wonderful place to come home to each night.”
‘We belong’
Lindsey Wilson’s partnership with Harlaxton opens the door for students to spend a semester abroad, and for faculty to teach internationally. McKinnon is set to teach at Harlaxton in spring 2026.
“Harlaxton is more than a beautiful place — it’s a gateway to global education,” McKinnon said. “I hope this trip is just the beginning. I’d love to see many more of our students walk through that gateway in the years to come.”
Collins and her peers who made the May trip will present their experiences to the wider campus community in the fall, becoming ambassadors for international learning.
“This wasn’t just a trip,” Collins said. “It was a transformation. For students like me, it shows that the world is out there — and we belong in it.”
Lindsey Wilson College students and faculty pose in front of Harlaxton College, a Victorian manor and the University of Evansville’s study abroad center located in Grantham, England. Back row, from left: Director of Education Jennifer Antoniotti-Neal; physics professor Mark McKinnon; Seth Ousley of Lancaster, Ky.; Zachariah Lawson of Williamsburg, Ky.; Emma Snyder of Glasgow, Ky.; Zachary Hite of Hodgenville, Ky.; Aaron Shain of Scottsville, Ky.; Connor Wilhoit of Campbellsville, Ky.; Jesse LaGrange of Burkesville, Ky.; Assistant Director of Public Relations Shelby Burton. Front row, from left: English professor Mary Baker; Science Lab Coordinator Sierra Coe; Madison Wiser of Loretto, Ky.; Allee Harris of Harrodsburg, Ky.; Taylor Harvey of Columbia; Reagan Black of Liberty, Ky.; Kiara Collins of Columbia; Whitley Gibson of Edmonton, Ky.; Emma Couch of Columbia; Reilly Wells of Columbia; Administrative Assistant for Academic Affairs Jennie Shelpman.
Lindsey Wilson College business administration Allee Harris ’26 and business administration and Christian ministries double-major Taylor Harvey ’26 study artwork in Belton House in Lincolnshire. A total of 15 Lindsey Wilson students were selected to travel to the United Kingdom this May as part of an immersive study abroad program at Harlaxton College.
Lindsey Wilson College students pause for a photo in front of the Lincoln Cathedral, one of the finest examples of gothic architecture in Europe. During their nine days abroad, students visited historic cities, including London, Lincoln, York and Cambridge. From left: Aaron Shain of Scottsville, Ky.; Reilly Wells of Columbia; Zachary Hite of Hodgenville, Ky.; Zachariah Lawson of Williamsburg, Ky.; and Connor Wilhoit of Campbellsville, Ky.
Lindsey Wilson College sustainability and environmental studies major Seth Ousley ’26 and communication major Kiara Collins ’26 explore the Eyam Museum in Eyam, England. Collins, Ousley and their peers will present their experiences to the wider campus community in the fall, becoming ambassadors for international learning at Lindsey Wilson.
Lindsey Wilson College is a vibrant liberal arts college 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 — which will become Lindsey Wilson University on July 1 — has an enrollment of more than 4,000 students, and the college offers 28 undergraduate majors, five graduate programs and a doctoral program. The college’s 28 intercollegiate varsity athletic teams have won more than 120 team and individual national championships.
(Duane Bonifer – Lindsey Wilson College)