COLUMBIA, Ky. – Four Lindsey Wilson College students recently took the stage at a state meeting that showcased undergraduate research in Kentucky.
The students took part in the Kentucky Honors Roundtable, held Jan. 31-Feb. 1 at the University of Louisville and attended by more than 100 college students from Kentucky schools.
The event, which is usually held twice a year, features research work by undergraduate college students from the honors programs at Kentucky’s colleges and universities.
Representing the Lindsey Wilson R.V. Bennett Honors Program were Morgan Bryant ’26, Cadence Groce ’27, Caitlin Higdon ’25 and Meghan Roberts ’26.
“It’s a really great opportunity for our students to attend the Kentucky Honors Roundtable,” said Lindsey Wilson psychology professor Jordan Greenburg, who is acting director of the Bennett Honors Program. “In addition to meeting faculty and students from other campuses across the state of Kentucky, our students gain valuable experience presenting their research at an important off-campus, and they get to do it before a different audience.”
An English and history major, Bryant presented “History and Its Influence: Historians on Queen Elizabeth I and Mary, Queen of Scots.”
Bryant said she enjoys figuring out “the ‘why’ of things, especially of generally accepted concepts and historical narratives.”
“A perfect example within this project was understanding why historians of the 19th century treated Elizabeth I of England as someone to be admired, and Mary, Queen of Scots, as someone to be hated,” said Bryant, who is from Shelbyville, Kentucky. “Finding the ‘why’ is what makes the process gratifying, and makes it worthwhile.”
Roberts, who presented “Identifying An Unknown Bacterium Using Microbiological Applications,” said the best part of the conference for her was “expanding my horizons and attending panels in other fields.”
“As a science major, the sciences is primarily what I learn and hear about daily,” said Roberts, who is from Manchester, Kentucky. “At the conference, I was able to step into the world of the arts, history, politics and so much more, while also meeting new friends from surrounding honors programs. Overall, the weekend was a huge success and helped me grow academically and professionally.”
Groce, a criminal justice and women’s and gender studies major who is from Somerset, Kentucky, presented “Unpacking the Feminist Themes in The Golden Girls: A Negotiated Reading.”
Higdon, a biology and psychophysiology major who is from Elizabethtown, Kentucky, presented “Difficulties of an Early Diagnosis of Generalized Anxiety Disorder in Childhood,” which Greenburg said elicited a response from a professor at another college.
“We had a faculty member from another school come up to Caitlin after her presentation and say, ‘I have a child with anxiety. This was such an important presentation.’ So it’s really exciting for our students to get feedback from other faculty as well,” said Greenburg.
Bryant said she also enjoyed the networking opportunities provided at the statewide gathering.
“I loved the ability to interact with other honors students throughout the state, and see how diverse and rich the community of honors truly is in Kentucky,” she said.
Participating at the Kentucky Honors Roundtable was but the latest major event for members of Lindsey Wilson’s vibrant Bennett Honors Program. Last fall, the program moved into a new office on Young Street on the east side of campus, and later this spring, the honors students will participate in an annual community service event and attend a major off-campus cultural-enrichment event.
“The R.V Bennett Honors Program has given me so many opportunities to grow as a student and a person,” said Roberts, who is a biology and psychophysiology major.
Added Bryant: “Students should consider joining the honors program since it provides experiences unlike anything else on campus.”
Photo: LWC HONORS ROUNDTABLE – Four Lindsey Wilson College students presented their research at the Kentucky Honors Roundtable, held Jan. 31-Feb. 1 at the University of Louisville and attended by more than 100 college students from Kentucky schools. From left: Caitlin Higdon ’25 of Elizabethtown, Kentucky; Meghan Roberts ’26 of Manchester, Kentucky; Cadence Groce ’27 of Somerset, Kentucky; and Morgan Bryant ’26 of Shelbyville, Kentucky.
(Duane Bonifer – Lindsey Wilson College)