R.V. Bennett Honors Program continues to challenge students to dive deeper into their academic passions.
by Shelby Burton
COLUMBIA, KY (04/15/2026) From the economics of jiu jitsu to the effects of ASMR on short-term memory, 13 Lindsey Wilson University Honors students explored a wide range of topics during the R.V. Bennett Honors Program spring symposium on Tuesday, April 14, in the Katie Murrell Library.
Held in the Thomas D. Clark Reading Room, the symposium featured student presentations spanning healthcare, business, communications, psychology, literature and more – turning the space into a daylong academic conference that highlighted the depth and diversity of undergraduate research at Lindsey Wilson.
The symposium is a cornerstone of the R.V. Bennett Honors Program, where students spend a semester, and sometimes up to a year working closely with a faculty mentor to expand a course project or independent study into a more in-depth research presentation.
“The students spend a semester working one-on-one with a faculty mentor to take a project wider and deeper,” said Lindsey Wilson associate professor of history and R.V. Bennett Honors Program director Beth Tapscott. “We want them to find something they’re passionate about and have the opportunity to really dive into it and take things beyond the expectation.”
Diverse topics, real-world connections
Students’ research covered a broad range of subjects, with presentations examining topics in science, social issues, economics, literature and human behavior.
Kyrnan Bowman ’29, a business administration major from Columbia, Kentucky, combined his interests in business and martial arts in his presentation, “The Economics of Jiu Jitsu.”
Bowman’s research focused on how financial incentives shape the sport itself.
“Those organizations’ desire for profit changes how people train, which changes how the sport looks,” said Bowman.
Bowman said the project allowed him to connect his academic interests with a personal passion he has pursued since he was 11 years old.
“I love economics, and more than anything, I love Jiu Jitsu,” he said. “So it was just the perfect thing for me to do.”
Other students used their research to examine broader cultural and historical issues.
Sarai Collins ’28, a human services and counseling and women and gender studies double major from Columbia, Kentucky, explored the marginalization of women in Irish and American national identities. Her work connected historical analysis with modern-day influences, particularly the role of social media.
“We’re on social media every single day. It influences our thoughts and our feelings,” said Collins. “I wanted to take those images, reflect on them, and then compare them to Irish history and the oppression women faced during the fight for independence.”
Collins said her research also highlighted how women’s contributions have often gone unrecognized.
“Real women were doing activist work, even if they were pushed to the side or didn’t receive the credit they deserved,” she said. “You saw what they went through then and it’s happening now.”
Curiosity-driven research
For other students, the symposium served as an opportunity to explore emerging or less-studied topics.
Emma Couch ’27 a psychology and Spanish double major from London, Kentucky, presented research on the effects of ASMR – a popular online content genre – on short-term memory.
Couch said her work reflects the importance of staying open-minded when approaching unfamiliar subjects.
“I think the main takeaway from my presentation is to remain open-minded to different types of things,” said Couch. “And if you’re interested in something, learn about it.”
Couch’s research is ongoing, and she plans to continue collecting and analyzing data over the summer after being named a 2026 Ledford Scholars Award recipient. The competetive scholarship presented by the Appalachian College Association provides undergraduate students with the financial support needed to work on significant research projects.
A ‘higher level’ of work
According to Tapscott, the quality of student research continues to rise each year, with this spring’s symposium standing out for the level of academic rigor displayed across presentations.
“The overwhelming majority of the projects they’re presenting are graduate level,” said Tapscott. “Even a number of our freshmen and sophomores are presenting senior-level work.”
Tapscott says the level of commitment reflects the purpose of the Honors Program which is to give students the space and support to explore their interests in meaningful ways.
“They never fail to impress,” Tapscott said. “It’s a chance for them to really engage with something they care about and take it further than they ever expected.”
Lindsey Wilson University student Sarai Collins ’28, a women and gender studies and human services and counseling double major from Columbia, Kentucky, presents her research, “Embodying the Nation: Symbolic Women Representing Ireland and the United States,” at the 2026 spring symposium of the R.V. Bennett Honors Program, held Tuesday, April 14, in the Thomas D. Clark Reading Room of the Holloway Building. Collins explored the marginalization of women in Irish and American national identities.
Lindsey Wilson University student Kyrnan Bowman ’29 — a business administration major from Columbia, Kentucky — responds to a question about his research project, “The Economics of Jiu Jitsu,” at the 2026 spring symposium of the R.V. Bennett Honors Program, held Tuesday, April 14, in the Thomas D. Clark Reading Room of the Holloway Building. Looking on is Briana Frey ’29, a psychophysiology major from Breeding, Kentucky and Meghan Roberts ’26, a biology and psychophysiology major from Manchester, Kentucky.
Lindsey Wilson University student Emma Couch ’27, a psychology and Spanish double major from London, Kentucky, discusses her research project, “The Effect of ASMR on Short Term Memory.” Couch presented her findings at the 2026 spring symposium of the R.V. Bennett Honors Program, held Tuesday, April 14, in the Thomas D. Clark Reading Room of the Holloway Building. Couch will continue collecting and analyzing data over the summer after being named a 2026 Ledford Scholars Award recipient.
Lindsey Wilson University student Stella Kwagala ’27, a nursing major from Uganda, discusses her research project, “The Role of Nursing Education in Improving Injury Prevention for Children Under Five.” Kwagala presented her research at the 2026 spring symposium of the R.V. Bennett Honors Program, held Tuesday, April 14, in the Thomas D. Clark Reading Room of the Holloway Building. Looking on is Katie Saylor ’26, a psychology and human services and counseling double major from Louisville, Kentucky.
Lindsey Wilson University student Keegan Benton ’29, a psychophysiology major from Summerville, South Carolina, presents his research, “Faith or Fallacy: Exploring the Spectrum Between Cult and Religion,” at the 2026 spring symposium of the R.V. Bennett Honors Program, held Tuesday, April 14, in the Thomas D. Clark Reading Room of the Holloway Building.
Lindsey Wilson University students, faculty and staff gather Tuesday, April 14, in the Thomas D. Clark Reading Room of the Holloway Building for a session of the 2026 spring symposium of the R.V. Bennett Honors Program.
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.
(Shelby Burton – Lindsey Wilson University)