By Richard LeComte

The University of Kentucky has named 15 students as recipients of funding to the Lunsford Scholars Program in the College of Arts & Sciences at the University of Kentucky.

The Lunsford Scholars Program provides Arts & Sciences students the chance to pursue out-of-the-classroom educational opportunities including education abroad, internships, service-based learning and undergraduate research both locally and outside of Kentucky. Aside from student scholarships, the donation also supports a symposium and speaker series to be held each year.

“The program supports students who seek high-impact educational experiences,” said Clayton Thyne,  chair of the Political Science Department and director of the program. “It’s about civic engagement broadly defined.”

W. Bruce Lunsford, a UK alumnus, lawyer and businessman, recently established the Lunsford Scholars Program in Citizenship and Public Service in the College of Arts & Sciences with a $1 million pledge.

At the moment, the first class of Lunsford Scholars are working with mentors to develop projects during their college careers. Thyne said the goal of the program is to bring students on early in their programs so they can make the most of their upcoming experiences.

“They’re guaranteed $5,000 for experiences, but we start them early with a mentor to make sure they do something that will really change their lives,” he said.

For more information on the Lunsford Scholars program and to apply, go to https://www.as.uky.edu/ampersand/sp20/lunsford.

The 2020-21 Lunsford Scholars are:

Constance Bledsoe is studying neuroscience with minors in psychology and Spanish. She is from Franklin, Tennessee.

Aaliyah Boller is studying political science and criminology. She is from Louisville, Kentucky.

Jacob Coffman is studying biology. He is from Aurora, Illinois.

Crystal Ferrell is majoring in foreign language and international economics and Spanish. She is from Louisville, Kentucky.

Bailee Gibbs is majoring in international studies with minors in history and modern and classical languages, literatures and cultures. She is from Corbin, Kentucky.

Nicole Hensley is majoring in biology. She is from Fair Oaks, California.

Cassandra Johnson is studying psychology and U.S. culture and business practices. She is from West Chester, Ohio.

Paige Johnston is studying English and social work. She is from Highland Heights, Kentucky.

Linda Omali is studying chemistry. She is from Vine Grove, Kentucky.

Genevieve Papagna is majoring in neuroscience and biology with a psychology minor. She is from Litchfield, Ohio.

Emma Pittard is majoring in Spanish. She is from Lexington, Kentucky.

Libby Ratliff is majoring in chemistry. She is from Fishers, Indiana.

J.D. Schumacher is studying political science. He is from Alexandria, Kentucky.

Preiss Terry is majoring in political science with a minor in criminology. She is from Madison, Mississippi.

Tristen Turpin is studying psychology. He is from Versailles, Kentucky.