Record 381 Degrees to be Awarded at Winter Commencement

LWC President William T. Luckey Jr. signs diplomas for the 2012 winter commencement.

COLUMBIA, Ky. -- Kentucky Attorney Jack Conway will address the largest winter commencement class in Lindsey Wilson College history Dec. 15.

Lindsey Wilson will award a total of 381 degrees at its 96th commencement ceremony, to be held 10 a.m. CT Saturday, Dec. 15, in Biggers Sports Center, 360 Spickard Drive. It will also be streamed live via Stretch Internet.

The 109-year-old liberal arts college will award 194 undergraduate degrees and 187 graduate degrees. LWC's previous record winter class was 365, which was graduated in 2010. The college awarded 287 degrees at last winter's commencement.

More than 65 percent of this year's LWC winter graduates are Kentucky residents.

"Graduating a record number of students is exciting, especially because they will help Kentucky reach its goal of increasing the number of citizens with college degrees," said Lindsey Wilson President William T. Luckey Jr., who has been the college's eighth president since 1998.

Conway has been Kentucky's 49th attorney general since 2008. Twice elected to the statewide office, Conway is known for his efforts to work with local leaders and law-enforcement officers to make Kentucky a safer place.

In addition to delivering this year's winter commencement address, Conway will receive an honorary doctorate from the college's board of trustees and faculty.

Also receiving an honorary doctorate from LWC will be Columbia resident George Kolbenschlag. A retired Lindsey Wilson vice president and faculty member, Kolbenschlag had a distinguished career in the Navy and in the public relations profession before coming to Lindsey Wilson in 1987. He retired from the college in 2004. Since moving to Columbia,  Kolbenschlag and his wife, Yvonne, have been among Adair County's most active citizens.

"Both Jack Conway and George Kolbenschlag exemplify what it means to make society a better place through civic engagement," Luckey said. "Jack Conway has been an outstanding attorney general for Kentucky, as evidenced by his crackdown on child predators, Internet crimes and fraud.

"George Kolbenschlag is among the handful of individuals who helped build what we call the 'modern Lindsey Wilson.' He first served this college as an outstanding staff member, then he deferred his retirement for seven years to develop the college's journalism program. He's also been one of Columbia-Adair County's hardest-working volunteers, which has immeasurably improved this region's quality of life."

Following commencement, the Lindsey Wilson National Alumni Association will host a reception for graduates and their guests in the Roberta D. Cranmer Dining & Conference Center, 430 Helen Flatt Drive.

For more information about LWC's 2012 winter commencement, contact the LWC Alumni Office at alumni@lindsey.edu or (270) 384-8400.

Watch It Live ...
Commencement will be streamed live here.