Three Freshmen, Returning Senior Named Begley Scholars

New John B. Begley Scholars pose with LWC President William T. Luckey Jr. From left: Rachel Carr of Danville, Ky.; Kendall Sewell of Somerset, Ky.; Luckey; Lorna Heaton of Liverpool, England; and Katie Easton of Crestwood, Ky.

COLUMBIA, Ky. -- Three incoming freshmen and one returning senior have been named John B. Begley Scholars at Lindsey Wilson College. The scholarship is the college's most prestigious.

The three freshmen named to the program are: Rachel McKenzie Carr of Danville, Ky., Katie Easton of Crestwood, Ky., and William Kendall Sewell of Somerset, Ky. Lorna Heaton of Liverpool, England, is the returning student selected to the program.

Carr, Easton and Sewell were chosen from more than 85 high school seniors from Kentucky, Indiana and Tennessee who were invited by Lindsey Wilson to compete for the scholarship last winter. Heaton was chosen from among more than 1,000 returning Lindsey Wilson students.

Carr, a 2009 graduate of Boyle County High School, plans to major at secondary education. The daughter of Steve and Tammy Carr of Danville, Ky., in high school Carr was active: president of the Boyle County chapter of the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America; part-time technician at Danville Physical Therapy; two-year member of teen court; member of Boyle County High School forensic team; volunteer with Relay for Life and Habitat for Humanity; member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes; Youth Salute; Boyle County's 2009 English student of the year; and she graduated sixth in her class.

Easton, a 2009 South Oldham High School graduate, plans to major at biology at LWC to prepare for pharmacy school. The daughter of Jane and Chris Easton of Crestwood, Ky., in high school Easton was active in: Girl Scouts, National Beta Club; National Honor Society; vice president of her school's French club; and show choir. She graduated in the top 10 percent of her senior class, received the principal's award and honors diploma, cum laude. She was also a two-year national grand champion in equitation and one year in pleasure.

Sewell, a 2009 Southwestern High School graduate, plans to major in secondary education in English at LWC. The son of Chuck and Fern Sewell of Somerset, Ky., in high school Sewell was active in: National Honor Society, vice president of the Tri-Music Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Southwestern High School Key Club, Southwestern High School Conservation Club and Southwestern High School Envirothon team. He received numerous academic awards during his high school career, including the Southwestern High School English Department Medal and Advanced Placement English Class award. He was also an Advanced Placement Scholar with honors, and he attended the State Concert Festival with the Southwestern High School Band. Sewell's work with the band also helped him earn several musical awards.

Heaton is a mathematics senior who has been a three -year member of the LWC women's soccer team, where she is a defender. She is the daughter of Terry Heaton of Liverpool, England.

The renewable Begley Scholarship -- which includes tuition, room and board -- is worth more than $25,000 a year; it is worth more than $100,000 over four years. Students are named Begley Scholars based on their academic ability and performance, leadership, community service and extracurricular activities.

The Begley Scholars Program was created in 1997 to honor John B. Begley, who served as the sixth president of Lindsey Wilson from 1977 to 1997. In addition to receiving a four-year scholarship to Lindsey Wilson, Begley Scholars participate in numerous co-curricular activities.

Students are named Begley Scholars based on their academic ability and performance, leadership, community service, and extracurricular activities. Begley Scholars are expected to participate in at least two co-curricular activities simultaneously, assuming formal leadership in at least one of them.

Begley Scholars are also required to fulfill a service component and are expected to distinguish themselves as men and women of high moral character by living according to high personal standards and exercising good judgment daily.

Meet the 2009 Begley Scholars ...