Bonner Scholar Program
The mission of the Bonner Leader Program is to transform the lives of students and members, the life of their campuses, their local communities, and the world through service and leadership. The Bonner Program is designed to heighten the overall education students and members receive by asking them to engage in ongoing service work and helping them develop the experience, skills, knowledge and values necessary to make that work meaningful and lasting. The Bonner Foundation, the Bonner Scholars Program, and the Bonner Leaders Program hold these Common Commitments:
- Social Justice
- Civic Engagement
- Spiritual Exploration
- Diversity
- International Perspective
- Community Building
- Wellness
Contact Information
Location: Career Services and Bonner Scholar Center (Wilkerson)Phone: 270-384-8689
E-mail: bonner@lindsey.edu
- Early Application Deadline - December 1, 2025. We offer early acceptance to applicants who meet our priority deadline. Applicants will be interviewed as their application is received.
- Standard Application Deadline - February 6, 2026. Students who meet the standard deadline will be invited to interview on campus on February 20, 2026.
- Complete a Bonner Application. Letters of recommendation are optional and not required.
- Have a cumulative GPA above a 3.0.
- Commit to 7-10 hours of direct service weekly at one of the above sites or a site that fits the six commitments and meetings assigned by Bonner Director.
- Show that you are passionate about servant leadership.
New Students
We are now accepting applications for the 2026-2027 school year.
Applicants should be highly motivated and service-oriented incoming college freshmen who want to improve their college experience through service to the local community. You do not have to be accepted at Lindsey Wilson University to apply for LWU Bonner, but you should be in the process of applying to LWU!APPLY NOW
Fill out the application form above and submit. If you prefer to mail a hard copy, please request a copy from bonner@lindsey.edu and mail it to The Bonner Program, 210 Lindsey Wilson Street, Columbia, KY 42728.
You must possess the following:
The Bonner Scholar Commitments and Student Development Model
Bonner Volunteers
We understand that not everyone can promise the high level of commitment to service we expect from our Bonner Scholars - some students are athletes, involved in clubs, or busy with classes and cannot meet the service hours requirement. That doesn't mean that we want them to miss out on opportunities to give back to the local community through service! Through a desire to create more service opportunities for LWU students, the Bonner Volunteers program was born: B-Vols! Becoming a B-Vol is open to all current LWU students, and gives them a chance to make connections with non-profits in the local community. They meet once a month to discuss their service, and are welcome at most Bonner meetings and events. To apply to be a B-Vol, download the application here and return it to the Bonner Office via campus mail or email it to bonner@lindsey.edu.
