LWC to Award 287 Degrees, Honor Three with Doctorates at Winter Commencement

COLUMBIA, Ky. -- Lindsey Wilson College will honor two Southcentral Kentucky natives and one of Kentucky's legendary civil rights leaders at this year's winter commencement, which will be on Saturday, Dec. 10.

At the college's 94th commencement ceremony, Lindsey Wilson will award a total of 287 degrees -- 154 undergraduate diplomas and 133 graduate diplomas.

Receiving honorary doctorates from the college will be former LWC first lady Margaret McDonald, Sgt. Dakota Meyer and civil rights leader P.G. Peeples. Peeples will deliver the commencement address.

The ceremony will be held at 10:30 a.m. CT on Saturday, Dec. 10, in the college's Biggers Sports Center, 360 Spickard Drive.

This will be Lindsey Wilson's the second largest winter class since the college began the ceremony in December 2004. LWC's largest winter class was 365, which was graduated in 2010.

Peeples is president/CEO of Urban League Of Lexington-Fayette County. A native of Lynch, Ky., he graduated from Southeast Kentucky Community College and then the University of Kentucky.

Shortly after graduating from UK, Peeples became education director of the Urban League of Lexington-Fayette County. He was soon named director of the chapter, making him the youngest Urban League director in the nation.

"Mr. Peeples has distinguished himself as a community leader and a force for positive change for all people in Lexington-Fayette County and throughout the commonwealth," said Lindsey Wilson President William T. Luckey Jr. "He is one of Kentucky's great leaders, and it is an honor to have him address our graduates."

Peeples has overseen the development of the Urban League's professional job-training programs for individuals with low-incomes. The Urban League, under his guidance, has also worked to stem the urban decay of Lexington's neighborhoods.

In addition to serving and president/chief executive officer of the Urban League of Lexington-Fayette County, Peeples is also chair of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System Board of Regents.

A native of Taylor County, Ky., McDonald was LWC first lady when her husband, the late Rev. L.R. McDonald, served as the college's fifth president from 1971-78. She currently lives in Campbellsville, Ky.

An Adair County native, Meyer -- who now serves in the Individual Ready Reserve of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve -- received the Medal of Honor earlier this year from President Obama for his actions in a September 2008 battle in Afghanistan.

Following LWC's winter commencement, the Lindsey Wilson College National Alumni Association will hold a reception for graduates and their guests in the Roberta D. Cranmer Dining & Conference Center. For more information about the ceremony or the reception, contact the Lindsey Wilson Alumni Office at alumni@lindsey.edu or (270) 384-8400.