Blue Raider Shuttle Saves Gas, Students Steps

International Student Campus Activities Coordinator Dustin Harris (left) and Catie Bilz of the residence life office operate the Blue Raider Shuttle, which was made possible by a gift from Wal-Mart.

COLUMBIA, Ky. -- A partnership between Lindsey Wilson College and Wal-Mart helps the environment and students stretch their dollars.

Lindsey Wilson officials re-launched the Blue Raider Shuttle this week. The 15-passenger van - which was purchased with money donated to the college by the Columbia Wal-Mart Super Center - shuttles students twice a day during weekdays and once a day on weekends from the A.P. White Campus to the Wal-Mart store on Exit 46 of the Louie B. Nunn Parkway.

The free service was created to meet the needs of resident students who do not have cars, according to Catie Bilz, an apartment manger and student services graduate assistant who helps oversee the program.

"When Wal-Mart was closer to campus, it was easier for students to walk there, but when it moved to its new location, they couldn't walk more than three miles each way," Bilz said. "So we decided to find a creative solution to meet our students' needs, and Wal-Mart stepped in and help us out."

The Blue Raider Shuttle runs to Wal-Mart 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. CT Monday-Friday and 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. It returns to campus about an hour later.

"But we will stay as long as we need to for the students," Bilz said.

The Blue Raider Shuttle is operated by Bilz and International Student Campus Activities Coordinator Dustin Harris.

In addition to providing students a valuable service, the Blue Raider Shuttle is also environmentally friendly.

"Because students don't have to drive to Wal-Mart, we are keeping several cars off the road and that helps out the environment," Bilz said.