Lindsey Wilson College

LWC's Malvina Farkle Day Celebrates Community, Service

students volunteer with animalsPictured: Lindsey Wilson College freshman Nathan Ray from Greensburg, Ky., enjoys time with a dog at Green River Animal Shelter Wednesday morning, Sept. 25, during the college's 2019 Malvina Farkle Day. About a dozen LWC students and staff members performed their community service at the animal shelter.

COLUMBIA, KY. -- This is the second year Lindsey Wilson College sophomore Kyion Stone from Shelbyville, Ky., has chosen the Columbia-Adair County natural garden as his Malvina Farkle Day service site.   

“My teammates and I wanted to work with Dr. Bosela again,” said Stone, who is a member of the LWC men’s basketball team. “He is a great person to be around and always outgoing. He jokes around with us but he works harder than anyone.”

The natural garden, which is managed by LWC Assistant Professor of Biology Michael Bosela, was one of 40 service sites that participated in Malvina Farkle Day on Wednesday, Sept. 25.  

“We get to come out here actually work with our teammates and bond with people we don’t normally hang out with -- it is a great experience,” said Stone. “It sounds like labor but when you are with your buddies it doesn’t feel like work.”

Malvina Farkle Day is named in memory of a mythical Lindsey Wilson alumna and staff member who lived a life of service and having fun. Classes are dismissed for the day each year while students spend the morning working on community service projects. The afternoon includes a picnic on the campus quadrangle, games, activities and giveaways. 

LWC Student Activities Director Lafawn Nettles says the annual day of service wouldn’t be possible without participation from the local community. 

“Mayor Hoots and Judge Cowan were such a blessing as we organized this year’s event,” said Nettles. “They connected us to the projects that needed a little help from our students, and we can’t thank them enough for their support.” 

More than 900 Lindsey Wilson students, faculty and staff participated in the annual day of service this year. Nettles says Malvina Farkle Day allows students to learn more about the community and give back. 

“Malvina Farkle day was started as a way for Lindsey Wilson to give back to the community. And from there it has grown to be a wonderful day of service for our students to connect with our community in a new way, and with new people.”

The Columbia-Adair County places involved with 2019 Malvina Farkle Day were:

  • Adair County Public Library
  • Adair Head Start
  • Adair Co. Elementary School-Open
  • Adair County High School-Open
  • Adair County Middle School-Courtyard
  • Adair Friends & Neighbors
  • Cape Project
  • Columbia UMC
  • Dollhouse Daycare
  • Jim Blair Center
  • JOY Ministries Crisis Center 
  • LWC Natural Garden
  • Ole Homeplace Adult Daycare
  • Rosenwald School Cleanup
  • Adair County Elementary School-Education
  • Adair County Middle School-Education
  • Columbia City Park
  • Columbia-Adair County Natural Garden
  • Adair County Middle School
  • Sugar Foot Rescue
  • Green River Animal Shelter
  • Seach and Rescue Building Clean-up
  • Summit Manor

Additionally, service groups picked up trash along Jamestown Street and the hiking trails at Green River; and other students cleaned and painted around the historic Columbia square. 

To see more from 2019 Malvina Farkle Day:

  • Click here to download photos for free from LWC's Flickr account.
  • Click here learn about campus life at Lindsey Wilson College. 
  • Click here to request information about LWC or apply.