Splash Bash Helps Area Families Prepare for School Year

splash bash for school year COLUMBIA, Ky. (08/02/2026) — More than 250 area residents prepared for the start of the 2026-27 school year by attending the sixth-annual WAIN Splash Bash on Saturday, Aug. 1 at the Lindsey Wilson University Doris and Bob Holloway Health & Wellness Center.

Participants enjoyed a free afternoon of fun that included complimentary food, inflatables and games, school supplies, haircuts, immunizations, and splishing and splashing in the Holloway Health & Wellness Center pools and hot tub.

"This is one of our favorite days of the year because we get to partner with WAIN for such a great cause," said Tori Starks, Lindsey Wilson director of campus recreation. "I love being able to open our building to the community. This is such a great way to help students get off to a great start and give them a nice afternoon of activities."

This year's WAIN Splash Bash also included an arts and crafts room on the second floor of the Holloway Health & Wellness Center, which allowed children to create art items to remember the day and mark the start of the school year -- which, for Adair County public school students, begins on Aug. 12.

WAIN General Manager LeAnna Bennett said that the station "cherishes the partnership we've developed over the years with Tori and her staff."

"I think the great relationship we have by collaborating together is what makes it so successful each year," said Bennett. "It's so much fun to hold this every year because it's for a good cause. We have some really wonderful people in our community who come out here to support students and their families."

mascot at splash bash Two of those people were nurses Whitney Glasgow and Stephanie Watson, who staffed a table for Adair Family Medical Center. In addition to distributing school supplies, the Adair Family Medical Center table handed out chocolate chip cookies and held a raffle for a $100 gift card.

"It's a good way to get the word out about the services we offer," said Watson, who is a pediatric nurse and Adair County native. "It's also a fun way to meet more kids in our community."

Watson attended the WAIN Splash Bash for the first time, but Shannon Greer was among the vendors who made a repeat appearance. Greer, who is with Monique's Beauty Salon, attends the WAIN Splash Bash every year to offer free haircuts to area schoolchildren.

"I do it because it helps kids," said Greer. "I've called Adair County home my whole life, and it's pretty cool they do this because it involves the whole community."

For Tiffany Caldwell, the WAIN Splash Bash fell on a day of personal celebration -- her birthday. So the Columbia mother celebrated with her children, Paisley, 4, and Lucas, 7, and some family friends, all of whom looked forward to swimming at Holloway Health & Wellness Center as soon as they collected school supplies and stopped for a haircut.

"I thought it would be a fun way to celebrate my birthday," said Caldwell. "And I thought the kids would enjoy it, and they could also get some haircuts for school."

Pictured, top: Adair Family Medical Center nurses Stephanie Watson, left, and Whitney Glasgow greet visitors at the WAIN Splash Bash on Saturday, Aug. 1, held at the Lindsey Wilson University Doris and Bob Holloway Health & Wellness Center. Their table gave students school supplies, chip cookies and a raffle for a $100 gift card.

Pictured, bottom: Lindsey Wilson University athletics mascot Blue Raider Bob welcomes Catherine Loy and daughter, Josie, 6, both of Columbia, to the WAIN Splash Bash on Saturday, Aug. 1, held at the university’s Doris and Bob Holloway Health & Wellness Center.