05/11/2026
Madison Payne, a biology major from Edgewood, Kentucky, made the most of her time at the Lewis Honors College (LHC) by fully leaning into both research and community. She was drawn to the LHC because she wanted to be part of a like-minded environment where she could be challenged and encouraged by both her classmates and professors. That experience shaped her academic journey in meaningful ways.
For her Honors thesis, Madison began a research project in collaboration with Emily Simpson and Dr. Croteau, focusing on ways to help declining honeybee populations. Her work explored whether different pollutants were present across regions of Kentucky and tested a less invasive method than traditional gut microbiome extraction. By using honey to extract DNA (eDNA), her research identified pollutants and contributed to a growing area that is not yet widely studied, helping to guide future research.
Through her Honors classes, Madison discovered the importance of being challenged and having a voice. She valued the ability to openly discuss opinions, something that felt different from her traditional science courses, and found that environment to be a key part of her growth. Outside of the classroom, she enjoyed serving as a Lewis Launch Leader, helping freshmen adjust to campus life and showing them some of the best spots around campus.
Madison says she will miss the open, welcoming environment of the LHC, along with the small, connected classes where she built strong friendships. After graduation, she will attend the University of Kentucky College of Medicine!
Her advice to future students is to take advantage of all the opportunities the LHC offers and to show up to events, because those experiences play a big role in making the most of your time in the LHC.
Written by Addie Blais
