Transylvania University continues spotlighting recent grads as they reflect on the faculty, community and personal growth that defined their college journey. Read more about the Class of 2026 here and on Facebook and Instagram.
Micah Bullock
Majors: Vocal music performance and Spanish language and literature
Hometown: Nicholasville, Kentucky
What are some of your favorite things in Lexington?
“My favorite things to do in Lexington are: going rock climbing at LEF, going to concerts at the Burl, trying new restaurants and going to Activate Games with friends.”
Dakota Capps
Major: Accounting
Hometown: Louisville, Kentucky
Who at Transy really influenced you, and how?
“The whole men’s basketball coaching staff. Coaches Lane, Ham and Stone were all there for me after my mother died freshman year. They are amazing role models who not only were worried about me as a player but as a human being as well.”
Emily Jackson
Major: Writing, rhetoric and communication
Hometown: Elizabethtown, Kentucky
What’s the hardest thing you’ve done at Transy?
“I think one of the hardest things I did overall at Transy, especially academically, was pursue a foreign language minor. Spanish definitely does not come easily to me. I almost didn’t go through with it, and I might not have if it weren’t for Rachel Wilson in the study abroad office. She encouraged me to stick with it through one of my hardest courses, Spanish III. If it weren’t for her encouragement, I may have given up. Looking back, my minor is also one of the things I am most proud of. In fact, it is the challenge that makes it so much more rewarding. Not to mention, my Spanish minor was a huge contributing factor to why I studied abroad and could be applicable to my future (if I choose to go into immigration law).”
Alex O’Connor
Major: Health and exercise science
Hometown: Louisville, Kentucky
What are some of your favorite things in Lexington?
“Some of my favorite things to do in Lexington are play pickleball at Shillito Park, sand volleyball at Marikka’s, ride and walk the Legacy Trail, play breakout games with friends and visit the Arboretum.”
Ella Petrey
Major: Music education
Hometown: Lexington
What is the best decision you made at Transylvania?
“The best decision I made at Transy was choosing to major in music education. I have found something that I am truly so excited to pursue each day. I feel like I have grown so much as a musician, teacher and a person through my time here. I have gotten to learn through many hands-on experiences, like working with different ensembles, that I wouldn’t have been able to experience at other universities. My time here at Transy has allowed me to reflect on how much music education matters to me. Music is such a powerful way to connect to one another, express who we are and make sense of the world around us, and I believe that everyone deserves to have the opportunity to feel that.”
Emma Swallows
Majors: Political science and Spanish
Hometown: Shelbyville, Kentucky
Who at Transy really influenced you and how?
“The student leaders that were welcoming and encouraging when I first joined campus really influenced me. From the RAs that helped me on move-in day to my big who helped me navigate being a first-year, I was immediately met with a sense of belonging. When I looked at them during those first few weeks, I saw who I could become if I became involved on this campus. As I applied to join SAB, signed up for recruitment, and then continued joining campus orgs, their impact on campus and my potential ability to carry on their legacies really influenced and inspired me.”