First-year students Delve into Danville

The Centre College Class of 2026 enjoyed the second-annual

Around 300 first-year students visited with nearly 20 Danville businesses, non-profits and other sites of interest, which aimed at helping them feel more at home in their new “hometown” of Danville.

“Students have reported that they are often reluctant to visit places they are unfamiliar with. This event makes them feel more welcome downtown and helps to build community,” said Jessica Weasner, director of Civic & Community Engagement and the Bonner Program.

Students visited local restaurants and shops, including Bluegrass & Buttercream, CAMP, Community Trust Bank, the Centre Bookstore, Cerci on Main, Danville Poke & Sushi, Dry Stack Coffee Roastery + Coffee Bar, Elmwood Inn Fine Teas, The Hub Coffee House and Cafe, Maple Tree Gallery, and Plaid Elephant Books.

Jeff Jewel, executive director of the Danville-Boyle County Chamber of Commerce, said that the program ramped up even more this year after a successful 2021 event.

“We’re privileged in Danville to be home to a fantastic liberal arts and sciences college—one of the best in the nation,” Jewel said. “It’s good for the town to see the students participate, and it’s good for the students because Danville will be their home for the next four years. Building that bond is important both ways.”

Local organizations and non-profits were also on the list: The Art Center of the Bluegrass, Boyle County Public Library, Boyle County Farmer’s Market, CentreWorks, Constitution Square, Hooves of Hope and the McDowell House Museum.

Public art was also highlighted to students, including locations at the Norton Center for the Arts and murals around town.

Junior Bonner student Braedon French sees the benefits for businesses and students participating in Delve into Danville.

“It’s an opportunity for students to learn about the businesses in Danville that they may otherwise overlook,” he said. “It is a great introduction and opportunity to engage with the community they will call home for the next four years.”

Senior Bonner student Cynthia Nieto said that breaking the “Centre bubble” is important for first-year students to see all that Danville has to offer.

“My hope for the event was that it would encourage students to create a relationship with the Danville community—and become part of the community—by engaging with the local Danville partners,” she explained.

Introducing the first-year students to the Danville community, she goes on to say, will also help to “create a sense of belonging and respect for the city that we all inhabit and love.”

For a gallery of photos from Delve into Danville, visit the Centre Facebook page.