News from The Mahurin Honors College

“If you make a triangle between Cincinnati, Louisville, and Lexington, I’m smack dab in the middle of that triangle,” says Chayce Merchant, a computer science major at WKU. “Very small town—not gonna know that many people from there.” That small town is Owen County, Kentucky, and Chayce wears it with pride.

His journey to WKU began through the Gatton Academy, where he became the second student from Owen County to attend since the program’s opening. “I was always labeled the smart kid back home—I didn’t really have to try much,” Chayce admits. “But coming to Gatton was eye-opening. I realized I wasn’t ahead anymore—I had to really put in the work.”

Though he wasn’t sure what to expect at first, Gatton proved to be a turning point. “One of the big things that drew me to Gatton honestly was the opportunity to push myself,” he says. “Freshman and sophomore year, I wasn’t very motivated, but getting into Gatton changed that. It helped me see I could do more.”

As he settled in, he also discovered a surprise bonus: WKU’s Esports program. “I was very big into Esports, particularly Rocket League,” he says. “I was looking over all the rules, and I thought— there is nothing here that says I can’t play collegiate Esports as a Gatton student. So I did.” He eventually played three semesters of collegiate-level competition before even graduating high school. Now, as a first-semester freshman, he is one of the most senior members on the team. “It’s kind of funny,” he says, “but it’s also been really cool to stick with it and grow with the team.”

Life at WKU outside of gaming has adopted a new meaning for Chayce, especially after a tough year. “I didn’t attend fall semester  because my dad passed on August 16, 2024— just days before the semester started,” he says. “I wanted to be back home for my mom.”

His dad, a lifelong tennis player who transitioned to pickleball, the new tennis over the last few years  became a central part of Chayce’s story. “My dad had a circle of players that he played with and we’d play four or five days a week”, Chayce states.  “Everyone up there in this community—most of them were retired and a little bit older—but they were all so welcoming. They all loved playing with me.”

When it came time to plan his father’s funeral, Chayce had a feeling they’d need more space than expected, knowing that this circle of friends would be there one last time for their dear friend. “There were two or three rows of just pickleball people. They made him a little stepping stone  plaque and they were all just...well,  it was (almost) just like a family. The greatest, tightest-knit community.”

Chayce wanted to honor that bond. “Before the civic engagement project [in HON 251] was even a thing, his family had discussed hosting  a pickleball  tournament.  A memorial pickleball tournament to benefit the Glioblastoma Foundation, is now slated to take place at Five Seasons in Northern Kentucky. “We haven’t got the exact date figured out yet. That has been the hardest part—getting the date.” Still, the fundraiser has already exceeded expectations. “So far, we’ve raised a little bit over $5,500, and I haven’t even announced the tournament date yet,” he says.

For Chayce, though, this tournament is more than raising money, it’s about bringing the pickleball community together, to celebrate his dad and the sport he really loved.  Even in his last weeks, his father continued to play pickleball and only stopped when he lost mobility. The overarching goal is to bring the community together.

Chayce plans to make it an annual event, something that outlives his time on the Hill. “This is just year one. I’m hoping beyond my years at  WKU, this continues to be a  big event that’s held annually. If the community grows, some money will grow with it.”

Back on campus, Chayce continues to find connection through Honors and his coursework. “I think some of the opportunities the Honors College gives you... you just get a little bit more. It might be a little bit more rigorous, but you’ve got someone down there giving you resources, where if you want to go that extra step, you can really get a good application out there.”

His HON 251 seminar has been a standout moment. “Professor Bohlander is a great professor. This is really the only seminar-ish type class I’ve had where you get to just sit there and talk. My class size is only like eight people, and it feels like we all have a voice.”

As for his major, Chayce is still finding his path. “Growing up, I just always loved technology. My dad always had the latest iPhone, the latest thing. I remember getting viruses on his computer because I wanted to download things—he’d be so frustrated at me,” he laughs. “Eventually, I figured out what I was doing. I built my own computer. I got interested in software engineering and coding.”

He’s intrigued by research—especially where computer science meets mental health—but says he’s probably more on the applied side. “I want to go build something, do something.”

Whether it's building code or building community, Chayce’s heart is firmly in both. “I just want to make something that lasts.”

To support Chayce’s fundraiser in honor of his dad, visit the Glioblastoma Foundation page here: https://fundraise.glioblastomafoundation.org/pickleforparesh

As of this publication, the pickleball tournament now has a date – June 7, 2025 at the Five Seasons Family Sports Club, Crestview Hills, KY