Borgman marks IDEAL program milestone with first Student Scholars Symposium research presentation
Kim Chaudoin |
At Lipscomb University’s 15th annual Student Scholars Symposium in April, Carson Borgman stood among more than 350 students presenting research and creative work and made history for the IDEAL (Igniting the Dream of Education and Access) program.
IDEAL is a two-year certificate program for students with intellectual disabilities who want to receive the full Lipscomb experience to prepare for their future. IDEAL encourages and supports students enrolled in the program to experience all that the university has to offer, right alongside their peers.
And Borgman, who will graduate on April 29 with a certificate in career exploration, did just that this spring as he became the first student in the program’s history to conduct independent research and present at the symposium.
Conducting research and participating in the Student Scholars Symposium was a goal Borgman was determined to accomplish.
“I wanted to ask students who actually have disabilities and hear from them what keeps them motivated when things are hard,” Borgman said. “Being able to do this feels amazing. It is a dream come true.”
His research project, titled “Resilience and Representation: A Qualitative Study of the Perspectives of Students with Disabilities in a College Setting,” explored how college students with disabilities persevere through adversity and what support systems help them remain motivated.
The idea for the project emerged after Borgman heard a guest speaker in an IDEAL chapel share about his own experience with intellectual disability and future aspirations.
“That really touched me,” Borgman said. “It made me wonder what keeps students with disabilities motivated every day.”
Over about two months, Borgman designed a qualitative survey with support from his faculty mentor Ryan Thornton, IDEAL's assistant director of academics. He distributed the survey to current IDEAL students and students who receive services through Lipscomb’s Office of ACCESSibility. Forty-seven students participated in the study.
Among Borgman’s findings:
- 70.2% of respondents said they view having a disability as both positive and negative.
- 73.9% said they had been in situations where they could not do something because of their disability.
- 63.8% said they had been told or made to feel they were not capable because of their disability.
Faith emerged as the most significant support system identified by participants when navigating adversity, he discovered.
Borgman said one of the most surprising discoveries was that many respondents viewed their disability through both positive and negative lenses rather than exclusively negatively.
“I thought more people would see it in a negative way,” he said. “It was interesting to learn that most people saw both good and bad in it.”
His conclusions affirmed that students with disabilities share the same ambitions as their peers and often rely on layered support systems, especially relational and faith-based support, to pursue their goals.
Thornton said Borgman’s initiative and curiosity made him a natural fit to pioneer this milestone for the IDEAL program.
“Carson is incredibly motivated, deeply curious and believes in possibility,” said Thornton. “He sees a world without limits and believes he can do what he sets his mind to. He is not afraid to ask for support to help him get there, and that makes him a tremendous representative of the IDEAL program.”
Thornton noted that Borgman pursued the project entirely on his own initiative outside of class requirements.
“He wanted to do this because he genuinely cared about the topic and wanted to learn more,” she said. “That says a lot about who he is and the kind of student he has become.”
Beyond the symposium, Borgman said his time in the IDEAL program has helped prepare him for independent living and future career opportunities.
“The biggest thing IDEAL has taught me is how to live life more independently,” said Borgman. “From cooking to career preparation, it has helped me learn skills that will matter for the rest of my life.”
As he prepares for graduation, Borgman said he hopes his work encourages others in the IDEAL program to see research and academic scholarship as opportunities within reach.
“Carson has shown what is possible when students are empowered to pursue their passions and ask meaningful questions,” said Thornton. “He has set an inspiring example for future IDEAL students.”