Like Father, Like Son: The Padons Become BIC’s First Legacy Pair

Luke Padon is no stranger to Baylor—he was raised by two Baylor alumni. Now, as a freshman, he’s not just stepping onto campus; he’s following in his father’s footsteps by joining the Baylor Interdisciplinary Core. As the BIC approaches its 30th anniversary, Luke and his father, Dr. Derek Padon (BA ’99), are making history as the first father-son duo to participate in the Honors College’s alternative core program.

“Baylor has always been a part of my life, but my parents encouraged me to follow where I felt the Lord was calling me,” Luke shared. “During a recruitment event, I heard someone on stage declare that Baylor is an unapologetically Christian university, and in that moment, I knew this was where I was meant to be.”

Luke, whose parents met at Baylor, grew up immersed in Baylor culture, cheering for the Bears and listening to his parents’ stories about their time on campus. However, it wasn’t until a chance encounter with BIC Director Darren Middleton, Ph.D., at Invitation to Excellence that he seriously considered joining the BIC—a program his father was part of during its inaugural cohort.

"Meeting Dr. Middleton was a turning point," Luke said. "Hearing about the BIC directly from him really drew me in. I was excited by the program’s interdisciplinary, global approach—I don’t want to live in an American bubble. I want to understand different cultures and learn to think critically about challenges as they come up, and the BIC offers that opportunity. The fact that my dad is also an alumnus of the program was an added bonus.”

For Dr. Padon, who is also a graduate of University Scholars, the BIC was a cornerstone of his Baylor experience and his preparation for medical school. 

“The BIC felt like family to me while I was at Baylor,” Dr. Padon shared. “The program’s small size, shared classes, and common curriculum created an invaluable camaraderie. Looking back, I see how much the BIC resembled medical school—the shared experiences, challenging coursework, and support from my cohort were essential to my growth.”

Today, Dr. Padon serves as an orthopedic surgeon in Abilene, Texas, and credits the BIC for helping him see life through a broader lens.

“Life is not compartmentalized; it is complicated, intricate, and layered,” Dr. Padon said. “Art, science, music, philosophy, religion, and ideas all profoundly shape how we see and interact with the world and each other. They can’t be fully understood without cultural context. The BIC helps enlighten students on the lens through which the world is seen in different times and places in history. This interdisciplinary approach broadened my horizons as a college student and helped me understand integrated cultural context and our search for truth.”

Although Derek is thrilled to see his son also choose to experience the BIC, he is most excited to see how Luke’s time at Baylor unfolds. 

"I was excited when he chose to do the BIC and was accepted. It was such a big part of my time at Baylor and brings back memories. I expect that it will challenge him and help him grow, just as it did for me all those years ago." 

To learn more about the BIC, more information is available on their website.