Communication and journalism students win big at SEJC

Several Lipscomb communication and journalism students took away Best of South awards at the Southeast Journalism Conference in Atlanta, Georgia last weekend. Lipscomb took home 13 awards in the competition, which included representatives from more than 30 universities. Lipscomb’s Best of South winners include: Carly Bergthold — 8th place, Best TV News Feature Reporter Logan Butts — 6th place, Best Sports Writer Michael Fox, Kyrsten Turner, Kathryn McKinley, Marlee Vogel, Brynn Watkins — 2nd place, Best Public Service Journalism Brianna Langley — 3rd place, Best News Writer Madeline Smith — 7th place, Best TV Hard News Reporter Erin Turner — 4th place, Best Press Photographer Brianne Welch — 4th place, Best TV Journalist Cory Woodroof — 1st place, Best Arts and Entertainment Writer Cory Woodroof — 5th place, Best Multimedia Journalist Cory Woodroof — 9th place, College Journalist of the Year In addition to the student awards, Lumination Radio and TV also placed: Lumination Radio — 4th place, Best Audio News Program Lumination Radio — 3rd place, Best College Radio Station Lumination TV — 4th place, Best College Video News Program A few of the students also competed in the on-site competitions. Three of those students took away awards: Sam Webb — 3rd place, Best Sports Photography Haleigh Ker — 2nd place, Best Radio News Reporting Cory Woodroof — 1st place, Best News...

May graduate Jacob Akers dies, funeral arrangements set

Update: The arrangements for Jacob Akers’ visitation and funeral are as follows, courtesy of Scott McDowell. Visitation will be on Saturday, July 12, at the Taylor Funeral Home in Dickson, Tennessee, from 2 to 8. Memorial service will be at 2 on Sunday, July 13. The burial will be at Dickson County Memorial Gardens. Original story below. Jacob Akers, a May 2014 graduate from Charlotte, Tennessee, was killed in an auto accident Monday night. Senior Vice President for Student Life Scott McDowell notified students of Akers’ death via email Tuesday afternoon. A molecular biology major, Akers, 22, had plans to attend Lincoln Memorial University in the fall for medical school. He had also proposed to his girlfriend on the Fourth of July. Kyrsten Turner, a fellow May graduate from Lipscomb, spoke on why she was glad to know Akers. “From the very start, Jacob was never afraid to ask a question or to speak out for what he believed to be right. He had a true, servant heart, and it was evident by his attitude that Christ was forefront in his life,” Turner said. “Jacob is going to be missed so, so much.” In a statement released to the Lipscomb community, McDowell shared his condolences on behalf of the university. “We were deeply saddened to learn of that May 2014 Lipscomb University Graduate Jacob Akers lost his life in an automobile accident,” McDowell said. “Please lift the family up as well as his fiancé, Savannah Grant, in your prayers.” A prayer service, hosted by Lipscomb’s department of biology, was held Tuesday night on the front steps of the McFarland Hall of Science. Additional reporting by...
May 2014 graduation ceremonies send record number out into world

May 2014 graduation ceremonies send record number out into world

Due to a record number of graduates, Lipscomb University held two commencement ceremonies for the spring 2014 graduates Saturday afternoon in Allen Arena. Over 800 students received their undergrad, graduate or doctorate degrees in the ceremonies, including those who received Lipscomb’s first ever doctorate of ministry degrees. During the undergraduate ceremony, Director of the Beaman Library and 30-year faculty member Carolyn Wilson offered words of wisdom for the graduating students. “My father told me when I began my first career, which was teaching, that I should not determine success in terms of just monetary rewards,” Wilson said. Lipscomb president Randy Lowry also spoke during the ceremony, commenting on the bittersweet feelings of graduation day. “You’re on a path right now, and I know it’s hard to look back and look forward at the same time, but I want you to take a moment to think about that,” Lowry said. “Every path connects you not only to where you are going, but also to where you’ve been. “I hope you spend time celebrating. The past is a wonderful thing for us to recognize. But then there’s the future. The future is in some ways very uncertain and in other ways not so much.” During the undergraduate ceremony, David Sampson, President and CEO of the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America, was awarded with the prestigious Alumnus of the Year award. Sampson has also worked in the government as the deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce and assistant secretary of commerce for economic development in the George W. Bush administration. In a change from the usual solo performance, Lipscomb’s Alma Mater...

Letter from the Editor: August 19, 2013

Well, that was fast. I know it’s cliché to comment on the swiftness of the summer months, but it’s hard to believe that the break is over and the fall semester already underway. To those of you who braved an 8 a.m. class this morning, you have my upmost respect. Even though life’s been pretty mellow around LU, it’s actually been quite an eventful summer on the news side of things. Lipscomb has hired a new men’s basketball coach with Casey Alexander, implemented new dining changes (including a new off-campus meal plan) and installed the new Osman Fountain in Bison Square. Other new campus renovations are currently getting their finishing touches. Lumination also made a few new additions to our staff before the summer months. Former Assistant News Director Sydney Poe will be taking over all of our multimedia coverage as the new News Director of the Lumination News broadcast and as the new Multimedia Editor. Jael Teme will be the new Assistant News Director for the broadcast. In regards to LU Radio, Thomas Jones, who you may know from his LU Radio show Sports60, will be the new Program Director for the station. On the written side of things, Kyrsten Turner will be our new News Editor and Social Media Manager, Janice Ng will be our new Special Interests Editor, Brianna Langley will be our new Lifestyles Editor, Aaron Schmelzer will be our new Sports Editor and Logan Butts will be our new Entertainment Editor. Now that we’re all back and situated, we here at Lumination are looking forward to providing you some of our best work yet....

Scholarship for Heroes Tour boasts a big performance

Charlie Daniels may be sending the devil down to Georgia, but he’ll be back in time to headline Tuesday’s Scholarship for Heroes Tour. “It’s an amazing night,” April Herrington, the assistant director of Lipscomb’s veteran services, said. “You’ll get to see Charlie Daniels perform. I know a lot of the students here are probably not familiar with Charlie Daniels, but he is a great supporter,” Herrington said.  “He has been on this walk with us for four years. Ever since we started, he’s been right behind us to support us.” The concert series first started four years ago as a way to recognize Lipscomb’s Yellow Ribbon students. “That was the original start of the Charlie Daniels concert,” Herrington said. “Then it was called Operation Yellow Ribbon. Now, it’s been changed to Charlie Daniels’ Scholarship for Heroes.” “The concert raises money for scholarships to help pay for students who were not 100-percent eligible for free tuition. The money goes toward them to help supplement their cost so that hopefully, when we raise enough money, they can go to school, tuition free as well.” Herrington said donations of over $30,000 were collected at last year’s concert and Lipscomb was able to award 10 scholarships for the current year. They hope to raise even more Tuesday night. There are approximately 175 yellow ribbon students, so every little bit helps. A reception will be held Tuesday night before the concert for veterans and sponsors. The veterans will also have a special meet-and-greet session with the artists before the big performances. “We have several great performers coming,” Herrington said. “Basically, the concert is going...