by Emily Snell | Nov 3, 2011 | News Slider
Retired astronaut Capt. Mark Kelly received a standing ovation before a single word had come out of his mouth Thursday morning when he spoke at The Gathering.Kelly, a retired NASA astronaut who has piloted four space missions, is also husband of U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. Giffords and Kelly were thrust into the national spotlight in January when Giffords was shot in the head during an assassination attempt in Tucson, Ariz. Kelly said he never expected his wife’s political position to be more dangerous than his own unpredictable career. “I didn’t contemplate how risky of a profession that would be,” Kelly said, thinking back to when his wife began her work in Congress. “I never considered that she was the one with the risky career … but as it turned out she would be the one to nearly lose her life serving our country.” Kelly encouraged students to pursue their dreams and not give up, even when it seems like failure is inevitable. He gave an example of his experiences in Navy flight school, which he “barely passed.” “We all don’t learn at the same rate,” Kelly said. “How well you do in the beginning of anything you try is not a good indicator of what you can become. I am a prime example of someone who was able to overcome a lack of aptitude with practice, persistence and the drive to never ever give up.” Kelly told students that he has one-year, five-year and ten-year plans that help him stay focused on his goals. Sometimes plans change, he said, but it’s good to have an aim. “A plan plus...
by Emily Snell | Aug 31, 2011 | News Slider
Hurricane Irene struck the East Coast last weekend, leaving a long trail of destruction including at least 43 deaths and nearly $7 billion in damage. Days after the storm, it was estimated that almost 3 million people were still without power. Flooding remained a problem in many areas, while others have begun to clean up downed trees and other debris. Families of several Lipscomb students felt the force of Hurricane Irene. Ryan Whitley, a junior in business management from Rockland County, N.Y., said his family had some flood damage and was without power on and off for a few days. He said his relatives in New Jersey had a flood in their basement. “The whole thing was basically under water.” Whitley, whose family lives near the Hudson River, said he was relieved that the storm wasn’t worse. “I’m glad my family is safe,” he said. Other families in Whitley’s home area were not so blessed. One young boy was playing in some floodwater when a power line fell in the water, Whitley said. An adult attempted to save the boy but was killed by the high voltage. The child is still in critical condition. Whitley said he thought the storm “caught people off guard,” explaining that normally when hurricanes hit the Eastern Seaboard, his area only gets a little rain. Winter storms are usually what people in Whitley’s town prepare for, he said. “The worst we get is usually a blizzard, and we’re prepared for that,” he said. “It’s snow; it just get plowed. Something like water, you can’t do too much with.” Hannah Lavoie, a sophomore social work major...
