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...

Lippy Awards celebrate 2013-14 season for Lipscomb athletics

Student athletes and coaches filled the court of Allen Arena on Thursday night, but this time, it was not for a game. The Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) hosted the inaugural Lippy Awards in Allen Arena to honor various members of Lipscomb University’s sports teams. The awards show was hosted by student TJ Ojehomon and women’s soccer assistant coach Chris Klotz. Both female and male athletes of the year were competitive categories, but for the female award, sophomore cross country/track and field runner Dani Walker and junior volleyball player Jewell Dobson tied. On the men’s side, track and field high-jumper Gemikal Prude, who broke the high jump record earlier in the year, won as well. Prude said that winning the award was a blessing. “Winning this is quite the blessing,” Prude said. “It’s a feeling that can’t really be described, especially when you feel as if you’re undeserving.” The biggest award of the night, the Best Team Award, went to the women’s track and field/cross country. Senior runner Lacey Printz said that the team worked hard and credited the coaches and team captains for keeping the team focused. “This is the most incredible team we’ve had, and we just love running together and just having fun and doing it for God’s glory,” Printz said. To open the night, the James R. Byers Award was presented to senior track and field sprinter Tucker Peabody, senior volleyball player Caitlin Dotson and junior cross country/track and field runner Tessa Hoefle. The award is given to a top senior athlete who displays outstanding Christian leadership and excels academically and athletically. The honors had...

Stampede, a new student-fan group, strives to generate school spirit

Some people are tired of the lack of spirit visible at Lipscomb athletic events, but this year a few students are stepping up with a new student-fan organization called Stampede. T. J. Ojehomon, a Lipscomb junior, proposed and received approval for a business plan to start a new student-fan organization that is entirely student-run. Older Lipscomb students might remember the short-lived success of the LUnatics, but this new organization has its sights for a long-lasting impression on Lipscomb’s campus. Stampede “seeks to be the student leaders of support for Lipscomb sports while continuously developing audience participation strategies for home and away sporting events.” Lipscomb’s culture has been shifting over the years including changes to academics and spiritual development. And some people think athletics needs a change as well. “The university is definitely heading into a new era with academic progress, spiritual development among the student body and overall campus growth,” Ojehomon said. “Athletics is making the same efforts to keep the pace, and Stampede will be a huge part of how far athletics can thrive.” Stampede is a members-only club with special benefits for joining. For $25 per semester, members receive exclusive T-shirts and hats, reserved seating at basketball games, travel costs covered, food and an experience they’ll never forget. Students are not required to attend every sporting event on campus, but this organization means business when it comes to raising team morale. Ojehomon said being a part of Stampede is one way that students can make their college experience more memorable. “You only get four years of a true undergraduate experience, and it shouldn’t be wasted,” he said....