by Erin Turner | Jan 21, 2016 | Galleries
Predictions for snow came true in Nashville around 8 a.m. Wednesday morning. Lipscomb remains on a normal class schedule, with the Class Disruption Policy in effect. Photos by Erin Turner and Ben...
by Erin Turner | Jan 6, 2016 | News Slider, Sports
Story by Reese Lusk When she heard the snap of the ACL tear in her left knee, freshman Jenny Phelan knew it was bad. She’d been there before. “Thirteen games into last year’s season, my knee just snapped,” Phelan said, referring to the ACL tear in her left knee that ended her freshman campaign. This was devastating news to the defensive standout, but not something unfamiliar. “That injury was my second ACL tear of my career — the first happening back in high school.” Back in 2012, Phelan said she was a star at her high school in Chicago. Entering her junior year, she was looking to continue her successes of her freshman and sophomore seasons. She had already committed to Lipscomb University, and wanted to use her junior year to chase down a championship title. She suffered a right knee ACL tear, ending her season. But her commitment to Lipscomb didn’t change. “Lipscomb stood with me, and assured me that I was still wanted for the team,” Phelan said. Through difficult surgeries and hours of physical therapy, she battled back and eventually captured the Illinois Class 4A State Championship her senior year of high school. After graduation, she was on her way to Lipscomb. Flashing forward to her second ACL tear last year, Phelan mentioned a friend and mentor who walked with her through that dark time. “Jewell Dobson was awesome as a support,” Phelan said. Dobson, a red shirt senior with the program this year, also sustained a season ending injury in 2014. The two of them grew close during the challenges of medical rehabilitation. By leaning on each...
by Erin Turner | Dec 24, 2015 | News Slider, Sports
Story by Courtney Craun Four years ago senior Kelli Smith was planning to give up basketball and head to an SEC university with intentions of joining a sorority and living a traditional student lifestyle. On Oct. 29, the 5-foot-5 guard played the last season-opener of her college basketball career at Lipscomb University. She’ll finish this season and basketball will be a part of a college experience full of growth and memorable experiences, she said. Smith never planned on being a college athlete. As a senior at Lipscomb Academy, she said she did not believe the college athlete lifestyle was for her. Then, when it was almost too late to do anything about it, she had a change of heart. “When my season ended my senior year of high school, I realized I wasn’t ready to let it go,” Smith said. Knowing it was too late for typical recruitment, Smith approached former Lipscomb basketball coach Frank Bennett, who told her there were no remaining spots on their roster. She also approached a coach at Belmont University, who told her she could only join the team after being a manager for a year. Smith said she had almost given up hope. “I remember telling my dad that I was tired of talking to coaches and being rejected,” Smith said. “I basically said that I was done trying, and if it was meant to happen then God would make it happen.” One month later, Smith received a call from the newly appointed head coach of the Lipscomb team, Greg Brown, who allowed her the opportunity to walk on the team her freshman year....
by Erin Turner | Dec 20, 2015 | Galleries
Celebration of graduates started days before Saturday’s Commencement Ceremony in Allen Arena, when Lipscomb awarded 466 students with degrees. On Thursday, Lipscomb awarded the first certificates of career exploration studies to three IDEAL students. And just Friday, seven graduates from the Tennessee Prison for Women received their diplomas. This unique program allows inmates to take courses along with Lipscomb students to earn college credit. In Saturday’s ceremony, 231 students received graduate degrees, two of which were the first recipients of a Master of Fine Arts and Master of Science in Applied Behavioral Science. Photos by Erin Turner...
by Erin Turner | Dec 20, 2015 | News Slider
Celebration of graduates started days before Saturday’s Commencement Ceremony in Allen Arena, when Lipscomb awarded 466 students with degrees. On Thursday, Lipscomb awarded the first certificates of career exploration studies to three IDEAL students. IDEAL is a two-year certificate program for students with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Students in the program attend academic and skill-building classes, work daily internships and hang out with peer mentors and the student body. The three IDEAL graduates — A.T. Banks, Rashaad Harrell and Matthew Loveland — paved the way for the program, which now has 19 students. And just Friday, seven graduates from the Tennessee Prison for Women received their Lipscomb diplomas. Lipscomb partners with the prison for this unique program that allows inmates to take courses along with Lipscomb students to earn college credit. “Theres a sense of courage of leaving the safety in wherever they were and entering into this process — that takes courage,” President Randy Lowry said. “There’s a sense of being transformed — the experience of having their lives changed, becoming what God has called them to be intellectually, emotionally, relationally and spiritually — but they’re not all outside of this arena.” In Saturday’s ceremony, 231 students received graduate degrees. Two of the them were the first recipients of a Master of Fine Arts and Master of Science in Applied Behavioral Science. The number of graduate-level graduates has consistently outnumbered the number of undergraduate graduates in the December commencement. Lowry honored several students whose stories he said he believes exude courage. A group of students who came from universities across the nation received graduate degrees in education. These students are a...
