by Erika Plunkett | May 12, 2019 | News Slider, Sports
Power forward Luke Howard, a 2019 Tennessee Mr. Basketball award finalist, Sunday officially signed his letter of intent to play basketball at Lipscomb.Harding Academy’s boys basketball coach Kevin Starks expressed his excitement for Howard’s decision to come to Lipscomb. “I think he is really just scratching the surface of how good he can be,” Starks said. “I am excited for him to be with the coaching staff at Lipscomb, because I think they will help him grow and reach his potential.” The Harding Academy senior also received offers from Lincoln Memorial University, Drake University, the University of Texas at Arlington, Marist College, Campbell University, Kent State University and Troy University. Starks said that Howard’s versatility, athleticism, and hard work will take him far. “I think Luke’s potential is off the charts,” Starks said. “I believe that he has the chance to be an all-league player and to play basketball after college.“ Howard, originally from Vancouver, Canada, moved to Memphis two years ago and began playing basketball under Starks during the 2017-2018 season. Even given his short time at Harding Academy, Starks said that Howard was able to fit right in. He was one of the senior leaders for Harding Academy this year, averaging 23.8 points per game, eight rebounds per game, 62 percent field-goal shooting, 34 percent three-point shooting, 70 percent free-throw shooting, 1.8 assists per game, and 1.3 steals per game. “Luke is a 6-foot-9, athletic four man that can really, really shoot,” Starks said. “Because of his skill level, his upside is just tremendous.” Howard served a number of different roles for the Lions with the ability...
by Erika Plunkett | May 11, 2019 | News Slider, Sports
Twenty-one hours and two weather delays after it began, the Lipscomb softball team emerged the victors in the ASUN softball quarterfinal matchup against North Alabama. Senior Mandy Jordan was on the mound all 12 innings, totaling 137 pitches, but letting no Lions score. Due to inclement weather coming into the area, the ASUN elected to move all of Thursday’s tournament games up by an hour and a half, but not even the ASUN was prepared for the pitching duel between Jordan and North Alabama junior Megan Garst. Nine innings into this Thursday morning matchup, Garst and Jordan had combined to allow only nine hits, and the score remained 0-0. In the top of the 10th, with two UNA outs and a runner on base, lightning forced the suspension of the game. Shortly over 50 minutes later the game resumed. Although the delay was inconvenient, it caused no problems for either pitcher. Both pitchers returned to the mound without skipping a beat, extending the game into the 12th inning. In the bottom of the 12th, the Bisons finally had a runner in scoring position with the opportunity for a walk-off win, but Mother Nature was not ready for this game to end yet. More thunderstorms rolled into Ft. Myers, pushing the rest of the game until Friday morning. Thursday’s portion of the game lasted 9 1/2 hours, and it included 330 pitches. Friday, all it took was one pitch. Just a few minutes after 7 a.m. Central, senior Sarah Higgins’ single drove Hannah DeVault home and advanced the Bisons to the next round. The Bisons’ day was not over yet....
by Mckenzi Harris | May 9, 2019 | BREAKING NEWS, News Slider
A Lipscomb professor has been taken into custody in Sumner County on charges of aggravated abuse of a 5-month-old baby. Daniel Gordon, 36, was arrested on Wednesday. He is being held on a $200,000 bond. “He has been suspended until the resolution of this unfortunate and sad situation,” according to a statement from the university. “We are supporting the family during this time by providing pastoral care and intentionally seeking other ways to assist the Gordon family.” Gordon has been a full-time employee since August 2018 as a professor in the College of Liberal Arts and Science. Gordon previously taught for four years part-time in the College of Bible and Ministry at Lipscomb. “Lipscomb is a community that — driven by our Christian faith — seeks to be authentic in who we are and what we do,” said President Lowry in an email sent to the Lipscomb Community on Friday. “In any community this size there are a number of individuals at any given time who grapple with life circumstances — both joys and challenges that they would never have imagined would be part of their story — the birth of a child, academic accomplishments, challenging times in marriages, the loss of loved ones, financial struggles or a research discovery. “We often share the joys of our work together but we also share the moments of sadness and uncertainty. In difficult moments, as we experienced this week when a faculty member was taken into custody for aggravated child abuse, this community seeks ways to be supportive of those involved. This is true even when we are surprised, don’t understand...
by Erika Plunkett | May 9, 2019 | News Slider, Sports
After sweeping FGCU and laying claim to the ASUN regular season title last weekend, reigning ASUN pitcher of the week, senior Mandy Jordan leads her Lady Bisons back to Ft. Myers for the 2019 ASUN Softball Tournament. In Thursday’s doubleheader, seniors Jenna Pealor and Graysen Gladden and juniors Hannah Devault and Peyton Ward batted in four runs. Errors by the Eagles allowed two more Bisons to score. Jordan was the player of the night as she pitched all seven innings in the first game shutout and got the save in the 4-2 game two win, allowing zero runs and only two hits. Although the Bisons clinched a bye in the ASUN tournament with Thursday’s victories, it was Friday’s win that proved all-important, giving the Bisons their first regular-season ASUN title since 2010. Jordan once again was the hero, pitching the entire game that went into extra innings. This was her second shutout of the series as the Bisons came away with a 1-0 victory over FGCU off of a DeVault RBI in the 10th inning, edging out Liberty for the top-seed in the ASUN tournament. Not only are the Lady Bisons the regular-season champions, but the ASUN named coach Kristin Ryman and DeVault the ASUN Coach of the Year and the ASUN Player of the Year respectively. DeVault also was honored with the ASUN Defensive Player of the Year award. In addition, senior Sarah Higgins, DeVault and Gladden represented Lipscomb on the ASUN’s all-conference first team, while Jordan and senior Jordan Fortel were named to the ASUN’s all-conference second team. Freshman Amy Vetula and freshman Katie Turner received...
by Kathryn Farris | May 5, 2019 | News Slider
Spirits were high in Allen Arena Saturday afternoon, as 560 Lipscomb students were awarded their bachelor’s degree diplomas. Earlier that morning, commencement was held for 325 graduate students. The ceremony began with the board of trustee members Bart Harper and Sallie Dean delivering the invocation and scripture reading. Dean read from Philippians 4, including the verse: “Don’t worry about anything; instead pray about everything.” In his President’s charge, President Randolph Lowry highlighted how each graduate had an individual story of how they “overcame challenges” to walk across the graduation stage. “Each of those stories suggests something about the future and how you will contribute to this world,” said Lowry. He recognized first-generation students, student-athletes and graduating veterans. However, he also took the opportunity to tell the story of one particular student, Seth Walker, who has cerebral palsy. “Seth Walker cannot walk,” Lowry said. “He cannot feed himself. He cannot dress. He cannot roll over in bed without assistance. And yet God has given him an amazing sense of cherishing and holding on to all that life provides.” Walker received his Bachelor of Arts degree in theology and ministry. Lowry went on to discuss Ken Brassell, Walker’s caregiver. “For the past five years, he has attended virtually every single class that Seth attended at two colleges,” Lowry said. He then called Brassell up to the stage and awarded him with an honorary bachelor’s degree. Several awards for faculty and a student were then announced: the Outstanding Teacher awards, to Lindsay L. Dillingham, Jon H. Lawrence and Nancy Magnusson Durham; the John William Baker Award, to mathematics professor Carroll G. Wells; and...
by Erin Franklin | May 4, 2019 | News Slider, Opinion
It’s actually here. I’m officially an alumna from Lipscomb as of Saturday, which means I’ve passed the Lumination “Editor” mantle on to a new leader. I started serving as editor the summer after my freshman year. When I got started, I remember truly not knowing what to expect, but I also remember truly being excited about what the future held. Now, Lumination Network will be getting a completely new editorial staff since Russell Vannozzi, one of our managing editors, and I have both graduated. Our second managing editor, Spencer Boehme, is a rising junior, but he will be turning to primarily focus on Lumination Radio to serve as the radio sports director. Rising junior Mckenzi Harris will be the new Editor-in-Chief, rising sophomore Kathryn Farris will be one of the managing editors and rising sophomore Erika Plunkett will also serve as a managing editor. As we passed on Lumination to this new leadership team filled with three strong women, I have written this column to offer a few words of advice and to express my gratitude for being able to serve you by bringing the news to the Lipscomb campus. Firstly, pay attention to your student news. Freedom of the press is important, no matter what scale or “level” that press is, whether it’s student news or the New York Times. As a journalism geek, I have a mug with a quote on it by Thomas Jefferson that has resonated with me as I pursue a career in journalism: “Our liberty depends on freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost.” In today’s political climate,...
