by Cate Zenzen | Mar 10, 2018 | News Slider
The “Big Dance” will be watched by millions across the globe, and viewers will likely be wondering (and then Googling) — what is Lipscomb University? News networks from across the country are inquiring about the school, and alumni and current students alike are ecstatic over the big win. But one question Lipscomb admissions has already begun to look into is how this spike in publicity will affect the school’s student admissions. Jonathan Akin, the Senior Director of Admissions at Lipscomb, said other universities have reached out to give advice, telling him that being successful in the tournament will really take things to the next level. “The biggest thing is that this is going to put us on a national stage and help us reach students we are currently unable to reach,” Akin said. Akin also commented that the biggest impact so far has been on social media. The social media team in both the admissions department and the university’s communications and marketing office have been busy responding to the influx of comments and posts. Akin said that this increase of activity has been “really positive and really fun.” In the past, Lipscomb has received positive publicity on a national stage before (and also negative national publicity), in addition to other athletic successes that have drawn attention to the school. Akin added that anything bringing Nashville to the public eye will consequently attract people to Lipscomb. However, the Bisons winning the ASUN championship has taken the school’s recognition to a new level. As of right now, Akin said that the impact will be long term rather than immediate. “More than...
by Jade Spilka | Mar 10, 2018 | News Slider
At age 22, she launched her first public relations firm directly following her college graduation. “The entrepreneurial spirit was just consistently running through me, so I decided to take a chance after several interviews and rejections,” said Lipscomb Strategic Communication professor Aerial Ellis. “I didn’t want to wait.” Aerial Ellis’ determination and strong work ethic have established her as a successful consultant, author, entrepreneur and professor. Later in her career, a client, who was having trouble getting both Baby Boomers and Millennials talking, approached Ellis. Ellis then developed a communications strategy that was not only internal, but external as well. She realized there was a market for this type of consulting work and saw the need for diversity and inclusion training being integrated into her courses at Lipscomb. This realization led to Ellis educating and consulting a countless number of students and industry professionals on cultural communication. ‘Transforming culture is a heavy task,” Ellis said. “This is mainly because culture is so dynamic, and there are so many moving parts to creating and shifting a culture. I try to focus on what I can shift using my communication skills as a communications professional.” Ellis expanded her audience with the release of her book The Original Millennial and is a winner of the Nashville Business Journal’s Women of Influence and “40 Under 40.” “I would most like to be remembered for maximizing every single gift that God gave me,” Ellis noted. In her career, she has used these gifts to demonstrate what an empowered woman looks like and has encouraged other women to unapologetically embrace their power. “An empowered woman...
by Lorena Coleman | Mar 9, 2018 | News Slider, Sports
On Sunday evening, Lipscomb’s Men’s Basketball team clinched an NCAA tournament appearance for the first time ever, defeating Florida Gulf Coast University 108-96 to become Atlantic Sun Conference Champions. This win not only secured a spot for the team to play in the NCAA tournament, but also an opportunity for Lipscomb’s name to be recognized nationwide. After the game, ‘Lipscomb University’ became a trending topic on twitter, and the school has since been mentioned in articles by top media outlets such as ESPN, CBS Sports and NBC, which dubbed Lipscomb ‘The Cinderella team of the NCAA tournament.’ For President Randy Lowry, knowing the team is about to enter the Big Dance is “incredibly exciting.” “I think you have to have a little bit of context to know how excited I am,” Lowry began. “Twelve years ago, the first year I became President of Lipscomb, we were playing for the Championship against Belmont at East Tennessee State University. That game came down to the wire. We went into overtime and lost by just a point or two…” While Lowry said he wasn’t able to recognize the significance of the win at that time, he does now. “We were obviously a much younger Division One program with little experience, yet here we were and we were so close and missed it. That (the win) did a lot for Belmont. Over the last ten years they have had a great program, and I think they would all point to that night as the beginning of their ascension.” Though Lipscomb’s team may have fallen short of the Championship win twelve years ago, 2018...
by Parker Bell | Mar 9, 2018 | News Slider, Sports
The Lipscomb Bisons basketball team has won eight straight games. And now are ASUN champions headed to the NCAA tournament for the first time in school history. Behind the 108 – 96 win on Sunday against Florida Gulf Coast was the steady hand of point guard Kenny Cooper. He led the team with one of his best games this season. Cooper has had to fill an unexpected role this season. Point guard Nathan Moran was not able to play this season due to an offseason surgery. The sophomore stepped into the place of a senior. “My role on the team doubled almost becoming the starting point guard,” Cooper said. “I took that as a challenge to step into the leadership role that he did.” This season, Cooper had the second most steals in the league with 63, only five behind the ASUN conference player of the year Zach Johnson of FGCU. He also led the Bisons in assists with 119 assists averaging four a game. Even without playing this season, Moran has played a role for Cooper, too. “As a point guard, the expectations for you are high,” said Cooper on the role. “You have to know what’s going on more than anyone else on the court. Nate’s been great helping me form into that role. He’s been helping me lead a team on and off the court.” Cooper said he’s also learned some things on his own through this experience as a leader. “The best way to lead is through your actions, and you have to have good communications. If you’re not the one out there every day...
by Cole Gray | Mar 8, 2018 | News Slider, Sports
Eight hundred and thirty-seven miles. Thirteen hours. Nineteen students. A 32-point lead. A 27-point comeback. One berth in the NCAA Tournament. This is the story of the group that watched Lipscomb cut down the nets for the first time—in their own words. Josh Roberts, Dean of Student Development: Late Thursday night, when we won the semifinal game, there was a tremendous amount of discussions between the President’s Office, Athletics and Student Life, trying to find ways to have a Bison presence at the game. Garret Jones, junior RA: Garner Goode and I talked about doing something like this in the fall. Specifically, because I am in Res. Life, and I was like ‘How can we get Res. Life and the student body, through Res. Life, more integrated with our student athletes?’ And so, ultimately this was one of those ways. Roberts: It all happened fast but was also very well planned. We were up in the early morning hours of Friday morning discussing and trying to debate what route we should take. Luke Shoulders, sophomore: Garret and I were talking for a while. He honestly convinced me to go to the game, because if we’re going to be honest I was worried about missing Singarama practice and couple’s dance, because I really wanted to do it this year. Lorne Jaques, senior: I’m a senior and my thinking was, not only is this potentially the last basketball game I’ll ever go to as a college student, but this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Shoulders: I really needed a break, and what better way to get a break than...
by Jade Spilka | Mar 8, 2018 | News Slider
“We thought you were just going to be another little blonde girl that didn’t know anything about sports.” Those were the words senior Lindsey Nance was left with following an internship. These words aren’t uncommon in her field. Freshman year, Nance was introduced to sports reporting and has since made a name for herself in the Nashville community. Nance is talented and respected among those who know her, but because of her blonde hair and small stature, she constantly has to prove that she’s knowledgeable of the sports industry. “It’s intimidating,” Nance said. “They look at me and they think I don’t know my stuff. I just have to work extra hard to prove them wrong.” Along with her strong work ethic, Nance is able to combat others’ scrutiny by remaining confident and informed. “Most of my confidence comes from me knowing my facts in and out to the point where I’m ready to roll with the punches,” said Nance. “Something is always going to go wrong in a broadcast, but if you’re secure in yourself and you have faith in what you’re saying, then the confidence comes naturally.” Nance believes the biggest problem for women today is not having enough confidence to build other females up instead of tearing them down. In a world where bullying is still very present among today’s youth, she believes women should band together and empower one another instead of focusing on bringing each other down. “Be confident in who you are and don’t try to be anyone else, because God created you for a specific purpose and you’re going to find that...
