by Logan Butts | May 21, 2014 | News Slider
Longtime NBC News reporter and anchor Brian Williams will be conducting the NBC Nightly News in Bison Square Thursday night. After the news is completed Williams will then make his way over to Allen Arena to make a commencement speech at the graduation ceremony for Hillwood High School seniors. The ceremony will take place at 6 p.m. on Thursday night, directly following the NBC Nightly News’ completion. Many Hillwood students took part in a campaign that challenged Williams to come and speak at the ceremony, with the campaign culminating in a video that caught the attention of Williams. The Hillwood students were inspired to send the invitation after viewing Williams’ commencement speech at Elon University in 2013. Williams began working for NBC in 1993 as the chief White House correspondent and anchor of the Weekend Nightly News. Williams took over the role of NBC Nightly News anchor from the legendary Tom Brokaw in 2004. In the role of NBC Nightly News Anchor, Williams has won numerous journalism awards including most notably a Peabody Award for his coverage of Hurricane Katrina shortly after taking over the...
by Janice Ng | May 21, 2014 | News Slider
Originally written for on Lipscomb’s website. Lipscomb students, professors and licensed professionals had the chance to build skills and network with other professionals and colleagues for a day at the third annual Caring Connections Conference at Lipscomb University on Friday, May 16. “This conference is an annual collaboration between AGAPE counseling and related services and Lipscomb University’s graduate program in clinical mental health counseling,” said Terry Casey, licensed psychologist and health service provider, and Lipscomb University adjunct. “It seeks to attract attendees who work in the professional counseling field as well as those who provide pastoral care to individuals and families. “This can expand professional relationships, referral sources, consultation resources and collegiality across the two groups,” Casey said.” The conference was divided up into sessions throughout the day, with several Lipscomb faculty members including Frank Scott, Walter Surdacki, Melanie Morris, Jake Morris, Terry Casey, John York, Joy Samuels and Stan Clark presenting a range of topics from psychological explanations of suffering to couples and relationships as well as even technology and children. Licensed psychologist and Trevecca Nazarene University adjunct professor Alan Godwin spoke during this year’s plenary session on difficult people and how to understand and relate to them. “All humans are very much like tigers and turtles,” Godwin said. “All humans have buttons, or places of emotional sensitivity,” Godwin said. “When those buttons get pushed, we automatically instinctively react.” Godwin also presented alternate methods on relating to these people. “Difficult people lack what reasonable people possess – reasoning skills, and yet, they are driven towards relationships the same as all of us,” Godwin said. “An alternative is needed...
by Logan Butts | May 21, 2014 | News Slider, Sports
The greatest lessons the late coach Don Meyer taught his players had nothing to do with how to play the game of basketball. Although they did learn countless strategies, schemes and tips for the game from Meyer, the most important lessons he taught his teams dealt with how to perform off the court. “Coach Meyer didn’t just influence me when it came to basketball, he influenced everything in my life,” former Bison Alan Banks said. “He influenced the way I do business. He even influenced the way I raise my kids.” Banks played at Lispcomb from 1978-1982 and has a daughter, upcoming junior Alex Banks, playing for the Lady Bisons’ basketball team “My daughter will hear something Coach Meyer said, and she will say that my dad tells me that all the time,” Banks said. Meyer first became known across the country for his impressive 923 wins totaled throughout his prolific career. However, the legendary coach stuck in people’s minds because of the life values that he instilled in his players. “He’s affected probably every area of my life,” former Lipscomb basketball player Wade Tomlinson said. “It would really be hard to narrow down to the best piece of non-basketball advice that he gave me because there were so many. But, mainly I guess for me, when bad things happen to you, look to help other people. I lost a son early on, and Coach Meyer did the service. He helped me out through a tough time.” During his 24 years at Lipscomb, as well as during his stints with Northern State and Hamline, Meyer took struggling programs and...
by Erika Thornsberry | May 19, 2014 | News Slider, Sports
The spring semester may have ended two weeks ago for most students, but for spring athletics things have now just started to wrap up. For anyone that is a Bison fan, what an amazing spring it has been for all the athletes. The Lipscomb track and field team completed their Atlantic Sun Outdoor Championships in Jacksonville, Florida, May 16 and 17th. Much like the whole year, many Bisons found success. Madi Talbert received first place in the 3000-meter race. Talbert finished with a time of 10:28.76 making her the record holder in the A-Sun outdoor 3000 meter, but it did not stop there for Talbert as she finished with the gold in the 5000 meters. Freshman Sally Larson also received first place in her 10,000 meter event. April Terry was covered in bronze as she threw the shot put 13.10 meters and the hammer throw with a distance of 50.29 meters, both for third place finishes. “I didn’t feel ready the week before the meet. I prayed and meditated, asking God to help me with my attitude,” April Terry said. “In the hammer, I fouled my first two throws and threw a short throw to get into the finals. The same happened in shot. I had to trust that God was going to work it out and believe that I could do it.” “This meet taught me about trusting God and about prayer,” Terry said. “When I look at the two metals that I won, I just have to give thanks to God.” Also, receiving third place was Kevin Floyd who cleared 4.63 meters in the pole vault. Right...
by Jesica Parsley | May 18, 2014 | News Slider, Sports
The Lipscomb softball team’s season ended Sunday after losing to the University of Tennessee 2-0 in the Knoxville regional championship game. The game was a pitchers duel until the sixth inning. Lady Vol sophomore outfielder Haley Tobler led off the inning with a single. Sophomore catcher/infielder Lexi Overstreet hit a two-run home run to plate the only runs of the game for either team. Lipscomb junior infielder Paige Neely led the Lady Bisons with two hits. Senior infielder Kristen Sturdivant earned one hit. Senior pitcher Ashley Anderson went the distance for the Lady Bisons. She gave up five hits and struck out nine. Her final record this season fell to 20-8. Seven Lady Bisons finished their careers at Lipscomb including: Anderson, infielder Bridgette Begle, catcher Rena’ Cothron, catcher/infielder Haley Elliott, infielder Kelsey Cartwright, pitcher/infielder Heather Parker, and Sturdivant. Lipscomb became the first softball team from the Atlantic Sun Conference to play in a regional championship game. The Lady Bisons finished the season with an overall record of...
by Cory Woodroof | May 18, 2014 | News Slider, Sports
Coach Don Meyer’s legacy is the way he spent his life. “I think that’s the reason why that we’re put here on the Earth is to try to help folks and to show that servant leadership and show Christ, and that was everything that Coach [Meyer] was about,” said one of his former players and coaches, Freed-Hardeman head coach Jason Shelton. Meyer, long-time coach of the Bisons and a college basketball icon, died today at age 69. Those who learned from and admired Coach Meyer spent time reflecting on how his life, not just his coaching, affected them. Meyer ends a long battle with cancer, stemming from a 2008 diagnosis that came after a serious car accident that claimed one of his legs. He was at home in Aberdeen, South Dakota, receiving hospice care at the time of his passing. A celebration of life for Meyer will be held in Allen Arena honoring Meyer’s life at 2 p.m. on June 1. A similar service will be held in South Dakota on Saturday at Northern State University. At an Athlete Leadership Chapel held in October 2012, Meyer spoke to a crowd of Bisons and Lady Bisons about a myriad of important subjects – character being one of them. “Character is really important,” Meyer said during his lesson. “Character is important in everything you do.” Meyer lived a life of iridescent character – the kind of character that Jesus taught people to have. The kind of character that showed on the court, in the locker room, at practice and at basketball camps. The kind of character that made him a beloved coach, mentor...
