Several of Lumination’s valuable contributors from the past several years will graduate on May 6. They were an integral part in producing content for Lumination, from radio production to television newscast and website stories.
Although they will be missed by the Journalism and New Media department, communication staff and students alike know that they move on to bigger and better things in the coming years.
Whitney Smith
Pisgah, Alabama
#1: What is your best memory at Lipscomb?
My best memory has been pledging Delta Omega and becoming part of an empowering and encouraging sisterhood.
#2: What are your immediate plans after college?
Immediately after college, you can find me napping for a couple of days.
#3: Is there a specific professor who has shaped you the most here? How?
Professor Griggs has been the best professor I’ve ever had. He has always taken the time to talk to me about my future, encourage me to be proactive and push myself and put me in contact with people who can give me advice on how to get to where I want to be. Griggs believes in his students enough to set high expectations for them and not let them just scrape by. He’s exactly what a professor should be, and being able to stop by his office and bug him is what I’ll miss the most about Lipscomb.
#4: Where are we most likely to see you in 10 years?
In 10 years, I plan to be working in political communications on the state or federal level.
Anna McClure
Winchester, TN
#1: What is your best memory at Lipscomb?
My best memory at Lipscomb was going skiing for the first time with campus recreation.
#2: What are your immediate plans after college?
After college, I will be starting graduate school through Lipscomb’s Institute for Sustainable Practice to get a master’s degree in Sustainability. The current plan is for my graduate capstone research to be about the economic, environmental and social costs of small-scale living, so I’ll be renovating a van over the summer and living in it for the year to document the experience first-hand. You can follow the project’s progress on Instagram (@truecostofvanlife) where I’m hoping to start uploading content in mid-May.
#3: Is there a specific professor who has shaped you the most here? How?
Dr. Dana Carpenter, who taught my freshman seminar, was a huge influence my first semester. She encouraged me to embrace art as a form of self-expression and pushed me to embrace my own creativity. That really helped me start enjoying my time in college and made me reevaluate my approach to school and life in general.
Wayne Campbell, who oversees Lumination Radio, helped me develop professionally and really pushed me to learn and grow in areas not covered in the core curriculum of my coursework. He really motivated me to pursue my passions and explore new opportunities in the future.
#4: Where are we most likely to see you in 10 years?
I’m trying this new thing where I don’t plan out my life years in advance. I’ve been making plans for years, and they never turn out the way I expect. Hopefully in 10 years, I’ll be doing something I can’t even imagine currently.
Erin Leslee Turner
Ashland City, TN
#1: What is your best memory at Lipscomb?
My favorite memories at Lipscomb have been covering events like the Dove Awards and Charlie Daniels Concert for Lumination. I love getting to photograph live music and do it in such a fun environment. As crazy as it sounds, the thrill of shooting a long event and then staying overnight in the lab to edit with my journalism friends were times I wouldn’t trade for anything. Since I started working for University Communication and Marketing this year, one of my favorite things at Lipscomb has been working alongside Kristi Jones. Learning from her and getting to know her has been so inspiring to me. And I won’t throw my friends under the bus here, of course most of my favorite memories include just going out to new restaurant or going to concerts with them.
#2: What are your immediate plans after college?
After college I will be shooting several weddings and continuing my wedding photography business. I plan to take a few trips this summer, some for work and some for fun.
#3: Is there a specific professor who has shaped you the most here? How?
All of the professors in the communication department have played a major role in my life and career. Dr. Mac was the first professor I ever knew and got to talk with outside of the classroom on department trips and through Lumination. He was my mentor and friend through being editor and beyond. His classes always challenged me, but he never failed to encourage me through the challenges.
Same goes for Mr. Griggs. I never had him for a class until much later in college, but once I did I realized just how much of an impact he was already making in my life. He came into my time at Lipscomb right when I was changing career paths a bit, and through it all he always pushed me to be the best no matter what I did. He is wise and passionate about everything he does, and seeing that lived out through a professor is so inspiring.
Last but certainly not least, Mrs. Gibson has taught me so much in and out of the classroom. She is the kind of professor that will stay late to help you finish your documentary or take time out of her day to make sure you are on track with a project. She opened a lot of doors in technology that I didn’t know were possible, and all the things I learned from her I plan on using on a daily basis in my career. I am so thankful for these professors and all the professors who have taught me. Although I am no longer seeking a career in journalism, the process I went through to get to where I am today would not have been possible without these people in my life.
#4: Where are we most likely to see you in 10 years?
Who knows, but I’m excited to find out 🙂
Kevin Andrew Lauck II
Louisville, KY
#1: What is your best memory at Lipscomb?
My favorite memory at Lipscomb is staying up late playing basketball with my friends and playing Star Wars Battlefront with my roommate.
#2: What are your immediate plans after college?
I will be going home to work and save money before coming back to Nashville and settle into a new job.
#3: Is there a specific professor who has shaped you the most here? How?
Alan Griggs. His teaching style reminded me a lot of my coaches in high school. I really loved how transparent and hard he was as a professor. I found that to be very helpful with school work and also other aspects in life. He asked a lot of me and I liked that he challenged my potential and intellect. I welcomed the challenges that he put forth.
#4: Where are we most likely to see you in 10 years?
I see myself being married and having a job in the sports media world.
Todd Ross Lamberth
Portland, TN
#1: What is your best memory at Lipscomb?
My best memory at Lipscomb is probably newscast fall of senior year. That class was kind of stressful, but the people in it were great, and we had a lot of fun.
#2: What are your immediate plans after college?
I’ll be writing for TNHighSchoolFootball.com, a website that covers high school football in the mid-state area. I’ll also continue to write for my hometown newspaper, which I have done since high school.
#3: Is there a specific professor who has shaped you the most here? How?
Both Mark McGee and Alan Griggs shaped me a ton. McGee allowed me to write for the athletics website and was always a huge help as I continued to learn to be an effective writer. Griggs always pushed me to be better, which I didn’t really start to appreciate until the last year or so.
#4: Where are we most likely to see you in 10 years?
Hopefully in 10 years I’ll be writing for a website doing either feature stories or beat writing. I don’t really have a specific goal. I just want to be able to tell sports stories.
Brooke Lindsey Dorris
Acworth, GA
#1: What is your best memory at Lipscomb?
I think my favorite memory at Lipscomb has to be when I pledged my social club, Delta Omega. There really isn’t one specific instance, but it overall has been such a great experience for me. I have grown so much as a person, and have been surrounded by young women that laugh, cry and celebrate together. It has just been such a wonderful time in my life, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
#2: What are your immediate plans after college?
I don’t really have any immediate plans, but I am still currently searching for a job related to Corporate or Public Relations, Marketing or Journalism.
#3: Is there a specific professor who has shaped you the most here? How?
Oh absolutely, Dr. Griggs has truly shaped me the most here. He is one of the few people in my life that tell me how it is, which I really appreciate, and he’s not afraid to push me to be a better student and overall person. He has taught me so much in my four years here, and there is no way I could ever thank him enough.
#4: Where are we most likely to see you in 10 years?
In 10 years I hope y’all will see me working in a professional, corporate environment, being successful, and hopefully have a family and a couple of dogs too (one probably named Chewbacca)!
Karina Gutierrez
Weehawken, NJ
#1: What is your best memory at Lipscomb?
The best memory I have at Lipscomb is meeting new people and learning how to serve others. I did not know the true definition of service until I discovered my passion of helping others while serving at volunteer opportunities at Lipscomb. One specific memory was freshmen year serving at Shelby Bottoms on a hot day pulling out old weeds from a garden, which needed more attention. It was not only a great experience serving with people I now have strong relationships with but seeing the faces of the workers receiving help from us that changed my views of service.
#2: What are your immediate plans after college?
My plans after college is to continue to work hard in a non-profit organization where I can use my passion in communication and social media. I trust in God that he will lead me in a path that I will be able to use my strengths and values.
#3: Is there a specific professor who has shaped you the most here? How?
Two communication professors shaped me the most in my time at Lipscomb. First, Professor Aerial Ellis showed me her drive and determination in being a women in communications, which helped me gain confidence throughout my college career. Her knowledge and experience held a big motivation in my life, and I will always think of her as my mentor.
Another professor was, of course, Mr. Alan Griggs who always pushed his students to be the best they could be. His pieces of advice will always be implemented in me and my future. I appreciate every professor I had at Lipscomb because every one of them gave me a piece of their knowledge that I will take with me anywhere I go.
#4: Where are we most likely to see you in 10 years?
You will most likely still see me in Nashville in 10 years. Being born and raised in the city was exciting and different, but I am excited for what this city has in store for me! I hope to be as dedicated to learning and empowering others as I am now.
Tanner James Allen
Brentwood, TN
#1: What is your best memory at Lipscomb?
My best memory at Lipscomb was probably Spring Break of this year. Me and 10 other guys got a beach house in Gulf Shores, AL, and just hung out for the week. We paired up, and each pair was in charge of a meal to cook. It just made for a relaxing week.
#2: What are your immediate plans after college?
I’m currently trying to find a full-time job in any sports field I can get into it, but haven’t found anything so far. Right now I’ve got a job with the Nashville Sounds over the summer.
#3: Is there a specific professor who has shaped you the most here? How?
I loved getting to know Dr. McGee. I loved just hearing his stories in class, and talking to him about Lipscomb athletics.
#4: Where are we most likely to see you in 10 years?
I hope to be a radio broadcaster for a sports team, but I’d be more than happy to just have some kind of job in sports. I’m open to anything!
Reese Lusk
#1: What is your best memory at Lipscomb?
Being the Assistant Director on this year’s Singarama Totally Awesome show that swept.
#2: What are your immediate plans after college?
Continue the interview process and getting married in December.
#3: Is there a specific professor who has shaped you the most here? How?
My favorite was Professor Griggs, primarily his news reporting class. I created my best work in that class.
#4: Where are we most likely to see you in 10 years?
Working in the media world helping pave the new the new industry.
Myckelle P. Williams
Los Angeles, CA
#1: What is your best memory at Lipscomb?
My best Lipscomb memory is winning “Best Female Talk Show Host” at the Lumination awards.
#2: What are your immediate plans after college?
To put together a powerful resume and portfolio, and start working on the job search.
#3: Is there a specific professor who has shaped you the most here? How?
Alan Griggs. He challenged and pushed me to do my best. He did not accept excuses or allow me to feel sorry for myself during times of hardship. He encouraged me to continuously develop and always bring truth to your writing.
#4: Where are we most likely to see you in 10 years?
In ten years I want to be a public speaker, mentor and develop many programs and workshops that will help women to overcome the traumas of their pasts.