President’s Convocation Ceremony welcomes the 2013 academic year

University president Dr. Randy Lowry ushered in the new academic year with the annual Convocation Ceremony in Allen Arena on Tuesday. The event opened with a note of welcome from Dr. Jim Thomas, Executive Assistant to the President. Following his greeting, Board of Trustees member Harriet Shivers began the academic procession by carrying in Lipscomb’s traditional Mace, the wood of which was taken from an old oak tree that once stood on David Lipscomb’s original farm. Succeeding the presentation of the Mace, the parade of flags honored 100 nations and states represented within Lipscomb University and Academy. The Nashville Highlanders marched down the aisle next, playing customary tunes on bagpipes and drums. After recognizing and honoring the Lipscomb Board of Trustees, the Senior Leadership Team, the Academic Leadership Team, the University Faculty, the Academy Faculty, and the 17th president of Lipscomb, Dr. Lowry, Dr. Candice McQueen, Dean of the College of Education, gave a 4 minute keynote speech. Those in attendance enjoyed a time of worship, as well as scriptural reading from Jeremiah 29:11-13 before Lowry’s address. During his address, Lowry mentioned some noteworthy plans and hopes for Lipscomb University’s future. Such plans include the expansion of the McFarland Math and Science Center, the renovation of the Swang Business Center and the construction of a new Well-Being Center across from the School of Nursing building and a new Performing Arts Center for the theater department. Lowry also stressed the importance of retaining a spirit of humility while still continuing to develop “boldness” and “confidence” going into the new school year. “May God help us this year as we walk forward...

GMA Dove Awards announce nominations at Allen Arena

Wednesday morning, the Gospel Music Association announced the nominations for the 44th annual Dove Awards in the Hall of Fame room at Allen Arena. The Dove Awards will be hosted on Lipscomb’s campus in Allen Arena for the first time after spending two years in Atlanta. Lipscomb President Randy Lowry welcomed the awards to the university, emphasizing the importance of the event’s ultimate goal of spreading the Gospel. Mayor Karl Dean also offered some opening thoughts, welcoming the award show back to Nashville, its original home. Artists Mandisa, Dailey & Vincent and Jason Crabb were among those present to announce the nominations. Notable nominees included Francesca Battistelli, Lecrae, Tamela Mann, Chris Tomlin, Tasha Cobbs, TobyMac, NEEDTOBREATHE and Matt Redman. Presenters and talent will be announced in the coming weeks leading up to the actual awards show, which will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 15 in Allen Arena at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are currently available on the Dove Awards’ official website. For a full list of nominations, visit the event’s...

Summer construction projects continue as fall semester quickly approaches

The fall semester is right around the corner, and cranes, construction trucks and hard hats are still a common site on the Lipscomb campus as summer projects continue. Piles of dirt and rock clutter the closed street behind the McFarland Science Center and the Crisman Administration Building as construction crews continue to work on the 15,000-square-foot pharmacy and health and sciences research facility. Much progress has been made since the project began and is scheduled for completion this fall. Swang 108, the large lecture auditorium in the Swang Business Center, has been completely gutted as hard hats are still hard at work constructing a major facelift that will include new seating, carpet, wall treatment, a new audio-visual system and an upgraded heating and cooling system. New additions to the Student Activities Center (SAC) include new locker rooms, restrooms, showers, and expended weight room and performance studio That construction is expected to be completed before classes are back in session. There is one summer project that is completed.  The Osman Fountain, located in Bison Square, is complete with flowing water fountains and a baptistery. With construction equipment cluttering parts of campus, parking will be one of the main concerns students will be faced with when they return to school. Patrick Cameron, Assistant Director of Safety and Security, says that the construction will an affect on parking. “The biggest change the students will see is there are a few less spots behind Fanning next to the Village, but we will have more spots over at Stokes,” Cameron said. Cameron urges students to give themselves time to find a place to park...

Fellowship of Christian Magicians bring illusion and gospel to the campus

Originally written for lipscomb.edu  Rabbits and clowns and balloon animals, oh my! Those are just some of the sights around campus last week as the university hosted the Fellowship of Christian Magicians convention. More than 430 people from across the country and Canada gathered at Lipscomb University for the convention, a family-friendly gathering with hundreds of workshops, lectures and special activities aimed at fostering and advancing the art of magic and other performing arts from a Gospel point of view. Workshops included drama and storytelling, clowning, ballooning, juggling, plate spinning and ventriloquism. Special music and magic was included in a nightly program in Collins Alumni Auditorium that was open to the public. FCM celebrated its 60th anniversary this year at the convention. Ed Hall, an entertainer from Dayton, Tenn., who performs for events at his church, tries to make it to as many conventions as he can. “At the FCM, we don’t like to say ‘magic,’ we call it illusion,” Hall said, “because there is a bad kind of magic, but what we do is illusion, and we try to teach that we don’t do miracles. God is the only one who can (do miracles). “We are just human beings using an art form to share the Gospel of Jesus.” Workshop instructor Joseph Young from Big Stone Gap, Va., says this was his first convention. “FCM has been a blessing,” Young said. “What we do with Gospel magic is that we’re going around the world and telling people about Jesus Christ, so not only are we entertainers, but we’re changing the world.” Founder Stan Adair talks about how FCM began...

Lipscomb’s volleyball team reflects on 11-day mission trip to Brazil

In early May, the Lipscomb volleyball team embarked on an 11-day mission trip to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Head coach Brandon Rosenthal said that the trip was an exciting time for the group. “There was a tremendous amount of excitement,” Rosenthal said. “It was the first mission trip for a lot of the players and for six of them it was their first time out of the country.” Rosenthal’s main goal for the trip was the get to know each of his players better, and the girls wanted the same thing from each other. “We are already a team,” Rosenthal said. “This is a close team, but I urged them to break down the walls and develop an even deeper relationship as a team.” Work at the church, a stop at the legendary Christ the Redeemer statue and a hike up the Sugarloaf Mountians all played huge roles into making this such an unforgettable trip for all who went. However, the deeper connections formed and lives changed throughout their time in Brazil made this a truly invigorating expedition. “I really had no expectations going into it,” teammate Lauren Ford said. “I wanted to grow in my relationships with the team more than anything.” Playing only one game while over there, the girls had ample time to grow both mentally and spiritually. “Experiencing another culture with my teammates while getting to serve the Lord was the best part of being gone,” teammate Jordan Huston said. “It was cool how we were able to get closer as a team while we were helping others,” teammate Jewell Dobson added. As the week...