Students share excitement for Dove nominations

Lipscomb students and gospel music fans alike were tuned in during the first week of classes when the nominations for the Dove Awards were announced in the Hall of Fame room at Allen Arena.  Chris Tomlin and Matt Redman led the way in nominations with eight each. Tomlin will be going up against Francesca Battistelli, Lecrae, Tamela Mann and TobyMac for Artist of the Year. The nominations came as no surprise to Kelsey Turner, a junior business major from Smyrna. “When I looked at the nominations online, I wasn’t surprised with one nominee because I thought they all fit perfectly,” Turner said. Lumination Co-Managing Editor Brianne Welch personally knows Dove nominee Cliff Duren. “He was the assistant music director at my home church in Georgia and moved to Nashville to further his music career,” Welch said. Duren received a Choral Collection of the Year nod for Carry Your Name. “I am really happy for him.” Welch said. “I feel like I know somebody famous.” Some students were excited to see the nominees because they set the stage for the actual awards show, which is set to take place on Oct. 15 in Allen Arena. “I really like the lineup and am excited to see what each artist brings to the stage,” said Emily Townsend, a junior children’s ministry major from Chattanooga. “After the nominations, I realized that there is so much talent within the Christian genre,” Townsend said. “It’s a growing industry.” A couple of classes in the Communication department got the chance to cover the press conference for the nominations. The Practicum in Public Relations was one of those classes....

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...

Letter from the Editor: August 19, 2013

Well, that was fast. I know it’s cliché to comment on the swiftness of the summer months, but it’s hard to believe that the break is over and the fall semester already underway. To those of you who braved an 8 a.m. class this morning, you have my upmost respect. Even though life’s been pretty mellow around LU, it’s actually been quite an eventful summer on the news side of things. Lipscomb has hired a new men’s basketball coach with Casey Alexander, implemented new dining changes (including a new off-campus meal plan) and installed the new Osman Fountain in Bison Square. Other new campus renovations are currently getting their finishing touches. Lumination also made a few new additions to our staff before the summer months. Former Assistant News Director Sydney Poe will be taking over all of our multimedia coverage as the new News Director of the Lumination News broadcast and as the new Multimedia Editor. Jael Teme will be the new Assistant News Director for the broadcast. In regards to LU Radio, Thomas Jones, who you may know from his LU Radio show Sports60, will be the new Program Director for the station. On the written side of things, Kyrsten Turner will be our new News Editor and Social Media Manager, Janice Ng will be our new Special Interests Editor, Brianna Langley will be our new Lifestyles Editor, Aaron Schmelzer will be our new Sports Editor and Logan Butts will be our new Entertainment Editor. Now that we’re all back and situated, we here at Lumination are looking forward to providing you some of our best work yet....

Dr. Larry Brown advocates a Christian education

College is where students generally spend four years of their life getting an education and preparing themselves for their future careers. Some students prioritize a place where they can comfortably practice and share their beliefs alongside their academic studies at a Christian university.  At Lipscomb University, students may be familiar with Dr. Larry Brown, who has taught a variety of classes in his 24 years, including both Bible and Liberal Arts courses. Brown first majored in the field of theater then followed in the footsteps of his parents, who were both teachers at one time. “It seemed natural to follow that path. I grew up in a home where education was appreciated. As an undergraduate, I decided that if I wanted to continue in the field of theater, but not go the professional route, that teaching was my best option,” Brown said. Brown grew up in Nashville and attended Lipscomb University.He received his first teaching job at York College in Nebraska in 1982. Brown’s former professor, Dr. Marlin Connelly, invited him back to Lipscomb when its previous director retired, and 1989 Brown returned to his roots. “I teach a variety of courses. For 19 years I was director of theater, and I still teach a few theater classes,” Brown says, “But also World Lit. and four different online Bible classes; mostly for the Adult Degree Program.” Although theater was his focus for quite some time, Brown always had time set aside to teach Bible. “Besides my PhD in theater,I also have a master’s in Bible,” he said. “I always intended to teach Bible along with my other subjects, as...