by Spencer Boehme | Sep 25, 2018 | BREAKING NEWS, News Slider
In a surprising turn of events, two faces of the chapel office are bidding Lipscomb goodbye. Cyrus Eaton told Lumination that he and his wife, Nicole, are heading to Abilene Christian University, where Cyrus has been hired as the school’s next chaplain. “It’ll be very similar to what I get to do here,” Eaton said on Friday. “Except it will give me an opportunity to lead more initiatives instead of being focused on carrying out a few of them.” This is a fresh development that wasn’t a consideration until “about two months” ago, Eaton said. “We weren’t looking to leave, we weren’t looking for another opportunity,” Eaton said. “But a friend of ours put it on our radar and asked us if we’d be open to exploring it, which we felt like was a very safe thing to say ‘yes’ to. And over time, we realized that [the] thought of exploration was actually becoming more real.” The development comes just two months after Scott McDowell’s departure for ACU this summer. “I’m very excited to work with Scott again,” Eaton said. “Not only was it good working with Scott, [but] I’ve been mentored really well by Scott.” Eaton, the Joshua Project director, has teamed with Nicole, the Women’s Campus Minister, in various aspects of ministry. 2018 would have been Cyrus’s fourth full year at Lipscomb. He credits God for leading the Abilene Christian move. What helped affirm the decision was a gut-wrenching cancer diagnosis for Nicole’s mother, who lives in Houston. The presence of a brain tumor, revealed in an MRI, was discovered just four days after Cyrus’ ACU decision. “Even...
by Erin Franklin | Sep 21, 2018 | Arts and Entertainment, News Slider
Lipscomb has brought on a number of changes this year, ranging from new academic department locations to a new outdoor patio outside the cafeteria. Additionally, several new faculty members have joined the Lipscomb staff. One of these new professors is Dr. Ben Blasko, who was recently named band director for the classical music department. Blasko was a music education major at a small college in his home state of Pennsylvania. He then completed his graduate coursework at the University of North Texas and eventually became director of bands at the University of Dubuque, before moving to Lipscomb this fall. In addition to his role at Lipscomb, he’s also a professional trumpet player and has done film work, notably studying with Bruce Broughton, who has worked on films such as Silverado. “I came [to Lipscomb] because I was looking for a place where I could practice my faith and integrate it into my teaching,” Blasko said. “When I interviewed here, what really drew me [in] were the students and how the faculty interacted with the students. I very much got a sense of [the] mentor relationships between faculty and students.” Blasko said he is honored to work with a “legend in music” in Brown Bannister, Lipscomb’s Director of Music. Students in the classical department have also welcomed Blasko’s arrival, citing their readiness for new and specialized attention. The music department not only hosts the classical music side, but it also has the commercial music emphasis (previously titled contemporary music). Since the commercial program was started in 2015, some classical students said that they felt that a lot of attention was placed...
by Quinn Gorte | Sep 20, 2018 | Arts and Entertainment, News Slider
Nashville songwriter Tyler Russell has made a lasting impression on his teachers, and not just because of his talents. This Lipscomb alum wants to let God use him to bless others. Russell, a 2015 musical theatre graduate, intentionally chooses to live with joy. Whether it is in his music or while meeting new people, Tyler tries to let God help him to spread joy and love. “Now or Never,” which was released on August 17th on all major music streaming platforms, is Russell’s latest single. While the song isn’t specifically a Christian song, Russell said he and songwriting partner, Alexandria “Zandy” Fitzgerald from The New Respects, placed emphasis on “choosing joy.” “The Bible says there’s a time and a place for everything,” he said. “It’s just important to remind people to dance and have a good time.” Russell recalled his experience at Lipscomb as having a positive and inspirational impact on his songwriting. “The skills that I learned at the (Lipscomb) theatre department taught me so many things that I’m using now with songwriting,” he said. “I got to learn about so many different people’s stories, where people came from and what they go through. “I’m someone who loves to be inspired by what people go through, and I feel like God really puts inspiration through the people around me. I feel like lots of songs came from my time at Lipscomb.” Beki Baker, Chair of Lipscomb’s Theatre Department and one of Tyler’s old professors, was excited to hear Russell’s new single. “The song itself is such a great representation of Tyler,” Baker said. “It’s upbeat, it’s positive and it’s looking for the good things in...
by Carly Reams | Sep 19, 2018 | News Slider, Sports
The Lipscomb volleyball team kicked its ASUN slate Tuesday against North Alabama, which recently joined the conference. The Lady Bisons (6-7) ended the night with a 3-0 victory over the Lions (2-8) at Allen Arena. It was North Alabama’s fifth-consecutive loss. Lipscomb also came into the opener with a three-match losing streak of their own. Despite their unfamiliarity with the Lions, the Lady Bisons quickly handled their new opponent. “They are new to the conference so we weren’t sure what to expect,” Lipscomb junior Morgan Elmore said. “But we just came out excited to start the conference season, so I think we started focused and aggressive.” Elmore started at setter for the Bisons and ended the game with 44 assists. Morgan said the team goes into each conference game wanting to make a statement, but that took on extra meaning against North Alabama. “We knew they would be out to prove something since they are new to the conference, and we have built a reputation that makes people want to beat us,” Elmore said. “It’s always good to start the conference on a win, so that made it great for us moving forward to build momentum.” The Lady Bisons breezed through the first set and beat North Alabama 25-11. After the Bisons set a fast pace in the first set, UNA came out ready to bring that same aggression in the next set. Lipscomb seemed to lose their focus as the Lions tried to tie the score. “When playing a slower paced team we have to keep playing our game on our side, which is hard to do,” Lipscomb...
by Russell Vannozzi | Sep 17, 2018 | News Slider, Sports
Lipscomb women’s soccer coach Kevin O’Brien typically schedules several Power 5 opponents to help the Lady Bisons prepare for ASUN play. However, sometimes his team plays the spoiler role against unsuspecting opponents. Such was the case Sunday night as the Lady Bisons topped Kentucky by a score of 2-1 at the Lipscomb Soccer Complex. “For us, any time we get to play a Power 5, it’s a special thing,” O’Brien said. “We don’t win all of them, that’s for darn sure. But whenever we get a Power 5 win, that’s pretty special.” The win is Lipscomb’s first over an SEC opponent since beating Mississippi State on August 26, 2016. Lipscomb went 0-3-1 against SEC teams in 2017, including a 2-1 loss at Kentucky last September. “We’ve got a squad that doesn’t fear anybody,” O’Brien said. “[Bigger schools] might have more blue-chip recruits or athleticism, but in the end, a lot of it is about heart, determination and a willingness to work for each other.” The Lady Bisons got on the board just eight minutes into the game when defender Hailey Eck looped a pass to Maycie McKay, who sidestepped Kentucky goalkeeper Hannah Leonard and finished an easy chip shot. “We’ve switched [McKay] from being a winger to more out an out-and-out forward, and she’s doing great,” O’Brien said. “She’s composed around the goal and finishes her chances.” Kentucky (4-6) knotted the score at one with a goal from Miranda Jimenez in the 40th minute. The Wildcats thoroughly dominated the first half and outshot Lipscomb 11-2. But the Lady Bisons (5-3-2) kept the Wildcats from scoring again, thanks to six saves from...
