Google’s 15th birthday celebrated on campus

by | Sep 25, 2013 | News Slider

For 15 years now, the words “Google it!”  have been on the mouths of people searching for a quick answer. Google has been playing a huge role on the Internet and in the lives of people who use it. In honor of Google’s 15th birthday, Google Student Ambassador Karla Chavez will be throwing a party on Friday, Sept. 27. Chavez is a Public Relations major and the first and only Google Student Ambassador on Lipscomb’s campus. She became involved with the Google Student Ambassador program through a mentor. “I applied for their program and was accepted in July,” Chavez said. During the Google birthday celebration, Chavez will have a few Google products for students to test out, including the Nexus 7 and the Chromebook. “This will be the first event I’ve done on campus. I really want to build a Google culture on campus,” Chavez said. “I want to make sure that students are aware of the Apps that we have through Google for Lipscomb. “I want them to learn how to use the products and also show them the right tools on how they could apply for the Ambassador program one day, too. I want students to be able to have the same opportunities as I have had. “Ultimately, the goal of the event is for students to meet their Google Student Ambassador,” Chavez said. “And for students and their clubs to learn how they can benefit from using Google products.” Chavez said that the Nexus 7 is her favorite Google product. “I can get books through Google Play and they are less expensive than going to the...

‘Les Misérables’ rehearsals are currently underway

by | Sep 25, 2013 | News Slider

Lipscomb University’s theater department is gearing up for their fall production of Les Misérables. The musical will be held Nov. 6 – 8 in Collins Alumni Auditorium and will feature a host of talented actors and singers. Among the actors is guest Broadway star Chuck Wagner. Wagner will be playing the lead role of Jean Valjean. The musical is co-directed by Mike Fernandez, the chair of Lipscomb’s Department of Theatre, as well as Off-Broadway director and choreographer Justin Boccitto. Tickets will be available to purchase online, as well as Lipscomb University’s box office, located outside Allen...

Viktoria Bjork swings for two sports

by | Sep 25, 2013 | News Slider, Sports

Not many students can say they are playing a varsity sport in college, and very few can say that they are playing two. However, Viktoria Bjork is one who can claim this title. Bjork originally came to Lipscomb to play tennis, but with a change that was made in her high school years, she is ineligible for her first year. “I’m not allowed to compete for my first year in tennis because I’m 20 years old, and they have a rule against that,” she explained. Bjork plays women’s tennis and women’s golf at Lipscomb. “I’m allowed to compete in golf because they don’t have a rule against my age. With practice I think I’ll be able to compete in that too,” she said. Bjork was introduced to both games at a young age and loves them both. “I’ve been playing golf since I was eight years old and I’ve been playing tennis since I was six,” she said. Bjork said she is practicing during the week with tennis, and she practices with the golf team on Fridays and through the weekends. However, playing two sports aren’t the only interesting thing about Bjork. She comes to Lipscomb from Sweden. “I grew up with my family in southern Sweden with both my parents and my older brother. I’ve always been involved in a lot of sports, but growing up in southern Sweden was very different than what it’s like here,” she said. Bjork likes being in the states and while there are no huge differences, she did discuss some of the ones that caught her attention. “The food here is really...

Lipscomb alum Scott Pieper helps former inmates merge back into society

by | Sep 19, 2013 | News Slider

Working with inmates is a natural fit for Lipscomb alum Scott Pieper. After graduating in 2012 with a degree in social work, Pieper is now working to help former inmates integrate back into society. “Dismas is family.” This is the slogan residents, staff members and volunteers live by at the Dismas House. The Dismas House is a transitional housing program on a mission to facilitate the reconciliation of former prisoners to society through supportive communities. That community consists of students and former prisoners living together in a family setting. Pieper interned with the Dismas House while attending Lipscomb University. After graduation, Pieper became the Executive Director. “Former inmates were one of the populations that I had identified with wanting to work with,” Pieper said. “It was a natural fit.” “My most important job is keeping everything we do focused on accomplishing the mission – organizing volunteer opportunities, arranging in-house programming and developing partnerships or fundraising efforts,” he said. “Everything is in the spirit of working towards the Dismas House mission.” The name “Dismas” comes from the “repentant” or “good thief” who was crucified with Christ on Calvary in the Christian tradition. The late Father Jack Hickey and a group of Vanderbilt students founded the Dismas House in 1974. Student residents are still a big part of the Dismas community today. “Father Hickey recognized the similarities between college students and individuals exiting incarceration as sort of being in the same transitional period of entering into society,” Pieper said. “Student residents present a constant presence of the supportive community in our mission.” “Student residents are living in the house – they...