by Logan Butts | Jul 8, 2014 | News Slider
Update: The arrangements for Jacob Akers’ visitation and funeral are as follows, courtesy of Scott McDowell. Visitation will be on Saturday, July 12, at the Taylor Funeral Home in Dickson, Tennessee, from 2 to 8. Memorial service will be at 2 on Sunday, July 13. The burial will be at Dickson County Memorial Gardens. Original story below. Jacob Akers, a May 2014 graduate from Charlotte, Tennessee, was killed in an auto accident Monday night. Senior Vice President for Student Life Scott McDowell notified students of Akers’ death via email Tuesday afternoon. A molecular biology major, Akers, 22, had plans to attend Lincoln Memorial University in the fall for medical school. He had also proposed to his girlfriend on the Fourth of July. Kyrsten Turner, a fellow May graduate from Lipscomb, spoke on why she was glad to know Akers. “From the very start, Jacob was never afraid to ask a question or to speak out for what he believed to be right. He had a true, servant heart, and it was evident by his attitude that Christ was forefront in his life,” Turner said. “Jacob is going to be missed so, so much.” In a statement released to the Lipscomb community, McDowell shared his condolences on behalf of the university. “We were deeply saddened to learn of that May 2014 Lipscomb University Graduate Jacob Akers lost his life in an automobile accident,” McDowell said. “Please lift the family up as well as his fiancé, Savannah Grant, in your prayers.” A prayer service, hosted by Lipscomb’s department of biology, was held Tuesday night on the front steps of the McFarland Hall of Science. Additional reporting by...
by Cory Woodroof | May 8, 2014 | News Slider
The friends and family of the Anastasia Sloan gathered to celebrate her immensely impactful life in the Ezell Center’s Swang Chapel Wednesday night. “She was such a ray of sunshine,” Walt Leaver, vice president for university relations, said. Ms. Sloan, a 2013 graduate of Lipscomb University, lost her life in an auto accident late Monday night. “As we have all mourned greatly in the past couple of days and will continue to do so over the days and weeks ahead, the purpose of tonight is to bring a message of hope,” said Mark Jent, the director of missions outreach for Lipscomb. Jent and his wife Beth were Ms. Sloan’s team leaders on two mission trips to Australia in 2010 and 2011. “She has been a blessing and joy in our life,” Jent said. During the service, those in attendance joined in worship, prayer and reflections of Ms. Sloan’s life and impact. “I think the greatest blessing for me is knowing her heart,” friend Kaylynn Allen said. “She loved people.” Shuen Lim, of Brisbane, Australia, came to know Ms. Sloan during one of Lipscomb’s mission trips. “I was just blown away by her adventurous spirit,” Lim said. “She was so brave to go and bless the world.” Dean Scott McDowell, senior vice president for student life, recounted reading some of Ms. Sloan’s blog posts on the website for the World Race, a mission trip she was planning on going on later this year. He recommended that everyone in attendance go back and read Ms. Sloan’s powerful words. “You will be blessed by doing that,” McDowell said. Various memories were shared from the...
by Kyrsten Turner | Mar 21, 2014 | News Slider
The head of Lipscomb’s Safety and Security team, Jim Humphrey, will be stepping down at the end of the month for a new, off-campus opportunity. Humphrey has served as associate dean of students and in veteran affairs during his time on campus. A recent email from Scott McDowell, senior vice president for student life, expressed the emotion of the Lipscomb community at the leaving of Humphrey. “We know Jim will have much success in his new endeavor,” McDowell wrote. “He will be missed.” Humphrey’s engagement in the Lipscomb community, specifically among veteran students, has led to the growth and development of the student body. With his guidance, Lipscomb’s veteran affairs has increased in size, and this is the first year veteran enrollment has exceeded the limit. Humphrey will continue at Lipscomb through Monday, March 31. A reception will be held next week in Humphrey’s honor. The details will be announced soon. Photo courtesy of...
by Brianne Welch | Sep 12, 2013 | News Slider
On Thursday morning, students on their morning walk to class may have noticed a plethora of suds forming a white mountain in the center of Bison Square. Under the mound of bubbles sits the Osman Fountain, one of campus’ newest additions. The new fountain became the target of its first prank. Currently, there are no written rules regarding students’ behavior around or in the new Osman Fountain. But that is not an invitation to vandalism. In fact, the university is relying on students’ personal sense of ethics to prevent any pranks or disrespect aimed at the new campus centerpiece. Before the incident on Thursday took place, Senior Vice President for Student Development Scott McDowell referred to the book of Matthew when talking about the administration’s expectations for student behavior around the fountain. “I would say the only rule is the Golden Rule: ‘Do unto others as you would have them do to you,’” McDowell said. McDowell recognized that students could potentially vandalize the fountain, but to McDowell, that would be against that Golden Rule. Over the summer, construction began and concluded on the new addition to campus in the middle of Bison Square. The fountain was built in memory of Ty Osman, II, a Harding University student who died in March 2012 at the age of 18. His parents Ty Sr. and Nancy Osman, Lipscomb alums, gave a gift to begin construction of the fountain to be raised in their son’s memory. The fountain is used as a centerpiece to campus as well as baptistery. Baptisms have been taking place since IMPACT 2013 was held at Lipscomb in June. “The...
by Cory Woodroof | May 19, 2013 | News Slider, Sports
Lipscomb formally introduced Casey Alexander to the community as the new coach of the men’s basketball team Sunday afternoon at the Ezell Center. The university officially confirmed Alexander’s hire Saturday evening. Alexander was a former Belmont Bruin player and coach who has spent the past two seasons coaching at Stetson. Lipscomb Athletic Director Philip Hutcheson kicked off the event, talking about the process of hiring a coach. Hutcheson said that when looking for a coach, “what we care about here is excellence, and what we care about are people who are connected and committed to what the mission of Lipscomb is about.” The selection committee, consisting of Hutcheson, Vice President for Student Development and Dean of Student Life Scott McDowell and women’s basketball coach Greg Brown, interviewed a number of candidates who were interested in the vacant position. Former coach Scott Sanderson resigned in April. Hutcheson praised the quality of the candidate that applied for the job, but said that the committee decided that Alexander was the best for the program. “There was one guy whose name rose to the top, and he contacted me very early on about the job and said he was interested,” Hutcheson said. Hutcheson said he had conversations with people close to both Lipscomb and Alexander who reassured him of what a good coach and person Alexander was. In an early conversation with Alexander, Hutcheson said he was impressed with the candidate’s vision for the school after being asked why he was interested in the coaching position. “[Alexander] said ‘I want to be at a place that still values the Christian mission that Lipscomb...
