About Lipscomb
UT's Gilliam to head new engineering program
Dr. Fred Gilliam, associate dean of academic affairs for the College of Engineering at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville, will become associate dean of engineering at Lipscomb University in January.
Gilliam, who will head the Raymond B. Jones School of Engineering and also be professor of engineering, is one of four new faculty members who are either in place already or joining the faculty in January, including David H. Fann, assistant professor; Kerry E. Patterson, associate professor; and John W. Pettit, associate professor. Pettit joined the faculty in August.
"We are thrilled that Dr. Fred Gilliam has accepted the position of associate dean of engineering at Lipscomb. He brings experience and expertise in many areas--engineering, teaching, and administration. Fred is committed whole-heartedly to building a great engineering school by continuing to develop high-quality educational programs and by recruiting young men and women with a desire to serve others through a career in engineering," said Dr. Linda Roberson, dean of the College of Natural and Applied Sciences.
Gilliam said he's leaving his alma mater for two reasons: because engineers like to build things, and because he wants to help build Christian engineers.
"The engineering faculty who are now at Lipscomb or any of us who will be new will tell you the same story -- that this is an exciting opportunity and a stimulating challenge that the Lord has given to us," Gilliam said.
"What makes Lipscomb compelling ... is to be able to build a new engineering program in a Christian environment, to be able to prepare students not just to serve society, but to serve the Lord," he said.
Gilliam said he was also influenced by a longstanding friendship with Dr. Don Cole, associate professor of political science and director of Lipscomb's Center for International Peace and Justice.
"Don tells me -- and I have already confirmed for myself -- that the faculty at Lipscomb is really a family, a collegial team of people who are dedicated to their profession, to their students, and to God. I really look forward to working in that environment," Gilliam said.
Other than some facility issues which remain to be addressed, the fledgling Lipscomb program is "first-rate" because of the planning and implementation of current faculty members Ralph Butler, Fort Gwinn, George O'Connor, Fletcher Srygley, Alan Bradshaw and others, as evidenced in the success of the first two engineering graduates.
Petr Jordan, of the Czech Republic, earned the first degree in computer engineering and has been accepted into the Ph.D. program in electrical engineering at Harvard. Mark Adams, Melber, Ky., received the first engineering mechanics degree and has been awarded a research assistantship for the graduate program in mechanical engineering at Vanderbilt University.
"The academic accomplishments of our first two graduates certainly reflect on the quality of their educational program at Lipscomb," Gilliam said. "The excellent graduate school opportunities they have received clearly shows that some of the most prestigious schools in the United States recognize that quality. Bright young people can come to Lipscomb and expect to develop their academic potential to the fullest degree possible."
Gilliam said his assessment of the current market is that there is a demand for the Lipscomb program and product. The university's successful pre-engineering program has demonstrated the demand for engineering studies in a Christian context, but past students have had two choices: attend Lipscomb and transfer, or not attend at all. Pettit is one who attended Lipscomb and transferred; Gilliam wanted to attend Lipscomb, but chose The University of Tennessee instead.
"We want to provide young people with an opportunity we did not have -- an opportunity to study engineering and prepare for an exciting engineering career while also preparing themselves to be of greater service to God," Gilliam said.
He said that in recent years all UT engineering graduates who were willing to relocate were able to get jobs after graduation. Despite the economic cooling, engineering job opportunities led other fields by a significant margin.
"At UT, engineering students are 10 percent of the student body, but they get 35 percent of the job interviews at the Career Center. I expect that an opportunity differential of similar magnitude will continue for the foreseeable future," Gilliam said.
"The challenge facing the engineering faculty at Lipscomb is to build a program known in the technology and business communities as a top-notch program, a program whose graduates have technical skills, people skills, communication skills, and personal values that will help the company achieve its goals. It is in the area of values that a Lipscomb engineering graduate will have and should have an edge."
In addition to UT, Gilliam served as assistant chairman and senior lecturer in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Texas-Austin; taught at the U.S. Air Force Academy, where he met Cole; was chief scientist for the USAF's European Office of Aerospace Research and Development, London; worked at Arnold Engineering Development Center, Tullahoma, Tenn.; and in the USAF's Aeronautical Systems Division, Dayton, Ohio.
He holds the Ph.D. in aerospace engineering from The University of Tennessee Space Institute, where he graduated with highest honors, was president of the Student Government Association and student counselor to the university president. He holds the master of science in aeronautical engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology, and the bachelor of science in aerospace engineering from The University of Tennessee.
David Fann is completing his Ph.D. in electrical engineering at Georgia Tech. He holds a master of science in electrical engineering from Georgia Tech and the bachelor of science from Tennessee Tech, where he was named a Tau Beta Pi Fellow, one of only 35 nationally.
Kerry Patterson comes to Lipscomb from the Science Applications International Corp., where he is senior staff scientist for the Defense Technology Group. In that role, he leads a team that assesses the susceptibility of U.S. missile defenses to countermeasures deemed to be within the capability of potential adversaries, and he developed an innovative threat-risk assessment methodology that has become the principal tool for assessing the threat risk in the Missile Defense Agency. He is also an elder and minister for Fairfax (Va.) church of Christ. He holds the Ph.D. in aerospace engineering, the master of science in mechanical engineering, and the bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, all from The University of Tennessee-Knoxville.
John Pettit comes to Lipscomb from a 30-year career with IBM/Lexmark, where he is in senior-level management as controller development manager. He has managed a team of engineers developing advanced RISC embedded controllers for the raster image processing unit. He holds the master's degree in electrical engineering from the University of Kentucky and the bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Vanderbilt, where he was second in his class.
Fulbright Scholar brings diverse range of experiences to English faculty
Literature studies at Lipscomb University will take on a broader scope in spring semester with the addition of Rhonda Collier to the faculty.
Collier brings a "broad and very diverse range of experience to our department," said Dr. Matthew Hearn, professor of English and chair of the department.
That may be an understatement. Collier, a 2001 Fulbright Scholar who studied at the University of Sao Paulo (Brazil), holds bachelor's and master's degrees in industrial engineering from The University of Tennessee-Knoxville and Georgia Tech, respectively; a master of arts in English and a master of arts in comparative literature from The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, and is scheduled to complete her doctorate in comparative literature at Vanderbilt University in December.
At Lipscomb, she will teach composition, American literature and world literature.
"Most world literature courses focus on English language literature because we as North Americans live in an English-speaking country. The advantage to having someone trained in comparative literature teaching the course is his or her ability to assist students in understanding the untranslatable aspects of certain texts. For example, if I am teaching a Brazilian or Cuban text, I may explain something that sounds odd because of the English-language translation and say to the student, 'this is what the text is really saying,'" Collier said.
Lipscomb's world literature course is based on Norton's Anthology of World Literature and includes texts from England, France, German, and Russia. "I hope to bring some Caribbean and South American texts to the course since these are my research interests," Collier said.
She recently returned from Cuba, where she conducted research for her doctoral dissertation on "Women and Words: Rewriting the Nation with Women's Voices." In Brazil and Cuba, she studied poets and activists to "get a sense of the literature produced by black women in both countries," she said.
Reared in a military family, Collier has lived in England and traveled extensively throughout Africa and Europe, and is fluent in Portuguese and Spanish. She has also lived in at least nine different states in the U.S., but says "I consider myself from Tennessee.
"Growing up as a 'military brat,' being a stranger looking into another culture, I looked for things that would make a place home," she said.
"As Christians, this world is not our spiritual home, but as human beings this world is our physical home. To know other literatures helps us understand our place in the world and how others see themselves so that we might better understand each other. For me, literature is a means of finding home and understanding what home means to others. Best of all, it's portable - you can take it wherever you go," Collier said.
Collier worked as an engineer with General Electric for six years. But as one who had enjoyed reading and writing poetry since childhood, she said she thought she would be happier teaching and made a prayerful decision to change careers.
Collier has been an active member of the church of Christ since age 13 and attends the Schrader Lane congregation in Nashville. While in Brazil, she was active with the 9 de julho congregation in Sao Paulo.
"One of the things that excites me about coming to Lipscomb is the university's mission work and how in the past they have sent teams of students to Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul and other places in Brazil," she said. "I am hoping to become involved in this work."
Summer lectureship moves to new date; to offer new features
If you have attended the Lipscomb Lectures any or all of the last 50+ years, you already have your calendar marked for the second week in June.
Well, get out your eraser, because the summer lectureship is moving to a new date that will allow the program to expand and be even more beneficial to those who attend, said Walt Leaver, vice president for university relations.
The new date will by July 2-5, 2003, which has several benefits, Leaver said.
"During the first week in July, the lectureship will be the only event on campus. In past years, we've shared campus facilities and dorm space with our growing athletics camps. The new date will allow us to use all dorms and facilities, making it possible for many more people to stay on campus very economically," he said.
The new date will also allow Allen Arena "to become a focal point for lecture activities," compared to last summer when it was only available on Sunday night.
"We hope the new date will also encourage more families to plan vacations with the lectures in mind. With numerous activities for all ages, the lectures will provide a wonderful experience for everyone. And guests can come to Nashville a few days early or stay a few days longer to enjoy some of the attractions on middle Tennessee," Leaver said.
The program will include many of the same features as past lectureships along with new features "especially designed to make this an enjoyable experience for the entire family," Leaver said.
He said a brochure would be mailed in February 2003 with full details. Information will also be posted online at lectures.lipscomb.edu.
Biology class project assesses environmental changes in natural area
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Biology students Robin King, Jason Wiggers and Katie Lee assist Dr. Jim Arnett in securing a snapping turtle, which will be tracked during their class project. --Amber Stacey |
Who wouldn't want to take a class that sends students to the lake?
In this case, the lake -- Radnor Lake, just a few miles from campus -- serves as a very large laboratory for seven students in the Field Zoology class at Lipscomb University.
The students and Dr. Jim Arnett, professor of biology, are taking an inventory of aquatic turtles that call the lake "home." The project, which is designed to take several years, Arnett said, builds on a study by researcher Dennis Gibson conducted in the late 1970s.
Arnett's class is trying to determine four things, Arnett said:
-- the species that comprise the aquatic turtle populations at Radnor Lake;
-- changes in species composition since 1979;
-- the present state of these species in terms of general health, demographics, reproduction, and more;
-- the size and configuration of typical home ranges for each species, and how isolated or confined each species may be seasonally and in regard to movements in and out of the natural area.
"What we're doing is looking at the aquatic turtle population to see if the lake has undergone any kind of dramatic or moderate change during the period of time from 1977 to 2002," Arnett said.
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King and Wiggers measure their catch. |
More than most people might imagine, he said. Because the lake is part of the Radnor Lake State Natural Area, it is a unique habitat in the environs of a major city. The natural area was once surrounded by farms where fertilizer was used plentifully, cars traverse nearby roads leading to homes that surround the area; a road, now closed, that wends through the park is crumbling into the lake. Even people who visit the area to hike and experience the park's flora and fauna can have an impact.
So with the understanding that nature is constantly changing, the questions are how is the area changing and to what extent?
Part of the methodology for determining the answer is to track the turtles' movements over time. It might seem that keeping up with slow-moving turtles might not be that difficult. But these researchers are taking a high-tech approach by attaching transmitters to selected turtles and following them with telemetry, Arnett said.
Arnett will follow several "snapping" turtles and several "slider" turtles to determine the nature and size of their "home range" -- the area in which they go about their daily activities.
"I just want to get them to paint a picture for me of their preferred home ranges to add to the body of data that says, ‘This is what normal movements would include for that species.' We believe they come and they go from the Radnor Lake area. With these telemetry devices, I'd like to see if I can figure out how far they go and whether they return," he said.
How far they go ties directly to the population's dynamics, but also to the ecosystem's stability. But the benefits of the study go beyond what it will contribute to the data about the natural area. The students involved in the project are learning practical skills that will serve them in the future, Arnett said.
"My objective is for them to have a taste of participating in a legitimate field research experience where they're out there in nature to deal with whatever nature gives out -- whether it's a rainy day, a change in water level, if winter comes along, or whatever. You have to say, 'Here's what we're going to do about that. We know what we're out to accomplish -- now how are we going to do that given this curve that nature has thrown us,'" Arnett said.
"I know from my experience with these students that they are learning some things and showing interest," he said.
The students agree, reveling in the opportunity to use their classroom experiences in a practical application. Katie Lee, a junior pre-veterinary student from Marietta, Ga., says the course is helping prepare her for turtles as future patients, but also to make observations and ask questions raised by previous biology classes.
"This introduction to the real circumstances of field research ... is great because it is tangible. The outdoors is a great place to learn. The lessons we learn in the dirt, rain, changing weather, and in facing 20-pound snapping turtles are not easily forgotten," Lee said.
Angie Lee, a biology teaching major from North Charleston, S.C., said she hopes to provide similar hands-on experiences for her students and that she will look into membership in organizations that will allow her to continue to do field research.
"Dr. Arnett wants us to experience and learn how field researchers work in the environment. It is hard to gain an appreciation by learning from books in a classroom. By becoming field researchers ourselves, we are able to see, feel and hear what we are learning.
"The experience has once again amazed me with God's presence. He is everywhere; it is evident when you just open your eyes and look around," Lee said.
While rewarding, the field study has not been without challenges, some humorous, particularly after several inches of rain fell in Nashville as the result of a tropical storm passage.
"Being only five feet tall and up to my knees in mud made it very difficult and very funny to get back into the boat, especially when carrying a net of turtles," Angie Lee said.
"Being able to participate in this turtle research project has been a unique and extremely valuable experience," said Rachel McCumsey, a senior biology major from Appleton, Wis. "Not all college students have opportunities to directly apply what they're studying in the real world. It's a great way to gain experience in your field of study and also an excellent addition to graduate school applications."
Arnett's class study is being funded in large part by the Friends of Radnor Lake. It is not the first association between the university and the lake: Dr. Oliver Yates, former Langford-Yates Distinguished Professor of Biology, was instrumental in efforts to have the lake designated as a natural area. Periodic studies have been conducted with the park's approval through the years, including one to take a visual census of the species of fish that inhabit tall underwater bluffs in the lake, Arnett said.
Radnor Lake is an 85-acre lake impounded in 1914 by the Louisville and Nashville Railroad to provide water for steam engines and farm animals at railroad yards. Because a wide variety of wildlife began to call the lake home, the railroad later banned hunting and fishing. In 1962, the area was designated a park, and the Tennessee Department of Conservation purchased the lake in 1973 and designated it as the first Tennessee state natural area. Hunting and fishing are still prohibited, as is picking flowers, removing rocks, cutting trees, and other damaging activities.
Sixth Circuit Court holds Lipscomb bonds constitutional
The Sixth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has reversed a district court decision and affirmed that Industrial Development Bonds awarded to Lipscomb University in the early 1990s are constitutional.
In a 2-1 decision issued Aug. 14, the 6th Circuit court held that the bonds were issued through a religiously neutral program of Metro Nashville and provided only indirect aid to Lipscomb, according to the majority opinion written by U.S. District Judge Edmund Sargus.
"The objective observer of Metro's industrial revenue bond program, knowing the history and context of this program, would reasonably view it as one aspect of a broader undertaking to finance economic development, not as an endorsement of religious schooling in general. Metro no more endorsed Lipscomb University than it did Wal-Mart in issuing industrial revenue bonds," the opinion says.
"Because the proposed issuance of industrial revenue bonds to Lipscomb University is part of a neutral program to benefit education, including that provided by sectarian institutions, and confers at best only an indirect benefit to the school, we hold that the issuance of the bonds does not violate the First Amendment," the court concluded.
In its ruling, the 6th Circuit reversed the district court's grant of summary judgment to the plaintiffs, and reversed the denial of summary judgment that had been sought by Metro and Lipscomb.
"The 6th Circuit has declared that these bonds are constitutional and therefore lawful. This is a complete victory," said Bradley A. MacLean of Stites and Harbison PLLC. MacLean is Lipscomb's lead counsel in the case.
In October 2000, U.S. District Judge Aleta Traugher ruled that Lipscomb was ineligible for the industrial revenue bonds, holding that the institution was "pervasively sectarian" and that such aid would violate the separation of church and state, or the "Establishment Clause" of the First Amendment.
Trauger's ruling enjoined Metro from awarding such bonds to Lipscomb and other pervasively sectarian institutions. The Aug. 14 ruling overturned that decision.
"The 6th Circuit's decision was based on the very same rationale that we argued to the 6th Circuit," MacLean said. That argument focused on two questions: Is Metro's Industrial Development Bond program religiously neutral, and is the resulting benefit direct or indirect governmental aid.
"The court found that the Industrial Development Bond program in our case is a religiously neutral program, which means that participation in the program is based upon religiously neutral criteria. The court also found that the nature of the governmental benefit in our case is an indirect benefit, which means that it is the type of benefit that religious or sectarian institutions can realize without violating the Establishment Clause," MacLean said.
The benefit in this case was a tax exemption for those who purchased the bonds, which permitted Lipscomb to borrow funds at a lower interest rate.
"A tax exemption is an indirect benefit. The benefit to Lipscomb is even more attenuated because the benefit is a lower interest rate. The court looked at that and affirmed that this was an indirect benefit. The mere fact that a religious or sectarian institution might realize that benefit does not violate the Establishment Clause," MacLean said.
In early 1991, Lipscomb University applied for, and was granted, $15 million in Industrial Development Bonds to finance construction of Beaman Library, the Student Activities Center, campus landscaping and beautification, and renovation of Crisman Memorial Library for use as an administration building. On May 31, 1991, five Davidson County residents, led by Harold Steele, and a group called Americans for Religious Liberty filed a lawsuit asserting that the bonds constituted a direct endorsement of religion in violation of the Establishment Clause.
If they choose to pursue the case further, the plaintiffs must appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Employees donate supplies to Project PENCIL school
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Lipscomb's Dr. Junior High, right, and Glendale Principal Carol Hutson present backpacks to student body representatives Michael Schmidt and Sameera Durani. |
Lipscomb employees contributed nearly 40 new backpacks full of school supplies for distribution to Glendale students who could benefit from the assistance, as determined by Glendale teachers, said Dr. Carol Hutson, principal of the school.
Backpacks that were not distributed during an official presentation will be distributed during the school year as needs arise, she said.
"I was a principal for 20 years, and I know there are always students who can benefit from the gift of school supplies and backpacks at the first of the year," said Dr. Junior High, director of the Graduate Studies in Education program at Lipscomb.
"So I asked if we could have a drive at the beginning of the year and allow [Lipscomb employees] to contribute school supplies and backpacks, then we would distribute them at the school," he said.
The backpacks ranged from a Tennessee Titans motif to NASCAR racer Jeff Gordon to the unadorned, and contained such supplies as pencils, highlighters, paper, composition books, erasers, scissors, crayons, pencil boxes, markers, High said.
The first two backpacks were presented ceremonially to sixth-graders Sameera Durani and Michael Schmidt, who represented the Glendale Advisory Board, similar to other schools' student councils.
Durani and Schmidt had spoken to the Lipscomb University faculty in August to demonstrate the impact of the Glendale-Lipscomb partnership and to express appreciation for last year's activities, High said.
"It was encouraging to get the whole university involved in our PENCIL partnership," he said.
Lipscomb and Glendale have been PENCIL Partners for 19 years. PENCIL partnerships are created through the PENCIL Foundation, a non-profit organization established in 1982 by area business and community leaders to encourage involvement in public education.
PENCIL Partners are Nashville-area business, organizations and faith communities who partner with a Metropolitan Nashville Public School. PENCIL Partners provide classroom readers, reading or math tutors, support for art and music, transportation for field trips, volunteers for field days, and more.
Students mark Sept. 11 anniversary on campus, in Vienna
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Students in Vienna gather across from St. Augustine's cathedral before the "Rolling Requiem" performance at the church. |
The setting was particularly meaningful to the students -- participants in Lipscomb's semester-abroad program -- because Mozart composed his "Requiem" in Vienna just before his untimely death at age 35.
"It is truly one of the most sublime works ever written, and as a requiem, it is entirely appropriate that this work was chosen as a way to commemorate those lost on Sept. 11 last year," said Dr. Kimberly Reed, director of the study-abroad program and one of Lipscomb's overseas faculty this fall.
"Listening to his Requiem was one of the most profound spiritual experiences I have had, and doing so on that day, in the city where Mozart spent his mature years, is an event that our group will always remember."
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Hundreds of Lipscomb students, faculty, and staff gathered at the base of the Allen Bell Tower for a service to remember the Sept. 11 tragedy. The service began with the tolling of the bell at 7:46 a.m. and ended in the same manner at 8:03 a.m. The times corresponded to the attacks on the World Trade Center. |
Student Josh Elmore, Watkinsville, Ga., said the program bridged the distance between Vienna and home.
"For over a week we had been distanced from the people and places of our home. However, in that church, at that time, we were surrounded by our fellow Americans. We knew none of them but we were united in remembrance. It was an opportunity to reflect and understand the pain and suffering that man can cause, and also the beauty that God can create," Elmore said.
Nashville student Brandon Lokey called the performance "breathtaking."
"This was the first time I had ever heard a live performance of it, and knowing why it was being played made it even more amazing. I was honored to be there. It was a great way of showing our love and remembrance for the people of Sept. 11," Lokey said.
Nashville student Billy Anderson said he was impressed by the Austrians' hard work to present the Requiem and by the presence of the Austrian president.
"This kind of effort on their part shows a compassion and sense of world community that most Americans can't fully understand. The music itself was the most beautiful thing I have ever heard. The spirit and emotion behind the music was the absolute best thing these people could give us. They gave us a piece of their history and soul to help heal ours, and for that, I'm eternally grateful," Anderson said.
The "Rolling Requiem" was a worldwide effort to honor the victims and all who helped others in some way after the Sept. 11 attacks. The goal of the Rolling Requiem was to have choirs performing in each time zone around the globe beginning at 8:46 a.m., the moment of the first attack on the World Trade Center.
Because choirs started at that time in each time zone, the Requiem was performed constantly throughout a 24-hour period.
"I found out about this from my sister and her husband, who have lived in Manhattan for many years and were devastated by what they saw last year," Reed said. "I then discovered that the American Embassy here in Vienna was sponsoring a performance at the St. Augustine church, so I called the embassy to get more information. They called back with an invitation for our group to attend, which was crucial because this is an invitation-only event in Vienna," Reed said.
Performance of the Requiem began west of the International Date Line in New Zealand and the Philippines, before crossing to Japan, Siberia and China, then progressively across Asia, Europe, Africa, North and South America, then through the Pacific Islands as it completed the circle, according to www.rollingrequiem.org.
"By bringing together these many voices, the Rolling Requiem hopes to make a contribution to the healing process of the many who have been deeply affected by the losses of Sept. 11," says information on the website.
"The Rolling Requiem can serve as a reaffirmation of love and support for one another. In the same way that so many reached out to help immediately after the attack, it is hoped that this effort and the unified singing will make a difference for many people, while also serving to commemorate the first anniversary."
On the Lipscomb campus, a time of prayer and remembrance was held at the exact time of the plane crashes into the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001. Special chapel services were also held at the university and campus school.
Lipscomb named among top colleges by 'U.S. News' for ninth year
Lipscomb University has been chosen for inclusion in the top rankings of U.S. News and World Report's "America's Best Colleges" for the ninth consecutive year.
Lipscomb ranks 31st on the publication's "Best Universities-Master's" list, an improvement of two positions from last year's ranking.
"We are pleased to be included, and to be associated with the other universities in the top tier of the rankings. By looking into the specific numbers, one sees that there is less separating the top institutions than the overall ranking indicates," said President Steve Flatt.
"As pleased as we are to be included, we believe there are subjective attributes to our program at Lipscomb that enhance our quality beyond any objective measure and make Lipscomb a truly distinctive Christian university," Flatt said.
U.S. News bases its rankings of institutions like Lipscomb on assessments of what the magazine says are six key indicators: peer assessment, graduation and retention rates, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources, and alumni giving.
The magazine gives greatest weight to the first two categories, with 25 percent of the weight being given to the subjective assessments of peer presidents, chief academic officers and deans of admission. Another 25 percent is given to retention and graduation rates.
From last year's publication, Lipscomb showed improvements in student retention, graduation rate, full-time faculty percentage, number of students enrolling who were in the top 25 percent of their graduating classes. The largest percentage improvement was in alumni giving, which jumped from 21 percent the previous year to 29 percent this year.
LU's Johnson collaborates to publish Mexican War diary of D.H. Hill
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The D.H. Hill diary is available at online bookstores. |
Despite his leadership qualities, he may be best remembered as the Confederate general who wore out his welcome with two commanding officers during that conflict -- Gen. Robert E. Lee, first, and later, Gen. Braxton Bragg, who dropped Hill from command because of Hill's criticism of Bragg after the Battle of Chickamauga.
And like most other high-ranking officers during the Civil War, Hill distinguished himself as a young officer during the Mexican War. Yet only one book, "Lee's Maverick General" by Leonard Hal Bridges, has been written about Hill. Until now.
Lipscomb University's Dr. Tim Johnson, and historian Nathaniel Cheairs Hughes Jr., have co-edited Hill's Mexican War diary and published it through The Kent State University Press.
The title, "A Fighter from Way Back," is taken from a quote by one of Hill's Civil War soldiers.
Hill "is a colorful character," Johnson said. "Folks know that about him from the Civil War.
"He was a young lieutenant in the Mexican War – he graduated from West Point in 1842. So this was his first experience with war and he was soaking it all in, taking in the country. He learned Spanish while he was [in Mexico]," Johnson said.
Hill's diary is "very detailed and descriptive," which makes it valuable to historians, he said.
Highlights include his dislike of volunteer troops and their lack of discipline, his attitudes toward the people of Mexico, his colorful descriptions of the countryside and his evaluations of the American commanders in Mexico, Johnson said.
"What's important about this kind of work is that it preserves the actual accounts by participants. Some [diaries] are good, some are mediocre. This one is very good," Johnson said.
Hill emerged from the Mexican War as a bona fide hero, winning brevet promotions to captain and major for his conduct at Contreras and the pivotal battle at Chapultepec. In the Civil War, he received field promotions to brigadier general and major general. But he blamed Lee for the Confederate loss Malvern Hill and later called Bragg "incompetent" for his failure to pursue Union troops after Chickamauga. Hill was removed from command and his promotion to lieutenant general withdrawn.
A highly educated mathematician, Hill was superintendent of the North Carolina Military Institute between the wars, and of what became the University of Arkansas following the Civil War.
Johnson is author of "Winfield Scott: The Quest for Military Glory," and has been conducting research for a book about the Mexican War. He is a professor of history at Lipscomb.
The book is available by order from the major online bookstores.
Lipscomb to host Seven Secrets of Effective Fathers Jan. 31-Feb.1
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Ken Canfield |
The free seminar will be held in Willard Collins Alumni Auditorium. Features will include a couples' seminar on "The Power of the Parenting Team" from 7-9:30 p.m. and a "night-owl bonus section" on "Helping Your Kids Prevail in a Sex-Saturated Society" from 9:40-10:30 p.m. Jan. 31; and men-only sessions on Saturday, including an early-bird session for step fathers and divorced or separated fathers who do not live with their children, beginning at 7 a.m. Feb. 1, followed by the Seven Secrets seminar from 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
The sessions will feature Dr. Ken Canfield, head of the National Center for Fathering, which presents the series.
Hosting the Seven Secrets seminar is an outgrowth of the Conference on Family Wellness, presented annually by Lipscomb's Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, said Dr. John Conger, professor and chair of the department.
"After looking at the topic of divorce two years ago, we found that one of the real problems associated with divorce is the loss of men from the family system," Conger said. "That, coupled with the growth in the number of children born outside of marriage, means record numbers of children are growing up without dads around--either their own or a stepdad."
Today in the United States, only 53 percent of households are headed by a married couple, and only 8 percent are "father-headed," Conger said.
"Couple that with the fact that almost every indicator of child well-being is worse -- often many times worse -- for children from father-absent homes, then responsible fathering and father involvement in the lives of children becomes a major social, economic, academic and political issue," Conger said.
Conger said statistics show that in 1999, 42 percent of children in homes with a single mother were in poverty, compared to 8 percent of children from homes with married parents. Sixteen percent of children from all families were in poverty, Conger said.
"Because Tennessee has one of the highest divorce rates and non-marital parenting rates in the country, this seminar is particularly relevant here," Conger said.
Topics to be included in the seminar include "Understanding your power as a father, step-father, grandfather or father figure;" "Factors that influence the way you father," "Characteristics that set effective dads apart from most dads," "Discover your fathering strengths and weakness," and "What historical and sacred literature says about your role as a father."
Although the seminar is free, registration will be required. For additional information when available, visit the Family and Consumer Science department's website at http://fcs.lipscomb.edu; call the department office at 615.279.6108, or e-mail alacia.-mccadams@lipscomb.edu.
Career Center adds 'eRecruiting' service
The Lipscomb University Career Center has a new program to allow alumni, students, faculty and staff to post employment opportunities and network with prospective employees.
"eRecruiting" is a product of Experience.com and is being used by more than 500 universities, said James Yates, director of the Career Center.
The product allows users to post résumés and publish into various "web résumé books" for prospective employers to peruse, Yates said.
"The main [book] for all Lipscomb people is the 'general book.' Use this one first and then others as they interest you. Résumés must be published before employers can access them," Yates said.
"Résumés are the keys to open doors to interviews and job offers," he said.
eRecruiting is only available through the Lipscomb site to alumni, students, faculty and staff. To use the resource, each person must first "register" with the site and create a username and password. The site suggests using the social security number, with dashes, as the username, and the last four digits of that number as a password.
After logging on, users may build a profile and share employment goals, personal and academic information and plans for the future.
Users may build résumés in Microsoft Word and upload them into eRecruiting by following appropriate links, Yates said.
Yates and Beverly Langford, administrative assistant in the Career Center, are available to critique résumés and make suggestions. "An excellent Résumé Writing Guide" is also available in the center.
To access eRecruiting, go to the Lipscomb website at www.lipscomb.edu and follow the "career center" link. You may also go directly to the Career Center site at careercenter.lipscomb.edu.
Library receives new additions
-- Jen Ashby
Beaman Library has obtained several new additions in recent months.
In early September, the library was given three rare sets of books by alumnus Katherine Sharp. The titles of the sets include The History of Egypt, a set of 13 volumes printed by the Grolier Society in 1904; a set of 12 volumes by Francis Parkman published by Little Brown in 1892, and 17 volumes of The Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night by Richard Burton, published in 1885.
Library director Carolyn Wilson is delighted by the gift.
"All of the books are in beautiful condition," Wilson said. "The sets had been in Katherine's family for a very long time."
Because the books are of specialized use, they will be housed in special collections at Beaman Library.
Wilson is also excited to announce the purchase of over 18,000 ebooks titles. The titles, which are now available through the library's webpage, were purchased from netLibrary over the summer.
"The package we purchased features mostly newer titles," Wilson said. "We hope students will take advantage of these new resources."
Lipscomb Legend nominations due by Nov. 30
Help choose a legend!
Each year, Lipscomb University chooses four former employees and honors them as "Lipscomb Legends." Lipscomb Legends are chosen from among faculty, staff and administrators with a minimum of ten years of service who were "legends" during and after their employment at Lipscomb.
Current employees, even if officially retired, are not eligible.
Nominations should be sent to the Lipscomb Legend Committee, c/o Provost's Office, Lipscomb University, 3901 Granny White Pike, Nashville, TN 37204-3951, on or before Nov. 30, 2002.
A nomination form is also available at http://alumni.lipscomb.edu. Nominations must include statements supporting the nomination.
Lipscomb Legends already inducted: Buddy Arnold, Irma Lee Batey, Batsell Baxter, Batsell Barrett Baxter, Sue Berry, H. Leo Boles, Eugene Boyce, Eunice Bradley, Charles R. Brewer, Robert Childress, Willard Collins, Allene Dill-ingham, Ken Dugan, E.A. Elam, Carroll Ellis, Ruth Gleaves, Gladys Gooch, Max Hamrick, Tom Hanvey, James A. Harding, Margaret Hop-per, John Hutcheson, E.H. Ijams, Robert Kerce, Jimmy Langley, David Lipscomb, Margaret Meador, Bob Neil, S.P. Pittman, John L. Rainey, Anne Marie Robertson, J.P. Sanders, Mary Sherrill, J. Ridley Stroop, Axel Swang and Betty Watts.
Faculty News
New Faculty:
Victoria Johnson, instructor in foreign languages; Steven Little, instructor in management; Dr. Charla Long, assistant professor of management; John Pettit, associate professor of engineering; Dr. Kecia Ray, assistant professor of computing and information systems; Shanna Ray, instructor in psychology; Steve Sherman, missionary in residence; Johanna Woollard, instructor in business administration and director of adult studies.
Administration
Phil Ellenburg attended the National Association of College and University Attorneys' annual meeting in Boston, Mass. He moderated a special interest group session for church related institutions and presented a brief presentation on Lipscomb's bond lawsuit at that session. He also conducted a focus session for new college and university attorneys. Scott Gilmer, director of transfer enrollment services, and Rebekah Parker, director of housing, were scholastic achievement judges for the Simpson County Junior Miss Program for the second year. They evaluated each participant on her academic excellence. The Simpson Junior Miss Program was held in Franklin, Ky. Rob Mossack, director of academic advising and support services, attended the NACADA national conference in Salt Lake City. The Public Relations Office won a gold award in the Tennessee College Public Relations Society 2002 Communications Awards for The Lipscomb News. Kim Chaudoin, assistant director of public relations, received silver awards in the "feature article," "special publication,' and "brochure/flyer I" categories and a bronze award in the "poster" category.
Beaman Library
Carolyn Wilson, associate librarian and director of Beaman Library, wrote an article on Potter Bible College for the Stone-Campbell Encyclopedia. She was elected to the board of the Disciples of Christ Historical Society for the 2003-2006 term. Judy Butler, associate librarian, attended the Christian College Librarians Conference hosted by Lipscomb University. She presided, as president, at the fall meeting of the Nashville Library Club at the Nashville and Davidson County Public Library, Hermitage Branch.
College of Arts and Humanities
Dr. Valery Prill, associate professor of French and dean, authored a chapter called "Finding My Way" for the book, "College Faith: 150 Christian Leaders and Educators Share Faith Stories from their Student Days."
English
Dr. Matthew Hearn, professor and chair, taught in the Lipscomb in London study abroad program during May and June 2002. He also conducted a two-day workshop in writing and writing assessment for faculty at Erskine College in Due West, S.C. Dr. Linda Garner, associate professor, was elected the Region III vice president of Alpha Chi, the national college honor scholarship society. Dr. John Parker, professor, preached in a gospel meeting at the Jefferson Avenue congregation in Cookeville, Tenn. Steve Prewitt, assistant professor and associate provost for academic affairs, made a presentation on Patricia Highsmith's "Strangers on a Train" as part of the summer reading series, "Ah, Sweet Mystery," co-sponsored by the Nashville chapter of the Women's National Book Association and Humanities Tennessee. He also participated in a national assessment workshop sponsored by Institutional Effectiveness Associates. Dr. Kimberly Reed, associate professor and director of study abroad, chaired a panel on teaching Henry James's fiction at the International Conference on Henry James, held in Paris, France. The panel was composed of essayists for her upcoming book, "Approaches to Teaching Henry James's 'Daisy Miller' and 'The Turn of the Screw,'" that will be published by the Modern Language Association.
History, Politics, and Philosophy
Dr. Jerry Gaw, associate professor, will lead a trip to England, France, and Spain next May 14-27. The group will start in London and then travel to Canterbury on their way to Paris. From Paris they will go to Bordeaux and then cross the Pyrenees into Spain. Two-thirds of the time will be spent touring Spain, including Madrid, Toledo, Cordoba, Seville, and Granada. "Seeing the mixture of Christian, Jewish, and Islamic cultures in southern Spain will be especially enlightening," said Gaw. The cost for this two-week experience is $2486 and includes airfare, private coach, hotels, two meals a day, licensed guides, and entrance fees. If you are interested and would like a brochure, please contact Gaw at Jerry.Gaw@Lipscomb.edu or at 615-279-5745. Dr. Richard Goode, associate professor, delivered one of the lectures for the Disciples of Christ Historical Society's Kirkpatrick Historians' Seminar. The paper will be published in the next issue of "Discipliana" under the title "'Floating at Random between Liberty and Obedience?' Backgrounds to the Second Great Awakening's Emotional Exercises." He served as a panelist on the Gallery Talk program at Vanderbilt University, to discuss his chapter "A School for Prophets of the New South: The Dilemma of Engaging Southern Culture" in the book "Vanderbilt Divinity School: Education, Contest, and Change (Vanderbilt University Press, 2001). Goode participated in the Ekklesia Project conference in Chicago.
School of Fine and Performing Arts
Music
Dr. Gerald Moore, professor, served on the faculty of the Mountain Collegium, an early music workshop at Young Harris College. Four Lipscomb students were granted full tuition scholarships and attended. Dr. Jerry Reed, professor, performed Ives Concord Sonata at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. He judged a piano competition at Murray State University that concentrated on 20th century repertoire, an Alabama Music Teachers Association piano competition at University of Montevallo, and the Tennessee Music Teachers Association piano competition at UT-Knoxville. Reed spoke on a panel regarding issues in teaching music at the college level at Tennessee Music Teachers Association Convention. He also premiered a commissioned work by the Tennessee Music Teachers Association for two pianos and percussion by Lipscomb alumni Michael Slayton.
Theater
Dr. Larry Brown, professor, taught a seminar in "Interpretations of Hamlet on Stage and Screen" at the Green Hills public library.
College of Bible and Ministry
Dr. George Goldman II, assistant professor, successfully defended his dissertation on "The Contribution of Joel 2-3 to the Restoration of Israel Theme in Acts" at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Chicago, Ill. Dr. Gary Holloway, professor, published "Acts, the Fifth Gospel" in the "Streams of Mercy" series from Hillcrest Publishing and edited an issue of "Leaven" magazine on Peace and Justice with contributions from the fellows of Lipscomb's Center for International Peace and Justice, including Guy R. Vanderpool, Neal P. Allison, Dr. Lee C. Camp, Dr. Richard Goode, Dr. Donald D. Cole, and Bible faculty Dr. Mark Black and Dr. Earl Lavender. Lavender, associate professor and director of missions, led a group of 50 Lipscomb students to the World Mission Workshop in Abilene, Texas. Lipscomb will host the workshop next October. He spoke at the York Christian University Lectures. Lavender will be facilitating a leadership retreat for the Jeffersonville, Indiana Church of Christ Nov. 15-16. and will be reading a paper "Toward an Understanding of Patristic Pneumatology" for the RTRF group in Toronto, Canada on Nov. 23 while participating in the Society of Biblical Literature annual meeting. Dr. Michael Moss, professor and associate dean, spoke at Pepperdine University lectures, Hilldale church in Clarksville, Greenwood Park church in Bowling Green, Ky., Collegeside church in Cookeville, MTSU campus ministry at North Boulevard church in Murfreesboro and attended the World Mission Workshop in Abilene, Texas. He also led a mission trip to Bucharest, Romania. Moss and Dr. Terry Briley, professor and dean, represented Lipscomb at the inauguration of Matt Pinson, the new president of Free Will Baptist College.
College of Business
Dr. George Boulware, professor and dean, served as a consultant for the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs for Jarvis Christian College. He served as coordinator for the American Council on Education-CREDIT for industry visits to Delta AirLines and NASA. Boulware attended the National Coordinator's meeting for the American Council on Education in Washington, D.C.
Accounting
Dr. Perry Moore, associate professor and director of MBA admissions, has been re-elected treasurer of the Nashville Chapter of the Institute of Internal Auditors; attended the Nashville Chapter's audit director's Roundtable, has been elected president of the Tennessee Society of Accounting Educators, and attended the annual meeting of the Tennessee Society of Certified Public Accountants. In July, Moore served as director of the Career Exploration in Accounting and Business, a summer camp experience for high school students that Lipscomb hosted in conjunction with the Tennessee Society of CPAs. He is also a member of the Accounting Education and Career Awareness Committee of the Tennessee Society of CPAs.
Management
Dr. Elaine Griffin, professor and assistant provost for institutional effectiveness, presented "Energizing the Business Classroom" at the ACBSP annual convention in Houston, Texas, and wrote and submitted four healthcare encyclopedia topics to Encyclopedia of Health Care Management. She attended the workshop "Understanding the Alphabet Soup of Employee Relations" conducted by Waller Lansdon Dortch and Davis; the AACSB accreditation workshop in Orlando, Fla.; the American College of Healthcare Executives workshop, "Sharpening Executive Skills" in New Orleans, La.; and meetings of the Middle Tennessee Healthcare Executives Association. She designed, developed, and conducted "Knock-Your-Socks-Off" workshops and a "Continuous Quality Improvement" workshop. Griffin submitted documentation for recertification for Fellow status in American College of Healthcare Executives.
College of Education and Professional Studies
Communication
Dr. Jimmy McCollum, assistant professor and chair, attended the Associated Collegiate Press national convention in Washington, D.C., with nine students; attended the national convention of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication in Miami, Fla., with Dr. Bill Proctor, associate professor; attended the national convention of the Society of Professional Journalists in Fort Worth, Texas, with Dr. Sam Parker, associate professor, and four students; and spoke in Knoxville to the East Tennessee Chapter of the Institute of Internal Auditors on "Principles of Effective Communication." Dr. Jim L. Thomas, professor and dean, was co-host with Metro Public Schools for a workshop on Steven Covey's book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. The session included 50 principals and central office staff from Metro Public Schools.
Education
Dr. Richard Jones, associate professor, chaired the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools peer review team for Freedom Middle School in Franklin Special School District. Members of the team were Shirley Bornstein, Lipscomb Campus School; Jay Gore, Hillsboro High School and Cindy Tripp, Brentwood Academy.
Kinesiology
Dr. Lynn Griffith, professor, was part of a mission team that went to Cap Haitian, Haiti to build a school building.
College of Natural and Applied Sciences
Mathematics
Dr. Randy Bouldin, assistant professor, completed the Ph.D. degree in mathematics education at Vanderbilt this September. Dr. Gary Hall, professor, is the Tennessee director for the Southeastern Section of the Mathematical Association of America. He attended the executive council meeting of the section in Atlanta, Ga. Dr. Carroll Wells, professor, was reelected vice-president for Colleges and Universities for the Tennessee Mathematics Teachers Association. Four mathematics faculty members gave presentations at the combined state meeting of the Tennessee Mathematics Teachers Association and the Middle Tennessee Mathematics Teachers Association. Bouldin presented "Investigating How College Students Organize and Interpret Data Doing Statistical Analysis," Hall presented "Dealing with Math Anxiety," Dr. Doy Hollman, professor, presented "Historical Look at Polygons," and Wells presented "Hands-on Activities to Use in a Geometry Class."
Psychology
Shanna Ray, instructor, co-authored an article published in the July 2002 issue of the journal Developmental Psychology entitled "Matching and Naming Objects by Shape and Function: Age and Context Effects in Preschool Children."
Reorganized Admissions Office to communicate Lipscomb's strengths
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Admissions Counselor Crystal Watson, left, and student worker Amy Stroup work on a strategy to contact students in Watson's territory. Afternoons in the Admissions Office are full of activity as counselors and student workers contact prospective students. --Amber R. Stacey |
The Admissions Office is a busy place these days, with several new counselors, a wide range of new materials describing Lipscomb programs, a considerably expanded student telemarketing program -- even an updated website with new offerings in place and planned.
The Admissions "buzz" is the result of an expansion and reorganization directed by Wade Sandrell, who returned to his alma mater earlier this year as vice president for enrollment and marketing.
Sandrell said his goals were wrapped up in one concept: communicate the strengths Lipscomb has to offer.
"By communicating this, our enrollment and recognition as one of America's best colleges will increase," Sandrell said. "I was confident that we could accomplish the goal of making people aware that Lipscomb is a distinctively Christian university. However, there were several items that had to be put into place, ranging from processes and procedures to marketing materials, facilities and organizational structure."
One of the first orders of business was to renovate the Admissions Office facilities to create a more inviting "welcome center" for prospective students, but also to promote a synergy among counselors and other staff -- professional and student. The changes are having an effect: applications to Lipscomb were up more than 100 percent over the same time last year in mid-October.
"The energy level in our office is off the charts. It's easy to be excited about your job when you believe in what you are doing.
"Lipscomb is an incredible place to go to school and to work. God has blessed me once again by bringing my family and me back to Lipscomb. The atmosphere is second to none. The people on campus are caring and helpful. The university continues to enhance the spiritual and academic quality. I am impressed with the faculty, the quality of students and programs," Sandrell said.
But encouraging students to attend Lipscomb is not simply the task of Admissions Office personnel. Sandrell wants to involve alumni and friends of the university in the admissions process through a new "University Ambassador" program.
"This program is for alumni and friends who are interested in assisting with the recruiting efforts at Lipscomb. A University Ambassador can host an event, or visit a high school or church if one of our professionals is not available. Those who are interested should call us at 615.269.1776 or register online at www.lipscomb.edu -- look under "Admissions" and then "alumni" at the bottom of the Admissions page.
"We always need to add names to our database. Please send us the names of youth at your church and high schools. You can e-mail the list to admissions@lipscomb.edu or fax to 615.269.1804," Sandrell said.
Students selected for prestigious Mountain Collegium Early Music Workshop in Georgia
Four Lipscomb University music students were awarded full tuition scholarships to participate in the prestigious Mountain Collegium Early Music Workshop at Young Harris College in Georgia.
The students and their skills emphases during the workshop: Bria Baker, advanced viola da gamba and bagpipes; Erin Brumit, recorders and krummhorns; Carina Heim, solo vocal literature and harp; and Ursula Hicks, treble viola da gamba and playing Baroque continuo bass lines.
"These four students gained valuable experience which will benefit them in all aspects of their musical lives, and our Early Music Consort will also benefit.They lead by example, and the skills which they developed at the workshop will help inspire other students to seek similar opportunities," said Dr. Gerald Moore, professor of music. Moore is director of Lipscomb's Early Music Consort and was on the Mountain Collegium faculty.
The students attended 20 classes, two lecture demonstrations, performed four selections each in a recital, attended a faculty recital, attended five full rehearsals with all participants, and visited the nearby Kelischek Workshop, where instruments are made and music published.
"Bria, Ursula, Carina and Erin were a welcome addition to the classes they attended and a wonderful resource for the faculty when in need of assistance," said Robert Castellano, workshop director. "The performance level of all four was of very high caliber, as was their professional demeanor. They were extremely well prepared for the workshop experience. I look forward to many more Mountain Collegium Early Music Workshops with students from Lipscomb University in attendance."
Lipscomb University hosted the "TSCPA Career Exploration in Accounting and Business" camp for 53 high school students and recent grads from across the state. The four-day camp, which ran from Sunday afternoon through Wednesday, gave students insight into the accounting profession and allowed them to meet professionals in the field while touring area firms. Pictured is Dr. Charles Frasier, associate professor and chair of the Department of Accounting, teaching a session on business ethics.
--Amber R. Stacey
Fincher, Speight enhance missions, ministry opportunities
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Jeff Fincher |
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Bill Speight |
Jeff Fincher and Bill Speight have been part of the Lipscomb staff for just a few short weeks in roles that have been newly created and are being funded by private donations. But already, their impact is being felt campus-wide.
Fincher will direct the student missions program. Previously, Earl Lavender, associate professor of Bible and director of missions, coordinated the entire program voluntarily in addition to his teaching load.
"Our student mission trips have developed so rapidly over the last four years that we desperately needed help to organize these trips. Our missions program has been run entirely by volunteers up till now. Much of the work with the Student Missions Fellowship, and the development of a website for missions, raising funds for expanding missions ... there were many tasks that just weren't doable without Jeff," said Lavender.
"He clearly understands the direction we want for missions to go at Lipscomb and is a great addition to the team. We had enough work for two or three new positions, and he is doing a great job picking up many of the tasks that previously were not doable."
A 1997 Lipscomb graduate, Fincher said his longterm goal is to help "every student on campus discover and develop his own ministry."
"Maybe it's foreign missions. Maybe it's at a rescue mission. It's my belief that everybody is a missionary. You walk out of your house or dorm room every morning into a mission field. You take the context you're in and make it your mission," he said.
Other goals include developing academic department mission trips. For example, majors from the teacher education program could travel somewhere as a group to help teach others how to teach. Fincher said he would also like to be more involved with service clubs on campus and get a campus-wide emphasis on service.
"We're trying to change the image of the missions program. It's a campus-wide network," said Fincher. "This is what we're called to do. God's purpose for us is to minister and to serve. We want to equip our students to serve. In Nashville we are blessed to have so many opportunities for service."
Traditional domestic and foreign mission trips are still an integral part of the mission program, Fincher said. Last year, nearly 350 students participated in a mission trip. This year, 35 trips are planned including seven new destinations. Among these are Saba in the Carribean, to an orphanage in Cozumel, working with churches in Baha, visiting the World Wide Youth Camps in Russia, Haiti, Canada and Scotland. Fincher said several students have also expressed an interest in visiting Japan and Germany with a mission team.
Lipscomb will host the annual World Mission Workshop Oct. 16-18, 2003. The theme is "And the Word Became Flesh," said Fincher. Lipscomb last hosted the Workshop in 1994.
Fincher said he plans to involve traditional participants in the conference as well as Christian student centers from state universities, local churches, youth ministers and Christian high schools as well as other groups. More details will be released in the coming months.
Fincher also received a master of arts in religion degree from Lipscomb in 2000. He comes to Lipscomb from Western Hills Church of Christ in Nashville, where he was youth and children's minister and campus minister at Nashville Christian School.
For more information about the mission program or the workshop, contact Fincher at 615.279.6050 or 800.333.4358, ext. 6050, at Jeff.Fincher@lipscomb.edu or visit missions.lipscomb.edu.
Bill Speight is quickly becoming a common sight in the halls of David Lipscomb Campus School. As campus minister, Speight serves the entire campus school by providing spiritual leadership for students and faculty, guiding students in leadership development, assisting with and leading chapel programs, devotionals, and service projects, among many other responsibilities.
He is also a resource for students and faculty for materials and other information that will help them in their spiritual walk. He sends out a daily e-mail devotional to all campus school faculty and staff.
Speight said he also plans to work with area youth ministers and churches to get them more involved in the programs at David Lipscomb Campus School. Speight said he also finds himself counseling a lot of students and faculty each day as well as being involved in Bible studies with some students. He said he has also gotten to know many of the campus school parents, who have called on him to "check in on their student or to tell me about something that's going on in the student's life," he said.
"This is such a wonderful opportunity for me. It's an opportunity for me to pay back to Lipscomb what it did for me. I found the Lord as a high school senior in the '70s. There were three people who didn't give up on me and now I'm giving back," said Speight, who graduated from Lipscomb in 1977 and holds a master's degree in counseling from Middle Tennessee State University. "There are many rewards. We've already had two baptisms and another Bible study is going well."
"We feel very fortunate to have someone of Bill's character and background working with us as campus minister. He has many years of experience in youth work in addition to a background in family counseling," said Keith Nikolaus, vice president and director of campus school.
"This fall he is in the process of becoming acquainted with our students and faculty. As time passes and he develops relationships within the Campus School family, his effectiveness in ministry will be felt by many. It is a great blessing to have someone whose sole purpose every day is to focus solely on meeting the spiritual needs of students and faculty."
Speight said he wants to be involved in the lives of the students.
"I'm trying to be a constant in the lives of these kids," he said. "I want to be an encouragement to the students. I try to get to as many of their events as possible," he said.
The students are glad to have a campus minister around.
"He's incredible," said senior Krystal Grimes. "His presence gives me a boost. He is truly a blessing from God to me and to our school."
Speight is no stranger to Lipscomb. He worked in the university admissions office from 1978-79 with Lipscomb President Steve Flatt and Steve Davidson, director of special activities, when there was the first emphasis on student recruiting. He has been in youth ministry in Murfreesboro, Chattanooga and Dallas. He and his wife, Jill, have a daughter, Ashleigh, a junior at DLHS, and a son, Wesley, a sophomore at Nashville Tech.
Gallaher, Marshall receive research grant from state of Tennessee
-- Jen Ashby
Dr. Kent Gallaher, associate professor of biology, and Dr. Autumn Marshall, assistant professor of dietetics, have been awarded a research grant from the state of Tennessee.
Gallaher and Marshall received a grant of nearly $20,000 dollars to conduct research on the mineral content of herbal teas.
"We are elated," Gallaher said. "We never expected to get even half of the grant funded."
Gallaher and Marshall have already begun their research.
"Our preliminary study will compare mineral contents of several commercial and bulk teas against FDA recommended dietary values and against known mineral contents of other food sources," Gallaher said. "This is significant because few studies have been done in this arena."
Additionally, the project will provide biology and dietetics students with much-needed research experience.
"We included student workers in the budget. We plan to have at least two students assist with the work," Marshall said.
The herbs Gallaher and Marshall plan to study include wild American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius), German chamomile (Chamomilla recutita), wild ginger (Zingiber officinale), goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis), hawthorn (Crataegus Oxycantha), lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.) and peppermint (Mentha Piperita).
The grant was awarded as part of a class action lawsuit brought by the state attorney general's office against several vitamin and herbal supplement manufacturers.
Under the terms of the agreement, the state must distribute these funds to non-profit organizations that wish to conduct research on dietary supplements.
Bennett, Pierce to be inducted into NAIA Hall of Fame
--Kevin Farris
Two Lipscomb University basketball legends -- John Pierce and Frank Bennett -- have been selected to the NAIA Hall of Fame.
Pierce, the all-time leading scorer in the history of college basketball, and Bennett, the Lady Bisons' head coach for 22 years, were named to the Hall of Fame by the NAIA Hall of Fame committee in a meeting Sept. 15.
"I am tremendously humbled to have received such an honor," said Pierce, who played for the Bisons from 1991-94 and finished with a career mark of 4,230 points. "Being selected to the NAIA Hall of Fame is a memory which I will cherish and is a wonderful way to put an exclamation point on my college career.
"I almost don't believe in individual honors because anything you accomplish as an individual is a testament to your teammates and coaches, especially in a system like we had at Lipscomb.
"I am very grateful to my coaches, teammates, and Lipscomb fans for their support during my career. I am also appreciative to the NAIA for honoring me in this way. It really is quite an honor," said Pierce.
Pierce, a product of Franklin Road Academy in Nashville, is now the men's assistant basketball coach at Brentwood Academy in Brentwood, Tenn. Pierce and his wife, Amber, have two daughters, Lily, 3, and Ryan, 1.
Bennett, who has compiled a 487-239 record as the Lady Bisons' head coach, echoed many of same sentiments as Pierce. "It is a great honor to be recognized in such a way by the NAIA and I am very appreciative," Bennett said.
"The Lord has blessed us with assistant coaches and players who were great people and hard workers. This award really belongs to them."
Bennett began coaching the Lady Bisons in the fall of 1980 and is a two-time NAIA national Coach of the Year and a three-time conference Coach of the Year. In 1994 he was named the Tennessee Sportswriters College Coach of the Year. Last season Bennett was honored as the NCAA Division I Independent Colleges Coach of the Year as the Lady Bisons posted a 16-12 mark in their first season of full D-I competition.
"I am also grateful to my wife, Jan, and my children who have shown so much support throughout the years," Bennett said.
Pierce and Bennett become the seventh and eighth representatives of Lipscomb University in the NAIA Hall of Fame. Others are Will Brewer, Ken Dugan, Tom Hanvey, Philip Hutcheson, Don Meyer, Ralph Samples, and Jonathan Seamon.
Sanderson looks to seniors for leadership, experience
--Kevin Farris
The average Lipscomb University basketball fan may still find it necessary to occasionally pinch an arm to make sure all of this -- Allen Arena, the Atlantic Sun Conference, NCAA Division I -- isn't just a dream. The fan may still think they will wake up to find themselves back in McQuiddy Gym watching the Bisons.
All this NCAA talk may occasionally seem like a dream to a fan, but to Lipscomb Head Coach Scott Sanderson, his staff, and the Bisons, it is a daily reality.
"We have to be prepared every time we step out onto the court," said Sanderson. "Our attention to detail every day in our preparation is important to our success. We are playing quality opponents every night so we must be prepared to compete."
Part of being prepared to play is leadership and the Bisons have two senior veterans who will lead the team onto the court this season. Guards Jason Jackson and Ryan Roller bring their differing talents to the young Bison squad.
Jackson (6-4, 200) from Marrero, La., has developed a reputation as a defensive specialist who is often matched against the opposition's best offensive weapon. Jackson also mixes it up in the paint (4.1 rebounds per game) and his tough attitude is a good example for the rest of the team. His hard-nosed play led him to contribute 9.3 points per game for the Bisons.
Nashville's Roller (5-11, 160) will not only lead with his senior experience, but will also use his shooting guard spot to be a source of offense for the Bisons. Roller led the team with 83 assists last year and averaged 9.5 points per game, second best on the team. Roller led the team by hitting 77.8% of his free throws last year.
This year's edition of the Bisons will be a young one. Three juniors join the two seniors as the upperclassmen of the squad while three sophomores and five freshmen round out the roster. Though the team might be young, there is talent among the ranks.
Center Albert Hacker (6-10, Jr, Nashville, Tenn.) and F Chad Hartman (6-8, Jr, Belle Chasse, La.) return as key contributors to the Bisons along with Roller and Jackson this year. Hacker averaged 6.9 ppg while blocking 46 shots last year. Hartman spent some of the season battling injury but still managed to grab 3.7 rebounds per game. Nashville's Mike Mays is the third junior on the team. A forward who can shoot the three, he saw limited duty in a reserve role last season.
Last year's freshman class now has a year of experience under its belt and should contribute heavily.
Guard Jeff Dancy (6-0, Sparta, Ill.) had a standout freshman campaign as he led the Bisons in scoring (10.3 points per game) and poured in 38 points at Tennessee State. Dancy was named to the NCAA Division I All-Independent second team last year and was recognized by Street and Smith's 2002-03 College Basketball magazine as a member of their preseason All-Independent team this season.
Forward Matt Jarboe (6-7, Murfreesboro, Tenn.) started 12 games last year and contributed 6.7 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. Jarboe also showed outside proficiency by stepping out and nailing 48.2% of his three-pointers.
Eric Broomfield, a 6-3 guard from Richmond, Ky., saw action in all 27 games for the Bisons last year. He was 33-39 from the free throw line (84.6%) and contributed 4.0 ppg.
The Bisons will be without the services of sophomore guard Clayton Osborn for this season and next as he will be serving a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
Redshirt freshman Gilbert Wilson leads the new faces on the court for the Bisons this year. Wilson sat out last year and is a 6-3, 200 guard from Marietta, Ga.
There are four true freshmen who bring excitement and talent to the team this year.
James Poindexter, a 6-1 guard from Birmingham, Ala., was the 2002 Alabama 6A Player of the Year at John Carroll Catholic High School. He averaged 18.3 points, six rebounds, and five assists per game while leading John Carroll Catholic to a 28-4 record. Poindexter was rated by Street and Smith's 2002-03 College Basketball magazine as top newcomer to the NCAA D-I independents.
Cameron Robinson, a 6-7 guard/forward from Raleigh, N.C., led Love Christian Academy to the National Association of Christian Athletes (NACA) Class 1-A national championship while being named MVP of the tournament. Robinson averaged 22 points and 6 rebounds per game his senior year.
Charlie Jenney, a 6-9, 210 lb. center, will bring depth to the Bisons' inside game. Jenney, from Floyd's Knob, Ind., Floyd Central High School was named honorable mention All-State by the Louisville Courier-Journal. He averaged 15.6 points and 7.4 rebounds his senior year while being named team MVP. Jenney played AAU ball with Ohio Valley and the team qualified for the national tournament in Orlando, Florida in 2001.
One of Jenney's AAU teammates rounds out the freshman class. Craig Schoen, a 5-11, 160 lb. point guard, is from Elizabeth, Indiana's South Central High School. Schoen (pronounced Shane) was named first-team All-State by Hoosier Basketball magazine and second-team by the Louisville Courier-Journal. Schoen had a career scoring average of 21.4 points per game and is the all-time leading scorer at South Central with 1,922 points.
This year will be a milestone for the Bisons and Sanderson. They are finishing a four-year probationary membership in the NCAA's Division I and will be competing for the final time as a D-I Independent. Next year Lipscomb will join the Atlantic Sun. They will face some of their A-Sun foes this year to give the fans a taste of what conference play will be like.
The Bisons will have a balanced schedule of 14 home and 14 road games. They will have home-and-home series with the A-Sun's Troy State, Stetson, Campbell, and Jacksonville State.
They will host Tennessee State, the University of New Orleans, Sacramento State, and Centenary among others. The Bisons will take road trips to Florida International and Tennessee-Chattanooga for holiday tournaments, and will visit Big 12 Conference members University of Nebraska and Kansas State University, as well as the Big West Conference's Pepperdine University in a Dec. 22 contest in Malibu, Calif.
Lady Bisons look to build on last season's strong finish
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| Renee Logan Only Lady Bison senior |
The Lipscomb University Lady Bison basketball team looks forward to the challenge of an upgraded schedule for the 2002-03 season. They hope to build on a strong finish last year when they won 12 of their last 13 games to finish 16-12 in their first full NCAA Division I season. Although the team has only one senior, there is a lot of experience returning to go along with a talented group of freshmen. The season promises to be challenging and exciting.
A home game with Xavier and games at Ole Miss and the University of Memphis have been added to the schedule. Xavier is just two seasons removed from defeating the Tennessee Lady Vols in the 2001 NCAA tournament. The Lady Bisons will also get a preliminary taste of Atlantic Sun competition with a home and home series with Mercer, single games at Belmont and Central Florida, and competition in Stetson's tournament over Christmas.
The Lady Bisons will also play home and home games with Oral Roberts and a return home game with Valparaiso. The Lady Bisons will play several local schools on the road: Austin Peay State, Southeast Missouri State, Birmingham-Southern, and Middle Tennessee State. Besides Xavier, home games include Eastern Kentucky, Tennessee State and Fisk. D-I independents Texas-Pan American, Texas A & M-Corpus Christi, Centenary, Indiana Purdue at Fort Wayne, and Morris Brown return to the Lady Bisons' schedule.
The Lady Bisons return nine players, of which seven played 16 or more minutes per game. Key losses include guard Shelley Sims, a four-year starter at point, and wings Amelia Stark and Christi Sims. The returning players include one senior, five juniors, and three sophomores.
Renee Logan is the lone senior on this year's squad. Renee averaged 10.1 points per game last year and has scored 1,206 points for her career. "Renee is a very good scorer," said Head Coach Frank Bennett. "We will also count on her to play strong defense on the ball. I think Renee will have a great year this year."
Junior post Angie Ester led the team in scoring last year with 11.3 points per game. She shot 54.9% from the field & 69.2% from the line. Angie is also a very good post defender. "Angie has improved each year. We look for her to provide a consistent inside threat this year," said Bennett.
Kendra Ramsey had a solid sophomore campaign with 10.1 points per game. "After losing Shelley to graduation, we will be looking for Kendra to take on the point position and a strong leadership role," said Bennett. "She is a good penetrator who can score or pass for the assist."
Kari Campbell came back from a torn ACL and a redshirt season to have a very strong second season. She averaged 9.9 points and 3.8 rebounds. She gives the Lady Bisons a threat on the perimeter and as well as inside the paint. Kari had her knee scoped during the off-season, but she has bounced back well from the surgery.
Monica Blake is coming off a great second half to last season. She has worked very hard in the off-season to improve her conditioning and endurance. The Lady Bisons are counting on her to build on last season and be a consistent threat from the four position.
Beth Bradley brings flexibility to the Lady Bisons. She is effective from the high or low post and can score consistently from both. She has provided some key minutes and points for the team over the past two years. In addition, Beth's outgoing and upbeat personality brings an unpredictable element to the team.
Three sophomores will return with a season's experience behind them. Lindsay Daly will shift from post to the perimeter. She had a solid year last year with 6.6 points and 3.7 rebounds. She can be a defensive stopper as well as a consistent scorer and rebounder.
Courtney Boynton had a tremendous second half of the season as she finished with 9.1 points, 3.2 rebounds and led the team in steals. Following her freshman season, Boynton was honored by being named to the NCAA D-I All-Independent second team. "With the confidence Courtney gained last year, we expect her to be a very good scorer for us this year," said Bennett.
Lynn Roller returns at the point position. Lynn played some solid minutes last year and has improved a lot over the past year. She is a hard worker, great encourager and team leader.
The Lady Bison freshmen class has a lot of talent and potential. Karli Osborn, a 5'6" point guard from Cyprus High School in Magna, Utah, will add speed and quickness to the point guard position. Her brother Clayton played for the Bisons last season. Katie Beth Pate is a long 6'4" post player who helped lead the Greater Atlanta Christian Lady Spartans to back-to-back state championships. Sarah Woods is a 6'2 post player from Coalfield High School and the Tennessee state record holder in blocked shots.
The Lady Bisons are looking forward to the challenge of quality opponents on their schedule. The tough competition of their second full NCAA Division I schedule will help them to get ready for Atlantic Sun Conference competition next year. "The schedule this year will be really tough. We will have to play hard and smart every possession to be successful. Team play will be a key. I think the team is looking forward to some of the new opponents on our schedule," said Bennett, who, as a result of leading the Lady Bisons to a 16-12 record, was named the NCAA Division I Independent Coach of the Year in voting by the coaches and sports information directors of D-I independent schools.
Allen Arena will be an exciting place to be this season as the Lady Bisons are "Rising into Place."
Soccer: Lady Bisons set and shoot for high goals
--Abby DeLong
A leap from the NAIA conference to a spot among NCAA Division I athletes may be influencing the 1-6-2 record of the Lady Bisons this season. However, their record serves as a poor indicator of the promising transition which envelopes the team.
Under direction of first-year head coach Jenger Parrish, the Lady Bisons have stepped up to the challenges of Division I play, striving to adapt to the changes that have taken place not only on the outside, but those that have occurred within the team.
"We got eight new players," said Parrish. "And throw in a new coach on top of it, and there's a lot of adjustment going on. I think the team has adjusted [to Division I play] in a sense that they know what to expect now. It's just going to take more experience."
While the Lady Bisons focus on their final year of transitional play to Division I, they also are trying to keep their eyes on the present. Lead by seniors Jennifer Brittingham (Memphis, Tenn.), Amanda Cost (Lawrenceville, Ga.), and Kelley Wade (Lexington, Ky.), the Lady Bisons have collected six goals for the year. Goalkeepers Brittingham and Adrienne Childers have saved 94 shots from becoming goals so far this season.
This year will stand as the foundation of Division I play for the Lady Bisons, an opportunity upon which to build and flourish as time passes.
"Division I [at Lipscomb] provides the opportunity to young people to be educated in a Christian university," said Parrish. "Moving to Division I as far as soccer is concerned is a good move for the Christian community."
Parrish also expressed her gratitude for the support the team has received from its fans. "I think it's been a pretty good turn out," she said. "We're not a UNC or Notre Dame, but the crowd has been a lot bigger than what I expected."
With only half of their season complete, the Lady Bisons haven't finished contending for more wins. Their season continues with four more home games and five more games on the road.
Men's soccer building for future in Atlantic Sun
--Ricky Miller
As the Lipscomb University men's soccer team prepares to wind up the season, there is one point that the team wants to make: they are not going to wind down their efforts.
After the return of four redshirt players from the 2001 season, the Bisons had the core nucleus to place them in a position to be competitive among Division I programs. Ten games later, however, the Bisons (1-9) find themselves with their backs to the wall in order to finish the season on a high note with games against Alabama A&M and 16th-ranked Furman University around the corner.
"We are eager to compete with the teams on this level," said assistant coach Jim Maddux. "We have been competitive in every match we've played this season. There is no reason to back down now."
This year's young team has seen its share of tough competition. While there are no seniors on the team, more then half of the Bisons' roster is composed of freshman talent. The challenge, Maddux explains, is preparing them for this level of completion.
"With a lot of young players on the team and injuries to key positions, it has been difficult to constantly keep a complete package on the field for a full 90 minutes.
"The older guys have led the younger players to keep their composure and determination throughout the entire game."
This season, the Bisons' opponents have an overall record of 52-45-3, a winning percentage of .520, a mark Maddux says demonstrates not only how the team has improved, but the level of scheduling as well.
"We are playing more difficult teams and the (Atlantic Sun) conference is going to be rough. We will have to rely on our experience and we believe that the lessons learned from this season are going to be the foundation for the program in the Atlantic Sun Conference beginning next season."
Freshmen Cross Country runners gain national recognition
Two freshmen runners for Lipscomb University have been named as runners of the week among NCAA Division I independent schools during this fall's season.
Candice Cox was named NCAA Division I Independent Female Co-Runner of the Week on Sept. 18 as voted by the Independent Cross Country Coaches.
"Candice is doing an outstanding job this season," said cross country head coach Clay Nicks. "She is a very hard worker and will only get better as the season progresses."
Cox, from Longview, Texas, paced the Lady Bisons with a 26th place effort at the Tennessee Invitational on Sept. 13, completing the 5-K course in 20:10.
Lipscomb University freshman Tim Roberts was named Runner of the Week by the Independent cross country coaches of the NCAA Division I for the week of Sept. 25.
Roberts, from Memphis, Tenn., earned the honor by placing 34th out of 148 runners at the Vanderbilt Invitational. He completed the five mile course in 28:39.
"Tim has been running strong all year for a freshman," said Nicks. "To place in the top 35 is a great job. I hope he will continue to run well for us."
There are seven Independent schools that field NCAA Division I programs: Centenary, IPFW, Lipscomb, Morris Brown, Savannah State, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, and UT-Pan American.
Lady Bisons make strides during '02 campaign
--Ricky Miller
Whoever said the move to NCAA Division I was going to be an easy transition never spoke to the Lady Bisons volleyball team.
The Lady Bisons began the NCAA quest last season after struggling through their last season in McQuiddy gym before making the move to Allen Arena. Now with a new home and many new freshmen, the Lady Bisons are not only building a team for the future, but are looking to make an impact now.
The Lady Bisons earned their first victory early in the season at The Citadel, sweeping them in three games: 32-30, 30-28 and 30-18. Their second win came quickly down the road with a victory against the Gardner-Webb Bulldogs, 20-30, 30-27, 30-25 and 30-26.
The Lady Bisons would have to persevere for their third victory, which came at the expense of former NAIA foe Cumberland University. The Lady Bisons chained up the Volleydawgs, defeating them 30-17, 30-27, 29-31, 30-26.
The Lipscomb volleyball program has posted a 3-14 record while competing against successful division one programs such as Troy State, Jacksonville State and Mercer.
The Lady Bisons squad is led by only one senior this season, Jennifer Partezana is in her fourth year with the Lady Bisons and has seen the team through the struggles of transition to the NCAA.
Junior Kristin Peck is on a 19-match streak recording 10 or more kills -- a streak unprecedented by a Lipscomb Volleyball player.
Sophomores and freshmen make up the remainder of the Lady Bisons roster. Sophomores include Lauren Baker, Samantha Blair, Julie Holliday, Victoria Jones, Brittney Lanius and Emily Smith. The freshmen on this year's squad are Adria Blessing, Lindsey Graham, Kelly Houff and Amy Parkerson.
The Lady Bisons have ten matches remaining, five at home and five on the road, and then will finish with a season-ending tournament at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi right before the Thanksgiving break.
A labor of love: Associates raise scholarship funds for over 20 years
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To commemorate the 20th anniversary of A.L.L., four Lipscomb ornaments were commissioned. Pictured above, the ornaments include the cabin, Avalon, Brewer Bell Tower and Collins Alumni Auditorium. |
Christian education is their passion. Helping provide this education is their purpose.
For the past twenty years, a very determined group of women have made it their mission to raise funds to make a Lipscomb University Christian education affordable to as many students as possible.
On April 16, 1982, then-Lipscomb president Willard Collins hosted a luncheon for twenty women and challenged them to form a new organization that would support and encourage the tradition of excellence initiated by founders David Lipscomb and James A. Harding 91 years earlier. The board named the organization the Associated Ladies for Lipscomb. (The group replaced the old Patrons Association.)
From these twenty women, the first year's officers and board members were selected for the Nashville chapter. Enthusiasm grew until membership numbered more than 300 by the end of the first year.
Since that time A.L.L., as the group has become known, has grown to 26 chapters in Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky and Tennessee. This year, A.L.L. awarded more than $164,000 in scholarships to contribute to the education of 132 students. A.L.L. also has a scholarship endowment of over $1.5 million.
"A.L.L. is alive and well today and it's all because of Willard Collins and those 20 women who had the dream," said Gerry Sciortino, A.L.L. executive director.
In announcing the formation of A.L.L. in 1982, Collins said, "There are thousands of ladies who love Lipscomb. This is an effort to organize their talents. The A.L.L. will help us in recruitment and in raising money through projects to help keep Lipscomb alive."
Collins and the 20 women established the purposes of A.L.L. to be to cooperate with Lipscomb University in support of the basic aims and ideals of Christian education, to strengthen the university through investments in its scholarship programs, to assist the university in recruiting students, and to foster a spirit of friendship and fellowship among women who are interested in developing Christian values in education.
Over the course of the last two decades, A.L.L. has grown and evolved with the times. However, one thing has remained a constant -- all monies raised by A.L.L. go directly to students through scholarships.
Reba Keener, hired by Collins as the first A.L.L. director in 1982, said that constant is what distinguishes the Lipscomb group from the other Christian college women's groups.
"At our sister schools, some of the monies raised by the women's groups went to scholarships, but a lot of it went to pay for other projects and expenses. We wanted our fundraising efforts to go only to scholarships. We wanted our funds to go directly to the student," said Keener, who had been active in the women's auxiliary group at Lubbock Christian College for 13 years prior to joining the Lipscomb staff.
Keener worked to grow the membership. When Harold Hazelip succeeded Collins as Lipscomb president in 1986, he challenged Keener to add A.L.L. chapters in other cities. So, Keener hit the road. She gathered lists of alumni in surrounding states and began meeting with groups of them in key cities with a large alumni base.
"Without exception, those women were interested. They felt so honored that they were included. They were very interested in raising money to help send students from their area to come to Lipscomb. So, we established several chapters and helped them get started fundraising for their own scholarship funds," said Keener.
In addition to the chapter scholarship funds, the Ruth Morris Collins Scholarship Fund was established in honor of the First Lady of Lipscomb from 1977 to 1986. Four Collins scholarships are awarded annually.
Scholarship funds are raised through a variety of fundraising activities including holiday dinners, fashion shows, luncheons, plant sales, tours of homes, golf tournaments and silent auctions as well as the sale of A.L.L. cookbooks, Watkins products, pecans, baked goods and craft items. Membership dues also generate scholarship funds.
In 1988, A.L.L. members launched into a major renovation project. First, they received a gift of the cabin David and Margaret Lipscomb shared in Bells Bend, Tenn., had it moved to campus and spent $12,000 to restore it. Then, they began a four-year renovation of Avalon, the home of the Lipscombs in their later years. Built in 1903, the home was designed by Margaret Lipscomb. It was restored to much of its original state, including using many of the furniture pieces once belonging to the Lipscombs, with the help of Margaret Lipscomb's late niece, Zelma Stroop, who had lived in the home with the couple.
Since its restoration, the use of Avalon has provided a great deal of revenue for A.L.L. through luncheons, parties, dinners, dinner theater and other activities.
In 1993, Keener retired to go with her husband to Vienna.
"It was such rewarding work. It was a great labor of love for everyone. The great work goes on and on. [Being a part of A.L.L.] has enriched my life tremendously."
Pat Carman took the reigns from Keener as director in 1993. Carman took the organization to the next level by growing the existing chapters and adding several more. She also started several major fundraisers, including the annual A.L.L. Golf Tournament and galas, that earned large sums for scholarships. During her tenure, Carman wanted to have endowed scholarships. This has grown to a more than $1.5 million scholarship endowment.
"The ladies never ceased to amaze me with the hard work and devotion they put into every project and everything they were asked to do," said Carman.
Carman also began "The Pathway of a Virtuous Woman," a brick pathway connecting the gardens at Avalon. Bricks are purchased in honor or in memory of a special woman, whose name is etched on the brick.
Sciortino became the third director of A.L.L. when Carman stepped down in 1998. Sciortino said she has tried to examine the fundraisers and concentrate on the most successful ones as well as trying to work with volunteers who are busier now than ever before.
"I've been trying to zero in on the fundraising ideas that raise the most money with less work and volunteers needed. Our ladies are very busy with their families and many of them work," she said.
"I also want to stress how important membership dues are. It's one of the easiest ways for us to raise money. It helps provide scholarships to students whether you're active or inactive."
Sciortino said she tries to get to know the scholarship recipients and to inspire a desire for them to serve others.
"I love being with the students. They are so eager for direction. We want to give them a Christian foundation along with a commitment to serve others -- just like someone has worked hard to help them afford a Christian education. If you make a difference in just one person's life it's worth it," said Sciortino.
The A.L.L. staff has also grown since Sciortino came on board with the addition of Leigh Ellenburg ('86) as assistant director. Susie Cronin ('76) serves as administrative assistant to the organization.
"The Associated Ladies for Lipscomb do a tremendous job of making Christian education possible for young people through scholarships, and in promoting the mission and purpose of the institution. Lipscomb University simply could not exist without the caring, selfless work of individuals in all of our support groups, particularly the Associated Ladies for Lipscomb,"said President Steve Flatt.
A.L.L. has made a difference in the lives of students.
"I reached a point in my school career when I had to pay money I did not have or go home. A scholarship from the Associated Ladies for Lipscomb allowed me to finish my degree, and I will always appreciate their timely generosity. They made it possible for me to get the education degree that I used to teach English at Ezell-Harding Christian School. I was able to reach young people and help them grow academically and spiritually. The Associated Ladies gave me the gift of a Christian education, and now, in a different way, I've been able to give that gift to others," said Heather Salisbury ('98).
Jon Michael ('97) received the Dickson County (Tenn.) chapter's first scholarships in 1994-95.
"It should go without saying that I have always been thankful for the scholarship. What might not be recognized, though, is the fact that scholarship recipients owe a gratitude of thanks for far more than just financial assistance with tuition expenses," said Michael.
"The ladies of the Dickson County chapter, for example, took care to make me feel like an extremely special person. They made me feel as though I was their vested interest in the present and future of the university. I look forward to the day that I too can find a unique way to be of such considerable aid to a student seeking a solid Christian education from my alma mater."
Alisa Bowersock ('00), a graduate student at the University of Kentucky, said A.L.L. was a blessing.
"I have been reflecting on the blessings I have been given and trying to express thankfulness to people who have helped me reach some important goals in my life who may not know how much I appreciate them," said Bowersock.
"A.L.L. was such a blessing and encouragement in my life while I was at Lipscomb."
The future is looking bright for A.L.L.
"A younger generation is certainly showing an interest and is bringing a lot of enthusiasm to our chapters," said Sciortino. "The 20 women who began this can certainly be proud for the seeds they have planted -- from being able to provide one scholarship to 132 this year."
To commemorate the 20th anniversary of A.L.L., Sciortino said four Lipscomb ornaments have been commissioned and are for sale (see page 9). The cabin, Avalon, Brewer Bell Tower and Collins Alumni Auditorium are featured on the ornaments, which come with or without a stand. Also, a Lipscomb collectible series of historic buildings on campus begins this year. The cabin is the first piece in the collection.
They may be purchased by calling 279.6230 or 800.333.4358, ext. 6230. For information about becoming a member of A.L.L. or about contributing to student scholarships, call the above numbers.
Business alum offers challenge gift to name 'Doris Swang Chapel'
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Dr Axel W. Swang and the late Mrs. Doris Swang. A College of Business alumnus will give Lipscomb $150,000 if another $450,000 can be raised to name the chapel in the new Bible building in Mrs. Swang's memory. |
The alumnus, who asked not to be identified, has committed $150,000 toward the $600,000 necessary to name the facility in memory of Mrs. Swang, the late wife of longtime business administration department chair Dr. Axel W. Swang.
Lipscomb will receive the full $150,000 when the additional $450,000 is raised.
"Any survey of the heroes of Lipscomb University's first 100 years would quickly highlight the work and influence of Axel W. Swang," said Lipscomb President Steve Flatt. "One of the main reasons for Dr. Swang's success in his profession and ministry was the loving support of his wife, Doris, who passed away in October 2001.
"Although I was not a business major, I count myself fortunate to have experienced the warmth of her selfless grace as she supported Dr. Swang and exhibited her own love for the church and Lipscomb in countless ways. This gift, and the others it will engender, will help us create a wonderful, permanent memorial to a Godly woman in our new Bible building," Flatt said.
Dr. Swang, in a note to President Flatt, said he was "gratified to learn of the commitment."
"I feel strongly that Doris was totally supportive of my efforts at Lipscomb and in ministry. She loved the Lord, she loved Lipscomb, and she loved me as I loved her. I can think of no better way to honor her contributions to the Kingdom of God and to my work at Lipscomb than to name a place of worship and meditation in her memory," Swang said.
The Doris Swang Chapel will be one of the focal points of the Bible building, which is the next construction project envisioned in the university master plan. It will be located at the exit of a central staircase in the grand hall, will seat between 40 and 50, and will be a place for instruction, small devotionals and spiritual reflection.
The $9.5 million Bible building will add approximately 75,000 square feet of instructional and office space to the campus and will house the departments of Communication; Education; History, Politics and Philosophy; three professional centers -- Character Development, International Peace and Justice, and Leadership Excellence, all of which is now housed in the Burton Bible Building.
Following completion of the Bible building, Burton is to be "reinvented" for use as a fine arts building.
The start-up of construction will be determined by future progress toward funding the building through the Lighting the Way: Igniting the Future Campaign.
"Of roughly $50 million in construction we've already undertaken, about $5 million of that was not covered by pledges. In addition, the economy has slowed the receipt of pledges already made to the campaign, hence construction of the Bible building has been delayed," Flatt said.
"Obviously, we hope that many of the current pledges will be fulfilled over the next year and new commitments will be made such as those to the Doris Swang Chapel. Between the fulfillment of outstanding pledges and new commitments, I hope we can begin construction in the relatively near future," he said.
To participate, checks may be earmarked for the "Doris Swang Chapel and mailed to Lipscomb University, Advancement Office, 3901 Granny White Pike, Nashville TN 37204-3951.
IRA an excellent asset?
Yes, but special steps must be taken to avoid income taxes for children, nephews, nieces
During life, an IRA is an excellent asset. It grows tax-free, the minimum withdrawals under the regulations are fairly modest and it provides retirement and liquidity income for the IRA owner.
However, for the children, nephews or nieces of the IRA owner, the IRA is not nearly as desirable an asset. Many other assets will be distributed to family free of income, capital gain or estate tax. But with the IRA frequently comes a very large income tax bill. All distributions to the child, nephew or niece are taxable income. Worse yet, the IRA payouts, even if stretched out over a long period, are added on to the taxable income and could increase the tax bracket of the recipient.
Here is an example of one attractive planning strategy for IRAs.
The IRA Unitrust for Children
John and Mary IRA reared a family of four children. Four years ago, John passed away and transferred all of his assets to Mary. She received the house, the CDs, the securities and John's IRA. Mary rolled over John's IRA, added in her IRA, and now has $600,000 in the IRA. She also has approximately $600,000 in other assets.
Mary desires to benefit her four children equally but faces a challenge common to parents. Two of the children are very good money managers, one is somewhat borderline and one is quite creative. If she transfers the assets to all four, the creative child will use those assets in new and wonderful ways in perhaps three weeks. She thinks it would be desirable under the circumstances to "diversify" the inheritance.
A way to provide for zero estate taxes, eliminate the income tax on the IRA and diversify the inheritance is to use the "give it twice" plan. When Mary passes away, her stocks, bonds, home and other "good" assets are transferred outright to children. However, the "bad" asset, since it has ordinary income attached to it, is transferred to a testamentary term of 15 years unitrust. Mary's attorney drafts the unitrust and either funds it nominally or simply creates the unfunded trust, if that is permissible under applicable state law. Her beneficiary designation is then changed to the trustee of the charitable remainder unitrust. Fortunately, under the new Sec. 408 regulations, this does not change her minimum distribution requirement for the IRA.
When Mary passes away, her diversification goal for the inheritance is achieved. The children receive approximately $576,000, after costs of $24,000. The remaining $600,000 IRA asset is transferred to a 7 percent unitrust for a term of 15 years. Because the unitrust is exempt, there is no tax paid on the ordinary income. The full $600,000 from the IRA is then invested and earns new income for the children for the term of 15 years. While this is taxable, over $676,000 is paid to children during that term of years. At the end of the term the IRA plus growth is distributed to charity.
This plan has the virtue of treating all children equally. There will always be economic differences among children and some children inevitably will be better managers than others. However, diversifying the inheritance allows even the "creative" child the opportunity to learn to manage funds. He or she may not be as successful in the early years, but the fact that there is a fixed number of years for the inheritance payout acts to encourage the individual to learn better managing practices over the selected term.
An IRA Quiz: True or False?
The regular IRA has two tax benefits -- pre-tax dollars contributed to the IRA, and tax-free growth.
True. A regular IRA is usually funded with tax-deductible dollars. In addition, the growth of the IRA will also be tax-free. These two tax benefits make an IRA an excellent way to save for retirement.
Children do not pay income tax when they receive IRAs from their parents.
False. Children must pay income tax when they receive distributions from the IRA. They may also pay estate tax. If the IRA is in a large estate, the estate and income tax liability could reach 70 percent.
The most effective way to leave an IRA to charity or a charitable remainder unitrust is to make sure that a provision in the will directs that the IRA pass to the appropriate charity.
False. Under state law, IRAs and other pension plans pass according to the beneficiary designation and not the will. Therefore, it is important that the beneficiary designation form list the appropriate beneficiaries.
It is not permissible to leave a portion or percentage of an IRA to a charitable remainder unitrust. It must be done either in whole or not at all because of the complex IRA distribution rules.
False. It IS permissible to leave a percentage of an IRA to any person or entity. For example, a donor could designate that her son receive 25 percent of the IRA, that her daughter receive 25 percent of the IRA, and that a unitrust receive 50 percent of the IRA.
For more information on this and other planned giving strategies, contact Lipscomb University's Scott Saunders at 615.279.6214, 800.333.4358, ext. 6214, or at scott.saunders@lipscomb.edu. Reprinted by permission of Crescendo Interactive Inc. Copyright 2002 by Crescendo Interactive.
Charitable Gift Annuity Payout Rates will drop effective Jan. 1, 2003! Contact us before Dec. 31, 2002, to take advantage of the current higher payout rates. Call our Advancement Office at 615.279.6214, 800.333.4358, ext. 6214, or e-mail Scott.Saunders@lipscomb.edu for full details.
Personalities: Debbie Haislip and William Tucker Debbie Haislip William Tucker
Debbie Haislip
Executive Assistant
Debbie began working at Lipscomb University in the registrar's office in July 1984. From there she transferred to the position of secretary to the vice president of business affairs in 1985 and later in that year she became the human resources and benefits coordinator. Debbie began her current role as the executive assistant to the executive vice president of advancement in October 1998. "I love working at Lipscomb in a Christian environment with individuals that love the Lord," says Haislip. "It has given me the opportunity to grow as a Christian. God has blessed me by allowing me to be a part of this school and family."
William Tucker
Executive Vice President/Advancement
William came to Lipscomb in 1992 as the vice president for university relations and as the university attorney then moved into his current position as the executive vice president for advancement. He is responsible for the oversight of the Lighting the Way - Igniting the Future Campaign plus all other fundraising efforts for the university and campus school. "Lipscomb has a noble and eternal mission, a magnificent vision, and challenging goals,' says Tucker. "Without abundant financial resources the vision and goals of the university would remain an elusive aspiration. We seek to provide those resources through growing relationships with individuals that love the purpose and appreciate the product of the university and campus school."
If you haven't seen the Lipscomb University Theater lately, you won't recognize it. The theater has a completely new exterior following an approximately $70,000 facelift during the summer. A new lobby area also provides an attractive area to display photos and other memorabilia from featured plays. No change in seating, though -- the black box-style venue still seats about 140. The renvoation "gives us greater visibiity on campus and from the street, makes a better impression on visitors and creates a higher expectation of quality," said Dr. Larry Brown, professor of theater and department chair. --Amber Stacey
More than 150 receive degrees in August
Master of Arts: David Anguish, John Mark Manry, James Allen Thrasher, Benjamin David Wiles
Master of Divinity: Allen Wayne Burris
Master of Business Administration: Michael Sean Ackerson, Garey Shane Austin, Brian Vincent Bergman, Rickard Cary Clay, Alan Woodrow Collins, Laura Westbrooks Cotingham, James Allan Crowson, Jeanine Jolly Denney, Cynthia Denise Dockery, Jennifer Prichard Driver, Allison Burgess Duke, Kyle Wilson Duke, Kyle Wilson Duke, Samuel Francis Evans III, Laronda Worship Foster, Susan Gile, Erin Alexa Hall, Robert Nelson Harmon, James Lee Maddux, Myra Janelle Mason, Thomas Wardell Moonshower, Anna Alexandrovna Poleschuk, Margaret Elizabeth Richards, Kevin Wayne Rosson, Michele Lynn Schmidt, Natasha Lynn Stiles, Stephanie Lee Tidwell, Chanthavy Vongsamphanh, Aaron Robert Walters, Charles Taylor Wright
Master of Education: Ekaterina Aksenova, Kristin Haubenreich Campbell, Dennis Elwood Haskins, Anne Maria Riley, Amy Lowe Sansom, Stacy Lynn Wight
Bachelor of Science: Julie Cathey Adcox, Fekadu Admasu, Susan Elizabeth Armstrong; Joyce Rene Barbieri, magna cum laude; Kimberely Diane Beckham, Aaron Lee Belville, Jason Paul Berry, Lynda Marie Bialon; Vickie Lynn Bilbrey, cum laude; Amy Leigh-Ann Bogle; Natasha Maynard Boyd, magna cum laude; Mark Andrew Church; Megan Kathleen Daniel, cum laude; Jason Lee Dodson, Erin Lynn Ellis, Robert Daniel Ems, Odessa Marie Eskinde, Richard Nicholas Etheridge, Jennifer Ann Finch, Karen Paige Foster, Brian Harris Gentry; Rachel Marie Gentry, cum laude; Jeremy Richard George, Twain Forrest Glaim, Elizabeth Ryan Hendrickson; Anne Lee Holt, magna cum laude; David Kirby Hunt, Adam Franklin Kellam, Melinda Grey Kemp, Andrew Morgan King, Jerry George Kirk, Colleen Mary Lee, Carrie Elizabeth Littlejohn; Kimberly Dawn Lomax, cum laude; William Jefferson Lovett Jr., Andrew Christopher Lyon, Stacy Leah Marshall, Cynthia Louise Massey, Daniel Paul Mayberry; Brandon Malone McNeely, cum laude; Jennifer Kathleen Mitchell, summa cum laude; Micah Seth Moseley, magna cum laude; Martha Ann Neil, Brian Houston Newlin, David Theodore Nightingale, Brandon Michael O'Neal; Jeremiah Wayne Pack, cum laude; Misty Michelle Paris; Chara Danielle Patterson, cum laude; Colin Robert Pilidor, Miguel Ramirez, Laura Ruth Randolph, Craig Harrison Richards, Brandy Joy Roberts, Ryan Michael Roller; Kimberly Ann Seaman, cum laude; Lisa Marie Smith, Rachel Lorraine Staten, Janeah Louise Steel, magna cum laude; Jeffrey Daniel Stewart; Melissa Joy Stinson, cum laude; Tiffany Ann Stovall, Carolyn Elizabeth Swann, Vivian Yolanda Taylor, Adam Joseph Thompson; Roger Mark Tomlinson, magna cum laude; Terri Fulton Totty, Travis Ray Turpen; Lindsey Michele Ursery, cum laude; Amy Shearls Williams, Kathleen Bridget Wilson; Sydney Allison Zawislak, magna cum laude; Sergejs Toms Zvirgzds, cum laude.
Bachelor of Arts: Eric Waldon Anderson, Frederick Cornelius Atkins Jr.; Joseph Barrett Christy, magna cum laude; Jennifer Leigh Creekmore, Ruth Reeder Crouch, Verbina Nesha Glanton, Katherine Miller Harris, Paul Daniel Huebner, Jennifer Lynn LaChapelle, Mark Alan Medlin, Crystal Nicole Murphy, Emily Dianne Olsen, Jillina Leigh Plemmons, Lauren Elizabeth Renfro, Anthony Kyle Sanders, Alyssa Kaye Scarborough; James Charles Slattery, magna cum laude; Kyle Randy Stephens, magna cum laude; Ann Marie Teisher, cum laude; Courtney Elizabeth Vaughn, cum laude; Preston Earl Wilson.
Freshmen begin year in service to others
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Lipscomb freshman Becky Trim works with children at one of Nashville's Head Start facilities. |
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Ben Holmes and Owen Slaushter, right, scrubs floors in the Outlook Nashville office. |
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Students, left to right, Justin Sadler, Claire Lokey, Brittany Hannah, Julie Wheetley, Stephanie Pilkinton and Matthew McKendree clean toys at Agape. |
For the second year, community service projects have been a part of the freshman Quest Fall Orientation program. Freshmen, under the leadership of upperclassmen, head out into the Nashville community for an afternoon of helping others as part of the program. This fall, more than 266 freshmen and 36 upperclassmen participated.
Students were sent to Agape, First Steps at Duncanwood, 15 Metro Head Start programs, Healing Hands International, Lakeshore Retirement Home, Monroe Harding Children's Hom, Outlook Nashville, the Ronald McDonald House, Safe Haven and Youth Encrouagement Services.
Sarah Keith Gamble, associate dean of campus life, said the freshman service project component was added "to provide our students, at the very beginning of their college education, an opportunity to look beyond themselves and get involved in serving the Nashville community."
"We feel that embracing community outreach and involvement will not only provide Christian service to those around us, but will also enhance our students' personal, spiritual, and professional development," said Gamble.
Titans' sideline just another day at the office for Spradlin
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Lipscomb alum Dwight Spradlin, far right, is a common sight on the Tennessee Titan sideline working with the media at each ballgame. Spradlin arranged a sideline interview with ESPN's Suzy Kolber, middle, and Head Coach Jeff Fisher during a home game this fall. |
He lives for game day. He gets to the stadium hours before the first fans arrive. He loves the excitement in the air and the roar of the crowd when the team runs onto the field. He is there long after the last fan has gone home.
Sounds like a typical athlete, right? Actually, it is Dwight Spradlin ('99), a media relations assistant for the NFL's Tennessee Titans.
"Everyone in this business is in it for Sundays -- for the game. It's hard to describe how much fun it is out there," said Spradlin, a native of Washington, D.C.
Spradlin's job may seem glamorous on the surface, but it requires a lot of work and long days. As one of three Titan media relations specialists, Spradlin is a liaison between the players and coaches and the local and national media. He writes and sends press releases, sets up interviews and credentials the media.
On game days, Spradlin arrives at the stadium about four hours before kickoff. (Spradlin travels with the team to all road games.) First, he prepares the press box by getting programs, press releases, "flip charts" and other materials ready for the media and making sure everything is in working order.
About an hour and a half before game time, Spradlin comes down from the press box to the field, where he will remain during the game. He is the sideline public relations contact during all games. Spradlin hardly has time to watch the game as he prepares injury reports and distributes them throughout the game. He also handles media requests to interview Coach Jeff Fisher at halftime as well as making sure the cameramen and reporters on the field have what they need to do their jobs.
"After the game, I go to the locker room to deal with the press conference room and other locker room interviews. The big guys like Steve McNair, Eddie George and Jeff Fisher will be interviewed in the press conference. The rest will be interviewed in the locker room," said Spradlin.
On Mondays, Spradlin and the other media relations assistants compile a stats book to issue to the media. They update it with information from each week's game. During the summer, Spradlin and his crew work feverishly to produce a 300 page-plus media guide, which he said takes a great deal of time to compile.
Spradlin is very satisfied with his chosen career.
"It's definitely what I always wanted to do, but I didn't know until I started actually doing it specifically what I wanted to do as far as media relations," said Spradlin.
During the spring semester of his senior year, Spradlin landed a makreting internship with the Nashville Kats arena football league team. A colleague at the Kats had a contact at the Titans that led Spradlin to a job as an assistant for the Titans entertainment department during the Superbowl season of 1999. In May 2000 Spradlin took a year-long media relations internship with the Green Bay Packers. While at Green Bay, Spradlin had the opportunity to work with the NFL in the Super Bowl media center.
"It was a great experience, It was neat to see the whole process. It was like a 'who's who' of sports media," said Spradlin.
In February 2001, a media relations position opened up with the Titans and Spradlin returned to Nashville.
"Had it not been for my internship with the Kats while I was in school, I wouldn't be where I am today," said Spradlin. "I encourage all college students to get as many internships as possible. They are so valuable."
Jhin tries to 'make a difference in the world' with Peace Corps
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Then and now. Dr. Paul Jhin was a member of the Bison cheerleading squad from 1958-60, left. In March, Jhin was appointed director of the Peace Corps Office of Planning, Policy and Analysis. |
Of all the places he has been and all the experiences he has had, among Paul Jhin's fondest memories are his days as a Bison cheerleader.
Jhin ('60) spent many nights cheering in McQuiddy Gym for the Bisons from 1958-60. Jhin, who came to the United States in 1955, arrived at Lipscomb after earning an associate of arts degree at Freed-Hardeman University. Jhin said that his Christian education laid the foundation for his career opportunities.
"I want to thank this great institution for the Christian education I received. It laid a great foundation for me. Being at Lipscomb and at Freed-Hardeman gave me a purpose in life to serve God and be a servant to man," said Jhin.
In March Jhin was appointed director of the Peace Corps Office of Planning, Policy and Analysis. In his new position, Jhin will be the Peace Corps liaison to the White House Digital Freedom Initiative and to the President's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islander Americans. His officce will provide the Agency with statistical reports about Peace Corps volunteers, country status reports and updates to the volunteer handbook.
"The Peace Corps is Christianity in action. It's the opportunity to practice what you learn from the Bible," said Jhin. "It's a life-changing experience. It's an opportunity to serve God and to share your blessings with other people. We want to be a part of making a difference in the world. We want to take the love described in the Bible to those around the world who may not have that."
Jhin said he is thankful to live in "the greatest nation in the world." He said the Peace Corps' goals are to help the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women; to help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served; and to help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans. Since the Peace Corps was established in March 1961 by then-President John F. Kennedy, more than 165,000 American volunteers and trainees have served 135 countries.
"I am grateful to Americans who have preserved freedom worldwide. Freedom is not free. This is a small measure ... I want to pay back to America for all it has done for me," said Jhin.
Jhin comes to the Peace Corps having served for six years as director of the National Asian Pacific Center on Aging in Los Angeles, Calif., and as Gov. Pete Wilson's representative to the California Postsecondary Education Commission. From 1990 to 1993, Jhin served as executive assistant to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, serving as a personal advisor and consultant to the secretary on the formulation of broad department policies and the implementation of programs authorized by Congress and mandated by the President.
Prior to his tenure at the VA, Jhin was superintendent for educational technology in the District of Columbia public schools from 1983 to 1990. He also served at the U.S. Department of Education as the director of special projects and as a senior associate in the Office of International Education.
Jhin remembers his time at Lipscomb fondly.
"I have so many wonderful memories here. Two of the best years of my life were spent at Lipscomb," said Jhin, a 1960 mathematics graduate.
While at Lipscomb, Jhin was not only involved in cheerleading. He was president of the photo club, the Alpha Rho Tau art club and was elected as MidSouth regional director for the Collegiate Council for the United Nations.
Jhin went on to earn a master's degree in government and international relations from New York University, a second master's degree in mathematics from Boston College and a doctorate in mathematics education from Auburn University. In 1969, The U.S. Junior Chamber of Commerce selected Jhin as one of four Outstanding Young Educators of America. He also received the prestigious Distinguished Service Award from the Federal Council of Asian Pacific Americans.
Jhin and his wife, Hyo Bee, have a son, Phillip, and a daughter, Melody.
For more information about the Peace Corps or becoming a volunteer, visit www.peacecorps.gov.
Alumni In Action
Eddy wins Addy
Nelson Eddy ('79) was named "Copywriter of the Year" by the Nashville Advertising Federation. Eddy is senior vice president and creative director at Dye Van Mol & Lawrence in Nashville.
Stewart new Gallatin finance director
Matthew Stewart ('89) was recently named finance director for the city of Gallatin. As finance director, Stewart will be working with department heads and their budgets.
Stewart graduated from Lipscomb with a double major in financie and management. Right out of college, Stewart worked as a controller and systems administrator at a start-up company he helped expand from 15 employees to close to 500 in just five years.
McGee wins 2001 journalism awards
Mark McGee ('79) editor of the Shelbyville Times-Gazette won an award in the Tennesee Press Association 2001 journalism contest. He won first place in the "Best Personal Column (humor)" category. In the TennesseeAssociated Press Managing Editors Awards, McGee won first place in the "Sports Feature Photo" for his coverage of youth soccer. He also won second place in the "Feature Picture Story" category for a photo page on a Civil War living history event at Stones River Battlefield in Murfreesboro and third place in "Sports/Outdoor Reporting" for a feature on Nashville Predators goaltender Tomas Vokoun.
McGee also won first in "Feature Writing" and in "Newswriting" and was runner-up "Sportswriter of the Year" by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association for work in the non-daily category. McGee is an adjunct in the Lipscomb Department of Communications.
Ayers joins McMaster University faculty
Paul Ayers ('96) completed a Ph.D. degree in May 2001 at UNC-Chapel Hill. Since that time, Ayers was a postdocotral fellow at Duke University. In July, Ayers joined the faculty of McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. McMaster is considered among the top science and engineering universities in Canada.
Laster publishes new women's book
Melissa (Prichard) Lester ('94) has published a women's study book, Giving for All It's Worth. Lester's book examines the lives of eleven women of the Bible. Lester is a former staff editor for the Gospel Advocate Co. She speaks for ladies events and is a regular columnist for Christian Woman magazine. Her husband, Joe (x'95), is assistant professor of law at Thomas Goode Jones School of Law at Faulkner University in Montgomery, Ala.
Day of events at Vanderbilt honors LU psychology pioneer J. Ridley Stroop Psychology pioneer
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J. Ridley Stroop |
When you see the word "red" printed in green ink, the color probably won't slow down your processing of the word. But if you have to say what color you're seeing, your brain may need a moment to get it straight.
That's the Stroop Effect, a psychological mystery first unraveled 69 years ago in Nashville.
John Ridley Stroop, a Rutherford County native, discovered it while doing research for his doctoral dissertation at the former George Peabody College for Teachers. The paper he published has been one of the most influential in the history of psychology.
To celebrate Stroop's impact and continue exploring his discovery, about 100 psychology professors and students [gathered Sept. 28] at the Kennedy Center on the Peabody campus, now part of Vanderbilt University, for "Stroopfest."
The all-day event, open to the public, [featured] expert speakers from Vanderbilt and other universities and a talk by Fred Stroop, one of the late professor's sons.
Vanderbilt also will dedicate a display commemoration Stroop's life and work in the lobby of Jessup Hall on campus.
Gordon Logan, Centennial professor of psychology at Vanderbilt said other scholars have cited Stroop's work, first published in 1935 in the Journal of Experimental Psychology, more than 2,600 times in their own writing since 1965.
"Articles that get cited more than 100 times are pretty rare," Logan said.
Stroop showed people colors represented in two ways. First, they looked at printed, colored squares. Then they saw the colors printed in the names of other, or "conflicting," colors. Stroop found it took his subjects 47 seconds longer to name all the colors on the second list.
The reason for the delay is that our association of colors with the names for them is not that strong. For example, Logan explained, a person who is getting dressed is more likely to think, "Does that look nice?" than "This is blue."
Our association of written words with the sounds for those words is much stronger. So we're drawn to the word we see – "red" – and likely to say it instead of saying the name of the color of ink – " green" – in which the word is written. This is called interference.
"You'd want to say 'red,' and in order to not say 'red,' you'd have to slow down," Logan said.
Stroop was born in Hall's Hill, a farming community near Murfreesboro, in 1897. A 1921 graduate of David Lipscomb [Junior] College, he later earned bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees from Peabody between 1924 and 1933.
During most of that time, he taught at Lipscomb, and he returned to teach there from 1936 until his retirement in 1967, after the school had become Lipscomb University.
While a student, Stroop, whose wife was a niece of David Lipscomb, designed and built a house near the Lipscomb campus that Fred Stroop still lives in.
The elder Stroop once grew and sold a crop of potatoes to pay his tuition. Stroop, who died in 1973, loved to preach every Sunday and taught Bible classes throughout his years at Lipscomb, a Church of Christ school.
In fact, he was more interested in teaching the Bible than psychology, said Dennis Loyd, a retired Lipscomb English professor and former student of Stroop's.
Yet Stroop's work is so well-known in psychology circles that Vanderbilt's psychology department now shows job candidates his old house.
"In academia, in general, you're famous if 200 people know your name," Logan said. "So he's pretty famous."
Reprinted with permission from the Sept. 27, 2002, edition of The Tennessean. Copyright 2002 by The Tennessean.
Variety of arts activities on fall schedule
'Fantasticks' comes to Lipscomb stage
The Lipscomb University Theater Department presents "The Fantasticks" Nov. 7-10, 14-17.
"The Fantasticks," by Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt, recently closed after 41 years as the longest running show in New York City. The musical concerns a romance in which the young lovers experience the realities of the world and become disillusioned, only to discover a more mature level of love at the end after their trials.
"The theme is best illustrated by the words to the song, 'Try to Remember' -- without a hurt the heart is hollow," said Dr. Larry Brown, professor and chair of the theater department and director of the play.
Performances begin at 7:30 p.m. in University Theater. Admission is free. For more information call 615.279.5715 or 800.333.4358, ext. 5715.
Landiss Series presents Berryman Nov. 11
The Landiss Series presents Jeff Berryman Nov. 11 in a discussion of his novel, Leaving Ruin.
Berryman is a writer, actor and director who has toured the stage version of his novel, Leaving Ruin, across the United States and Canada. Leaving Ruin, published by New Leaf Books, is the story of an evangelical preacher, Cyrus Manning, in the small town of Ruin, Texas. In this honest, tough, and often hilarious battle of a man chasing the will of God in the face of divine silence, Cyrus lopes along wrestling with God, his family, and the people of his church, doggedly hoping for a word of blessing.
Berryman is a former professor at Abilene Christian University and now lives in Seattle, Wash. with his wife, Anjie, and their two children.
The program is at 7:30 p.m. in Shamblin Theatre. Admission is free. Books will be available for purchase and autographing. For more information call 615.279.5960 or 800.333.4358, ext. 5960. The Landiss Series is sponsored by the Lipscomb University Department of English.
Artist Series offers three spring concerts
The 2002-03 Artist Series presents three spring semester concerts.
The Baltimore Consort comes to Lipscomb Feb. 10. The Baltimore Consort is a virtuoso ensemble specializing in the popular music of the 16th to 18th centuries, as well as traditional music rooted in earlier times. Their variety of instruments -- lute, viol, flute, cittern, early guitar, rebec, recorder, crumhorn and bandora -- with soprano Custer LaRue, have delighted audiences on both sides of the Atlantic and earned them recognition as "Top Classical Crossover Artist" by Billboard Magazine in 1993.
The Alexander String Quartet visit the Lipscomb stage Feb. 27, 2003. The ensemble is comprised of Zakarias Grafilo, violin; Frederick Lifsitz, violin; Paul Yarbrough, viola; and Sandy Wilson, cello. The Quartet is widely admired for its interpretations of Beethoven and Bartók and has established itself as an advocate of new music through over 25 commissions and numerous premiere performances. Based in San Francisco, the Quartet has performed throughout the United States and the world.
The 2002-03 Artist Series concludes with a performance by Planet Reel on March 31. Planet Reel performs traditional and contemporary Celtic music combined with the rhythms and sounds of other cultures from around the world. Songs and instrumental pieces feature traditional instruments from the British Isles such as fiddle, accordion, flute, hammered dulcimer, mandolin and bodhran, as well as other traditional instruments. The ensemble is comprised of musicians from Nashville, Memphis and Colorado.
All performances begin at 8 p.m. in Shamblin Theater. Tickets are $7, free with Lipscomb id. For more information call 615.279.5929 or 800.333.4358, ext. 5929.
Consort celebrates 'international Christmas'
Lipscomb University's Early Music Consort will celebrate an "International Christmas" in its annual Christmas concert Dec. 10.
EMC will perform in original languages and with copies of period musical instruments, including rebec, violin, viols, psaltery, oud, guitar, lute, harp, recorders, krummhorns, pennywhistles, sackbut, harpsichord, and a wide variety of ethnic percussion. Much of the music is traditional folk music, but the known composers whose music is included in the program include J.S. Bach, Michael Praetorius, Francisco Guerrero, Tomás Luis de Victoria, Seth Calvisius, and Jeremiah Clark. Music from a wide variety of countries and cultures will be performed.
The concert is free and begins at 8 p.m. at Christ Church Cathedral, 900 Broadway, downtown Nashville. For more information call 615.279.5929 or 800.333.4358, ext. 5929.
Founders' Day
Photos by Amber R. Stacey
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| James Brown, senior admissions counselor and director of multicultural recruiting, left, portrays S.R. Cassius, and Annie Rice, a sophomore from Brentwood, Tenn., portrays "Margaret Lipscomb" during a Founders' Day drama presentation. | |
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Students participated in a "Parade of Flags" with a flag from every state and nation represented in the 2002-03 university student body. |
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Bennett presented first Torch Award at Founders' Day ceremonies
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President Steve Flatt, right, presents the university's first "Torch Award" to Word B. Bennett, middle, a life member of the university's Board of Trustees and former chair. Bennett's wife, Lera, left, accepted the award with him during Founders' Day ceremonies Oct. 4. |
Word B. Bennett was honored for his "distinguished service to the university" and for "embodying the spirit of Christ in every endeavor –- in family, church, business and community," said Lipscomb President Stephen F. Flatt.
"Four administrations at Lipscomb have benefited from his quiet wisdom, his openness to new ideas, his studiousness and loyalty," Flatt said.
Bennett joined the Lipscomb board of directors in 1967 and served as board chair during the Harold Hazelip administration.
"As chair, he led our board into a more effective and productive structure, which has had a significant impact on the function of the board and the direction and progress of the university," Flatt said. "He understands the values of hard work and humility, characteristics he brings to every endeavor."
Bennett earned a degree from Lipscomb in 1936, and holds the master's degree in chemistry from Vanderbilt. He served the UST Co. for more than 40 years, retiring as senior vice president for research and development.
A Nashville native, Bennett is a life member of the Lipscomb Board of Trustees and has served the Donelson (Tenn.) church of Christ as an elder since 1964.
"He is studious, well read, and well traveled," Flatt said. "He is extremely generous. His gift of $500,000 in stock in 1984 was the largest liquid gift the university had received at that time, and he continues to be very generous with his alma mater today. He loves the arts, he loves his family, and above all, he loves his Lord."
Bennett and his wife, Lera, live in the Donelson area and have four children, all of whom attended the university. Three earned bachelor's degrees at Lipscomb. The Bennetts also have 12 grandchildren.
The "Torch Award" was presented during Founders' Day activities today at Lipscomb, marking the 111th anniversary of the school's opening on Oct. 5, 1891 as the Nashville Bible School. The school was renamed David Lipscomb College, in memory of one of its founders, in 1918, and Lipscomb University in 1988.
The award is designed to be Lipscomb's highest honor, recognizing individuals characterized by distinguished service to the university and lives built on the spiritual and leadership values central to the university's mission, Flatt said.
The award is derived from the torch symbol that we use to represent the university. The flame on top represents the university's spiritual imperative, and the three columns suggested in the base reflect the university's heritage of academic excellence, Flatt said.
"It is a visual statement that we understand our purpose in your lives, which is to light the way for your future – spiritually, academically, socially and physically. This institutional role is built on the foundation of the servant spirit that characterized Jesus' ministry," Flatt told students gathered for the event.
When the school opened for its first session in 1891, only nine students were enrolled in classes taught by three faculty members. Today, Lipscomb University educates more than 4,100 students from pre-kindergarten through graduate school. Lipscomb offers more than 100 programs in nearly 50 major fields of study.