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Cellphone Cinefest unites College of Entertainment and the Arts
Twenty-five years ago, the 48 Hour Film Project started in Washington, D.C. The premise is simple: Contestants have 48 hours to write, shoot and edit their own short film. Since its inception, the competition has expanded to more than 100 cities, including Nashville. Seeing how successful the initiative has become, Lipscomb University’s Department of Cinematic Arts has joined in and created its own form of the competition, with unique twists. The weekend of Aug. 21-23, Lipscomb film students participated in a 36-hour film challenge. Similar to the 48-hour version, students had limited time to write, shoot and edit their own short films. Students were placed in randomized groups made up…
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Lipscomb honors Dolly Parton’s legacy
Change-maker, advocate, and inspiration–these are just a few of the words Lipscomb students use to describe Dolly Parton. Tuesday, news of Parton’s passing spread across campus. shocking students. From fashion students inspired by her outfits, to music arts majors who learned about country music from her, Parton played a huge role in the lives of Lipscomb students. Parton had a special place in the hearts of students and professors. In 2023, Parton created a special exhibit in collaboration with Lipscomb’s fashion department. “Dolly Parton and the Makers: My Life In Rhinestones” put the singer-songwriter’s style on display and allowed students to experience her magic in person. “It was a memorable…
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Black Student Association hosts first event of fall semester
Friday evening, students joined Lipscomb’s Black Student Association (BSA) for a night of food, laughter and trivia. The event, called Kickback, was BSA’s first of the semester. From 5-7 p.m. in the Office of Intercultural Development, the group hosted over 30 students for three rounds of games and pizza. President LaMahria Sydnor wanted the event to be an early opportunity to create community on campus. “Starting a new school year, it can be difficult and also challenging and, sometimes, nerve-wracking to make new friends and maybe find people,” Sydnor said. “That’s all this event was about: just to get to know one another, have fun, let loose, be yourself.” The…
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Lipscomb kicks off student life with First Friday Fest
After a quiet summer in the square, Lipscomb’s main social spot filled up once again during First Friday Fest, a campus-wide event hosted by the Student Activities Board (SAB). Highlights included an 18-hole mini-golf course, live music from Lipscomb students and alumni and a competitive cornhole tournament. The Fest happened to coincide with Cameron Pannell’s first Friday as the new assistant director of student engagement. With students from 43 countries represented on Lipscomb’s campus, Pannell sees events like these as opportunities to help students build community and create new connections. “Sometimes community finds you, but I think sometimes it’s really important to put yourself out there, be courageous, and create…
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2026 and then: Ezell Center, built in 2006, changed campus life at Lipscomb
On a typical weekday at 8 a.m., the Ezell Center starts to fill up. Students and faculty walk in from all directions, headed to classrooms and offices. But before 2006, this structure wasn’t even here. The site was once known as Onion Dell, home field of the Bison baseball team. Then in the 2000s, after the Bisons moved to Ken Dugan Field, Lady Bison softball became the home team on the site between the Student Activity Center and Belmont Boulevard. Vice President Danny Taylor (center) cuts the ribbon to commemorate the Ezell Center When the Ezell Center opened in 2006, it completely changed how the campus worked. The 77,000-square-foot building…
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2026 and then: Junior college DLC became four-year school in historic shift 80 years ago
Long before Lipscomb offered doctoral degrees or professional programs in pharmacy and public policy, it was a small junior college with a vision. In 1946 Lipscomb made a huge change to the school by adding a junior year followed by a senior year in 1947. This would make the institution a four year school. The decision to become a four-year institution reshaped everything at Lipscomb. “Prestige-wise, it was a better move,” said Craig Bledsoe, provost and chief academic officer from 1997 to 2022 “It allowed the university to grow its programming and improve its academic reputation.” Bledsoe, now the director of the Ph.D. in Leadership and Policy studies program, is…
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2026 and then: 30 years ago, Candice Hunter (now McQueen) was crowned Miss Lipscomb
Decades before she became president of Lipscomb University, Candice Hunter (now McQueen) earned another campus honor: being selected by her peers as the female senior who most embodies the ideals of Lipscomb. The title, of course, is Miss Lipscomb. (The corresponding male recipient is named Bachelor of Ugliness; Brent High earned that award in 1996.) Being nominated by faculty, staff and administrators, and then voted on by students, marked an achievement in 1996, but its meaning would take years to unfold. What felt like recognition in the moment would later reveal itself as something deeper: the early shaping of a leader whose influence would extend far beyond a single title. “I…
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2026 and then: London program celebrates 25 years of transforming students into global citizens
This year marks the silver anniversary of Lipscomb’s Global Learning program in London, which has transformed over time since its beginnings in 2001 as an eight-week summer internship program. “Students learn to get over being a tourist and become truly global citizens,” said Matt Hearn, a professor who has been a faculty leader for six years. The program started small, offering only post-graduation summer trips focused on international internships. Over time, student interest in the program grew. In 2014, Lipscomb launched its first full fall semester in London. After experimenting with both fall and spring offerings for two years, the university made it a permanent fall program in 2016. The…
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2026 and then: Men’s basketball celebrates 40th anniversary of 1986 NAIA championship
Players of Lipscomb’s 1986 championship team were honored Feb. 7, 2026, during a Lipscomb men’s basketball game at Allen Arena, marking 40 years since the program’s only national title. The team from David Lipscomb College won the NAIA Men’s Basketball Championship on March 18, 1986, defeating Arkansas-Monticello 67-54 at Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Missouri. Led by Coach Don Meyer, the Bisons finished with a 35-4 overall record. Senior John Kimbrell was named the tournament’s most valuable player, scoring a total of 22 points. The season was filled with milestones. The Bisons opened with 18 consecutive wins – a school record at the time – and became the program’s first…
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2026 and then: 35 years later, ‘Doug’ creator reflects on Lipscomb’s creative influence
The iconic cartoon “Doug”, created by Jim Jinkins, premiered on Nickelodeon 35 years ago. Jim Jinkins was a 1975 graduate of David Lipscomb College with a double major in speech and art.He was known on campus as “Bison Man” and even won the title of Bachelor of Ugliness his senior year. During his time at Lipscomb, Jinkins was a cartoonist for The Babbler, the student-run newspaper, and he was a member of the social club Sigma Chi Delta. He was named the Alumnus ofthe Year in 1999. Although David Lipscomb College didn’t offer an animation major when he attended, Jinkinswas still able to showcase his talent. He worked on an…
