Grant honored with scholarship announcement at Lighting of the Green
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Thousands from the Lipscomb community gathered in Allen Arena Tuesday evening, Dec. 2, to kick-off the holiday season with beloved Nashville entertainer Amy Grant at Lighting of the Green.
This year’s program marked the 10th anniversary of the event and featured performances by Christian artists Danny Gokey and Jon Guerra, Lipscomb Academy and Lipscomb University choruses, the Willis Clan and Brother Parker and a surprise visit by Vince Gill. In addition, artist Rolando Diaz, a Dallas-based Cuban/American artist, painted an oil painting of the "Madonna and Child" live during the performance.
At the conclusion of the concert, presidential spouse Rhonda Lowry surprised Grant with an announcement of the endowment of a new scholarship in her honor. A member of the university’s board of trustees, and the member’s spouse, established the scholarship to recognize Grant as “one of her generation’s most influential advocates of Christian faith in America and the world” and for her volunteer leadership of Lighting of the Green.
“You come from a long line of family who have given to Lipscomb,” said Lowry. “This is a way to honor you for all that you have given to us.”
The donors, who asked to remain anonymous, noted that they were pleased to recognize Grant on the occasion of the tenth annual Lighting of the Green by “perpetuating her influence in this place.”
The donors “trust that recipients of this scholarship will reflect her thoughtful and enthusiastic leadership, devotion to the spiritual heart of Lipscomb’s mission, and her gentle, consistent example of Christian faith in and out of public view,” according to the agreement establishing the scholarship.
“This is an amazing gift and was totally unexpected,” said Grant. “I am humbled by this generous gift.”
Grant will have a role in determining the criteria for selecting recipients, the donors said. The inaugural Amy Grant Endowed Scholarship will be awarded in fall 2015.
Diaz donated the painting he created during this year’s concert to the university to be sold through silent auction, with all proceeds going to the Amy Grant Endowed Scholarship. The 4-foot by 5-foot oil on canvas painting is autographed by Amy Grant, who also wrote the lyrics of her popular Christmas song, “Breath of Heaven,” on the back of the piece. The painting is valued at $15,000. To bid on the painting, visit www.lightingofthegreen.com. Bidding will be open through Dec. 15.
Grant is the best-selling contemporary Christian artist in history. She has been recognized with six Grammy Awards, 25 Gospel Music Association Dove Awards and numerous other honors. She has achieved two number-one singles on the pop music charts.
The great-granddaughter of the late A.M. Burton, a former Lipscomb board member and one of the most influential figures in Lipscomb’s first 100 years, Grant attended Lipscomb Academy elementary school and charted a new course for her family’s association with Lipscomb by giving life to Lighting of the Green in 2005.