McKell, Bass named exemplary students for Class of 2023
Office of Public Relations & Communications |
A longstanding tradition at Lipscomb University is for two seniors to be selected by their peers who best exemplify the university’s values and principles. Miss Lipscomb and the Bachelor of Ugliness honors are awarded to students who are nominated by faculty, staff and administrators and chosen by the student body.
This year, Liz McKell was named Miss Lipscomb alongside fellow senior Allen Bass who was elected Bachelor of Ugliness for the 2023.
McKell, a senior disability studies major from Kandern, Germany, has been involved in numerous activities and organizations at Lipscomb. She served as Student Government Association president in 2022-23. A member of Delta Omega social club, Liz has been involved in student government for the last several years and is also serving as a member of the President’s Student Ambassadors Council.
“This is a great honor and really means so much to me,” says McKell. “Lipscomb has meant so much to me during my time here and it is humbling to be honored in this way by my peers.”
Bass is an environmental and sustainability science major from Brentwood, Tennessee. He has been involved in a number of campus organizations including Sigma Iota Delta social club and Singarama, was a member of the Quest Team and has worked as a student ambassador for the Office of Admissions.
“This honor means the world to me. I don't feel that I deserve such an honor, but I am extremely grateful,” says Bass. “To feel the support of the Lipscomb community in this way is incredible. Lipscomb has been such a blessing to me. My time at Lipscomb has helped me grow so much as a person, and I know that without the opportunities I've had here I wouldn't be who I am today. This community has placed some amazing mentors and friends in my life, and I will be forever thankful for everything Lipscomb has given me.”
This spring, a committee of administrators, faculty and staff selected seven female nominees for Miss Lipscomb and six male nominees for Bachelor of Ugliness. Miss Lipscomb nominees in addition to McKell were Julia Correa, Jessie Gettys, Millie Gnewikow and Tessa Vander Kamp. In addition to Bass, Bachelor of Ugliness nominees included Esteban Gonzalez, Gray Pullias and Logan Van Treeck. The undergraduate student body voted for these candidates on April 11 and honorees were announced on April 12.
The Bachelor of Ugliness award came to Lipscomb nearly a century ago after its origin at Vanderbilt in 1885. At the time, the title was given to a member of Vanderbilt’s all-male Bachelor’s Club. The Miss Lipscomb honor was added for the top female superlative. Today the recognition is given to students who are nominated by faculty, staff and administrators, and chosen by the student body.