Summer Celebration 2010 draws thousands from across nation to worship, fellowship
Janel Shoun |
Thousands of families from across the nation descended on the Lipscomb University campus June 30 for Summer Celebration, the university’s annual lecture series and family festival. This year's theme, "Learning Praise from the Psalms," featured keynote speakers Rick Marrs, Kevin Owen, Ken Durham, Lonnie Johnson and Randy Harris.
Tireless servants honored with Kopio Awards
| Lipscomb President L. Randolph Lowry presents the Kopio Award to Mayor Karl Dean. |
Metropolitan Nashville Mayor Karl Dean received the Kopio Award from Lipscomb University during the 2010 Summer Celebration opening keynote session on Wednesday evening.
Dean was honored for his leadership and service during the recent Nashville flood. The Kopio Award is based on the Greek word "kopio" which can be used to describe someone who "works to the point of utter exhaustion in service to others.”
“It is a joy for a university president to honor people, and we enjoy doing that whenever we have the opportunity,” said President L. Randolph Lowry. “As I think of our community and I think of someone who works until he is utterly exhausted virtually every day, it is the mayor of this city, Karl Dean.”
“He works to better education in this community; he has a passion for the environment and for public safety. But the last few weeks have enabled us to see the ‘kopio’ that is so much a part of him. In the midst of the historic flooding, he was here leading us as he has day in and day out until utter exhaustion.”
“It’s an honor to be recognized in this way. It’s very humbling. I don’t really deserve this award. Being mayor of a great city is a huge honor in and of itself,” said Dean.
“The way the city reacts to a crisis and the way the city reacts in a time when we’re all being challenged is really the heart of the city and it’s not the mayor. If you’re lucky you get to be mayor of a city like Nashville and you feel that you’re leading a place that is a city of the future, a city with heart and a city with compassion.”
In a year filled so far with natural disasters and turmoil, Lipscomb University honored five additional people trying to make a positive impact in our world with Kopio Awards at 2010 Summer Celebration:
- Retired Gen. John Bradley, founder of Lamia Afghan Foundation, bringing hope, compassion and aid to the people of Afghanistan;
- Joe Dudney, vice president and executive director of Churches of Christ Disaster Relief; and
- Dr. David Vanderpool, a Nashville doctor who coordinated relief work in Haiti immediately after the earthquake.
Walt Leaver, Summer Celebration coordinator, honored at festival
On Friday evening President L. Randolph Lowry honored Walt Leaver, vice president for university relations, with a Kopio Award for his "tireless service to the university." Leaver oversees the events management team. More than 150,000 visitors have come to campus for a wide variety of events including Lighting of the Green, Summer Celebration, commencement exercises, Music from the Mountain, Operation Yellow Ribbon and more.
Ruth Morris Collins Lobby dedicated for former Lipscomb first lady
| Carole Collins Demonbreun |
The lobby of the Willard Collins Alumni Auditorium was dedicated Thursday, July 1, in memory of Collins’ wife Ruth Morris Collins.
Willard Collins was president of Lipscomb from 1977-1986, and by all accounts at the dedication, Ruth Morris Collins was the strength behind the man.
“It is a fitting tribute that you have to walk through the Ruth Collins lobby to get to the Willard Collins Auditorium,” said Carole Collins Demonbreun, one of the Collins’ two daughters who was present at the dedication.
Ruth Collins was known as a wonderful cook, and the ceremony was topped off with a spread of some of her recipes, including chocolate pecan torte, bacon cheese balls, fruit kabobs and strawberry soup.
“When you think about Ruth, you think about the word love,” said Linda Johnston, a family friend and member of the Lipscomb Board of Trustees. “After Brother Collins became president here, she spent her entire life showing her love for the students, for the faculty and for everyone who came to campus.”
Others who spoke about the former first lady included Patsi Flatt, a former Lipscomb first lady herself; Carl McKelvey, former Lipscomb vice president during the Collins administration; board of trustees member Neika Brewer Stephens and Lipscomb’s current President and First Lady L. Randolph and Rhonda Lowry.
Summer Celebration 2010
July 2, 2010: Fireworks & Fun at Summer Celebration