NASHVILLE – Lipscomb University Athletics announced the addition of five inductees into the department's Hall of Fame on Wednesday. The 2025 inductees include Jewell Dobson Forester (volleyball), Lauren Ford Sophiea (volleyball), Mark McGee (meritorious service), Kellie Sirus McGuckin (softball), and Madi Talbert Artz (XC/Track & Field). 

"We are happy and proud to announce the 2025 Lipscomb Athletics Hall of Fame class," said Director of Athletics Philip Hutcheson. "Their collective accomplishments are extraordinary, spanning record-setting performances, conference championships, national accolades, and academic honors. From the courts, fields, and track, to the dedicated service that elevated our entire department's profile, they have each left an indelible mark on our university. Their legacy of excellence is a powerful source of inspiration for our current and future student-athletes, and we are thrilled to bestow upon them this high honor."
 

JEWELL DOBSON FORESTER (Volleyball) – 2011-2015 

Jewell Dobson Forester was a Lipscomb volleyball team member from 2011-2015 and will go down as one of the most prominent players in the program's history. Voted an ASUN All-Decade Team member (2010-19), she immediately impacted the Bison program, being named a unanimous 2011 ASUN All-Freshman Team honoree. The 2013 ASUN Player of the Year, Forester was also a three-time ASUN All-Tournament Team Member, a two-time ASUN All-Academic Team honoree, and a three-time All-ASUN Team member - one of only six Bison volleyball players to be recognized with such an honor in three different years. She helped the volleyball program reach the top of the ASUN with two ASUN Championship titles and two ASUN Championship Runner-up finishes. Her name is etched in the ASUN Record Book as the Individual Championship Record holder in single-season attack percentage (.552), and the middle hitter is also in the top 10 in single-season performances in hitting percentage (.378), kills (507), and kill average (4.53). For her career, Forester holds the Lipscomb record for points in a single season (577.5), and is in the top 10 in the ASUN in hitting percentage (.343) and kills (1525). The four-time ASUN Player of the Week also earned national honors as a member of the 2013 AVCA All-South Region Division I Team, and she was named 2013 Honorable Mention AVCA All-America.

 

LAUREN FORD SOPHIEA (Volleyball) – 2011-2015

Lauren Ford Sophiea was a member of the Lipscomb volleyball team from 2011-2015, helping lead the team to new heights during her time in the purple and gold. Earning a spot on the ASUN All-Decade Team (2010-19), her impact on the program was felt as soon as she stepped on campus, as she was a unanimous selection to the 2011 ASUN All-Freshman Team. Sophiea is one of just a handful of Lipscomb athletes to eclipse the 1,000-kill mark, finishing her career with 1,597 kills, a mark that ranks fifth all-time in the ASUN and third all-time at Lipscomb. Producing at a high level of consistency throughout her career, the outside hitter finished third all-time at Lipscomb in total career points (1,768) and points per set (4.03). Sophiea earned All ASUN Second Team honors once and All ASUN First Team honors twice in her career - one of only six Bison volleyball players to be recognized with such an honor in three different years. Twice a member of the ASUN All-Tournament team, she earned national recognition by earning a spot on the 2013 AVCA All-South Region Division I Team, was Honorable Mention AVCA All-America, and was an invitee to the U.S. Women's National Volleyball Team open tryout. She also excelled in the classroom as the 2014 ASUN Scholar Athlete of the Year and one of only three Lipscomb volleyball players all-time to be named a three-time member of the ASUN All-Academic Team.

 

MADI TALBERT ARTZ (XC/Track & Field) – 2012-2016

Madi Talbert Artz was a member of the cross country and track and field teams from 2012 to 2016 and is one of the most accomplished members in the history of the program. As a leader of the Lipscomb cross country program, and selected as an ASUN All-Decade Team member for 2011-2020, Artz was a four-time First Team All-ASUN member, a five-time ASUN Athlete of the Week and a 2012 ASUN All-Freshman Team member. She was the 2014 & 2015 ASUN Championship winner and Cross Country Runner of the Year, and she led Lipscomb to four-straight ASUN Cross Country Championships from 2012-2015. Among all competitors in ASUN Conference history, she ranks in the ASUN top-10 in Fastest NCAA Regional Individual times, best NCAA Regional Individual Finishes, and 5000m Fastest Winning Times. Artz was just as impressive as a member of the track & field indoor and outdoor teams, where she earned seven ASUN Athlete of the Week honors, seven medals at the ASUN Indoor Championships during her career and was a seven-time Indoor Track All-ASUN Team member. In addition, she won eight medals, seven first-place medals, at the Outdoor Championships during her career, and was the 2015 Outstanding Performer at the ASUN Outdoor Championshipsan eight-time All-ASUN team member. She holds the ASUN Championship Record in the 3000m Steeplechase and the all-time ASUN record for fastest time in the event in an ASUN Championship. An elite 3000m steeplechase runner, Artz is the only Lipscomb student athletes to qualify for NCAA Nationals in the event all four years of her career and she competed at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials. 

 

KELLIE SIRUS MCGUCKIN  (Softball) – 2007-2010

Kellie Sirus McGuckin was a member of the Softball team from 2007-2010, where she made a lasting impact on the program. She started her career strong, named to the 2007 ASUN All-Freshman Team, and her upward trajectory continued throughout her years with the Purple and Gold, as one of only five Bisons all-time to earn three or more All-ASUN honors, once as an All-ASUN Second Team member and twice as an All-ASUN First Team selection. McGukin was always a threat in the postseason, being named to the 2009 and 2010 ASUN All-Tournament Teams and was named the 2010 Tournament MVP after leading the Bisons to an ASUN Championship for the first time in program history. She also made history during that run, breaking the NCAA Division I record for home runs in consecutive games hitting at least one in an incredible seven games in a row during the team's 2010 tournament run. McGuckin etched her name in the ASUN record book with top-10 marks in career slugging (.653), runs (164), and home runs (45). She also ranks in the top 10 in single-season runs with 56. A standout in the classroom, as well, she was a two-time ASUN All-Academic Team member, and she brought national recognition to the program, becoming the first-ever Lipscomb Softball player to be named First Team CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine National All-America Team in 2009. 

 

MARK MCGEE (Meritorious Service) – 2003-2017

Mark McGee was a cherished member of the Lipscomb Athletics staff from 2003-2017,, serving as the Director of Media Relations. Throughout his time at Lipscomb, McGee received several accolades. Notably, he secured the top national honor for "Event Coverage of the Year"  in the 2011 Fred S. Stabley Sr. Writing Contest, organized by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) for his article "Facing the Giants" on the Lipscomb softball team's loss to No. 1 Alabama in the NCAA Regional Finals. He was honored as one of five district media relations directors by the American Volleyball Coaches Association with the Grant Burger Award in the South Region for his coverage and promotion of Lipscomb volleyball during the 2009-2010 season. Overall, during his tenure with Lipscomb athletics as senior publisher and director of athletics media relations, McGee received eight district COSIDA awards in the Fred S. Stabley Sr. Writing Contest, co-sponsored by CoSIDA and ESPN. Honed during his 40-year career in journalism, McGee used his talents and connections to elevate Lipscomb's presence in the local and national media landscape. A Knight Center Fellow in The Business of Sports at the University of Maryland and also a professor at Lipscomb, he continued to teach and to contribute to writing for the Lipscomb Athletics website and annual report for several years after he retired from the department. 

The Hall of Fame ceremony will be a part of the 2025 Bisons Weekend and will take place on Saturday, November 15, 2025 at 12:30 PM in the Paul Rogers Board Room in the Ezell Center on Lipscomb's Campus. Tickets are $25 per person. Reserve tables of eight for $200. To register for the weekend, to purchase tickets or for more information, please click on the link here or contact Alumni Relations at 615-966-1000 or alumni@lipscomb.edu.