Butera Designs New iPhone-Based Instrument

Dr. Mike Butera, a Belmont alumnus and adjunct instructor of sociology, has received widespread attention for his new instrument, the Artiphon INSTRUMENT 1. The instrument has been covered by TechCrunch, The Tennessean, PC Magazine and Engadget, among many others.

The wood-body instrument, which is hand-built in Tennessee, is powered by an iPhone and can simulate a number of different instruments. The ergonomically designed body allows for it to be held like a guitar, violin, mandolin or upright bass. It also includes a virtual fret board and strumming pad.

Speakers are built into the portable device, which is powered by a lithium ion battery. The device is compatible with most music software, including Garageband, Pro Tools and Traktor.

The instrument, Butera’s brainchild, has been in development for the past two years, and will finally be released this summer. Reservations for the first wave of shipments can be made exclusively at artiphon.com.

Chemistry Students Volunteer at Drug Take-Back Event

On April 27, Belmont students Gerald Offei-Nkansah, Huner Aradini, Phillip Cook and Emily Locke and Chemistry Professor Kimberlee Daus participated in the Dickson County Drug Take-Back event. Taking place on National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, the event was coordinated by Vanderbilt University and the Dickson Police Department. Working alongside faculty and students from Vanderbilt University and Lipscomb University, Belmont students and faculty cataloged and counted more than 50 pounds of medication. The National Drug Take-Back Day, set by the Drug Enforcement Agency, provides a service to community through safe and responsible disposal of unused medication. Additionally, these events help to educate the public about the potential of drug abuse associated with these medications.

Alumna Earns Xavier’s Magis Award

Belmont alumna Kate Loftus Riley, head of school at Holy Trinity Montessori School, will be awarded the Xavier University Magis Award on May 11 at the Xavier University Commencement in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Magis Award recognizes a Xavier undergraduate alumnus,  who has achieved a high degree of excellence and embodies Jesuit morals and ethical values in her life within 15 years of graduation. Riley, a Nashville native,  earned her Master of Arts in Teaching Special Education from Belmont University, where she later served as adjunct professor, internship coordinator and field consultant.  Click here for more information about Riley and Holy Trinity Montessori.

Rose Park, Belmont Publish ‘Edgehill’s Best’ Amid Changes

For the fourth consecutive year, Rose Park Magnet Middle School students worked with Belmont students and instructors in the University’s journalism lab to produce its annual newspaper Edgehill’s Best.

On May 2, the seventh and eighth grade students worked in Belmont’s journalism lab to write their articles with the help of several Belmont students.

This year marked a special transition for the partnership between the middle school and the University. Journalism Instructor Linda Quigley, who has led the partnership since its birth, will retire at the end of the month. She passed the ink to Belmont alumnus Skip Anderson (’94), managing editor the Williamson Herald in Franklin, Tenn. Media studies Chairman Thom Storey asked Anderson to help in the one-day journalism boot camp.

“It is an opportunity to give back to the community,” said Anderson, who studied journalism at Belmont, “and to be there for a project for students because Belmont was invested in me when I was investing in my education, and I have a tremendous respect for that.”

The Rose Park students, hand selected by their teachers, tutorials from Belmont Vision newspaper adviser and journalism instructor Quigley to learn how to develop story ideas, interview sources and write leads.

Edgehill’s Best is a free newspaper with 5,000 circulation that is intended for residents of the Edgehill community. In addition, it is distributed to Metro Council members, on Belmont’s campus, in local churches, restaurants and community centers throughout the summer. Stories cover topics such as school sports, students’ community service projects and nonprofit service providers in the Edgehill area.

Nursing Alumni Maintain Perfect Pass Rate

Alumni Teach Foreign Languages at Nashville Community Education

Belmont alumni Warren Ray and Jessica Spradlin (’12) served as foreign language instructors at Nashville Community Education, a city department dedicated to adult education in the community, this year. Ray taught Spanish, and Spradlin taught Italian. Their work was the result of a new partnership with the Belmont University Department of Foreign Languages. Nashville Community Education worked with Belmont Foreign Language Department Chair David Julseth to link it with Ray and Spradlin. Click here to read more.

Biology Faculty, Students Participate in BioBlitz

Dr. Steve Murphree, professor of biology, participated in a BioBlitz at Beaman Park on April 20. The BioBlitz invitation came from Beaman Park director and Belmont Biology alumna LinnAnn Welch. Belmont zoology students Erin Pitts and Sylvia Alsup also participated in the event. Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) biologist Pandy English, Director of LEAPS environmental consulting service Bob English and Belmont University biologists lead this research program in special habitats focusing on the animals and plants of its Barrens areas. Beaman Park Nature Center, located in Beaman Park in northwest Davidson County, offers public programs on environmental education.

U.S. Army Mobile Operating Room Displayed at Belmont on April 18

On April 18, Belmont University School of Nursing will host the U.S. Army Second Medical Recruiting Battalion to display a mobile operating room used by Forward Surgical Teams (FST) in combat, complete within a Deployable Rapid Assembly Shelter (DRASH).   The day-long event will feature tours, continuing education opportunities and the chance to talk with Army nurses about their field experiences.  Featured speakers include Brigadier General Margaret Wilmoth, PhD, RN, FAAN, and Belmont alumna and Army Capt. Melanie Bowman.

The DRASH will be set-up in the lobby of the Gordon E. Inman Center and tours will be provided at various times between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.  In addition, a one-hour continuing education class on Pressure Ulcer Prevention and Staging will be offered at 8 a.m., 10 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. for students who wish to gain continuing education credit through Womack Army Medical Center.  Individuals must pre-register for the class by emailing lisa.c.simunaci.civ@mail.mil or calling (256) 450-9624.

Forward Surgical Teams (FST) were designed to provide surgical capability far forward on the battlefield to stabilize and resuscitate soldiers with life and limb threatening injuries.  A team typically includes about 20 staff members: four surgeons, three RNs, two certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs), one administrative officer, one detachment sergeant, three licensed practical nurses (LPN)’s, three surgical techs and three medics.  The FST can sustain surgery for 24 total operating table hours and has the ability to separate into two teams that function independently. A functional operating room can be established within one hour of being on scene and break down to move to a new location within two hours of ceasing operations.  FSTs were deployed in both Afghanistan and Iraq.

Sigma Nu Tau Inducts New Members

Entrepreneurship honor society Sigma Nu Tau inducted new members, including three graduate students and two alumni, during a ceremony on March 25 in the Massey Boardroom. Chapter President Alexandra Lauber gave the keynote address.

New members are: undergraduate students Carter Abel , Amy Ashida, Blake Bailey, Landon Barnes, Grant Blevins, Jacob Brown, Hayden Coleman, Kayla Corbin, Caroline Davidson, John Fleming, Craig Gabbert, Eric Guroff, Michael Hammers, Mary Lawson, Madison Lee, Chelsi Leverenz, Fabiana Mersan, Nicholas Miller, Aaron Montlary, James Morris, Tyler Newkirk, Melissa Nieszczur, Rachel Perkins, Ann Touchstone and Weston Wood; as well as graduate students Juanita Cousins, Kathleen Goff and Stanley Stacey. Alumni Kurt Nelson and Tyler Seymour also were inducted for their smart phone application building company Aloompa, located in Edgehill Village.

Sigma Nu Tau is the first honor society dedicated to entrepreneurship, and its members are recognized for having high ethical standards, exhibiting honor and integrity and demonstrating a strong entrepreneurial spirit. Its mission is to promote, recognize and reward academic excellence in entrepreneurship and to encourage and recognize the practice of principled entrepreneurship.

MAT Alumna Honored as Teacher of the Year

Master of Arts in Teaching alumna, Lauren Binkley (’10), has been honored as Teacher of the Year at Glencliff Elementary School, located in south Nashville. Binkley has been teaching for five years at the elementary school level. At Glencliff Elementary many of her students are not native English speakers and are enrolled as English Language Learners (ELL).

Of being honored by her school Binkley writes, “It is important to me to work hard enough to provide students, that may not have the same opportunities as others, all the resources and opportunities and learning experiences that I can possibly provide. I love being a small part of closing the achievement gap for students that society often says can’t learn in the same way or at the same rate as others. Teaching brings me so much joy – I can’t really imagine doing anything else now.” (image – lauren_binkley.jpg)