February 29, 2008

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Belmont Wins Battle of the Boulevard 74-65
In front of the third largest crowd in Curb Event Center history, Belmont Basketball showcased its deep bench and intestinal fortitude in grinding out a hard earned 74-65 victory over Lipscomb last Friday night. For more on this story, click here. Bruins basketball wraps up the regular season Saturday night, March 1, with a doubleheader against Gardner-Webb in the Curb Event Center.

BELMONT NEWS

Undergraduate Business Program Nationally Ranked by Businessweek
Belmont University announced today that its undergraduate School of Business has achieved a Top 100 national ranking in BusinessWeek’s third annual report on “The Best Undergrad B-Schools” in the U.S. Belmont ranked No. 89 in the U.S., placed between the University of Arkansas (No. 88) and Louisiana State University (No. 90). Belmont and the University of Tennessee-Knoxville (No. 93) were the only two Tennessee programs to make the list, and Belmont was one of only six private schools in the South to be included. For the second straight year, the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School was recognized as best in the U.S.
Belmont’s College of Business Administration (COBA) Dean J. Patrick Raines said, “This national recognition offers continuing evidence that our COBA faculty and staff are doing a phenomenal job in delivering a high-quality undergraduate business education to our students. And given our continuing partnership with Belmont’s Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business, it also demonstrates what is possible when two academic programs share the same passion for excellence.”
Susan Taylor, COBA associate dean of undergraduate business, added, “Our students and their families will be very pleased with this recognition. It’s also rewarding to know that what we have been telling students when we recruit them is now being validated on such a highly visible national platform.” For more on this story, click here.
Students Win Multiple Awards at Southeast Journalism Conference
Belmont journalism and public relations students attended the Southeast Journalism Conference (SEJC) Feb. 21-23, in Oxford, Miss. and finished second overall in on-site competition. The SEJC includes more than 40 member institutions from Tennessee, Louisiana, Mississippi, Georgia, Arkansas and Alabama.
Linda Quigley, associate professor and faculty adviser for the Belmont Vision, and Thom Storey, associate dean for the School of Social Sciences, accompanied the Belmont contingent. Quigley and Storey are co-presidents-elect of SEJC, and Belmont will host the 2009 conference Feb. 12-14, 2009. Storey said, “I was so proud to accompany the Belmont Media Studies students and faculty member Linda Quigley to this year’s Southeast Journalism Conference. Competing against dozens of schools double or triple our size, and coming away as the second place program overall in the championship competition is a tribute to not only our students, but to the faculty who train them to be top notch practitioners who will have an impact on journalism in the years ahead.” For more on this story, click here.
Student-Athletes Earn National Academic Honors
Hare, Magut, Williams-Weaver Named to Academic Teams;
Belmont Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Teams Named to the 2007 NCAA Division I USTFCCCA All-Academic Team
Belmont University recently received word that three student-athletes and both cross country teams have been honored for outstanding academic achievements. Senior Justin Hare added to his lengthy and distinguished list of accolades Tuesday, as he was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America University Division Men’s Basketball First Team. In addition, after recording two of the most distinguished individual running seasons in program history, cross country student-athletes Kipkosgei Magut and Lauren Williams-Weaver were named to their respective 2007 NCAA Division I U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic teams Monday.
Also, the Belmont men’s and women’s cross country teams were each named to the 2007 NCAA Division I U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic Teams. The men’s team had the highest overall team grade point average in the nation with a 3.57. This is the fifth time in school history that a Belmont team has earned the top GPA in the nation for their respective sport. The Belmont women’s team had a GPA of 3.61 and marked its eighth consecutive year the team of being named an All-Academic Team. Both cross country teams won Atlantic Sun Championships in the fall of 2007. The title was the sixth consecutive championship for the men’s team and the women’s team won their sixth in seven seasons. For more on this story, click here.
Tompkins Offers Insights on Value of Journalism in a YouTube World
Al Tompkins, a member of the New Century Journalism program’s Advisory Board, kicked off the Spring 2008 NCJ Speakers’ Series Monday morning with a talk titled “If Everybody has YouTube, Why Do We Need Journalism?” A veteran journalist himself and the former news director for local station WSMV-TV Ch. 4, Tompkins now serves as the Group Leader for Broadcasting/Online at The Poynter Institute, an internationally recognized school for journalists, future journalists and teachers of journalists. He is also the author of Aim for the Heart: A Guide for TV Producers and Reporters, which is being used by more than 70 universities as their main broadcast writing textbook. For more on this story, click here.

ACHIEVERS

Alumna Receives the Champions In Health Volunteer Award
The Community Health Charities of Tennessee recently awarded Music Business alumna Laura McLeod (’96) the Volunteer of the Year award during a dinner and awards ceremony at The Factory in Franklin. McLeod represents the American Liver Foundation Middle TN chapter with her countless contributions including serving as Secretary to the organization and raising close to $20,000 for Flavors, ALF’s annual fundraising event. McLeod (left) is pictured with Channel 4’s Nancy Van Kamp, the evening’s host.
Jordan-Lake to Release First Novel in March
Dr. Joy Jordan-Lake, a part-time professor at Belmont and wife of Vice President of Spiritual Development Todd Lake, is releasing her first novel next week. Inspired by a true story, Blue Hole Back Home is a beautiful and poetic story that exposes that just how deep ignorance—and hatred—can burn. Author and lecturer Phyllis Tickle noted, “Reminiscent of To Kill a Mockingbird, Blue Hole Back Home is a haunting story, lyrically told, about the death of innocence under a southern sun.” Click here to read more.
Dickens Appointed Chair of Harpeth Companies
Marty Dickens, the chair of Belmont University’s Board of Trustees and the former AT&T Tennessee president, has been appointed chairman of the board of Harpeth Companies, LLC, as the firm seeks to build upon the record success it achieved in 2007. Harpeth Companies is the parent company of Harpeth Capital and Harpeth Consulting. Dickens was previously a member of Harpeth’s Advisory Board.
Bridgestone Americas Awards Scholarship to PR Major
Emily Telford, a junior public relations major, was recently awarded the $2,500 Bridgestone Americas Public Affairs Scholarship, an annual award given by the Nashville-based company to a public affairs student who demonstrates academic excellence, campus service and professionalism. Telford, who also is earning a double minor in journalism and philosophy, has maintained a high grade point average while being an active campus leader. Click here to read more.
Governor Recognizes Financial Aid Awareness Month
Patricia Smedley, Belmont’s Director of Financial Aid and Associate Director of Student Financial Services, recently attended an event in which Governor Phil Bredesen signed a proclamation declaring February as Financial Aid Awareness Month in the State of Tennessee. The Tennessee Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (TASFAA), a professional association consisting of approximately 600 members from across the state, provides financial aid information and services to students attending colleges and universities in our state. Pictured above are Clyde Walker of Vanderbilt University, TASFAA President; Governor Bredesen; Patricia Smedley of Belmont University, Chair of the TASFAA Financial Aid Awareness Committee; and Ron Gambill of EdSouth, Chair of the TASFAA Governmental Relations Committee.
Alumna Wins Big on ‘Deal or No Deal’
Sarah Harrison, a May 2007 Belmont graduate, and her husband Nate recently won $209,000 on the NBC television game show “Deal or No Deal.” The show aired locally on Mon., Feb. 25.
Voight Gives Keynote, Receives Lifetime Achievement Award
On Feb. 1, Physical Therapy Professor Dr. Michael Voight gave the keynote address to the Danish Association of Sportsmedicine held in Copenhagen Denmark on the topic of “Hip Injuries in Athletes.” This meeting was attended by over 400 MDs and PTs practicing in the field of sports medicine from Denmark, Norway and Sweden. A week later, Voight received the Ronald Peyton Lifetime Achievement award at the Sports Physical Therapy Section’s Annual awards ceremony. This award, named after the first founder and first President of the SPTS, is the highest award given by the SPTS and represents a lifetime of contribution to the field of Sports Physical Therapy.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Parking Update for Next Week
Click here to view Special Event parking notices for next week, Mon., March 3-Sun., March 9. In addition, a new parking policy has been initiated to allow students to park in the interior of campus in the evening. For a full report, click here to watch the student-produced video from Vision News.
Disney Recruiters Coming to Nashville
Recruiters for the Walt Disney World College Program will be in Nashville on Mon., March 3 and Tues., March 4. Presentations will be given at 3 p.m. each day on Lipscomb University’s campus in Swang 242. The program offers students of all majors and college levels the opportunity to take part in a paid internship for the Fall 2008 semester. This is a great opportunity for students to be part of the Disney magic and start building a strong résumé. For more information, please contact campus representative Cheryl Bak at bakc@pop.belmont.edu. You can also visit www.wdwcolleprogram.com and click on “Educators” at the top.

IT’S ALL BELMONT TO ME – Belmont FYI Feature Profile of the Week

Do It Right
This week’s Belmont FYI feature profile of the week has been a part of the Belmont community for five years. Colette Keyser was nominated for the third guiding principle – Do It Right – for her work as Assistant Director of Compliance and Academic Support.
What Colette enjoys most about her job is communicating on a regular basis with faculty, academic support staff, the Registrar’s Office, the Provost’s Office and others. “Aside from working with some of the finest student-athletes in Division I athletics,” Colette said, “the thing I enjoy most about my job is the constant interaction with people across campus.”
Colette noted that she believes she is good at her job because she and the people around her are all committed to excellence. For Colette, to do it right means taking pride in her work and assuming personal responsibility for its accuracy. “In my line of work I can’t afford to be wrong because many people rely on me for information—coaches, student-athletes, and even prospective student-athletes—and they utilize this information to make important decisions,” she said. “If my work is inaccurate, it could jeopardize a student-athlete’s eligibility or an entire team’s ability to compete. The reason I am able to ‘Do It Right’ is because I am surrounded by incredibly competent people who enable me to do my work well.”

Do you know a Belmont employee who embodies one of the five Guiding Principles? Nominate them for a Belmont FYI Feature Profile of the Week! Please send their name and a brief description of how they meet the criteria to the It’s All Belmont to Me Committee for consideration.
To read more about Belmont’s new service initiative, click here to view the “It’s All Belmont to Me” Web site. This Web site will explain the history, training and other elements of this program.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY

Clothing Donations Wanted for West African Orphans
Rofoindu Education Project for Orphan Children (REPOC) is a nonprofit organization helping orphaned and vulnerable children and their communities in the war ravaged country of Sierra Leone, West Africa. REPOC is requesting donations of used clothing and shoes for children of all ages. Please drop your gifts on the porch near the front door of Belmont’s Landscaping office in Pembroke Hall. For more information or to have your donations picked up, please call Plant Ops employee Samuel Kabia at 423-3965.

COMING UP

Friday, February 29, 7:30 p.m.
Jazzmin – In Concert
MPAC
Saturday, March 1, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Best Job Ever
Student Leadership Council will be hosting an entertainment and music conference.
Curb Music Business Center
Saturday, March 1, 1 p.m.
Baseball Hosts Lipscomb
Greer Stadium
Saturday, March 1, 1-3 p.m.
10 Minute Play Festival, Bill 1
Staged readings of 10 minute plays developed in the Scriptwriting I class.
Troutt Black Box Theater
Saturday, March 1, 5 p.m.
Basketball Doubleheader
Men’s and women’s basketball host Gardner-Webb.
Curb Event Center Arena
Sunday, March 2, 1-3 p.m.
10 Minute Play Festival, Bill 2
Staged readings of 10 minute plays developed in the Scriptwriting I class.
Troutt Black Box Theater
Sunday, March 2, 1 p.m.
Baseball Hosts Lipscomb
Greer Stadium
Sunday, March 2, 4:30 p.m.
Belle Voci Ensemble
Belmont Heights Baptist Church Sanctuary
Monday, March 3, 10 a.m.
POSTPONED: Faculty/Staff Appreciation Breakfast
The Faculty/Staff Appreciation breakfast given by the sisters of Alpha Sigma Tau has been postponed due to a previously scheduled campus-wide faculty meeting. A new date and location will be announced soon.
Monday, March 3, 3:30 p.m.
Week of Compassion: Invisible Children
Jack Wu from Invisible Children is coming to speak about their organization, which supports children enduring tragedy in Northern Uganda. He has worked as a photographer for MTV Networks, NFL, CBS and Invisible Children.
MBC 100
Monday, March 3, 6:30 p.m.
Mini Jazz Festival
MPAC
Tuesday, March 4, 3 p.m.
Baseball Hosts Murray State
Greer Stadium
Tuesday, March 4, 7:30 p.m.
Mini Jazz Festival
MPAC
Wednesday, March 5, 10 a.m.
Faith-Informed Sociology with Drs. Andi Stepnick, Shelby Longard and Ken Spring
Sociology faculty will talk about how Christian faith informs their lives and their work as professors of sociology.
Bunch Multimedia Hall
Wednesday, March 5, 1 p.m.
Softball Hosts Charleston Southern
Aquinas Softball Field
Friday, March 7, 10 a.m.
MSNBC’s Multimedia Mix
Jennifer Sizemore is a Vice President and Editor in Chief of MSNBC.com and an Executive Producer for NBC News. Sizemore believes that e-mail is a fad and that texting is a trend. As a new media pioneer at MSNBC.com, she is forging into new territory building virtual audiences. This session will be beneficial not only to budding journalists but also to entrepreneurs, musicians, publicists, scientists and anyone else who uses multimedia devices.
Massey Boardroom
Ongoing
Pink: New Art by Libby Rowe
Rowe’s interests reside in defining and redefining women’s issues to produce a new forum of discussion on what it is to be a female physiologically, sociologically and psychologically. Exhibit runs now through March 6.
Leu Art Gallery, Bunch Library

CONGRATULATIONS

Congratulations to Dr. James Wells, assistant professor of English, and his wife Kate, on the birth of their son. Jude Emerson Wells was born at 7 a.m. Mon., Feb. 25 and weighed in at 7 lbs., 14 oz.