Belmont University | FYI


June 13, 2008

ACHIEVERS


Student's iReport Airs on CNN International
Rising senior and music business major Chris Dorsey was recently interviewed on CNN International. After taking part last summer in Belmont's first Study Abroad trip to South Africa, Dorsey returned to the nation this summer as a volunteer and was present when the rioting began in Cape Town several weeks ago. He submitted to CNN several photos from his work with a refugee camp in the area, and the network contacted him for an iReport interview, which aired last week. To view Dorsey's iReport, click here and forward to 5:08 in the video segment.

Giorgianni Interviewed for MSN Health and Fitness
Dr. Sal Giorgianni in the School of Pharmacy recently did an interview on the MSN Health and Fitness Web site for the Men's Health Network in anticipation of Father's Day. The full article "Fighting Frailty," which can be read here, focuses on practical tips older fathers can use to manage the basics of physical health as well as to engage in mentally stimulating and socially rewarding activities.

Weaver Finishes in Top 25 at NCAA Championship Event
weaver-300.jpgBelmont women’s track and cross country runner Lauren Weaver, a Spring 2008 graduate, finished 25th in the preliminary race for the 5000 meter at the NCAA Championships. The Nashville native, who was the only runner representing a school in the state of Tennessee to compete in the event, finished with a time of 17:48.77. Weaver became only the third Belmont outdoor women’s track athlete in program history to participate in the NCAA Championship and was the first since 2004. She qualified for the NCAA Championship after finishing second in the event at the NCAA Mideast Regional, just two seconds behind eventual winner Angela Bizzarri of the University of Illinois. For more on this story, click here.

Brandt Receives A-Sun Postgraduate Scholarship
brandt_story1.jpgBelmont University senior Sarah Brandt (Hendersonville, Tenn.) has received a postgraduate scholarship from the Atlantic Sun Conference, the league announced from its annual administrative meetings. Brandt enjoyed a stellar career on the field, becoming the first Bruin ever to earn All-Atlantic Sun honors in consecutive years as she was tabbed an all-league defender in 2006 and 2007. Versatile and dependable, Brandt ranks among Belmont’s all-time leaders in games played, minutes played and assists. Likewise adept in the classroom, Brandt graduated with honors last month, earning a dual degree in biology (pre-med) and chemistry. She was a four-time Atlantic Sun Conference All-Academic honoree, four-time Dean’s List recipient, 2007 Academic All-District honoree and the 2008 Belmont Academic Achievement Award recipient for women’s soccer. For more on this story, click here.

Office of Communications Wins Eight Awards at TCPRA
TCPRA Award 1.jpgThe Office of Communications won eight awards at the recent Tennessee College Public Relations Association conference in Memphis. Gold awards were present to the Spring 2007 Circle Magazine and the 2007 President's Annual Report as well as for Print Advertisement (Pharmacy). Silver awards were presented to Belmont for Photography (Feedback Clothing student entrepreneur), Video Ad (Pharmacy) and Specialty Item (Family & Parent Calendar). Bronze awards were won for Print Ad (Athletics) and Specialty Item (Walking Tour Brochure). Judging of entries was based on overall creativity of the piece, marketing execution and impact of message.

Rives Profiled in Tennessean
Junior track and field standout Lynette Rives was profiled in Wednesday's Tennessean in a column by David Climer. Click here to read the full story.

Athletics Earns Two National Marketing Awards
Belmont University Athletics received two national marketing and promotion honors Tuesday as the National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators (NACMA) announced its 2007-08 awards. Belmont earned the gold medal in the category of ‘Best Student Promotion’ for its conception and integration of Ned–the alter ego of team mascot Bruiser–into basketball gameday promotions. The voting panel cited how the mystery and intrigue of Ned’s existence spread around the Belmont campus via Facebook and MySpace social networks.

The department also earned the bronze medal in the category of ‘Best Single-Day Attendance Promotion–Olympic Sports’ for an overwhelmingly successful fan turnout at the 2007 Atlantic Sun Conference Cross Country Championships. Blanketing the Vaughn’s Creek Cross Country course in red, white and blue, hundreds within the Belmont community cheered on as the men’s and women’s cross country teams again won team conference championships. For more on this story, click here.

Rupright Recognized by Congressman for Community Service
Alumnus Jeff Rupright ('05) was recently awarded special recognition from Congressman Jim Cooper for his four-year involvement with VITA, the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, which helps prepare Federal Income Tax returns for low-income families in Middle Tennessee. Rupright accumulates 50-70 hours of volunteer service on Saturdays each year. "I got involved in VITA during my senior year at Belmont while taking a federal income tax class with Dr. Marilyn Young," Rupright said. "She encouraged her class to volunteer their experience, and I loved it so much I came back every year since."

Rupright remains active in the Zeta Alpha chapter of Phi Kappa Tau, which he helped form on Belmont's campus several years ago. He was the chapter's first president and initiated brother and now serves as a financial advisor to its Board of Governors.

Rockwell Profiled in Tuscaloosa News
Amber Rockwell, a sophomore guard on the Belmont women’s basketball team, was recently profiled in the Tuscaloosa News. Click here to read the story.

Three Belmont Women’s Track & Field/Cross Country Athletes Named Academic All-District
Elizabeth Smothers, Lauren Williams Weaver and Brittany Thune of the Belmont women’s track & field/ cross country teams were each named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV Team. It marks the first time in program history an athlete has received the honor as well as the first time in Belmont history that three athletes from the same program have ever earned the honor in the same season. Smothers and Weaver were named to the First Team while Thune received Second Team recognition. For more on this story, click here.

Testa, Wiley Selected in 2008 Major League Baseball Entry Draft
Juniors Carlo Testa (Tallmadge, Ohio) and Derek Wiley (Dublin, Calif.) were selected in the 2008 Major League Baseball Entry Draft on Friday. Testa was selected 535th overall by the Kansas City Royals in the 18th round. Wiley was selected 1489th overall by the Oakland Athletics in the 50th round. For more on this story, click here.


    For more stories from the Achievers Archive, click here.