Belmont University | FYI


September 25, 2009

BELMONT NEWS


Belmont Opens Center for Social Entrepreneurship and Service-Learning
socent2.jpgBelmont University opened yesterday the Center for Social Entrepreneurship and Service-Learning as the home base for its new undergraduate major in social entrepreneurship, the first of its kind nationwide.

Led by Dr. Bernard Turner, an educator with extensive experience with nonprofit organizations, Belmont’s new major centers on the emerging business field that tackles social problems and unmet community needs via entrepreneurial principles. “We will prepare students to be change makers and to go out and transform the world by addressing or helping to alleviate social problems through sound business efforts,” Turner said. “Students will also gain experiential learning through a 225-hour internship during their junior year with a nonprofit or social entrepreneur, further preparing them to pursue their passions regarding a social venture.”

SocEntpanel.jpgKris Prendergast, president & CEO of Social Enterprise Alliance, provided the keynote talk at a Town Hall Meeting held on campus to celebrate the launch of the Center for Social Entrepreneurship and Service-Learning. She was joined by CEOs from Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee, Goodwill Industries and Nashville Area Habitat for Humanity to discuss social enterprise and the future of the nonprofit sector. The Social Enterprise Alliance is the chief national advocate for the field of social entrepreneurship, serving as a hub of information and education and builder of a vibrant and growing community of social enterprises. Click here for more on this story.

Wright Kicks Off 2009-10 Belmont and Beyond Series
cliffwright.jpgRev. Cliff Wright, senior pastor of Brentwood United Methodist Church, kicked off Belmont and Beyond this week, a convocation series meant to inspire and prepare Belmont students for the transition from college. More than 250 students were in attendance.

The presentation, titled “Journey to a Meaningful Life,” focused on the topic of finding a life of purpose and meaning. Wright discussed his own personal journey to find his purpose and gave the audience five questions that students should ask themselves as they are making life-planning decisions: 1) What are you passionate about? 2) What do you avoid like the plague? 3) Is money sidetracking you? 4) What do you want to be remembered for? 5) Who is your audience (i.e. if it is not God, you are playing to the wrong crowd).

Additional Belmont and Beyond convocations this year will address topics such as resume and interview prep, grad school prep, money management and life planning. Click here for more information.

Alumni Showcase Supports Worthy Cause
DSC_3239.jpgOn Sat., Sept. 19, Belmont University's Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business held its first showcase of the year. The Alumni Showcase featured performances by Ricky Braddy (pictured right), Brittini Black and Shirock and raised awareness for Everything Burns, a charity founded by the band and main act of the night, Shirock. The non-profit organization works to encourage people around the world to get involved in making a difference.

Black told the crowd, "I knew I was coming to Belmont when I was in sixth grade. I've never met so many talented people in one clump like I did at Belmont."

Kazakhstan Ambassador Speaks at Belmont
kazakhstanambassador.jpgErlan A. Idrissov, Ambassador of Kazakhstan, presented information about the history and goals of his country Friday morning in a convocation titled “Kazakhstan-The Heart of Eurasia.” His talk spanned the earliest days of Kazakhstan's history to its present-day ambitions and situation.

Idrissov was joined by the Kazakhstani embassy’s First Secretary, Zhanbolat Ussenov, as well as two representatives of the Tennessee World Affairs Council. Idrissov has worked for the Kazakhstani government since 1981 and has served as Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Norway, Sweden and Ireland.


    For more stories from the Belmont News Archive, click here.