Belmont University to Host Free Document Shredding Event May 8

Belmont Reads During Family Literacy Day

Students from a number of classes and clubs participated in reading circles.

Belmont held its annual Family Literacy Day at Rose Park on April 6. Nearly 200 volunteers came together for a total of 596 service hours in order to make the day a success.

Book’em, one of the event’s 19 sponsors, donated 500 books and packets of parent resource literature. Children had the opportunity to select a certain number of books based on their participation in day’s events.

Inside of the Easley Community Center, snacks and crafts were available for the children. There, participants were also able to register and receive a gift bag which included a free book. Resources were parents were also available.

Outdoors, on the softball field, the children were able to participate in games and reading circles. In the reading circles, students read to children and also encouraged the children to read to them. Each child was awarded one sticker for every circle they participated in and was able to redeem his stickers for up to two more books. Each of the 25 reading circles was unique with its own theme, which included dragons, princesses, and Dr. Seuss.

The event also included a raffle and an award ceremony. Prior to the event, elementary school students from local area schools were encouraged to participate in Family Literacy Day’s 4^th Annual poetry contest. The submitted poems were judged by the English Club and faculty, which select the top five. Each of the finalists worked with local songwriters to write and record a song based on their poem. The songs are then played on Family Literacy Day, and a final winner was selected through participant voting.

Over 150  children and parents, participated in the event. They were encouraged to continue reading outside of school, in order to foster stronger learning and relationships.

Sodexo Partners with ‘Bridges to Belmont’ to Provide 20 Meal-Plan Scholarships

Following the March 26 announcement of Belmont University’s new Bridges to Belmont program, the campus’ dining services provider Sodexo offered a gift of 20 meal plans to support the initiative. The Bridges to Belmont program is designed to enroll 25 high potential students from Metro Nashville Public Schools who may not have previously been able to consider Belmont as an option.

Sodexo’s Fred Formichella and “Miss Tonya” unveil a rendering of the new Academic and Dining Services Complex during the March 26 groundbreaking ceremony.

Belmont Vice President and Chief of Staff Dr. Susan West said, “Sodexo has partnered with Belmont for more than two decades, and I have seen first-hand their investment in our students and in this community. Sodexo’s generosity in supporting our new Bridges to Belmont initiative is indicative of the values, excellence and commitment that make this company such a perfect fit for our campus.”

The donation of the meal plans for Bridge scholars came on the heels of Sodexo’s announcement that the company is investing in the construction of Belmont’s new academic and dining services complex.

Sodexo Senior Vice President Fred Formichella said, “Once again two great cultures come together to create and support a very unique program, one that both Belmont and Sodexo will be proud of for many years to come.”

In addition to the full scholarships, the Bridges to Belmont program will focus on creating a learning and service environment to empower students’ personal passion to meet the needs of the world. Bridge students will live and work on campus the summer prior to enrollment while attending an intensive institute that will allow them to take full advantage of the opportunities the college environment will offer. Programming will focus on quantitative reasoning, writing, public speaking skills and research methods as well as on creating a community of learners. The summer immersion program also will include community service and social activities for participants.

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Family Literacy Day Set for This Saturday at Rose Park

Belmont students read to children at the 2012 Family Literacy Day last March.

Belmont students, staff and faculty will continue to engage and transform Nashville on Saturday, April 6 with the 13^th annual Family Literacy Day. The spring-time event allows students and employees to have the unique opportunity to partner with the local community for an afternoon to encourage reading and literacy.

Family Literacy Day will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. at E.S. Rose Park and Sports Complex on Edgehill Avenue. The event, aimed at children from pre-K through grade six and their families, is designed to celebrate the joys of reading with a free afternoon of interactive story times, crafts, games and refreshments. The primary focus of the event is Reading Circles, hosted by various campus groups such as the foreign language majors, fraternities and sororities, the Black Student Alliance and the Student Athlete Council. Each group picks a different theme and offers a variety of books for all ages. When children visit a circle and listen to or read a book, they receive a sticker. Participants can collect stickers to be traded for playing games, making crafts or selecting a new book from hundreds of children’s books donated by Book’em. In addition, throughout the afternoon, there will be drawings for a variety of door prizes, as well as balloons, face-painting and more.

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New Belmont Initiative Provides Full Scholarships, Educational Support to 25 Metro School Students

Bridges to Belmont program immerses local students in summer program to foster academic success

Belmont President Bob Fisher, Director of Metro Schools Jesse Register, Maplewood High Principal Ron Woodard and Stratford High Principal Michael Steele sign a proclamation celebrating the “Bridges to Belmont” program.

Thanks to a new full scholarship program from Belmont University, 25 Metro Nashville high school seniors will receive the opportunity to attend college next year. The Bridges to Belmont program is designed to enroll high potential students from Metro Nashville Public Schools who may not have previously been able to consider Belmont as an option.

Belmont University President Bob Fisher said, “We believe every young person has potential for great success with the biggest challenge often being simply the absence of opportunity. This is Belmont’s attempt to step up and provide that opportunity to high potential students here in Nashville. Of all the projects we’ve undertaken in the past decade, I can’t think of any that make me more proud to be at Belmont.”

In addition to the full scholarships, the Bridges to Belmont program will focus on creating a learning and service environment to empower students’ personal passion to meet the needs of the world. Bridge students will live and work on campus the summer prior to enrollment while attending an intensive institute that will allow them to take full advantage of the opportunities the college environment will offer. Programming will focus on quantitative reasoning, writing, public speaking skills and research methods as well as on creating a community of learners. The summer immersion program also will include community service and social activities for participants.

The pilot Bridges to Belmont program is open to students from Maplewood and Stratford High Schools for the 2013-2014 academic year and eventually could expand to include other Metro Nashville Public Schools. The charter Bridge class members will be nominated by principals at each high school. Preferred candidates for the 25 available slots will be taking a college prep curriculum and feature strong recommendations regarding academic motivation and personal character. (Click here to view video highlights of Tuesday’s press conference.)

“The Bridges to Belmont program will be life-changing for the students selected,” said Metro Schools’ Director Dr. Jesse Register. “The opportunity to attend Belmont tuition-free, as well as participate in the summer transition program, is a tremendous example of how the community can and does support our schools and our students. Belmont is a great partner for Metro Schools, and today’s announcement is another example of how this partnership is bringing lasting benefits to individual students and our community. I want to thank President Fisher and everyone who has worked to make this program a reality.”

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