March 30, 2007

Photo of the Week

Belmont Alumna Rachel Smith Wins Miss USA 2007 Crown
Rachel Smith, a 2006 graduate of Belmont University, was named Miss USA 2007 Friday night. Smith, a Clarksville, Tenn., native, served as managing editor of The Belmont Vision, Belmont’s student newspaper, interned for “The Oprah Winfrey Show” for eight months and traveled to South Africa to work with students at the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy. To read more, click here.

Belmont News

Belmont SIFE Team Wins First Place In Regional Competition Second Year In a Row
For the second year in a row, Belmont University’s Students in Free Enterprise Team (SIFE) won first place in the southeast regional SIFE competition at Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville, Tenn., and $4,500 in prize money and is again invited to compete in the national competition in Dallas May 5-6. The 29 students on Belmont’s SIFE team managed 16 high-impact community projects that served over 3,500 Nashville residents. Additionally, an anti-piracy commercial that was developed by team members aired as a public service announcement and was seen by more than two million viewers. Some of the community organizations and non-profits that were served by the SIFE team included: Thistle Farms, Our Kids, Conexion Americas, Nashville’s 100 Kings program and Catholic Charities. To read more, click here.
Tennessee College Presidents Commit to the Environment at Ceremony at Belmont
College and university presidents from across the state of Tennessee gathered at Belmont University Wednesday, March 28, 2007, to sign the Talloires Declaration of the Association of University Leaders For a Sustainable Future (USLF) and commit to lead their respective institutions to achieve global environmental literacy and sustainability. Dr. Bob Fisher (Belmont University) will be joined by Dr. Hazel O’Leary (Fisk University) and Dr. Wayne Riley (Meharry Medical College) to sign the declaration. Dr. Loren Crabtree (University of Tennessee at Knoxville), Dr. George Van Allen (Nashville State Technological Community College) and Dr. Forrest Harris (American Baptist College) have sent electronic signatures for the declaration but were not able to attend the signing in person. Many presidents from the Tennessee Board of Regents lent their support but could not attend due to a previously scheduled Board of Regents meeting. To read more, click here.
Belmont Goes Green, Invites Other Tennessee Colleges To Join the Cause
College and university presidents from across the state of Tennessee gathered at Belmont University Wednesday, March 28, 2007, to sign the Talloires Declaration of the Association of University Leaders For a Sustainable Future (USLF) and commit to lead their respective institutions to achieve global environmental literacy and sustainability. To read more, click here.
Belmont Alumna Advances on American Idol
Belmont alumna, Melinda Doolittle (’99), advanced to the top 9 on the number 1 show, American Idol. Click here for Doolittle’s official “American Idol” Web page.
Rudy Kalis Speaks to Belmont Students About Faith in the Workplace
More than 100 students packed the Lila D. Bunch Library Multimedia Hall to listen to veteran broadcaster, Rudy Kalis, the sports director at WSMV, the NBC affiliate in Nashville. When Kalis was 5 years old, he and his family emigrated with his family from Germany. He couldn’t speak any English when they moved to Wisconsin. He didn’t do well in high school, ranking in the lower fourth of his class. He fared even worse in college, earning a 0.94 grade point average. In his own words, up until that point, he spent most of his life “trying to beat the system.”

Achievers

West Nominated for Distinguished Athena Award
Dr. Susan West, Vice President for Presidential Affairs at Belmont University, was nominated for the distinguished Athena Award, an honor given to one Nashville woman each year for their extraordinary accomplishments. The Athena Award honors those women who have attained and personify the highest level of excellence within family, vocation and community service. West was nominated by Women in Higher Education in Tennessee (WHET).
Pictured here, Dr. West with husband, John, daughter, Shandra, sisterfriends, Gina Brown and Kyshia Carey, and Belmont staff members Angie Bryant and LaKiesha Armstrong.
The 17th Annual Athena Awards was held Thursday, March 29, 2007, at the Parthenon in Nashville, and is held in March each year in honor of women’s history month.
Raines to Appear on Nashville Business This Week
Dr. Pat Raines, Dean of the College of Business, will appear on Nashville Business This Week, a weekly television show with the Nashville Business Journal and WTVF News Channel 5. He will discuss the impact of the inverted yield guide on community banks. Tune in to News Channel 5+ at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, March 30, 7 p.m. on Saturday, March 31 and 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, April 1.
Belmont Student Awarded by NIRSA
Belmont student, Caroline Cox, will receive the Star Trac NIRSA Region 2 Student Excellence Award at the NIRSA annual conference in Minneapolis next month. This is the highest award Region 2 bestows upon students for their engagement in recreational sports. The award was created in 2006 to recognize top undergraduate and graduate students who are participants of and/or employed in their respective campus recreational sports program. This award gives the professional members of Region 2 an opportunity to honor outstanding student leaders. In addition to the award, Caroline will receive a grant in the amount of $200.00 for travel expenses to the conference.

It’s All Belmont To Me – Belmont FYI Feature Profile of the Week

Make It Seamless
This week’s Belmont FYI Feature Profile of the Week is Matthew Burchett, who has been a part of the Belmont community for five years. He was nominated for the fourth guiding principle – “Make it Seamless” – for his work as Director of New Student and Parent Programs.
Matt says he finds “great joy in connecting new students to the Belmont community and its traditions while establishing co-curricular programs that challenge them academically, spiritually, and socially.”
Matt feels the It’s All Belmont to Me initiatives challenge us to live and act our values daily. “The ‘Make It Seamless’ guiding principle is particularly relevant for new students and parents,” he said. It is particularly important that we own questions, problems and situations at the first point of contact. When we have the opportunity to serve a new family and ease the transition, we not only contribute to their success but we model the community of care we strive to create at Belmont University.”

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.

Coming Up

Saturday, March 31, 1 p.m.
7th Annual Family Literacy Day
Activities include reading circles, books, games, crafts,
refreshments and fun! Belmont students, faculty and staff volunteer to promote the joy of books and reading to children and families in the Nashville Community.
The Lawn (weather permitting) or Maddox Grand Atrium
Saturday, March 31, 7:30 p.m.
Company Vocal Ensemble In Concert
Join the show choir, Company, in an evening of fully choreographed songs and popular music.
Massey Concert Hall (MPAC)
Monday, April 2, 10 a.m.
Covering News in a Multimedia World
Presented by Michelle Williams, Belmont alumna and Assistant Chief of Bureau for the Associated Press.
Massey Business Center, Room 100
Tuesday, April 3, 7:30 p.m.
Phoenix and Rock Ensemble
Join Phoenix and Rock Ensemble as they perform rock tunes from yesterday and today.
Massey Concert Hall (MPAC)
Tuesday, April 3, 7:30 p.m.
Phoenix and Rock Ensemble
Massey Concert Hall
Monday, April 9, 7:30 p.m.
Belmont Camerata Musicale
Belmont’s resident chamber ensemble features some of Nashville’s finest performers, as well as members of the Nashville Symphony.
Belmont Mansion
Wednesday, April 11, 7:30 p.m.
Brass Ensemble and Flute Choir
Belmont Mansion
Thursday, April 12, 7:30 p.m.
Graduate Chamber Ensemble
Join the Graduate Chamber Ensemble as they present an evening of classical music.
Belmont Mansion
Thursday, April 12, 7:30 p.m. (Sneak Peak Dress Rehearsal)
Friday, April 13, 7:30 p.m., Saturday, April 14, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 15, 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m.
Guys and Dolls: Musical Theatre Spring Production
Admission Charge: $10 for adults, $5 for senior citizens
Massey Concert Hall (MPAC)
Thursday, April 12, 7:30 p.m.
Graduate Chamber Ensemble
Harton Recital Hall
Friday, April 13, 4 p.m.
Retirement Celebration for Dr. Jerry Warren
Massey Performing Arts Center,
Reception Following, Belmont Mansion

Upcoming and Ongoing Volunteer Opportunities

If you have a volunteer opportunity you would like included in this section, e-mail the details to communication@mail.belmont.edu.
For further information, click “MORE” below.
Upcoming Events:
March 31 – 7th Annual Family Literacy Day
March 31 – Bruin Den Day
April 21 – Luis Palau City Fest – Operation Compassion
Weekends of June 9 – July 1 – Habitat Youth United Build
Beginning June 11 – Gulfsouth Youth Action Corps (Feb. 27 Deadline for applying)

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Announcements

Steve Murphree is in search of homes with active termite infestations to include in his Sentricon termite colony elimination system enhancement research for the next 12-18 months. Active homes are those that have experienced swarms in recent months. Steve would prefer that the homes be in Nashville, Franklin or Murfreesboro and that the homeowner(s) not have a current termite contract with a pest control company. The termite control would be free and homeowner(s) would be required to sign a confidentiality and release form. Contact Steve at ext. 6221 or murphrees@mail.belmont.edu.

In Our Thoughts and Prayers

Please keep Julie Beazley and her family in your thoughts and prayers at the loss of her father.