August 27, 2010

PHOTOS OF THE WEEK

Welcome Week 2010

BELMONT NEWS

Belmont Celebrates Grand Opening of McWhorter Hall
New 90,000 square foot, state-of-the-art academic building houses Schools of Pharmacy and Physical Therapy, Department of Psychological Science
Belmont University celebrated the grand opening of the new 90,000 square foot McWhorter Hall at a ribbon cutting event held on campus this morning. The state-of-the-art academic building houses the Schools of Pharmacy and Physical Therapy, as well as the Department of Psychological Science.
McWhorter Hall is being named in honor of Belmont Trustee Emeritus and Chairman of Clayton Associates, Clayton McWhorter, and his brother, the late pharmacist Fred McWhorter. Both men dedicated their careers to the healthcare field, making a difference in the lives of countless individuals and championing healthcare reform. In addition to his longtime relationship with the University and his work on the School of Pharmacy’s initial Study Team and External Advisory Committee, Clayton is also providing a major leadership gift in support of Belmont’s new academic building.
Belmont President Dr. Bob Fisher said, “This building is a model, 21st century academic facility that will provide the perfect space and environment where our students and faculty can intersect in service to help meet the medical needs of our community and our world. We are honored to have the McWhorter name on the building, knowing that it will endow this space with a legacy of compassionate, professional care for others that our students will be equipped to emulate.”
Clayton McWhorter added, “My brother Fred practiced pharmacy like it should be practiced and stayed true to his profession for more than 50 years, loving every minute of it. I believe he would be honored to have this building bear the McWhorter name, but I’m even more hopeful that the student pharmacists and other health care specialists learning within these walls will look to my brother as a premier model of their profession.”
Pharmacy Care Center, Health Services Center, Drug Information Center and Pharmacy Labs
Designed by Earl Swensson Associates with construction by R.C. Mathews, McWhorter Hall continues the innovation for which Belmont University has become known. The facility will emphasize integrated, “hands on” experiential learning components including a licensed, state-of-the-art Pharmacy Care Center which will provide services to students, faculty and staff while also serving as a training site for student pharmacists. This first floor “living laboratory,” which is located adjacent to Belmont’s expanded Health Services center, will help student pharmacists learn every aspect of opening and running a retail pharmacy business. Clients of the pharmacy will be offered personal service in a managed care environment.
The second floor of McWhorter Hall also offers numerous spaces to serve pharmacy students’ needs. In the pharmacy lab, student pharmacists will be making various pharmaceutical products (ointments, powders, creams, etc.), while the Drug Information Center serves the faculty and student pharmacists with a state-of-the-art area to search, assimilate, and transfer information to health care providers that is up to date and patient specific. The center also provides educational programs for post graduate pharmacists from area hospitals. Pharmacy faculty laboratories in the building provide over 5,500 square feet for discovery, innovation and education. Faculty will immediately begin work on projects providing safer, better pharmaceuticals and insight and treatment approaches for various central nervous system diseases, human cell malformations and cancers, therapies for the eye, and improved formulations for pharmaceuticals.
Dr. Phil Johnston, dean of the School of Pharmacy, said, “This new facility is a dream come true for Belmont University, our faculty and for our student pharmacists. It is a privilege to work in this environment and with these bright young professional people. Here, we are able to provide a top notch educational program that prepares student pharmacists to succeed in the world of pharmacy.”
Additional Lab Spaces for Interdisciplinary Education
Also housed within McWhorter Hall are a variety of laboratory spaces dedicated to permitting research and educating future occupational therapists (OT) and physical therapists (PT). Specifically, the first floor is a joint OT/PT Health and Wellness Lab that contains state-of-the art research equipment that spans balance assessment, strength (torque) evaluation, driving simulation, virtual reality exercise activities, work simulation and whole body vibration. The second floor is a joint Human Performance Lab I, with work hardening equipment and the facilities needed to teach a variety of hands-on classes. The third floor contains the Human Performance Lab II, a joint lab space designed for instruction and hands-on evaluation and treatment activities. Click here for more on this story.
Belmont Names Two New Residence Halls
Surrounded by members of Belmont University’s Class of 2014, today Belmont President Dr. Bob Fisher announced the names of the campus’ two new freshmen residence halls at an afternoon ribbon cutting ceremony. Adjoined by a central lobby, one hall is being named Patton Hall, in honor of longtime Trustee Carolyn Patton, while the other residence will be called Bear House, reflecting the site of a bear house that was located on Adelicia Acklen’s original property. Together, the six-story halls provide an additional 103,000 square feet of residence space for more than 400 Belmont freshmen.
“Belmont University continues to grow at a remarkable rate, with early enrollment numbers for the coming semester looking strong once again,” Fisher said. “It’s important that Belmont remains student-centered, placing our students’ needs first even as we experience significant enrollment increases. These new halls guarantee that Belmont will provide a unique and innovative space to welcome incoming classes into the heart of campus.”
Carolyn Patton, a 1958 alumna and current member of Belmont’s Board of Trustees, and her husband Clem are responsible for an endowed, merit-based scholarship that provides full tuition for four years to a student with an ACT of 29 who possesses strong leadership potential.
Mrs. Patton said, “Belmont has certainly grown since [I attended], but I am proud of the way it has held on to those qualities that I enjoyed in its early days. Clem and I believe that our country, and indeed the world, needs students in higher education to graduate not with just head knowledge but with the moral and spiritual foundation to become the wise and compassionate people that are so needed in the world of business, ministry, science and, especially, in day-to-day family and home life. We believe Belmont provides this foundation, and we want to help accomplish these goals.” Click here for more on this story.
Belmont to Host Pep Rally for ‘Extreme Makeover: Home Edition’
LP Building Products and HARDAWAY Construction Corp. will lead an army of businesses and volunteers when “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” returns to Nashville. A Pep Rally for The Nashville Build will be held at Curb Event Center at Belmont University at 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 3. Everyone is welcome to join in on the fun of cheerleaders, music and much more.
The two companies will team with other local businesses to help the hit ABC series complete the build and make dreams come true. Nashville-based Dryden Abernathy Architecture Design (DA|AD) will be partnering with them to lead the architecture and engineering team on The Nashville Build.
But that’s only the beginning. Hundreds of volunteers will be needed to assist the builders and other sponsors in accomplishing the daunting goal of building a new structure in one week – a task that normally takes construction crews months.
The producers of “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” have not released the location of the build, but it is anticipated to take place sometime in September.
More information about the build, including how you can volunteer or sponsor The Nashville Build, is available at www.TheNashvilleBuild.com. Also, follow the Nashville Build on Facebook and Twitter at @nashvillebuild.

ACHIEVERS

Click here for stories on the recent accomplishments of Belmont’s students, faculty, staff and alumni.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Faculty Staff Tailgate Tuesday
Athletics is hosting a Faculty/Staff tailgate prior to the women’s soccer game next Tuesday. There will be free hot dogs and drinks for Belmont Faculty/Staff, beginning at 12:30 p.m.
Women’s Soccer vs. Minnesota
August 31 at 1 p.m.
Whitten Soccer Complex
Art Opening and Reception
Faces and Things: Paintings and Collages by Michael Holsomback – Modern myths and the search for personal identity within the 21st century are the themes explored in this new series of paintings. The exhibit opens Wednesday, September 1 and continues through Thursday, December 2. An Artist Reception will be held Wednesday, September 8 from 4 – 6 p.m. in the Leu Art Gallery in the Lila D. Bunch Library.

COMING UP

Monday, August 30, 7:30 p.m.
Faculty Concert Series
This year’s series will explore the campus theme of Invention and Creativity. The Commercial and Classical String Faculty will open the series with “Creative Spirit: A String Fling.”
Massey Concert Hall
Wednesday, September 1, 10 a.m.
Donald Miller: Living a Better Story
The New York Times best seller Blue Like Jazz was written by Donald Miller, whose latest book, A Million Miles in a Thousand Years, has inspired Living a Better Story. It’s a movement born of his reflections on beauty, meaning and the human struggle to allow God to enable us to live a better story than we’ve been living.
MPAC
Wednesday, September 1, 10 a.m.
Using Social Entrepreneurship as an Innovative Approach to Create Social Value
This year’s Social Entrepreneurship Speaker Series is pleased to have Benjamin K. Homan, president of John Stott Ministries kick off our 2010/11 series. Since 2001, he was the president and chief executive officer of Food for the Hungry. During his tenure at Food for the Hungry, a relief and development organization serving in more than 26 developing countries, he led assessment teams to Iraq, Afghanistan, tsunami-ravaged Indonesia, Sudan’s Darfur region, and other devastated zones of the world. Come hear his perspectives about Ministry and Social Entrepreneurship in Action.
Beaman Meeting Room A
Friday, September 3, 10 a.m.
Chapel
Every Friday at 10 a.m. we will gather together as a campus community to worship, pray, meditate and reflect on God’s word.
Neely Dining Room
Friday, September 3, 10 a.m.-noon
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Pep Rally
See details above.
Curb Event Center

BIRTHDAYS

If you notice an incorrect or missing birthday, please e-mail the update to communication@belmont.edu.
August 27
Daniel Schafer, History
August 28
Pete Giordano, Psychological Science
Brandon Mitchell, Belmont Central
August 29
Joyce Crowell, Mathematics and Computer Science
Sally Mann, Bookstore
Rich Tiner, Media Studies
August 31
Steven Murphree, Biology
Beth Youngblood, Nursing
September 1
Jean Blank, Nursing
Randy Capps, Network Services
Bill Fessler, Maintenance Services
September 2
Gail Bursch, Physical Therapy
September 4
Amy McGinnis, Athletics
September 6
Mandy Hodge, Human Resources

August 20, 2010

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Belmont Announces New Concert Hall
Trustee provides lead gift for renovation of Belmont Heights sanctuary to create classical concert venue
Belmont University announced today that a lead gift has been secured for the renovation of university-owned Belmont Heights Baptist Church’s main sanctuary to provide the campus a new, large concert venue suitable for classical performances. The congregation of Belmont Heights Baptist Church will continue to be able to worship in the renovated sanctuary and will enjoy the benefits of the much-improved acoustics. The McAfee family, which has supported Belmont University for years, is providing this “lead gift challenge” for the renovation project.
Belmont President Dr. Bob Fisher said, “We are very grateful to the McAfee family for this generous gift. Their commitment to the university and support of this project means that we will have a Concert Hall to match the high quality of our music programs, and one that will appropriately showcase the amazing talent of our performing arts students.” Click here for more on this story.

BELMONT NEWS

Belmont Races Into Top 5 in U.S. News Rankings of America’s Best Colleges
University hits highest ranking ever; honored for teaching, innovation
At the release of last year’s U.S. News & World Report rankings of America’s Best Colleges, Belmont University President Dr. Bob Fisher said, “Seven is the perfect number—until we reach six!” Today Belmont leapt right over position No. 6 to land at No. 5 in the Best Regional Universities—South category, the University’s highest placement in its history. Since 2003, Belmont has risen 16 spots on the nation’s prestigious rankings chart, from 21st to 5th.
Fisher said, “There are times when even I am speechless. Rising to the Top 5 in U.S. News represents a key element of Belmont’s Vision 2015 plan. To reach this level of prominence already demonstrates the immense dedication and talents of Belmont’s faculty, staff and students in accomplishing what has clearly been an ambitious University goal. One thing’s certain: complacency is not an option. We will continue our efforts to seek positive change and growth at every opportunity.”
Belmont was also honored for the third year in a row by fellow college administrators as a top “Up-and-Comer” for making “the most promising and innovating changes in the areas of academics, faculty, student life, campus or facilities.” Recognizing Belmont’s vision to be a “leader among teaching universities,” Belmont was ranked second in the South category for strong commitment to undergraduate teaching and for learning communities. Click here for more on this story.
Belmont Athletics Launches New Website
Belmont Athletics proudly announces the launch of the new-look belmontbruins.com, and its partnership with web servicing provider, PrestoSports. The enhanced version of belmontbruins.com sports numerous new features, including multimedia players on the site front page and all team pages. Check back all year long with exclusive highlights, interviews, and feature stories from every team.
In addition, convenient “quick link” icons have been provided in the upper right corner of each page, to provide Bruin fans easy access to popular areas, such as live Bruin Sports Network broadcasts, live stats, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. Included is a brand-new mobile platform of belmontbruins.com, so fans can stay updated on the go. The site is also characterized by streamlined site navigation, bold high resolution photography, and trademark in-depth coverage of all Bruin teams.
Massey Students, Alumni Win Dragon Boat Race
The Massey Machine, a team of Belmont graduate business students and alumni, won the 4th Annual Dragon Boat Race this past weekend. The race is sponsored by the Cumberland River Compact and the Tennessee Scenic Rivers Association. More than 1,000 racers participated, racing along a 250-meter stretch of the Cumberland River in traditional Hong Kong-style boats – ornate, thin, dragon-shaped canoes. The race, which raises awareness of the sponsoring organizations and promotes the health of the Cumberland River, was held on Saturday at Riverfront Park.
Kimberly May, one of the student racers, said, “We were so close to winning last year that we felt there was no choice but to win this year. It’s great that we were able to pull out a win while getting to know current and past Massey students. I can’t wait to defend our title next year!”
Joe Alexander, associate dean of the Massey School of Business said, “We talk a lot about the Massey School’s strong alumni network, and this competitive event offers further evidence of that difference. Our professionals truly enjoy each other’s company and stay connected after graduation— and nothing like a little friendly competition to bring out our Type A personalities, either.”