May 27, 2011

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Murphree Sheds Light on Cicada Invasion
Steven Murphree (Biology) has been very busy this cicada season giving various interviews and lectures on the phenomena of the 13-year cicada. On May 19, Murphree presented a talk at Nashville restaurant Fido’s as part of the Adventure Science Center’s “Science Café” series on the emergence of the big, noisy, red-eyed bugs. Below are links to various media outlets where Murphree was a featured expert on cicadas:
The Tennessean
Huffington Post
News2 WKRN and coverage of “Cicada School”
USAToday.com

BELMONT NEWS

Belmont Students Awarded Fulbrights for Overseas Teaching and Research
Belmont University seniors Lindsey Thompson and Gregory Maczko were recent awarded Fulbright Program grants for overseas teaching and research. Sponsored by the United States Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the Fulbright Program provides funding for students, scholars, teachers and professionals to undertake graduate study, advanced research, university teaching and teaching in elementary and secondary schools.
Thompson, a music cognition major from Little Rock, Ark., has received the prestigious Fulbright Award to study at Goldsmiths, University of London beginning in September. Lindsey will be pursuing her master’s degree at Goldsmiths, University of London, specifically a Master of Science in Music, Mind and Brain. This program will last a calendar year, and the Fulbright Award consists of £20,000 (approximately $32,000) to put toward tuition and living expenses. Read more….
College, Middle School Students Team Together for ‘Edgehill’s Best’
Once again this spring Belmont journalism faculty and students worked with hand-selected 7th and 8th grade students from Rose Park Magnet Middle School to produce a newsletter, Edgehill’s Best, for the nearby Edgehill community. Belmont media studies faculty member Linda Quigley and her students partnered for the second year with Rose Park teachers Nicola Vincent and Alison Forte to assist middle school students in developing ideas, writing stories and designing a final printed product to share with the community.
The group’s final class was held on campus May 4 when the middle school students completed layout and design of the piece in the University’s journalism lab. The finished product, Edgehill’s Best, will be distributed to students at Rose Park Middle and Carter Lawrence Elementary Schools and in area businesses, churches and community centers as well as placed in locations around campus (Freeman, Beaman, Wheeler, Hitch, Cafeteria, etc.). Click here to see additional photos from the final class.
Education Faculty Partner with Haitian Teachers
Belmont University Education Department Chair Sally Barton-Arwood and faculty member Annette Little are in the Republic of Haiti this week training local educators to use teacher collaboration to better benefit students. Both Belmont professors Barton-Arwood and Little hold doctorates in education and are working with Haitian school directors and key staff to develop Professional Learning Communities. “Their training was very well received by Haitian school directors and key staff of their schools,” said John Engle, with Haiti Partners, a Florida-based organization that works to change the developing country by educating its youth. “Haiti Partners is thrilled to be in partnership with Belmont University.”
In Haiti, 75 percent of teachers lack adequate training, with no formal teacher training at all, according to Haiti Partners. Half of primary school age children are not enrolled in school. Click here to view a clip of Barton-Arwood and Little interacting with school-aged students and their workshop with Haitian educators.
Byrd Named TSWA Men’s College Basketball Coach of the Year
Belmont University men’s basketball head coach Rick Byrd has been named Men’s College Basketball Coach of the Year by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association (TSWA), the organization announced this week. The award is the latest in a string of postseason honors for the longtime Belmont head coach.
Byrd, who directed the Bruins to a 30-5 record and the program’s fourth NCAA Tournament appearance in the last six years, was named Hugh Durham National Coach of the Year, NABC District 3 Coach of the Year and Atlantic Sun Conference Coach of the Year by the league office and CollegeInsider.com. He was also a finalist for the 2011 Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year award, the 2011 Clair Bee National Coach of the Year award, and the 2011 Skip Prosser Man of the Year award. Read more….
Mage to Lead Belmont’s Center for Executive Education
Gene Mage has been named executive director of Belmont University’s Center for Executive Education.
Before joining Belmont University, Mage served as a senior client partner and principal consultant for Kenexa (KNXA, NASDAQ OMX), a global, human resources consulting firm, where he led Kenexa’s North American leadership development business. Prior to joining Kenexa, Mage ran his own company and served for 12 years with Corning Incorporated in both marketing and leadership development. The author of two books and more than 200 articles on leadership and management, Mage earned his Master of Business Administration with distinction and Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Cornell University. His particular areas of expertise include leadership assessment and development as well as deploying large scale learning initiatives in global organizations. Read more….
LaShawn Morrow, Michael Coffee Named 2011 Rose Park Scholars
In 2007, Belmont University committed to enhancing the E.S. Rose Park athletic center in Nashville’s Edgehill Community, a renovation that was completed and opened in the last month. In addition to the facilities Belmont planned, they also committed to the creation and funding of the E.S. Rose Park Scholarship program, a program that annually sends two deserving residents from the Edgehill community to Belmont. Since 2007, Belmont has welcomed five Rose Park Scholars to campus, providing educations worth more than $141,000 to date.
This year was no different. In the fall, Belmont will welcome LaShawn Morrow of Big Picture High School and Michael Coffee of Hillsboro High School to join its incoming 2011 freshman class. Both recipients received their awards last week, Morrow at her senior breakfast and Coffee in a private ceremony at Hillsboro’s library. Belmont’s Greek communities participated in a weeklong fundraising event this April, raising money to award both recipients Macbook laptops upon their arrival at Belmont. The recipients were notified of their computers when they received their scholarships. Read more….
Belmont Students to Represent U.S. In Red Bull Global Drumming Competition
Rising Belmont seniors Andrew Bellisle and Vinay Shroff, both percussionists and students in the university’s School of Music, will represent the United States at the Red Bull Tum Tum Pa World Finals in Rio De Janeiro June 8-12 after winning local and regional competitions.
This unique Red Bull Tum Tum Pa competition, where students use everyday classroom materials to create organic rhythmic sounds, is the first of its kind. Over 386 teams competed on college campuses around the U.S. in March and April. Five were chosen to compete against an elite squad of drummers from 32 countries in Rio de Janeiro on June 11, when a jury will award the Best Beat Performance. Read more….

ACHIEVERS

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

IN OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS

Belmont is a Christian community of learning and service that strives to support its members through prayer. The following concerns have come to our attention recently. Thank you for including them in your prayers:
Dr. Howard Cochran (Business) is mourning the loss of his Uncle Bob following heart surgery. Please keep Dr. Cochran in your thoughts and prayers.

BIRTHDAYS

If you notice an incorrect or missing birthday, please e-mail the update to communication@belmont.edu.
May 27
Angela Breedon, CEMB
Mark Grones, Plant Ops
Kelly Kane, Accounting
May 28
Gary Boling, Career Services
Jim Cook, Math/Computer Science
Bonnie Riechert, Communication Studies
May 29
Patricia Jacobs, Career Services
Keith Moore, Music
May 31
Anthony Donovan, Residence Life
June 3
Ann Edgin, Library
Mary Goodloe, Math/Computer Science
Rodney Smith, Development
June 4
Jason Rogers, University Counsel
Mike Strickland, Athletics
Jasmine Taylor, Social Entrepreneurship/Service Learning

May 20, 2011

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

The Beginning of the Baskin Center
On Monday, University Photographer Michael Krouskop accompanied Belmont Trustee and donor Randall Baskin into the construction pit on the northeast corner of campus, the future home of the Randall and Sadie Baskin Center which will house Belmont’s College of Law. The building and a five-level underground parking garage are expected to open summer 2012. Click here to see additional photos from the construction site, and click here to read more about the Baskin Center.

BELMONT NEWS

SIFE Team Places in National Top 8
Following a sixth consecutive year as regional champions, the Belmont University Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) team competed last week at the SIFE USA National Exposition in Minneapolis, finishing in the Top 8 this year following last year’s national championship victory. In one of the largest collegiate competitions in the country, SIFE teams from more than 400 campuses presented their service projects to panels of corporate judges to determine which teams have had the most impact improving people’s lives. The mission of SIFE is “To bring together the top leaders of today and tomorrow to create a better, more sustainable world through the positive power of business.”
Dr. Pat Raines, dean of Belmont’s College of Business Administration, said, “I am very proud of our students’ performance in this year’s SIFE National Exposition, especially after their top three finish at the SIFE World Cup last October. It is extremely difficult to maintain this level of recognition, but our students remain focused and really take ownership of their projects. Opportunities to be involved in organizations like SIFE support our mission to prepare entrepreneurial, ethical and socially responsible future business leaders as our students are encouraged to spearhead and manage various service projects, while developing problem solving, team work and communication skills.” Read more….
Belmont Honors Vince Gill with Doctorate of Humanities
Belmont University recognized recording artist and longtime Bruins supporter Vince Gill Saturday with an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree during the 10 a.m. spring commencement celebration at the Curb Event Center. Click here to view the presentation, and click here to read more about Belmont’s Spring 2011 Commencement ceremonies.
Presenting the degree to Gill during the graduation ceremony, Belmont President Dr. Bob Fisher said, “As a singer, songwriter and multi-faceted musician, Vince Gill has mastered his craft and yet he keeps pushing himself to greater excellence. Moreover, as a citizen and humanitarian, he dedicates himself to service and providing opportunities for others to succeed. Vince is truly a Nashville—and national—treasure. His professional experiences and personal contributions make him an ideal candidate for this doctorate degree and a perfect model for Belmont students to emulate.” Read more….
Belmont Named to 2010 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll with Distinction
Belmont University was named a member of the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll with distinction, an honor higher than the one received last year. The Honor Roll recognizes universities that reflect the values of exemplary community service and achieve meaningful outcomes in their communities. Belmont’s recognition from the highest level of the federal government signifies the university’s commitment to service and community engagement in both its students and faculty. Of the 614 schools admitted, 114 received awards with distinction. Belmont was one of only three from the state of Tennessee to achieve that standing. [Rhodes College in Memphis was named an Honor Roll Finalist.]
Belmont’s Director of Service Learning Tim Stewart said, “Together, students contributed more than 26,600 hours of service to the community, and 312 students participated in 20 or more hours of service. I’m always amazed, but never really surprised, when an appeal goes out to the Belmont community to help, and folks respond so enthusiastically. I think we have created, and are continuing to nurture, a place where, like our mission statement says, we empower ‘men and women … to engage and transform the world with disciplined intelligence, compassion, courage and faith.’” Read more….
Belmont Student-Athletes Recognized Nationally for Academic Achievement
Four Belmont University athletic teams were honored Tuesday as part of the 2011 NCAA Division I Academic Performance Program (APP). Belmont men’s basketball, men’s soccer, women’s golf and women’s soccer were highlighted on the Academic Progress Rate (APR) Public Recognition Announcement – signifying each program ranking in the top 10 percent within their respective sports nationwide for their academic progress rate as determined by the NCAA.
The APR provides a real-time look at a team’s academic standing each semester by tracking the academic progress of each student-athlete. The APR accounts for eligibility, retention and graduation in the calculation and provides a clear picture of the academic culture in each sport. Read more….
Troutt Theater Named Venue for International Black Film Festival Nashville’s Mooz-Lum
Nashville’s International Black Film Festival will be kicking off its “Summer Film Series” with the showing of Mooz-Lum, a critically acclaimed drama on Sat., May 28 at 5 p.m. at Belmont’s Troutt Theater. The movie stars Love Jones’s Nia Long, Diana Ross’s son Evan Ross and Dream Girls’ Danny Glover. There will be a Q&A session with Director Qasim Basir and Producer Dana Offenbach immediately following the screening. The film will be released on DVD nationally by Codeblack Entertainment on June 14, 2011.
“IBFFN is ecstatic to present the 2011 summer film series as it fulfills our mission to educate and create opportunities that connect stories from around the world to our community,” said IBFFN founder Hazel Joyner Smith. Read more….

ACHIEVERS

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