ACHIEVERS

Lake’s Novel Selected as Baylor Common Book
Dr. Joy Jordan Lake, adjunct professor and wife of Vice President of Spiritual Development Todd Lake, recently had her debut novel, Blue Hole Back Home, selected as the 2009 Common Book for Baylor University. The Common Reading is designed for all freshman and transfer students at Baylor University to engage new students in discussion about an important theme or idea with fellow classmates, upper-class students and faculty.
Greenberg Named A-Sun Track Athlete of the Week
The Belmont men’s track and field team closed out the month of April with a successful stop at the Western Kentucky Hilltopper Invitational led by shot putter Pierce Greenberg’s second place finish. His throw earns him Athlete of the Week, the conference announced Wednesday. The sophomore notched a second-place finish in the shot put with a team-high distance of 13.84 m. The Raleigh, N.C., native (Cardinal Gibbons HS) topped his season best, set 13.46 meters at the Austin Peay Spring Fling, and now ranks fourth in conference standings. Greenberg also finished in sixth place in the hammer throw with a mark of 37.22m.
Hobson Presents at Johns Hopkins
Dr. Eric Hobson, associate dean for academic affairs in the School of Pharmacy, recently presented at Johns Hopkins Hospital Grand Rounds on the topic “The Art of Patient Care: Developing Practitioners’ Maturity, Perspective and Wisdom.”
Belmont Literary Journal Releases New Edition
The 2009 edition of the Belmont Literary Journal was launched on April 21 during a Celebration featuring readings by some of the contributors. The occasion also recognized the achievements of the editors (Mary Gray, Abby Barnhart, Kelda Williamson, Michele Waddell, Erica Scoggins and Kendil Brooks) and of staff members who worked in planning, publicity, selection and production.
BLJ is entirely student-produced and showcases the talent of Belmont students, from across the campus, in creative writing and visual art. A limited number of copies are available for sale; if interested, please be in touch with Dr. Sandra Hutchins, Dept. of English, ext. 6389. Cover art, shown above, is by Erica Scoggins, art editor.
Wicke Receives NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship
Belmont University men’s basketball senior Andy Wicke (Hendersonville, Tenn.) has been awarded a coveted educational grant through the NCAA postgraduate scholarship program. The 6-2 shooting guard was one of 58 student-athletes who participated in NCAA winter sports – men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s gymnastics, women’s ice hockey, women’s rifle, men’s skiing, men’s and women’s swimming, men’s and women’s indoor track and field and wrestling – selected as a 2008-09 Postgraduate Scholarship Award winner. Wicke was one of only two NCAA Division-I men’s basketball players chosen to receive a postgraduate scholarship, joining Brett Winkelman of North Dakota State University. Click here for more on this story.
School of Sciences Hosts Statewide Meeting
On April 18, the School of Sciences hosted the Tennessee Academy of Sciences Middle Collegiate Division Meeting for the second straight year. Dr. Nick Ragsdale, assistant professor of biology and the meeting coordinator, indicated that Belmont student participation had increased from 43 abstracts in 2008 to 55 abstracts in 2009. Students presented their work in topics ranging from geology to cancer biology. Out of eight sections, Belmont students won 1st, 2nd or 3rd in the Entomology, Animal & Cellular Behavior, Neuroscience, Immunology/Microbiology and Zoology/Geology sections. The School of Sciences will also host the 2010 Tennessee Academy of Sciences Middle Collegiate Division Meeting. Click here for more on this story.
Selden Selected as IRTS Fellow
Junior journalism major Abby Selden, an honors student, was recently informed that she has been selected as a 2009 International Radio and Television Society (IRTS) Summer Fellow. During the program, which runs May 31-Aug.1, Selden will live in New York City and intern at PBS Wide Angle, a program dedicated to international current affairs documentaries.
Dr. Sybril Bennett, associate professor of journalism and executive director of the New Century Journalism Program, said, “Abby has done everything she’s been asked to do and more. She knows how to tell a great story, shoot, edit and utilize various social and multimedia tools. This is an honor that is typically reserved for seniors. The fact that Abby has secured this as a junior speaks volumes about her work.”
Bennett Elected Vice-Chair of News Division at Broadcast Education Convention
Dr. Sybril Bennett was elected the Vice-Chair of the News Division at the annual Broadcast Education Association convention held in Las Vegas, April 21-25. In this role, Dr. Syb will be responsible for the panel submission and implementation process for the national conference for the 2009-10 academic year. In addition, she will become the Division Chair for 2010-11. During this year’s convention, she moderated two panels and served on another. One of the panels was an opportunity for Dr. Syb and other faculty to share their experiences as Fellows at the Disney/International Radio Television Society Digital Media Summit held in 2008. Another panel focused on teaching diversity in the classroom while the other was an opportunity for her to share multimedia teaching strategies and ways for faculty to get training on new technology.
Dr. Syb is also serving on the national conference planning committee for the Online News Association convention to be held in San Francisco in October, 2009.
Boan’s Play Selected as Finalist
Dr. Devon Boan’s play Darkroom has been selected one of six finalists for FutureFest 2009, the festival of new plays at the Dayton Playhouse in Dayton, Ohio. Boan is professor of honors and director of the Honors Program. This year is the 20th anniversary of the festival, which has nearly 300 submissions each year and has launched the careers of more than 90 professional playwrights. Darkroom and the other five finalists will be staged and publicly adjudicated by a panel of five theatre professionals. This year’s festival will run from July 24-26.
Business Students Excel at International Competition
Twenty three Belmont business students competed in the international competition hosted by Delta Epsilon Chi April 22-25 in Anaheim, Calif. Out of 1,250 students in attendance, Belmont students won numerous awards in the following categories:
Entrepreneurship Business Plan: Andy Tabar won 1st place which included a $1,000 award and Julie Zaloba was a top ten winner.
Entrepreneurial Challenge: Andrew Birchfield, Julia Cecere and Brandon Littleton won 1st place with $5,000 awards and Noah Curran and Julie Zaloba won 2nd place which included a $2,000 award.
Travel and Tourism: Noah Curran was a top ten winner and Julia Cecere was a national finalist.
Business Ethics: Kaitlin Adams and Susan Harbison were national finalists.
Marketing Management: Kirstin Long and Mandy Thompson were national finalists.
Fashion Design: Andrew Birchfield was a national finalist.
Advertising: Kirstin Long won $500 for her essay on an advertising campaign.
This is the second consecutive year Belmont placed first in the Entrepreneurship Business Plan category and first and second place in the Entrepreneurial Challenge. Delta Epsilon Chi is the college division of DECA Inc. More than 14,000 students from 230 college campuses participate in the organization. Delta Epsilon Chi enhances the student’s college experience by providing recognition and leadership activities directly related to academic study.
Pecchia Named 2009 Recipient of AT&T Real Yellow Pages Scholarship in Public Relations
Sara Pecchia was named recently as the third recipient of the AT&T Real Yellow Pages Scholarship in Public Relations. AT&T Advertising & Publishing is supporting Belmont University’s public relations program with a five-year scholarship commitment, with the inaugural award given in 2007. The $2,500 prize is presented annually each spring to the public relations major who demonstrates academic excellence, campus service and professionalism. Applicants must also write an essay that effectively responds to the question, “What role should public relations play in corporate social responsibility?”
Hailing from Youngstown, Ohio, Pecchia is majoring in public relations with a minor in music and an anticipated graduation date of December 2009. She has been a member of the Belmont Oratorio Chorus since 2007, and she currently works as a student intern for Peritus Public Relations.
Renfroe Named to Basketball Times All District Team
Men’s basketball senior Alex Renfroe (Hermitage, Tenn.) added to his impressive list of postseason accolades as he was named to the Basketball Times South Region All- District Team. Renfroe was the lone Atlantic Sun Conference representative and one of only 10 mid-major players named to the Basketball Times’ annual honors list. Click here for more on this story.
Finley Elected to Publix Super Markets Board of Directors
Dr. Jane B. Finley, Belmont University Deloitte and Touche Professor in Accounting, has been elected to the Publix Super Markets Board of Directors. Finley will be a member of the Audit Committee.
“Dr. Finley has an impressive background in finance and information technology that will complement our current Board of Directors,” said Maria Brous, Publix director of media and community relations. “She also adds another geographic area of our company to the Board as a Nashville, Tenn., resident. We are proud to have Jane as part of the Publix family.”
Finley is Belmont’s first and only Deloitte & Touche Professor in Accounting, a highly selective honor bestowed upon an outstanding business educator active with students and the local business community. She has taught at Belmont since 1995, serving in roles of associate dean of the Graduate Business Program and coordinator of the accounting programs. She was the Tennessee Educator of the Year in 2001 and holds a B.B.A in Accounting from Emory University, a Masters in Accounting from the University of South Carolina and a Ph.D. in Information Systems Management from Florida State University. Before her teaching career, Finley was a partner at Deloitte Consulting, with a specialty in information systems technology. She also served as CFO of Miami International Airport and previously was an auditor and consultant with Peat Marwick (now KPMG). Click here for more on this story.