IMPORTANT NOTE: These are the archived stories for Belmont News & Achievements prior to June 26, 2023. To see current stories, click here.

Home Blog Page 199

NBA Player, Alumnus Ian Clark Raises Funds for Memphis Boys & Girls Club

Staff Writer
-
0
NBA Player, Alumnus Ian Clark Raises Funds for Memphis Boys & Girls Club

Ian Clark, a 2013 Belmont alum and NBA basketball player for the New Orleans Pelicans, has started a campaign to raise funds to engage, inspire and empower youth through the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis (BGCM). Clark has partnered with Pledge It, an online platform for athletes to raise money for their team or charity based on their performance, to raise his goal of $20,000 for BGCM.

Clark writes on the website, “Growing up, Boys & Girls Clubs of America was always a place where my friends and family felt enriched, protected and encouraged. They gave many of us the foundation to learn positive leadership skills and the importance of teamwork, all in a safe environment. The programming provided by BGCA in many communities, especially those historically underserved, resonates across the nation and deserves our continued support. My strong belief is that the influence of this incredible organization can propel young people to great heights and ensure they reach their full potential.”

For every point he scores throughout the rest of the year, Clark is pledging $50 to the organization. Fans and friends can also pledge a certain dollar amount for every point Clark scores or submit a flat donation if they choose. As a special incentive, Clark shares that anyone whose pledge or donation reaches $25 or more will be entered in a drawing to win a watch from Clark’s custom collection with Modify Watches. Click here to learn more.

Clark is in his sixth NBA season, second with the Pelicans. Last season, the 6-3 guard recorded career-highs in scoring (7.4 ppg), assists 1.5 (apg) and minutes played (19.7 mpg). Clark earned an NBA Championship ring as part of the 2017 Golden State Warriors.

Belmont Ranks Top 5 Nationally in Short-Term Study Abroad Programs

April Hefner
-
0
Belmont Ranks Top 5 Nationally in Short-Term Study Abroad Programs

Variety of study abroad locations around the world empower students to be competitive in an increasingly global society

In a just released “Open Doors Report” published by the Institute of International Education (IIE), among master’s level institutions Belmont University ranked No. 5 nationally for participation in short term programs and landed at No. 9 for overall study abroad participation (combined short term, semester, and year-long programs). With a Vision 2020 emphasis on increasing participation in the University’s study abroad programs, Belmont’s numbers have risen dramatically in recent years, from 467 students in 2013-14 to 894 this past year.

Today’s report, which was based on study abroad numbers from 2016-17 when Belmont had 855 students participate, highlighted the growth of study abroad programs across the country as nearly 333,000 U.S. students received credit last year for study abroad, an increase of 2.3 percent over the previous year.

Dr. Mimi Barnard, associate provost for interdisciplinary studies and global education, said, “We’re thrilled to have national recognition of our success with increasing study abroad participation. At Belmont, we are committed to providing students with ways to engage and transform the world—it’s part of our institutional mission. As we have risen in the rankings over the last few years, we have also increased the number of opportunities and variety of locations, both for short-term, faculty led initiatives, as well as for semester or year-long opportunities. We are preparing students to be competitive in an increasingly more global context, and our students are able to live, work and serve in communities around the world.”

Junior religious studies major Brittain Lawrence, who studied abroad this summer on the Belmont in the Biblical World program (Jordan, Israel, Palestine and Greece), said, “My study abroad in the Biblical World allowed me to visit the places I have been reading about my entire life. Now, when I study scripture, I recognize the locations and recall my own experiences there… My study abroad experience was one I will always remember, and on my trip I formed friendships that will last for the rest of my life.”

With almost 900 students studying abroad last year, Belmont focuses on keeping up with student demand and creating new and engaging experiences. New study abroad opportunities for students in 2019 include programs in Jamaica, Norway, Prague, the Bahamas, France and Germany, among others. Nearly 950 students have already submitted applications to study abroad next year, and with deadlines in February for summer program applications, that number is expected to rise.

According to Dr. Thandi Dinani, director of global education, “Belmont’s study abroad programs continue to provide culturally enriching programs that enhance a student’s academic experience. Classrooms come to life as faculty take students to visit places where history took place. Whether visiting Nelson Mandela’s prison cell in South Africa, walking streets where Jesus walked in Israel, or learning how Galileo’s time in Italy was impacted by the Renaissance movement, students see how countries, concepts and cultures have shaped history and impact their world.”

IIE’s report is published annually in partnership with the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

U.S. News & World Report Ranks Belmont No. 4 ‘Best College for Veterans’ in the South

April Hefner
-
0
U.S. News & World Report Ranks Belmont No. 4 ‘Best College for Veterans’ in the South

Campus celebrates 283 veterans, military family members currently enrolled with Veterans Week activities

Dr. Paula Gill and President of Bruin Vets Robbie Tyrney kick off Veteran's week at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, November 7, 2018.In its 2019 review of America’s Best Colleges, U.S. News & World Report declared Belmont University the No. 4 institution in the South in its rankings of the “Best Colleges for Veterans.” Belmont was also ranked No. 165 out of 1,820 schools nationally for veteran friendliness of all colleges and universities reviewed by College Factual. This means Belmont is in the top 10 percent of all schools in the country in the Best for Vets category.

For Fall 2018, Belmont enrolled 163 veterans and 120 military family members for a total of 283 students in a variety of undergraduate and graduate programs. A Yellow Ribbon program participant since 2010, Belmont offers a number of resources to support student veterans and military family members, including the Bruin Vets Center, a dedicated space for meetings and camaraderie, and the Veterans Success Team, staff members devoted to assisting with benefit coordination, campus transition and career readiness.

Robbie Tyrney, an economics student and president of Belmont’s Bruin Vet student organization, said, “As a student veteran, I cannot say enough about the commitment Belmont University has made towards the academic and professional success of our student veterans. From the unlimited Yellow Ribbon benefits to a fully staffed Veteran Success Team, Belmont has given hundreds of veterans the tools to excel at one of the top universities in the country. Much like traditional students, our veterans are attracted to Belmont due to small class sizes, access to world-class professors and a unique culture right in the heart of Nashville.”

In her role as associate provost for interdisciplinary studies and global education, Dr. Mimi Bernard oversees Belmont’s programs for veterans and military families. She said, “Belmont University is committed to student veterans and their families. We’ve been a Yellow Ribbon school from the beginning, and we participate at the highest level. Additionally, the support of the State of Tennessee through the Veterans Reconnect grant enabled us to work across the institution to identify opportunities to better support these students. We now have the Veterans Success Team; a growing Student Veterans of America chapter, the Bruin Vets; and the Bruin Vets Center, where students are able to gather, build community, have a cup of coffee and study.”

Beyond campus resources and systems designed specifically to support veterans and military family members, Belmont also partners with other programs in the area for veteran programming. For several years, the University has worked with local nonprofit Operation Song to bring Nashville songwriters to campus to aid student veterans in putting their stories to music.

Yellow Ribbon eventIn addition, to commemorate the Nov. 11 Veterans Day, Belmont celebrated Veterans Week 2018 with a number of activities and events designed to remember and honor the contributions of the University’s veteran students, faculty, staff and families. The week’s official kick-off event Nov. 7 provided members of the Belmont community an opportunity to tie a yellow ribbon on trees in front of the Belmont Mansion in honor of Belmont’s student veterans or others who have served around the world. Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness Dr. Paula Gill and President of Bruin Vets Robbie Tyrney also shared remarks. Additionally, Bruin Vets offered participants the chance to write a letter to military members overseas during the event. Click here for more information about Belmont’s programs and resources for active duty military service members, veterans, spouses and families.

Belmont’s Department of Chemistry and Physics Hosts Women in Science Event

Hope Buckner
-
0
Belmont’s Department of Chemistry and Physics Hosts Women in Science Event

Belmont University’s Department of Chemistry and Physics hosted the 2nd annual Celebrating the Women of Physical Science outreach event on Monday, November 5. The event seeks to make the physical sciences relatable and accessible to high school students, exposing them to key equipment, materials and skills needed in science and math classrooms. This year, more than 60 students from 13 area high schools attended the event where they participated in lab tours lead by College of Science and Mathematics Dean Dr. Thom Spence, demonstrations and hands-on lab activities focusing on the relationship between physics and the human body lead by Belmont physics faculty Drs. Krista McBride, Davon Ferrara and Steve Robinson.

Chemistry Professor Dr. Rachel Rigsby moderated a career panel where students had the opportunity to interact with professionals with backgrounds in science who have chosen a wide variety of career paths (commercial laboratories, scientific writing, law and research). Panelists included Kara Allen, director, recruitment and university relations at Aegis Sciences Corporation, Kate Payne, associate professor of nursing at The Center for Biomedical Ethics and Society at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Dwayne O’Brien, instructor of music business at Belmont and Bailey Rose, graduate student in analytical chemistry at Vanderbilt University and Belmont alumna.

The event ended with Dr. Hana Dobrovolny’s keynote address “Infectious physics: How physics can help us understand viral infections.” Dobrovolny currently serves as associate professor in the Department of Physics & Astronomy at Texas Christian University. She received her Ph.D. in physics from Duke University and discovered her interest in the interdisciplinary field of biophysics early in her career, pursuing projects researching neural signals for her Master’s degree and cardiac electrophysiology during her Ph.D. This was followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at Ryerson University where she began her research on infectious diseases. Her current research interests include mathematical modeling of viral infections and modeling of cancer treatment using oncolytic viruses.

This event was organized by the Department of Chemistry and Physics STEM Outreach Committee (Rigsby, McBride, Ferrara) and Committee Chair and Assistant Professor of Chemistry Education Dr. Danielle Garrett who was extremely pleased with the success of the event this year. A number of Belmont students also assisted with the event including Christopher Hansen, Crystal Lemus, Avery Daniels, Maria Brauer, Mason Pohlman, Jacob Carney, Parker Anderson, Billy Mitchell and Erin Lawrence.

“We were very fortunate to have Dr. Dobrovolny join us this year to share her expertise with both the visiting high school students and our own Belmont students,” Garrett said. “Comments during and after the event were all very positive. The students were really engaged in all aspects of the events. It’s exciting and encouraging to see so many high school students with a passion and interest for science. The Department of Chemistry and Physics is definitely looking forward to continuing this event for local schools.”

Alumni Band Poncé Featured on Lightning 100

Staff Writer
-
0
Alumni Band Poncé Featured on Lightning 100

Combining their creative efforts into one outlet, twin brothers Carson and Micheal Poncé serve as the front-men for their pop-rock band Poncé. Both Belmont alumni, the brothers recently released a new single titled “Lie to Me (Lazarus #2),” of which the music was featured by Lightning 100, Nashville’s leading alternative radio station.

After releasing a seven song EP in 2017, the twin brothers have been working on new songs to release in 2019. Instead of releasing another EP or album, the band will release 10 songs that will each be coming out as individual singles, according to a Lightning 100 article. Poncé has also been touring in recent years and has plans to continue to tour in 2019.

The twins both graduated from Belmont, Carson majored in songwriting and Micheal in video production, and are still using their degrees to further their music career. Carson wrote Poncé’s new single about his experience with the end of a relationship while Micheal was the mastermind behind their new music video.

Poncé’s Lightning 100 article and new music video can be seen here.

Alumna Jamie Floyd to Perform on New TV Show ‘Real Country’

Staff Writer
-
0
Alumna Jamie Floyd to Perform on New TV Show ‘Real Country’

An experienced songwriter and performer, Belmont alumna Jamie Floyd is now getting the opportunity to showcase her talents on national television. USA Network’s new show “Real Country” is set to premier later this month, and Floyd will perform as a contestant selected by award-winning country artist Jake Owen who serves as a panelist on the show.

“Real Country” is a talent-based show featuring artists who focus on and perform real country music. Both solo and group performers will be featured and will compete for the opportunity to be named one of the next breakout acts of country music. Joining Owen as panelists will be Grammy Award-winning artists Shania Twain and Travis Tritt.

Speaking about her opportunity to be on the show, Floyd said “I got to sing songs by writers and artists I respect, and I even got to sing my own songs. I had the time of my life and am opening my heart to whatever this all leads to.”

Floyd is a graduate of Belmont’s Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business and has been working as a singer-songwriter in Nashville for several years. She has released an EP as well as written many songs recorded by artists like Miranda Lambert, Kellie Pickler and Brian McKnight. Her songs have also been featured on several televisions shows and movies, like ABC’s hit drama “Nashville.”

The “Real Country” series premiere will air on November 13 at 9 p.m. central on USA Network.

Inner Design Studio Celebrates 25th Anniversary by Creating New O’More Scholarship

April Hefner
-
0
Inner Design Studio Celebrates 25th Anniversary by Creating New O’More Scholarship

In celebration of its 25th anniversary, Middle Tennessee-based healthcare interior design company Inner Design Studio provided funding for a new scholarship recognizing a student enrolled in the O’More School of Design at Belmont University during the 2018-2019 academic year. The chosen recipient of the scholarship is Unionville native Chalie Horton who plans to pursue a career in interior design. Faculty in Belmont’s O’More School of Design awarded the one-time $2,500 scholarship for the 2018-2019 academic year after considering candidates with career  interest in the healthcare interior design industry.

“I can’t think of a better way to celebrate our company’s 25-year milestone than by giving back to the school that encouraged me to pursue a career in the healthcare design industry in the first place,” said Rebecca Donner, owner and founder of Inner Design Studio and alumna of the O’More College of Design’s Interior Design program. “Chalie is a bright, enthusiastic and driven student, and I feel honored that my firm will be able to contribute to her success this school year.”

“We’re grateful for this opportunity to partner with Inner Design Studio and for their support of our students,” said Rebecca Brewer, program chair for the O’More School of Design’s Interior Design program. “We are constantly striving to provide our students with opportunities to grow and succeed in their studies, and both of those objectives are brought to life by generous donors such as Inner Design Studio.”

Songwriting Alumnus C.J. Solar Scores First No. 1 Radio Single ‘Up Down’

Staff Writer
-
0
Songwriting Alumnus C.J. Solar Scores First No. 1 Radio Single ‘Up Down’

CJ Solar, a Belmont songwriting graduate, was recently featured in Music Row Magazine for co-writing his first No. 1 radio single, “Up Down,” featuring country music artists Morgan Allen and Florida Georgia Line.

To celebrate the song, ASCAP and BMI hosted a party to honor the record’s artists and songwriters on Wednesday, Oct. 17. Michael Martin, ASCAP vice president of membership group nashville, offered congratulations to Solar by presenting him with an ASCAP-branded YETI cooler.

After interning for Sea Gayle Music, an independent music publishing company in Nashville while studying at Belmont, Solar was signed to a publishing agreement with the company.

Solar has been named as one of the “New Artists You Need To Know” by Rolling Stone Country and has also recently premiered his single “American Girls” music video on popculture.com.

Architectural Digest Ranks Belmont as One of 50 Most Beautiful Colleges in America

Staff Writer
-
0
Architectural Digest Ranks Belmont as One of 50 Most Beautiful Colleges in America

According to Architectural Digest, Belmont University ranks among the 50 most beautiful colleges in America. Belmont is ranked along with a wide range of colleges from several different states and settings. Highlighted in the article is the Belmont Mansion, an important landmark for both the University and the local community.

Architectural Design compiled this national ranking on the basis of criteria that looked specifically at individual school’s settings and their architectural legacy. The article also mentions that many colleges focus efforts on creating technologically advanced, modern buildings while still retaining more traditional architectural themes across their campuses. In recent years Belmont has reflected this theme, opening state-of-the-art buildings that support students’ needs while also building facilities that are aesthetically stunning inside and out.

The article focuses on the Belmont Mansion which is an antebellum-style architectural design with a variety of elements that can also be seen on several buildings throughout campus. Belmont beat out several schools, such as Brown University, the United States Naval Academy and the University of Hawaii, to rank at the No. 40 spot.

Dr. Simmons Receives Rising Star Award from Nashville Black Chamber

Staff Writer
-
0
Dr. Simmons Receives Rising Star Award from Nashville Black Chamber

On October 25, Associate Professor of Management Information Systems Dr. Lakisha Simmons received the Nashville Black Chamber of Commerce’s Rising Star Award at the 20th Year Anniversary and Awards Luncheon.

The award was presented to Simmons by NBCC President Carolyn Walker.

1...198199200...888Page 199 of 888
Belmont University Logo | News & Media

CONTACT US

University Marketing and Communications
615-460-6650
communication@belmont.edu

FOLLOW US