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

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Motion Pictures Student Honored for Film Short

April Hefner
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Motion Pictures Student Honored for Film Short

Michael Rooney, a Belmont motion pictures student, recently won Honorable Mention in the Best Student Director and Best Fantasy Short categories in the IMDb June Independent Shorts Awards. His winning film, “A Quest Through Fire,” is a medieval drama that follows a young knight tracking a dragon through the woods whilst having harrowing visions of his past. The project, which can be viewed on YouTube, was filmed in Nashville in February.

IMDb Award Listing Qualifier’s Independent Shorts Awards (ISA) is a monthly international film competition, with an annual live screening and awards event in North Hollywood, California. Each month, the submitted projects are privately screened and judged by a random team of invited experts from academia and film industry, against a high standard of merit. The monthly winners are automatically qualified to compete and be screened at the ISA annual event.

Hawley Named Winner of Art+Logic’s Software Incubator Lab

Hope Buckner
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Hawley Named Winner of Art+Logic’s Software Incubator Lab
Scott Hawley HeadshotAssociate Professor of Physics Dr. Scott Hawley was recently named as winner of Art+Logic’s software Incubator Lab for his submission of a machine-learning based app that uses neural networks and Deep Learning to train systems to help classify, organize and query datasets. Hawley’s project will allow musicians and producers the ability to train their systems to use their own tags and criteria.
“I’m honored and excited to have the opportunity to work with Art+Logic,” Hawley said in an article published on Art+Logic’s website. “They’re a company that combines high competence with an ease of working together. Together, we’re partnering to put the training of ‘artificially intelligent’ audio processing into the hands of individual composers and producers. Art+Logic have become the key to making my idea a reality!”

Hawley’s project will receive a working prototype created by Art+Logic’s designers and developers (valued at more than $50,000), ongoing support during the capital raising process, an opportunity to have the full version built by Art+Logic and the opportunity to work with Art+Logic strategists to refine their concept and marketing strategy.

The idea for this project began in Nashville’s ASPIRE Research Co-op, a gathering dedicated to ‘bringing our innovative audio ideas to life.’ You can follow the progress of the project here.

Lovgren, Smith Published in Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education

Hope Buckner
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Lovgren, Smith Published in Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education

Dr. Robin Lovgren, assistant professor of mathematics and Dr. Kara Smith, assistant professor of economics, co-authored an article entitled “Empirical evidence of deep learning in learning communities”. The article was recently published in the Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education.

According to the article’s abstract, “The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether learning communities (LCs), defined as a cohort of students jointly enrolled in two distinct courses, increase ‘deep learning’ in either or both courses. This study focuses on the impact of learning communities in quantitative courses.”

Physical Therapy Student Trains with Boston Ballet

Hope Buckner
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Physical Therapy Student Trains with Boston Ballet

Rebecca Bagley, a 3rd year physical therapy student at Belmont, spent the summer in Boston as she completed her 4th and final clinical experience with the Boston Ballet. In her position, Bagley worked alongside her clinical instructor evaluating and treating company dancers and mastering a variety of techniques including manual therapy, soft tissue mobilization, therapeutic exercise, taping and more. While she was there, the Ballet opened three shows in three weeks, providing considerable experience throughout her 6-days-a-week schedule.

Becca BagleyAs an undergraduate dance major and long-time dancer herself, the decision to head to Boston for her final clinical experience was an easy one for Bagley. “It has been a dream of mine since starting PT school to get the chance to combine my passions for physical therapy and dance,” she said. “I grew up training in many different styles of dance including ballet, contemporary, hip hop, tap and ballroom. It is a population that I understand from personal experience, and I am very passionate about. I was so thankful for the opportunity to work with professional dancers and learn from amazing physical therapists in this specialized field.”

Set to graduate in August, Bagley said her time at Belmont has prepared her for working with a variety of populations, including athletes. In addition to the time she’s spent preparing through her coursework, Bagley said she’s especially grateful for the opportunities Belmont has provided outside the classroom. Understanding her desire to work with both dance and physical therapy, she’s been able to complete both a research project and a short-term clinical experience with the Nashville Ballet.

“I’m very thankful for the opportunity to work with a population that I am so passionate about and am interested in working with in my future career,” she said. “The physical therapy faculty at Belmont are very supportive of our goals and have created an environment where students are able to actively pursue their passions.”

Nursing Students Participate in Vanderbilt Internship Program, Earn Top Awards

Hope Buckner
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Nursing Students Participate in Vanderbilt Internship Program, Earn Top Awards

A group of 16 Belmont nursing students have spent the past seven weeks participating in the Vanderbilt Experience: Student Nurse Internship Program (VESNIP) alongside students from four other regional nursing programs. Two Belmont students were awarded the highest honors at the culminating awards ceremony held today, Wednesday June 27.

Student award winners pose with Dr. Folds and a Vanderbilt representative
L to R: Dr. Leslie Folds, Maddie Blakeney, Chloe Sliman & Dr. Sandy Murabito

The Credo Award, recognizing Vanderbilt’s credo behaviors, is given to students that aspire to excellence and expert performance by making those they serve their highest priority, conducting themselves professionally, respecting others’ confidentiality, communicating effectively, having a sense of ownership and demonstrating a commitment to colleagues. Chloe Sliman, a Belmont-Trevecca Nazarene University partnership student received the Credo Award in Acute Care Track. The Florence Nightingale Award, given to Belmont’s Maddie Blakeney, is the program’s highest honor and is given in recognition of excellence in all areas. This award is based on feedback from nurse preceptors, nurse educators and the entire health care team at Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital.

Now in its 14th year, the VESNIP Program began as a partnership between Belmont School of Nursing and Vanderbilt University Medical Center. It has now expanded to more than 60 students from four area nursing schools. Positions are very competitive and are considered elite opportunities for students from around the region.

Associate Professor of Nursing Dr. Leslie Folds said, “Our students are exceptional and represent Belmont’s values throughout this program. I was extremely impressed by not only the students’ professionalism, but their ability to engage in critical thinking, reflection and incorporation of evidence-based research to the clinical setting.”

Belmont University Develops, Hosts Transitions Summer Academy

Hope Buckner
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Belmont University Develops, Hosts Transitions Summer Academy

For many young adults with intellectual disabilities, the transition from high school can bring significant obstacles. Because programs at colleges and universities have been created to focus on life skill development, career exploration and participation in campus life, interdisciplinary efforts among all students, including those with intellectual disabilities, have grown.

Belmont University’s School of Occupational Therapy developed and hosted the Transitions Summer Academy May 14-18, focused on providing introductory life skills training and college exposure to young adults with intellectual disabilities that are transitioning out of high school and applying to collegiate programs. The academy focused on previously identified gap areas including job skills and resume building, meal preparation, social interaction, access to higher education, financial management, healthy living skills and community service. Six participants, aged 18-21, were selected after completing an online application and Skype interview. Participants’ daily schedule included courses focusing on campus life, academic success, social skills, independent living and career exploration.

Developed by doctoral students in the School of Occupational Therapy Ariana Amaya and Halle Jarnagin, the Academy was created because of the industry’s emphasis on activity analysis, participation and removing barriers for success. An interdisciplinary approach was taken to include students and faculty from other departments across Belmont’s campus including Music Therapy, Biology, Social Work, Facilities Management, Athletics, Residential Life, English, Education, Campus Security, Admissions, Campus Ministries, Fitness and Recreation, Best Buddies and Campus Dining Services.

Belmont volunteers and faculty reported that being involved in the Transitions Summer Academy brought joy, satisfaction and pride. Those involved expressed interest in additional programming due to its positive impact to the Belmont campus, furthering Belmont’s continued growth in diversity and inclusion.

CSM Faculty Host Neuroscience, Psychology Camps on Campus

April Hefner
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CSM Faculty Host Neuroscience, Psychology Camps on Campus

Science at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, July 5, 2018.Associate Professor of Psychological Science Dr. Linda Jones and Assistant Professor of Neuroscience Dr. Carole Scherling organized two high school summer camps on campus during the weeks of June 18 and July 2, along with help from colleagues Dr. Patrick Morse (psychology), Dr. Timothy Schoenfeld (psychology) and Dr. Lori McGrew (biology). Students who attended were part of the National Student Leadership Conference (NSLC). While on campus for four days, the students learned about the basic building blocks of the brain, conducted their own dissections (brain and eye), toured laboratory facilities and  completed a series of activities geared to engage them and to give them a sweeping view of neuroscience and psychology.

Middle, High School Science Teachers Participate in Belmont Chemistry Education Workshops

April Hefner
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Middle, High School Science Teachers Participate in Belmont Chemistry Education Workshops

Middle and high school science teachers continue to enjoy the hands-on chemistry professional development offered through the Department of Chemistry and Physics at Belmont University’s annual “It’s Easy Being Green:  Budget-Friendly Safety-Conscious Chemistry Labs for the Science Classroom of Today” summer workshop series.  Attendees commented:

“I loved this!  Super useful & affordable labs!”

“…the course was so well-prepared and laid out that I truly felt like it was a valuable way to spend the day.”

“Loved the differentiation that can be applied with each of these labs.”

“The best labs yet!”

Event organizer, Dr. Danielle Garrett, assistant professor of chemistry education, held three day-long workshops in the advanced chemistry lab during the month of June.  “Sharing this program and engaging with the teachers each year is always exciting for me! These days are not just about hands-on lab experiences for the teachers. These days produce such rich discussions about data, error analysis, new ideas and adaptations for science labs. It’s a good feeling knowing that this is a program that local teachers find useful, practical and fun!”  Garrett said.

This year, 43 attendees from 12 counties participated in the workshop series at Belmont, with more than 25 percent of the participants having attended at least one previous workshop since the program’s inception in 2015.  Historically, most attendees have been from the middle Tennessee region.  However, this year marked the beginning of the program reaching out-of-state teachers, with over 20 percent of the attendees coming from Kentucky.

The workshop this year, titled “Beat the Heat, Catch a Wave and Make it Float,” engaged participants in lab work focusing on the determination of the heat of neutralization through solution calorimetry, the analysis of wavelength and light, and the exploration of density, percent composition by volume and weighted averages.  Workshop participants not only received a complete instructor-student lab manual, but they also built an LED box and spectroscope that they were able to take back with them for use in their classrooms.

“This is the 4th year that I’ve conducted this workshop series.  While all under the ‘It’s Easy Being Green umbrella,’ each year I get the opportunity to develop new lab experiences for the participants,” Garrett said. “Developing different and creative ways of linking concepts and addressing fundamental chemistry content for the lab is challenging, but it’s a challenge that I enjoy. Not only has this program given me the chance to reach out and connect with science educators, but it has also afforded me new opportunities for personal scholarship.”

Heard, Murphree Published in Tennessee Conservationist

April Hefner
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Heard, Murphree Published in Tennessee Conservationist

Matthew Heard head shotDr. Steve Murphree Head ShotAssistant Professor of Biology Dr. Matthew Heard and Professor of Biology Dr. Steven Murphree co-authored an article titled “Native Bees: Unsung Heroes of Nature and Agriculture” that was published in the July/August 2018 issue of The Tennessee Conservation. This article describes how native bees pollinate more than 80 percent of flowering plants across the US and how they are in desperate need of protection and recognition here in Tennessee.

The Tennessee Conservationist is a magazine that is dedicated to protecting and preserving the state’s natural and cultural resources.

 

Tough’s Song Appears on A&E

Hope Buckner
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Tough’s Song Appears on A&E

Tough's HeadshotDave Tough’s song “Nothing Sweet About Alabama” was recently featured in an episode of A&E’s “Ozzy and Jacks World Detour.”

Tough serves an Associate Professor of Audio Engineering Technology in the Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business and co-wrote and produced the song.

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