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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Brown Moderates Town Hall Debate

Hope Buckner
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sybril-bennettProfessor of Media Studies Dr. Sybril Brown recently moderated a College Debate 2016 Town Hall Debate at Dominican University in California. Dominican created the College Debate 2016 initiative, a first-of-its-kind national initiative created to provide a platform to discuss and debate the issues facing our country for college students.

At the Town Hall, College Debate 2016 delegates from across the United States discussed their top issues and selected five questions to be presented to the moderators of the U.S. Presidential Debates this fall.

To watch the Town Hall, click here.

Tennessee Secretary of State Encourages BruinVote16 Efforts with Campus Appearance

April Hefner
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Tennessee Secretary of State Encourages BruinVote16 Efforts with Campus Appearance

Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett visited Belmont Wednesday, offering his perspective to Belmont students on the importance of voting as well as a thoughtful assessment on what Tennessee is doing well.

“If you don’t do politics,” Hargett said, “politics will be done to you,” drawing chuckles from the students gathered in Beaman A for the “Global Citizenship, Leadership, Diversity and the Professions” convocation event. The appearance was one of many scheduled as part of Belmont’s #BruinVote16 fall series that’s intended to drive voter education and registration while also encouraging civil discourse.

Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett speaks in the Beaman Student Life center at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn. September 7, 2016
Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett speaks in the Beaman Student Life center at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn. September 7, 2016

“Your generation doesn’t turn out to vote. You might say the candidates don’t speak to your issues. But they don’t speak to your issues because you don’t show up to vote!”

Hargett then combated the notion that many individuals have that their vote simply doesn’t count in the grand scheme of an election. He noted State House races that were decided by less than five votes as well as school board elections that ended in ties.

“It’s important that you vote so that people who mirror your values get elected to office.”

Hargett also mentioned that his office works to ensure fair elections, noting problems in West Tennessee elections years ago when dead people were somehow registered to vote along with individuals who gave false addresses.

“We want to make it easy to vote but hard to cheat. We want to protect the integrity of your vote.”

Before he concluded, Hargett also advocated for all that Tennessee has to offer, including low taxes, low debt and low regulatory burdens, a boon for budding entrepreneurs. “In Tennessee you get to keep more of what you earn.”

After the talk, Hargett joined members of Belmont SGA at a table in the Beaman lobby set up to assist students who wanted to register to vote, regardless of whether they live in Tennessee or another state. Tennessee’s voter registration deadline is Oct. 11.

Hargett was elected by the Tennessee General Assembly to serve as Tennessee’s 37th secretary of state in 2009 and reelected in 2013. Secretary Hargett is the chief executive officer of the Department of State with oversight of more than 300 employees. He also serves on 15 boards and commissions, two of which he is the presiding member. The services and oversight found in the Secretary of State’s office reaches every department and agency in state government.

Belmont Honors Program’s E-Newsletter Nationally Recognized

Staff Writer
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Belmont’s Honors Program recently placed 3rd in a competition run by the National Collegiate Honors Counsel (NCHC) to recognize the best student newsletters released by college honors programs. The official awards ceremony is set to take place on October 14.

The program’s electronic newsletter, “BU Honors Newsletter,” was started 2 years ago by the Honors Program Student Council in an effort to foster a sense of community among honors students. The publication is sent out three times per semester and is entirely student-written and developed.

Honors students Sarah Everett and Jacquie Skokna contributed to the newsletter’s honor. Skokna is a junior publishing major and the main student member in charge of the publication’s content and design. She is also the editor.

Honors Program Director Dr. Jonathan Thorndike expressed his pride in his students and their hard work on the newsletter’s accomplishment. “We have the greatest students who are enthusiastic and passionate about opportunities and building a great community of learning and service,” said Thorndike. “The Honors newsletter is a great way to document the fantastic research, leadership and artistic projects undertaken by our students.”

Thorndike also discussed the ways the newsletter builds community within the Honors Program. The publication includes many of the social gatherings created by students and heavily advertises the freshman honors retreat, held at the beginning of each school year, to ensure new students feel welcomed into the program right away.

To learn more about the Honors Program, click here.

Junior Anna Vaus Receives First-Ever Miranda Lambert ‘Women Creators’ Scholarship

April Hefner
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Junior Anna Vaus Receives First-Ever Miranda Lambert ‘Women Creators’ Scholarship

Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business student Anna Vaus was recently selected as the first-ever recipient of the ‘Women Creators’ scholarship, established in 2015 by reigning Academy of Country Music and Country Music Association Female Vocalist of the Year Miranda Lambert. The scholarship was created to honor a female Belmont student who is majoring in music business, songwriting or entertainment industry studies and is actively working towards pursuing her dream of working in the music industry. The scholarship will provide Vaus with more than $40,000 in scholarship funds beginning in the 2016-2017 academic year.

Anna Vaus 3Originally from San Diego, California, Vaus was inspired toward music early on from her father, Grammy-winning artist, Steve Vaus. She has opened for country artists Hunter Hayes, Lonestar, Billy Ray Cyrus, LeAnn Womack and Phil Vassar among others and made her Bluebird Cafe debut in February 2016. Vaus is currently a junior at Belmont, majoring in songwriting with a minor in music business.

“I am so thankful and honored to have been chosen as the first recipient of the Miranda Lambert Women Creators Fund,” Vaus said. “Not just because of what a crazy opportunity it is for myself, but because the tide is changing for all of the young women in this industry. I have so much hope for women in country music because of the path that Miranda and so many awesome people are currently fighting to pave for us!”

Lambert established the Women Creators scholarship in an effort to encourage outstanding women to follow their passions and pursue careers in the music industry. In July of 2015, Lambert raised funds for the scholarship by headlining a songwriter round at 3rd and Lindsley in Nashville. Lambert was joined by her tour mates at the time Raelynn, Clare Dunn and Courtney Cole and female songwriters Natalie Hemby and Jessi Alexander. Hemby, Dunn and Cole are all Belmont graduates.

Candidates for the scholarship were asked to complete an online application and submit an original song. The Curb College then had a small selection committee review the 80 applications received for the scholarship, and the top six finalists were sent for Lambert’s review.

Doug Howard, dean of the Curb College, noted, “We are so grateful to Miranda Lambert for her fantastic commitment to the women songwriters and artists that comprise a major part of the creative community at the Curb College.  And, I want to congratulate Anna Vaus and the many women creators at Belmont University who participated in this year’s award process. Thank you Miranda!”

Belmont Recognized on The Princeton Review’s List of ‘Best Regional Colleges’

Staff Writer
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The Princeton Review recently listed Belmont as one of the ‘Best Regional Colleges’ in the southeast for 2017 for the second year in a row. The rankings recognized Belmont as one of 139 exceptional colleges in the region.

The list aims to honor universities that stand out academically in comparison to other popular choices in the area. The Princeton Review wants to point out to prospective students that the universities listed are “well worth consideration” when they are looking into schools.

Aside from academic achievements, The Princeton Review also considers ratings from current and former students and the results from surveys sent out to college administrators. The universities listed must also have a high rate of satisfaction from students currently enrolled.

About The Princeton Review
The Princeton Review is a leading tutoring, test prep and college admission services company. Every year, it helps millions of college- and graduate school-bound students achieve their education and career goals through online and in person courses delivered by a network of more than 4,000 teachers and tutors, online resources, and its more than 150 print and digital books published by Penguin Random House. The Princeton Review is headquartered in Natick, MA and is an operating business of IAC (NASDAQ: IACI). For more information, visit www.princetonreview.com. Follow the company on Twitter @theprincetonrev.

Belmont Named to MONEY Best College List

Hope Buckner
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Belmont Named to MONEY Best College List

Belmont was recently named as a MONEY Best College, among more than 700 (out of 2,000) four-year U.S. colleges and universities who deliver the best value. For MONEY, that means providing a great education at an affordable price while preparing students for fulfilling and successful careers.

For its methodology, MONEY eliminated schools with graduation rates below the median, poor financial performance and fewer than 500 undergraduate students. Schools were ranked on 24 factors in three categories including educational quality, affordability and alumni success. Beyond these characteristics, MONEY measured comparative value by assessing student success at each school.

Mathematics Major Passes Second Actuarial Exam

Hope Buckner
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savannah (2)Savannah Halliday (mathematics major, class of 2017) passed Actuarial Exam FM/2, the second of a nine-series exams which are required for full status as an actuary, in August. Exam FM/2 has a pass rate of less than 50 percent. Actuaries work in the insurance and financial sectors and specialize in analyzing the financial impact of risk and uncertainty.

Belmont University’s Belmont Actuarial Students Society is an organization for students interested in pursuing the Actuarial profession. Dr. Daniel Biles is the faculty advisor for this student organization.

Michael W. Smith Performs at Chapel Convocation

Hope Buckner
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Michael W. Smith Performs at Chapel Convocation

Belmont welcomed contemporary gospel singer-songwriter Michael W. Smith as a speaker at a convocation event on Wednesday, August 31 in the Massey Performing Arts Center. The three-time Grammy Award winner spoke on the growth of his Christian faith through hardship and performed several worship songs for students and faculty members. He also played his original song titled “Friends.”

During his talk, Smith discussed his relationship with his father and how it helped him understand God’s presence in a more concrete way. His father passed away last November after a long battle with Dementia. Smith recalled all of the fond memories he has of his father and spoke about he admired him. He connected their relationship  to his relationship with God and spoke about the similarities between the two. “You read all these Scriptures about the Father part of God… And my dad showed me a little bit of what God’s like,” said Smith.

0831-Michael W. SmithHe also aimed to assure those who may not have similar relationships that God is able to fill in the gaps that we most need filled. “If you didn’t have a good dad, God could father you. If you didn’t have a good mom, God could mother you,” Smith said.

After telling stories of where his career as a musician has led him, Smith also expressed the gratitude he has for being able to make music his career. “To be doing what you’re doing for over 30 years and still feel like the best is yet to come is incredible,” said Smith.

Smith described Belmont as being a great place with great faculty and students. He was introduced by new University Minister Heather Daugherty.

Belmont Hosts Second Annual Battle of the Belmont Bands Concert and Family Fun Festival

Hope Buckner
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Belmont Hosts Second Annual Battle of the Belmont Bands Concert and Family Fun Festival

Belmont’s Showcase Series, a concert series produced and managed by students of Belmont’s Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business, kicked off its 2016-17 line-up with the Battle of the Belmont Bands Concert on Saturday, August 27. Created to provide students with real-world training in all aspects of concert production, the series highlights student talent and contributes to the university’s sense of community.

Battle_of_the_Bands_2016_176Each year, the series features a number of concerts including the Battle of the Bands, Country Showcase, The Pulse of Color (Urban/Pop Showcase), At the Edge (Rock Showcase), Out of the Darkness (Christian Showcase) and the culminating event, Best of the Best. Each showcase highlights students bands, previously selected to participate, who compete to be named the show’s winner. The Best of the Best includes performances from each of the showcase’s top performer.

This year’s Battle of the Belmont Bands featured Laurel & the Love-In, The Civics, Wilder, Talia Stewart, Sawyer and Lost Stars with alumni band Koa/Waker.

Originally scheduled to take place on the Lawn, the concert was moved to the university’s Massey Performing Arts Center the day of due to inclement weather where more than 750 students, faculty and staff were in attendance.

 

Belmont Launches Live on Fridays with Mr. B, Captain America

Hope Buckner
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Belmont Launches Live on Fridays with Mr. B, Captain America

To provide students with opportunities for engagement and entertainment on campus at all hours of the day, Belmont’s Office of Student Engagement Leadership Development (SELD), in partnership with the Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business,  has launched Live on Fridays, a late night programming experience for students. Led by SELD Assistant Director Jessica Dykes, Live on Fridays begins each Friday night at 10 p.m. with fun continuing until 2 a.m. Saturday morning.

Events will be centered around campus traditions including Fall Follies, an improvisational and comedy-based student group who perform each year and holidays including a ‘Creepin’ in the Curb’ Halloween celebration and a Christmas extravaganza featuring a tacky sweater competition, faculty and staff karaoke, cookie decorating and more. As the semester continues, students will be polled via social media for movie selections and event details.

“We are excited to launch this programming for our students to provide them with opportunities to continue to be engaged on campus, even late into the night,” Dykes said. “When they return to campus each year, we understand that Belmont becomes their home and we want to ensure they have everything they need to be successful and enjoy their time on campus. We’re excited that this now means opportunities for relevant and fun entertainment on Friday nights.”

Live on Fridays began on Friday, September 2 with performances in the Curb Cafe from Belmont alumni group Mr. B and the Tribal Hoose. Immediately afterwards, Captain America, Civil War was shown in the Johnson Center’s Large Theater.

In anticipation for the programming launch, Belmont’s Office of Communications sat down for an interview with Mr. B, himself.

What’s on your radio right now?

“Flume, Glenn Miller and a bunch of instrumentals.”

Why are you excited to kick-off Live on Fridays?

“The first week of school at Belmont is always an exciting time. It’ll be cool to see new students and set a great tone for the upcoming year. I think they’ll really dig our vibe and invitation for them to join us on the stage. We’re hoping they come jam with us!”

Former Belmont University student Mr. B and the Tribal Hoose in Nashville, Tenn. August 30, 2016

Why rap as a genre?

“I like rap because you can say whatever you need to say, just in rhyme and cadence. Sometimes we need to point out the elephant in the room and rappers are great at doing that. When you rap something, it makes the truth easier to swallow, because it’s presented in a cool way. I can say things in my raps that I typically can’t say in person–it’s empowering.”

So, we’re all wondering. What’s the story behind your tribe’s name?

“The HOOSE! We named the band after the house (‘hoose’) we lived in while we were at Belmont. We used to make up words all the time and ‘Hoose’ just stuck. If we were a group normal, we’d call ourselves the Tribal House, but we’re not. So we’re proud to be the Tribal HOOSE!”

Why pursue a career in music?

“Music is the only thing I really care to dedicate my life towards. Songs live on long after we’re gone–it’s really powerful stuff. If you’re a songwriter, take that responsibility seriously. Don’t see yourself as a struggling musician–you’re a healer in this world. People have changed their lives after hearing songs, and athletes listen to music before games to get in the right head space. It’s so powerful. Besides being a servant of the Lord, music is the only thing worth dedicating my life towards.”

 

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