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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Students Present Papers at Southern Appalachian Undergraduate Philosophy Conference

Paul Chenoweth
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Philosophy majors Colin Bodayle, Tucker Dowell and Drew Swisher recently presented papers at the 16th Annual Southern Appalachian Undergraduate Philosophy Conference, hosted by the University of North Carolina, Asheville.

Conference keynote speakers were Leonard Lawlor from Pennsylvania State University and Susanna Siegel from Harvard University, who also served as submission and presentation judges.  Bodayle presented his paper, entitled “Subjective Universality in Kant’s Third Critique: Bad Faith, or Authentic Relation to the Other?” Dowell and Swisher presented their co-written work, entitled “Love.”

Colin Duriez Presents on The Oxford Inklings

Paul Chenoweth
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Colin Duriez Presents on The Oxford Inklings

Colin Duriez, British scholar and author specializing in the historic accounts and secondary worlds of the Oxford Inklings, J.K. Rowling, Charles Williams and the like, visited Belmont to speak to students at multiple events on campus. Duriez presented his lecture, “The Secondary Worlds of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis and J.K. Rowling: Imagination and Reality,” on Tuesday evening and followed it with other events including a chapel service and several classes.

One of Director of the Honors Program and Professor Dr. Jonathan Thorndike’s classes was able to interact with Duriez and deepen their understanding of the class textbook, his book, “The Oxford Inklings.” Duriez walked through some of the letters and diary entries from the book to present a chronological picture to the class, tying the writings to important dates in history during World War II.

“What I am trying to do is give you a picture of particularity of the meetings [of the Inklings] and the individuality of the members,” said Duriez, in order to present less of a theoretical knowledge of who the group was and more of an experience with the words on the page, which are quite substantial.

The Belmont community was honored to hear the deep passion Duriez has for some of the most influential writers of the 20th century, gaining an insight into their lives, the impactful relationships they had and the experiences which made them who they were. Duriez recently published “The Oxford Inklings” and will soon publish “Bedeviled: Lewis, Tolkien and the Shadow of Evil.”

“The students appreciated his gentle wit, humor and deep intellect that brought together the work of the Inklings and the truth of Christian faith,” said Thorndike. “By integrating narrative, myth, faith and meaning, Duriez showed how the Inklings were counter-cultural, but at the same time, profoundly in touch with the needs of a fallen world.”

To read more about Duriez and his works, click here.

Mathematician Banchoff Discusses the Fourth Dimension During Campus Presentation

Paul Chenoweth
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Mathematician Banchoff Discusses the Fourth Dimension During Campus Presentation

Geometer and Professor at Brown University Dr. Tom Banchoff, a mathematician known world-wide for his specialization in the fourth and higher dimensions, recently gave two presentations at Belmont. Dr. Banchoff is a pioneer in applying computer graphics to the fourth dimension, thereby permitting illustration of this illusive and abstract concept.

The first talk, “Math Spans All Dimensions: Guides to the Fourth Dimension” was based on the interactive poster developed for Math Awareness Month in 2000 while Dr. Banchoff was president of the Mathematical Association of America. In our familiar three-dimensional space, visualization is an important tool. In our age of computer visualization, we can now explore phenomena in our “nearest neighbor,” the fourth dimension.  Guides in this effort include Edwin Abbott Abbott (“Flatland”), Madeleine L’Engel (“A Wrinkle in Time”) and Salvador Dalí (“Corpus Hypercubus”).

The second talk was titled “The Two-Piece Property–the Geometry of Slicing Fruit” and addressed questions including ‘What can we say about objects that fall into at most two pieces when we slice them with a long knife?’ and  ’How can a topic that we can describe in simple language lead to a Berkeley PhD thesis?’ The “two-piece property” turns out to be equivalent to minimal total absolute curvature, a classical topic in differential geometry that yields surprising results when we ask the same questions for polyhedral surfaces, in three-dimensional space and higher.

To see more images from Dr. Banchoff’s presentation, click here.

Webb Presents and Chairs Panel at Communication Conferences

Paul Chenoweth
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nathan-webb-199x300Assistant Professor in Belmont’s Communications Studies Department Dr. Nathan Webb recently attended two academic conferences where he presented a research paper and chaired two research panels.

Dr. Webb attended the Central States Communication Association Annual Conference in Madison, Wisconsin and presented a paper on his research on instructor self-disclosure in the classroom and chaired a panel in the Kenneth Burke division of the organization. He also attended the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication Annual Southeast Colloquium in Knoxville and chaired a panel on internship programs for communication students.

Gonas Chairs Session at Oxford Business School Conference

Paul Chenoweth
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Gonas Chairs Session at Oxford Business School Conference

Associate Professor of Finance Dr. John S. Gonas chaired a session this week on measuring cash flows and capital structure around social entrepreneurial growth opportunities at the University of Oxford – Said Business School Social and Sustainable Finance and Impact Investing Conference. Gonas also presented a paper titled “The Social Entrepreneur as Trailblazer: A Role for the Social Enterprise in a Market Economy.” Gonas was invited to participate along with 91 other finance, economics and management professors from 22 different nationalities.

Betsy Lane Represents Tennessee at National Cherry Blossom Festival

Paul Chenoweth
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Achievers.BetsyLaneBelmont junior Betsy Lane was chosen to represent Tennessee in the National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington D.C. from April 5-11 as the Tennessee Cherry Blossom Princess.

The Cherry Blossom Princess Program is a week-long experience that offers cultural and educational opportunities for young women from around the world, typically students between the ages of 19 and 24. Participants are selected by a state society or embassy based on their leadership, academic achievements and interest in social, civic, community and world affairs. Each state society selects one representative to send to the festival each year. To see the Tennessee State Society’s announcement for 2015, click here.

The mission of the program is to offer an educational experience, or “Washington classroom,” by introducing participants to many government, cultural, military and business leaders and female role models who work in the nation’s capitol.

Lane’s D.C. tour started on Easter Sunday with a lantern lighting at the Tidal Basin. A full week of activities, including a Congressional reception, dinners with the Marines and Japan Ambassador and many other events for participants followed. The week concluded with a sushi reception and Grand Ball on Friday night, followed by a parade down Pennsylvania Ave. and the Matsuri Festival. To see a detailed list of events, click here.

Lane was able to meet and form relationships with many people through the festival’s events. “I learned that the relationship between Japan and the United States is a very special one, and it’s something that we are proud of. Every year, thousands gather in Washington DC to celebrate the friendship that we share with the gifting of the Cherry Blossom Trees 103 years ago,” Lane said.

Lane explained her strong tie to Japanese relations and culture by telling the history of her great-grandparents, Harold and Pauline Lane. Lane’s grandmother was born in Sapporo, Japan in 1930 and lived there until her 11th birthday when she and her twin traveled to New York aboard the USS Gripsholm (documented in the book, “Exchange Ship,” by Marx Hill). The twins traveled to America alone, as their parents Harold and Pauline had been arrested and imprisoned shortly after the bombing of pearl harbor. In the months following, the sisters were hidden in a convent where they were sheltered until the Red Cross could arrange for an exchange ships. Harold and Pauline joined the twins in America almost one year later.

After the war, Harold and Pauline returned to Japan to help rebuild the country because of their love of missionary work. They were among the first non-military personnel allowed back into Japan and did their best to extend friendship to their adopted country. Pauline worked as a volunteer in many organizations, and Harold returned to teach at Hokudai (Hokkaido University) in Sapporo. In 1962, the Emperor of Japan bestowed upon Harold, Lane’s great grandfather, the honor of membership in The Order Of The Rising Sun, the highest honor for non-Japanese civilians.

Achievers.BetsyLane2During her week at the Cherry Blossom Festival, as she carried on her family’s Japanese history, Lane was able to volunteer in the local Washington D.C. community. She spent time at the Kennedy Institute school, an organization that advocates for students with disabilities. Lane said it was a unique opportunity, and she was impacted by the children she spent time with and her fellow princesses.

“I really loved getting to know all the other states’ princesses throughout the week. Each state, U.S. territory and even International Embassies are represented. Because of this program, I now have best friends in Hawaii, Vermont, Utah, New Mexico and Minnesota, and now women from American Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. There were even international princesses! So now I have friends in Italy, Mexico and Lithuania.”

To see more from Lane, follow her on twitter, or click here. For more information on the Cherry Blossom Festival, click here.

Hazouri Wins Harold Love Outstanding Community Service Award

Paul Chenoweth
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Hazouri Wins Harold Love Outstanding Community Service Award

Social work major Bailey Hazouri recently won the state-wide 2015 Harold Love Outstanding Community Service Student Award. Hazouri was nominated by Belmont faculty members and an application sent by University President Dr. Bob Fisher for her continued commitment to community service.

Hazouri is co-founder of the Edgehill Neighborhood Outreach Program and has been active with this group since 2012.  Working in a diverse community near Belmont’s campus, she leads a variety of events bringing food, fun and extended learning to the community through tutoring, activities and coordination of meals for children and families. Her work is entirely voluntary and comes from her personal faith commitment to improve the quality of life of those within the neighborhood.

Hazouri’s passion for service shines through in everything she does.  ”Mr. Love was a man who lived out his calling to love others in tangible practical ways, and I am honored to be placed in a category as someone who tries her best to love and serve people to the best of her ability,” said Hazouri. ”I hope that in receiving this award, the voices of all those children and families I work with in Edgehill will be able to become more heard…that their stories of perseverance and hard work will be shared and that the gap between neighbors will become smaller.”

The State of Tennessee Higher Education Commission gives the award annually to five faculty or staff members and five students in Tennessee higher education institutions. Individuals selected to receive recognition represent the many dimensions of community service, volunteer work and public and charitable service, as well as leadership roles in community organizations. Each recipient receives $1,000 and serves as an ambassador for community service among the many diverse higher educational communities in Tennessee.

As Associate Provost Beverly Schneller put it, “Hazouri has illustrated and models the type of student leadership, thoughtful Christian action and dedication to serving others that are hallmarks of excellence as a person and as a student.”

Belmont Business Teams Win Big at International Competitions

Paul Chenoweth
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Belmont Business Teams Win Big at International Competitions

Students from the Massey College of Business struck again this past week, landing major awards at two different international competitions.

CFATeamThe Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute Research Challenge is an annual global competition that provides university students with hands-on mentoring and intensive training in financial analysis. Students work in teams to research and analyze a publicly traded company — sometimes even meeting face-to-face with company management. Each team writes a research report on their assigned company with a buy, sell, or hold recommendation and may be asked to present and defend their analysis to a panel of industry professionals.

Belmont’s CFA team team consisted of senior finance major Cody Fincher, junior finance major Nate Newcomb, accelerated MBA student Gray Finney, and Professional MBA students William Gilmore and Lauren Vandermark. After winning the Nashville/East Tennessee regional competition last month, the team moved on last week to the Americas competition in Atlanta, which included 350+ teams from the U.S., Canada, Central and South America. Belmont’s team finished third overall among all Americas teams—their presentation on Ryman Hospitality can be seen here (fifth video down from the top of the page).

Dr. Joe Smolira, associate professor of finance and the team’s advisor, said, “The students on the team did a fantastic job, progressing farther in the competition than any Tennessee team has ever gone. Finishing in the Top 5 out of more than 350 universities in the Western Hemisphere is phenomenal. Beating Rutgers head-to-head in the semifinals shows the analytic and presentation skills these students have as most of the Rutgers team will probably be working on Wall Street next year.”

Meanwhile, 21 of Belmont’s 23 student representatives placed in the top 10 in their respective events at the DECA International Career Development Conference held this week in Orlando. DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges around the globe.

Collegiate DECA’s Competitive Events Program allows students to put their experience, skills and knowledge to the test while representing their college or university. Students compete for top international honors in one of 24 different competitions. Collegiate DECA competitive events recognize student achievement, provide opportunities for traveling to conferences and networking with peers. The Collegiate DECA Competitive Events Program is recognized for helping to prepare students for their professional careers–in all events students are judged by business and industry professionals.

“This was a particularly good year for Belmont’s DECA team,” said Professor of Entrepreneurship Dr. Jeff Cornwall, who advises the team along with Assistant Professor of Marketing Dr. Lora Harding and Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship Dr. Mark Schenkel. “The student leaders stepped up and became much more involved. The students who went to nationals clearly were there to work hard and learn.  All three faculty advisors were excited to support such a great group of students.”

Of particular note, seven of Belmont’s eight student teams advanced to the final round of the Entrepreneurship Challenge, and all seven ultimately placed in the top 10.

DECA FINAL RESULTS

Entrepreneurship Challenge
1st Place (of 53 teams): Keaton Crawford, Grace McCaw and Riley Bauer
3rd Place: Jennifer Baiada, Jaclyn Tomlinson and Zachary Luci
Top Ten: Elizabeth Rhyne, Mason Foote, Matt Metsker, Marissa Begin, Ben Mathews, Alyssa Aloyo, Taylor Fish, Sam Dallas, Kayla Henry, Levis Padron, Ally Sizemore, Caroline D’Andrea and Cole Auville

Case Competitions

3rd Place (of 46+ teams) in Sports and Entertainment Marketing: Keaton Crawford and Rachel Hawk
Top 10 Finalist (of 32+ students) in Sales Management Meeting: Zach Luci
Top 10 Finalist (of 47+ students) in Human Resource Management: Ally Sizemore

Simulations

Top 10 Finalist (of 21+ students) in Corporate Finance: Riley Bauer
Top 10 Finalist (of 36+ students) in Travel and Tourism: Levis Padron

Prepared Events

Top 10 Finalist in Project Management: Olivia Holt-Hall

Students Present at Undergraduate Math Conference

Paul Chenoweth
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Professors of Mathematics Barbara Ward and Daniel Biles directed three student presentations given at the 9th annual Undergraduate Mathematics Conference at the University of Tennessee on April 11. The annual conference gives undergraduate students a chance to present their mathematical research, meet other undergraduates and hear about their research.

Savannah Halliday (mathematics major) and Jackson Streeter (mathematics and computer science double major) presented “The Sandler Syndrome: Predicting Box Office Revenue.”  Jacob DeVries (music business and economics double major) presented “Using Technical Indicators to Predict Future Stock Prices.” Christopher Winfree (applied discrete mathematics major) presented “Predicting a Minor League Player’s Success in MLB.”  The conference featured eleven research presentations given by college students throughout the region.

Belmont Hosts Tennessee Academy of Science Regional Meeting

Paul Chenoweth
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Belmont Hosts Tennessee Academy of Science Regional Meeting

TAS-chemistry-300x224Belmont’s College of Sciences and Mathematics hosted The Tennessee Academy of Science (TAS) Collegiate Division Middle Region Meetingon Saturday, April 18. The meeting included research sessions for chemistry, ecology/zoology/botany, cellular/microbiology/health and medical science and mathematics/engineering/computer science. The TAS meeting was coordinated by Assistant Professor of Chemistry Dr. Duane Hatch.

A total of 37 student presenters from Belmont University, Tennessee State University, Motlow State Community College, Fisk University, Volunteer State Community College and Austin Peay State University presented research in 15 minutes presentations.

Each session was judged by faculty volunteers and 1st, 2nd, 3rd and Honorable Mention awards were presented. Belmont faculty volunteer judges included Drs. John Niedzwiecki, Robert Grammer, Nick Ragsdale, Lori McGrew, Chris Barton, and Roger Jackson, biology, and Drs. Rachel Rigsby and Justin Stace, chemistry. Belmont student volunteers included biology majors Brandy Sweet, Mohamed Darwish, and Austin Demaagd.

The following Belmont students won awards:

  • Chemistry:  2nd place – Daniel Beagan, 3rd place – Victoria Lim
  • Ecology/Zoology/Botany: 1st place – Sonia Kadakia, 2nd place – Jackson Smith, 3rd place -Brielle Davis, Honorable Mention – John Gossen
  • Cellular/Microbiology/Health and Medical Science:  1st place – Lauryn Bouldin, 2nd place – Justin Smith, 3rdplace – Stephanie Ray

TAS-ecology-284x300TAS seeks to promote scientific research and knowledge diffusion, encourage communication between scientists, especially in Tennessee, develop and make known state resources, and arrange and prepare reports of investigations and discussions as they further the aims and objectives of the academy.

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