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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Mathematics Major Receives Actuary Scholarship, Job Offer

Paul Chenoweth
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Annie BrunelleSenior mathematics major Annie Brunelle, Mathematics major was recently awarded a $1,500 scholarship for this year by the Casualty Actuaries of the Southeast (CASE).  CASE offers two scholarships per year to college students in the southeastern states. The scholarship program’s mission is to encourage students who reside in a southeastern state to become future working members of the Casualty Actuarial Society. The actuarial profession is usually ranked in the top five of career choices.  Actuaries work in the insurance and financial sectors and specialize in analyzing the financial impact of risk and uncertainty.

Brunelle has completed the Actuarial Exam P/1, the first of a series of nine exams which are required for full status as an actuary. She also completed an internship this past summer at UNUM Group in Chattanooga, working as an actuary in the A&H VB Pricing Department. UNUM is ranked within Fortune 500’s top companies. Her work consisted of data analysis, model creation and prediction of policy persistency rates. She also worked under her manager, again using data analysis, to find key drivers of policy lapse trends. At the end of her internship, UNUM flew the actuarial interns to Portland, Maine, and after a grueling day of interviews with senior vice presidents, CEOs and influential company leaders, Brunelle was awarded a full-time position within their Actuarial Development Program (ADP). Her position as an actuary with UNUM will begin next June after she graduates from Belmont.

Belmont Recognized on the Top 100 Most Beautiful Colleges List

Paul Chenoweth
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belmont mansionBelmont University has been recognized at No. 61 on Best College Review’s 100 Most Beautiful College Campuses in America. Nominations for this list were selected based on inclusion in dozens of comparable “most beautiful college campuses” list articles and an informal survey of friends and colleagues both in and out of academia.

Picturesque natural features such as green spaces, bodies of water and arboretums were the key criteria, as was elegant architecture. Specific buildings and areas were then singled out for their outstanding looks. The article stated, “Aesthetically, perhaps the most glorious main campus building of all is still Belmont Mansion which earned a spot on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. Upon completion in 1853, this edifice was among the most opulent antebellum residences in the Southern U.S., and to this day it boasts lovely Greek revival and Italianate elements, with a pair of central columns instantly catching the eye. In its current role as a museum, Belmont Mansion remains a showpiece of the 75-acre campus. Also built in 1853, Belmont’s 105-foot Tower and Carillon is another historic highlight.”

Belmont Senior Selected as One of 20 ‘Women Who Make a Difference’

Paul Chenoweth
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Alie B. GorrieBelmont senior and musical theatre major, Alie B. Gorrie, was recently selected as one of 20 Women Who Make a Difference for 2014, an initiative of Birmingham magazine and Alabama Media Group to honor women who are making a difference in business, philanthropy, the arts and other areas. She will be recognized at a luncheon in Birmingham, Ala. on Oct. 22.

The list of honorees includes such luminaries as celebrities, CEOs, presidents and philanthropists. Gorrie is being recognized for founding Songs for Sight, a nonprofit organization that benefits teens with low vision, a challenge she has faced herself since birth.

As a teenager growing up with limited vision, Gorrie was thrilled to learn that with the proper training and technology, driving would be a possibility for her. Her excitement for the promise of future independence was dampened by the thought that many other teens with low vision could not afford these resources. At age 16, she founded Songs for Sight, combining her music industry connections with her passion for helping others. Since the, the organization has raised more $840,000 for the purpose of raising awareness and providing equipment and vision rehabilitation services for her fellow teens and young adults.

A native of Birmingham, Alabama, Gorrie will be playing the role of Ado Annie in the Musical Theatre Departments’s fall production of “Oklahoma.”

 

 

 

VeggieTales Co-Creator Speaks to Students about Faith

Paul Chenoweth
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veggie tales - mike nawrockiCo-founder of Big Idea Entertainment Mike Nawrocki spoke to students, faculty and staff about how his faith in God steered his career path during a convocation event on Wednesday in the Massey Performance Arts Center. Big Idea created the popular animated series “VeggieTales,” for which Nawrocki is the voice of Larry the Cucumber as well as writer and director of both short and feature-length films. The convocation was part of Belmont’s annual EMERGE, a spiritual emphasis week held near the beginning of the semester designed to encourage campus to reflect, refocus and renew. Other EMERGE speakers this week included author/Storyline founder Donald Miller and Porter’s Call founder Al Andrews.

Nawrocki explained that while he loved comedy from a young age, he originally wanted a career in the medical field. He studied at St. Paul Bible College where he met fellow Big Idea co-founder Phil Vischer while serving with a puppet ministry. He had always found church as an outlet for his creative side.

Nawrocki later enrolled at the University of Illinois-Chicago in pursuit of medical school. He took a job with a video production facility to finance his medical education. There, he gained experience in video production and animation. He finally decided that God was calling him in a different direction from medicine, and he and Vischer began working on “VeggieTales,” which is celebrating its 21st anniversary this year.

“I felt a real confirmation by God that I made the right decision so long ago,” Nawrocki said. “I had a moment where I realized that God had led me to the right place at the right time and had given me the talents and ability to do his will.”

Nawrocki concluded his presentation by encouraging students to be open to surprises.

“Here is my advice: Work hard. Make your plans, but always be open to how God can use you at a time like this,” he said.

Belmont Upgrades Campus Internet Services

Paul Chenoweth
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WirelessServiceStockImageBelmont University has recently made notable upgrades to campus Internet services for this term. The campus wireless network footprint has grown by 75 percent since fall 2013. Belmont has increased the number of wireless access points (APs) from roughly 250 to more than 430 APs. That’s more than 180 new APs spread across campus to support wireless services and improve connection and speed.

As an example of how the wireless network has evolved in this last year, more than 80 APs were installed in the Wedgewood Academic Center alone. This ensures that wireless services cover the entire building including student study areas, dining areas, the Chapel, classrooms and faculty offices. The university has also installed its first 10GB segment connection from the Wedgewood Academic Center to the campus’ core network. All other buildings on campus have a 1GB connection.

In addition, the university has expanded and improved wireless access in McWhorter, Athletic areas, the Curb Café and Curb Event Center. Wireless access was also installed in Belmont Commons for residential students for the first time. Additional wireless access in Fidelity Hall is also planned.

“My thanks go to all of the Technology Services team for getting school started well, and in particular, Network Services for a tireless effort to manage the growth and complexity of the campus network,” said Director of Technology Services Randall Reynolds. “We will continue to improve Internet services as a priority in all other classroom buildings on campus and faculty offices.”

Anyone experiencing issues with the campus wireless connection should call 615-460-6893 to report the time, location and specific nature of the problem so Belmont’s Technology Services representatives can seek a solution.

Belmont Welcomes Notable Speakers for Annual Humanities Symposium Sept. 18-29

Paul Chenoweth
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banner‘Worlds Enough and Time’ theme unites three colleges

Belmont University hosts its 13th annual Humanities Symposium this week, featuring authors, poets, researchers, philosophers and professors from across the country.

Centered on the theme “Worlds Enough and Time,” the Belmont 2014 Humanities Symposium will occur Sept. 18 through 29 and references English author Andrew Marvell’s famous carpe diem poem, which begins with the phrase, “Had we but world enough and time,” transformed to allude as well to the University theme of “Living in a Global Community.” The symposium seeks to stimulate intellectual conversation through its 45 events, which together will engage in a 10-day conversation designed to increase interactions with different cultures, religions, political views as well as scientific and historical understandings of time to dislodge the default view and open students to broader understanding of the subject.

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‘Anderson Cooper 360’ Producer Speaks to Media Ethics Class

Paul Chenoweth
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cnn producer jen duckLast Friday, Emmy award-winning producer Jennifer Duck spoke to students in Thom Storey’s Media Ethics class about her career journey and ethical reporting. Duck is currently the producer of CNN’s “Anderson Cooper 360.”

She recently returned from 10 straight days on the ground with Cooper in Ferguson, Missouri, directing all the show’s live news coverage of the demonstrations and riots following the shooting death of teenager Michael Brown. Duck discussed the challenges of photo ethics and how they handled Brown’s death while respecting  requests of his family. In addition, she touched on her approach to getting information from the public.

“We went around the area and talked directly to witnesses. People respond better to face-to-face interaction than an email or phone call,” Duck said. “The best reporting comes from going on the ground and talking to people.”

cnn producer jen duck speaks to media ethics classIn reference to the death reports on Robin Williams and Joan Rivers, Duck discussed the ethics of getting the story right versus getting it first.

“If CNN can’t confirm on our own, we won’t attribute it or run it. You never know how credible those sources are,” she said.

She also showed clips of her work at CNN and talked about how she arrived at the TV channel. She discussed her previous work as producer for Katie Couric’s syndicated show in New York and the talent and development director for the launch of the OWN network. In addition, she was a backpack journalist covering the McCain and Obama presidential campaigns for ABC News in 2008.

“[Networking], that’s the biggest thing you should take from this. Connections are crucial,” Duck said. “When you meet someone, take their business card and keep it forever.”

TOP 5! Belmont Achieves Its Goal in Annual U.S. News College Rankings

Paul Chenoweth
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University praised by its peers for commitments to innovation, undergraduate teaching, internships

Photo of Top 5 Banner on Freeman HallBelmont University catapulted today into the Top 5 in U.S. News & World Report’s annual rankings of America’s Best Colleges in the South region. After three years at No. 7, Belmont’s ranking at No. 5 for the publication’s 2015 edition marks another check on the University’s Vision 2015 goal-setting list, an accomplishment achieved a full year ahead of schedule as was Belmont’s enrollment target (set for 7,000, the University hit 7,301 this fall at the start of classes).

Belmont was also lauded for the seventh year in a row as a top “Up-and-Comer,” indicating the university has made “the most promising and innovative changes in the areas of academics, faculty, student life, campus or facilities.” Moreover, Belmont was ranked second in the South for its “unusually strong commitment to undergraduate teaching” and was lauded by its peers for the internships the University emphasizes as part of its overall educational experience, an academic enrichment closely paired with student success.

Belmont President Dr. Bob Fisher said, “This is great news. I’m so privileged to be associated with faculty and staff who give their best every day to create extraordinary learning experiences for our students. While it’s gratifying and humbling to achieve this part of our Vision, we’re far from done. Planning has already begun on Vision 2020, and I fully expect our campus to raise the bar even higher as we imagine our future together.”

In the Best Regional Universities-South, Belmont is again the highest-ranked university of the 15 ranked Tennessee institutions in its category, a feat the University has claimed for more than a decade.The No. 5 ranking places Belmont in a premier position among the 126 public and private institutions included in the South region, an area that covers Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi and Louisiana.Other southern regional institutions in the Top 5 included Elon University (NC), Rollins College (FL), Samford University (AL) and The Citadel (SC).

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Two Belmont Students Compete Sept. 14 in Miss America Pageant

Paul Chenoweth
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Belmont contestants
Swanson (left) and Lewis (right)

Next Sunday night, Belmont University will be the only college in the nation to have two students competing in the Miss America pageant, broadcast live on ABC from Atlantic City, New Jersey. The Sept. 14 program will feature Belmont senior Hayley Lewis, who was crowned Miss Tennessee June 21, as well as junior Megan Swanson, who was named Miss Nebraska earlier this summer.

Lewis earned the highest score in the talent category on the night of the Tennessee pageant for her performance of “I (Who Have Nothing).” She will defer from the University for one year to travel the state as Gov. Bill Haslam’s spokesperson for Character Education as well as the goodwill ambassador for Children’s Miracle Network before returning to campus in August 2015 to complete her studies in music business and classical vocal performance. Previously at Belmont, Lewis provided game day support for the basketball and baseball teams and was an active participant in the Beltones.

Swanson, who performed ”You Raise Me Up” during the Nebraska scholarship pageant, is studying music and plans to become a motivational speaker and singer/songwriter.

Both Belmont undergraduates are taking this year off from school to attend to their state-wide duties.

International Organization Cites Cannonier’s Work

Paul Chenoweth
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Colin CannonierThe United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization recently released a report that cites “Empowering Women Through Education: Evidence from Sierra Leone,” the work of Belmont Assistant Professor of Economics Colin Cannonier and colleague Naci Mocan. The report is titled “Teaching and Learning: Achieving Quality for All,” and their work was highlighted in the report’s third chapter, Schooling Can Save the Planet: Higher levels of education lead to more concern for the environment.

Cannonier and Mocan issued their working paper through the National Bureau of Economic Research in April 2012. NBER working papers are circulated for discussion and comment purposes. They have not been peer-reviewed or been subject to the review by the NBER Board of Directors that accompanies official NBER publications. In their paper, Mocan and Cannonier used data from Sierra Leone “where a substantial education program provided increased access to education for primary-school age children but did not benefit children who were older.” They found that the program has increased educational attainment and that an increase in education has changed women’s preferences and had an impact on their attitudes toward matters that impact women’s health and violence against women.

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