‘Bridges to Belmont’ scholarship opportunities provide potential $10 million+ investment in educating Nashville students
With an application deadline set for Dec. 16, Belmont University announced today that it is expanding its Bridges to Belmont scholarship program from 26 Nashville students in the 2013-14 charter class to 30 current high school seniors for next fall’s freshman class. With the selection of the next 30 Bridges scholars, the program will provide the Davidson County students–many of whom are first generation college students—unprecedented opportunities for higher education and future careers.
Belmont University President Dr. Bob Fisher said, “At the heart of Belmont’s mission is our desire to provide a transformative education to our students in the hopes that they can then take their skills, passions and talents and make a difference in the world around them. I honestly can’t think of a better example of us living out that mission than what we are doing with the Bridges program. I’m thrilled to have these local students as part of the Belmont community.”
Launched in March 2013, Bridges to Belmont is a program designed to enroll high potential students from Metro Nashville Public Schools who may not have previously been able to consider Belmont as an option. As a participant in the “Bridges to Belmont” program, all of the students’ expenses—tuition, room, board, required fees and books—that are not covered by state or federal grant resources are provided via scholarships from Belmont for four consecutive academic years, translating to a potential investment by Belmont that could exceed $10 million in the first four years of the program. Fisher added, “I have been thrilled by the response of donors who have become enthusiastic givers to support these kids.”
Enrollment eligibility for Bridges scholars then follows the standard satisfactory academic progress expectations of all students.
“The Bridges to Belmont program is a life-changing opportunity for our students,” said Metro Schools’ Director Dr. Jesse Register. “They know with hard work, they can achieve their dream of a college education. It is an investment in their future and the community, and we appreciate everyone at Belmont who has worked to develop and expand this program.”
Assistant Professor of Audio Engineering David Tough recently had a song featured on the ABC series “Nashville.” He produced, engineered and cowrote the song “Hillbilly Hollywood.” The ABC Family movie “Christmas Bounty” also featured Tough’s song “Pretty Mama” on Nov. 26. 
The Bruins beat the Bisons both on the court and in the classroom during Battle of the Boulevard. Eight teams of undergraduate students from Belmont and Lipscomb universities competed in the Boulevard Entrepreneurship Pitch Competition on Nov. 18 in the Massey Boardroom. The students pitched their business ideas before judges during the event, which coincided with the Bruins and Bisons’ basketball game on Nov. 20.
Dr. Anson Rosenfeldt, a 2009 graduate of Belmont University School of Physical Therapy, has been named as one of 25 emerging leaders in physical therapy by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). Rosenfeldt is a staff physical therapist with the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Cleveland, Ohio.
Belmont students Nicole Smart and Lisa Rybaczuk presented the colors before the women’s basketball game versus Mercer University on Nov. 11 in recognition of Veterans Day. Smart is studying public relations management, and Rybaczuk is studying accounting.
The Honors Program hosted a C. S. Lewis/ J. R. R. Tolkien reading group and discussion series this fall on the Chronicles of Narnia and finished the last book on Thursday night, Nov. 21, the day before the 50th anniversary of the death of C. S. Lewis in 1963. Beginning on October 10, the Belmont Narnia group met one afternoon a week at 6:30-7:30 p.m. for tea and cookies, fellowship and fun reflection on Lewis’ great Christian fantasy series. Each member of the group led discussion on one Narnia book and brought food and some questions. “The Narnia books are part of the enduring legacy of C. S. Lewis,” said Professor and Honors Chair Dr. Jonathan Thorndike noted. “Very few authors have instant recognition by name only 50 years following their death. The fact that people are still buying and reading books by C. S. Lewis shows that he gave us words of wisdom and engaging stories that have the power to transform lives.”
Dr. Myron Oglesby-Pitts will be featured on 