Dr. Steve Murphree, professor of biology, was named recipient of the 2013 Tennessee Science Teachers Association Higher Education Science Educator of the Year Award. The Tennessee Science Teachers Association (TSTA) is Tennessee’s largest science teacher organization. The award was presented to Muphree at a reception on Nov. 8 at the TSTA annual conference in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Muphree joined the Belmont faculty in 1991 and has taught a wide range of science courses including Biodiversity, Zoology, Principles of Biology II, Comparative Anatomy, Parasitology and graduate courses for the Teacher Education program.
Murphree has also been a leader of promoting science in the community. Since 1992 he has served as the Director and Instructor of the annual “Beetles, Bugs and Butterflies” summer camp at Belmont University. Over 1,000 students between first and sixth grade have participated in this camp. He also hosts sessions of Home School Science Discoveries labs at Belmont which are offered free to home school participants. In addition, Muphree has given 72 insect/arachnid presentations to children in over 25 Middle Tennessee schools. Since 1993, he has given 13 presentations or led bioblitzes for Metro Nashville parks. Beginning in 1995, he has made 12 presentations or led nature walks in Tennessee State Parks and Natural areas. He has judged numerous science fairs, held workshops and served in leadership roles in important science organizations such as the Tennessee Academy of Sciences, the Tennessee Entomological Society and Nashville’s Adventure Science Center.
Belmont University announced today that its part-time MBA program has achieved a Top 60 national ranking in Bloomberg BusinessWeek’s 2013 report on “Top Part-Time MBA programs.” Belmont’s Massey School program ranked No. 59 in the U.S. and just behind such notables as Pepperdine University (No. 50), Case Western University (No. 53) and the University of Maryland (No. 56). In its region, Belmont was ranked 12th, joining other highly-ranked notables in the South, including Emory University and Wake Forest University.
Sun Records–the legendary home of Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and Roy Orbison–recently released its first album of new music in decades with a new CD from Belmont alumna Julie Roberts. Sun Records spent the better part of the past 20 years focused primarily on licensing its expansive catalog.
On Tues., Nov. 5, the College of Pharmacy participated in a health screening exercise with Special Olympics Tennessee. Seventy-five Davidson County Olympians, who compete worldwide in various events, were screened for athletic readiness. College of Pharmacy faculty and students were involved in screening medication profiles of the athletes, making sure proper cautions concerning allergies, exposure to the sun, drug adverse effects and drug interactions were not an issue for these participants. According to Joanne Drumright of Special Olympics, “The process went very smoothly, and we hope to scale up the screening, inviting athletes from a much broader area in an upcoming event.” College of Pharmacy participants included Drs. Andy Webster and Phil Johnston along with students Marian Roufael, Razia Shamsuddin and Darrilyn Prout, all in their fourth year of study.
The National Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC) is the professional association of undergraduate Honors programs and collegse. NCHC provides support for institutions developing, implementing and expanding Honors education through curriculum development, program assessment, teaching innovation, international study opportunities, internships, leadership development and mentored research.
Nashville-based band Moon Taxi, which consists of five Belmont alumni, played live Nov. 11 on the “Late Show with David Letterman” on CBS. Band members pictured include lead vocalist/guitarist Trevor Terndrup (’07), bass guitarist Tommy Putnam (’06), lead guitarist Spencer Thomson (’06), drummer/percussionist Tyler Ritter (’08) and keyboardist Wes Bailey (’09). In addition, 2012 graduate Matt Eldridge serves as the band’s lighting director and tour manager. Moon Taxi just released its latest studio album, Mountains Beaches Cities, in September of this year to wide critical acclaim. View the band’s performance 
Nashville blogger and author Jeff Goins encouraged students to pursue their dream without delay during a convocation lecture on Wednesday in the Massey Boardroom.
Belmont University has achieved Gold in the Green area of Mayor Karl Dean’s Workplace Challenge for being a local environmental hero for its leadership in reducing the environmental impacts of its operations and buildings. Belmont also achieved Gold in the Involved area of the 
“Through the Workplace Challenge, I am asking businesses and organizations throughout Nashville to step up and show just how big an impact they can make on the livability of our city,” Mayor Karl Dean said.
Mike Curb was one of 12 new inductees to the Musicians Hall of Fame announced Monday. Curb was the recipient of the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum’s Non-Performing Award. Curb has been an essential benefactor to Belmont University through his generous donations to support the Curb Event Center and the Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business, among other efforts.