English Instructor Lacey Lyons’ essay “The Beginning of Empathy: Teaching Asperger’s to College Writers” was presented at the Greater Chattanooga Aspies’ annual conference in April. Lyons will also present at the Vanderbilt University Kennedy Center’s MegaConference on Disabilities, along with blogger Leisa Hammett and Courtney Taylor, associate director of communications and dissemination at Vanderbilt Kennedy Center.
Chemistry Students Volunteer at Drug Take-Back Event
On April 27, Belmont students Gerald Offei-Nkansah, Huner Aradini, Phillip Cook and Emily Locke and Chemistry Professor Kimberlee Daus participated in the Dickson County Drug Take-Back event. Taking place on National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, the event was coordinated by Vanderbilt University and the Dickson Police Department. Working alongside faculty and students from Vanderbilt University and Lipscomb University, Belmont students and faculty cataloged and counted more than 50 pounds of medication. The National Drug Take-Back Day, set by the Drug Enforcement Agency, provides a service to community through safe and responsible disposal of unused medication. Additionally, these events help to educate the public about the potential of drug abuse associated with these medications.
Education Department Honors PENCIL Partner, Overton High School
Dr. Rachael Flynn-Hopper, associate professor and PENCIL Foundation coordinator for the Department of Education, and Cynthia Warner, from the office of the College of Arts and Sciences, served breakfast to faculty and staff at John Overton Comprehensive High School. The week is Teacher Appreciation Week across the nation and Belmont University’s Department of Education honors the faculty and staff annually with a breakfast of bagels, coffee and orange juice during this important week. The department recognizes the contributions of the faculty and staff at Overton High School and values the partnerships that have developed through practicum, student teaching and intern placements over the years.
Belmont’s chapter of the Student Tennessee Education Association (STEA) also made a donation to the school library to buy cameras for teachers, staff and students to use to support learning and development
Alumna Earns Xavier’s Magis Award
Belmont alumna Kate Loftus Riley, head of school at Holy Trinity Montessori School, will be awarded the Xavier University Magis Award on May 11 at the Xavier University Commencement in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Magis Award recognizes a Xavier undergraduate alumnus, who has achieved a high degree of excellence and embodies Jesuit morals and ethical values in her life within 15 years of graduation. Riley, a Nashville native, earned her Master of Arts in Teaching Special Education from Belmont University, where she later served as adjunct professor, internship coordinator and field consultant. Click here for more information about Riley and Holy Trinity Montessori.
Music Education Students Help Middle School Violin Players
Belmont University music education majors Shelby Nichols, Ruby Chandler, Lacy Thurman and Elyse Burke engaged in a service-learning project partnering Technique and Literature for the Violin II with Moves & Grooves, a Nashville After Zone Alliance (NAZA) program at Croft Middle School. NAZA is a network of established after school providers, each serving middle school students in a different geographic zone and with their own particular focus and mission. Students who participate in Moves & Grooves explore learning through the arts. Belmont’s instrumental music education majors prepared the Moves & Grooves middle school participants for a violin ensemble performance on April 20 for the Mayor’s Awards Ceremony at the Amazing Race and Showcase at Hadley Park Community Center.
Rose Park, Belmont Publish ‘Edgehill’s Best’ Amid Changes
For the fourth consecutive year, Rose Park Magnet Middle School students worked with Belmont students and instructors in the University’s journalism lab to produce its annual newspaper Edgehill’s Best.
On May 2, the seventh and eighth grade students worked in Belmont’s journalism lab to write their articles with the help of several Belmont students.
This year marked a special transition for the partnership between the middle school and the University. Journalism Instructor Linda Quigley, who has led the partnership since its birth, will retire at the end of the month. She passed the ink to Belmont alumnus Skip Anderson (’94), managing editor the Williamson Herald in Franklin, Tenn. Media studies Chairman Thom Storey asked Anderson to help in the one-day journalism boot camp.
“It is an opportunity to give back to the community,” said Anderson, who studied journalism at Belmont, “and to be there for a project for students because Belmont was invested in me when I was investing in my education, and I have a tremendous respect for that.”
The Rose Park students, hand selected by their teachers, tutorials from Belmont Vision newspaper adviser and journalism instructor Quigley to learn how to develop story ideas, interview sources and write leads.
Edgehill’s Best is a free newspaper with 5,000 circulation that is intended for residents of the Edgehill community. In addition, it is distributed to Metro Council members, on Belmont’s campus, in local churches, restaurants and community centers throughout the summer. Stories cover topics such as school sports, students’ community service projects and nonprofit service providers in the Edgehill area.
McWhorter Giving Society Established to Support Health Sciences
Belmont University’s Office of Advancement recently established the Clayton McWhorter Society, a giving society intended to further the work of Belmont’s health science programs. The new group, which held its inaugural membership lunch on May 2, is named in honor of long-time Belmont supporter Clayton McWhorter and will directly benefit the College of Health Sciences & Nursing, the College of Pharmacy and the new MBA for Healthcare Professionals.
Clayton McWhorter’s leadership and role in the development of healthcare industry giants HealthTrust, Inc. and HCA have made a strong impression in the field of healthcare. In 1996, Clayton, his son Stuart, and a close business friend created the venture capital firm Clayton Associates, which quickly evolved into a hub of strategic business development activities related to new firms in healthcare, technology and diversified services.
His relationship with the University began in the late ’80s through an invitation from Jack Massey “to get involved with Belmont,” and 25 years later, Clayton McWhorter continues his generous response to Massey’s challenge through his support of a variety of programs and initiatives.
Belmont Vice President for University Advancement Dr. Bo Thomas said, “While Clayton’s many achievements are based on sound business principles and bone-deep ethical standards, in the end it is his commitment to making a difference in the lives of others and giving back to the community that has sealed his enduring success and legacy. Belmont University counts itself fortunate to be among the many who have benefited from Clayton’s generous spirit and friendship. Through the McWhorter Society, Clayton is now challenging others to ‘to get involved with Belmont’ just as Jack Massey encouraged him to do years ago.”
Nursing Alumni Maintain Perfect Pass Rate
The winter graduating class of Belmont University’s master’s program for Family Nurse Practitioners (FNP) and two post-MSN certificate students have achieved a 100 percent first time pass rate on the nursing certification examination for the 10th consecutive year.
The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) administers the the advanced practice nursing examination for family nurse practitioners. More than a quarter million nurses have been certified by ANCC since 1990, and over 80,000 advanced practice nurses are currently certified by ANCC. ANCC certification is accepted by governing boards throughout the United States as well as insurers and the military. The program validates nurses’ skills, knowledge and abilities and empowers nurses within their professional sphere while contributing to better patient outcomes.
‘Bridges to Belmont’ Scholars Welcomed to Campus for Signing Ceremony
Twenty-six local high school seniors came to Belmont’s campus Monday to sign a proclamation welcoming them to the University and to begin their college careers with an initial family orientation. Following the signing ceremony, students and their parents attended their first Belmont orientation sessions, took tours of campus and enjoyed a meal together.
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 will be provided via scholarships from Belmont for four consecutive academic years beginning with 2013-14.
Enrollment eligibility will then follow the standard satisfactory academic progress expectations of all students. The Bridges to Belmont program is designed to enroll high potential students from Metro Nashville Public Schools who may not have previously been able to consider Belmont as an option.
Belmont University President Bob Fisher applauded the Bridge Scholars for their hard work so far and their acceptance to college and thanked them in advance for what they will contribute to the University throughout the next four years. “Our biggest focus is to help you figure out your purpose in life. I can’t tell you what it is, but I can tell you we’re going to figure that out in this journey together.” (Click here to view the Signing Ceremony on Belmont’s YouTube channel.)
Walker Presents at Information Literacy Conference
Claire Walker, research and instruction librarian in Bunch Library, was a co-presenter at the LOEX Conference held in Nashville from May 2-4. This national conference is focused on Information Literacy and Library Instruction. The session titled “Picture This: Instruction Librarians Promoting Academic Integrity” presented the results of a comparative ethnographic study about academic integrity (AI), conducted on two campuses – Belmont and The American University in Cairo. Using a method called photovoice, researchers were able to develop “snapshots” of the two AI environments and cultivate larger theories about university students and Academic Integrity, which can be used to design information literacy sessions.
