The Public Relations Student Society of America recognized Belmont students Michelle Ward and Katie Siklosi with its National Gold Key Award on Oct. 15 during its 2012 National Conference in San Francisco, Calif. The award recognizes students who demonstrate outstanding academic excellence in public relations and leadership qualities in PRSSA. It is the highest individual honor bestowed upon members of the Public Relations Student Society of America.
The Belmont University Student National Pharmaceutical Association (SNPhA) team raised $1,500 for the 2012 Nashville AIDS 5K walk, sponsored by the nonprofit organization Nashville Cares earlier this month. The 23-person Belmont team included deans, faculty and pharmacy students who joined hundreds of community participants to benefit thousands of individuals and families affected by HIV/AIDS in Davidson County and 17 surrounding counties of northern Middle Tennessee.
Edgar Diaz-Cruz, assistant professor of Pharmaceutical, Social and Administrative Sciences at Belmont College of Pharmacy, participated in the First Choice Festival at McGavock High School. The festival was an opportunity for parents and students to learn about elementary, middle and high school academies and options in the Nashville area.
Diaz-Cruz’ role was to showcase the Belmont College of Pharmacy partnership with Hillsboro High School in the Global Health and Science Academy. He also participated in the Hillsboro High School teacher externship that took place at Vanderbilt University. He talked to teachers about preparing students who have interest in pharmacy as their career. Jacqueline Woods was in charge of this program.
Belmont Pharmacy students conducted a health fair in conjunction with the First Annual Matthew Walker Family Fun Walk hosted by the Matthew Walker Comprehensive Healthcare Center (MWCHC) on Oct. 6. The Family Fun Walk is a one-mile walk in Bicentennial Mall State Park supporting the MWCHC’s “Dial Down Diabetes” program, which is sponsored by AstraZeneca HealthCare Foundation. It is an effort to reduce and prevent cardiovascular disease by “dialing down” on the impact of undiagnosed diabetes, pre-diabetes and diabetes in low-income adults.
After the event, Pharmacy Assistant Professor Rachel Franks, in the Department of Pharmacy Practice, and 10 Belmont University College of Pharmacy students conducted a health fair. Franks and students provided participants with their weight, height and body mass index as well as blood pressure, blood glucose and bone mineral density screenings.
Mathematics Professor Danny Biles and five of Belmont’s actuarial students attended the Casualty Actuaries of the Southeast (CASE) annual fall meeting in Atlanta, Ga. on Oct. 3. The attendees heard about the latest news and advances in actuarial science and made a number of new contacts. Students who attended the conference were Mary Yang, Zach O’Brien, Alice Curtis, Whit Whitson and Angela Gaetano.
In addition, mathematics major Li (Mary) Yang was recognized at the conference as one of two scholarship recipients from CASE for this academic year. Yang was awarded two actuarial scholarships for the 2012-2013 academic year: The Southeastern Actuaries Conference (SEAC) Scholarship and The Casualty Actuaries of the Southeast (CASE) Scholarship. These are both competitive scholarships awarded to students at southeastern U.S. universities who plan to pursue a career as an actuary. Typically only five SEAC scholarships and only two CASE scholarships are awarded per year. Yang is completing the Mathematics Actuarial Career Track in preparation for becoming a certified actuary. Students completing the Actuarial Track will earn a minor in Business Administration. 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.
Iranian-born Nobel Peace Laureate Shirin Ebadi to participate in January event
In an extraordinary joint initiative, Iranian-born Nobel Peace Laureate Shirin Ebadi was announced Tuesday as the partner for Nashville’s first ever PeaceJam, to be held at Belmont University in January 2013. PeaceJam is an international education program that seeks to create young leaders committed to positive change in themselves, their communities and the world. Belmont recently partnered with locally-based nonprofit Students Taking A Right Stand (STARS) to become the PeaceJam Mid-South affiliate. The January PeaceJam will explore issues of peace, violence, social justice and oppression with a community service component.
The announcement of Ebadi, the first ever Iranian and first Muslim woman to earn the Nobel Peace Prize, was made by Belmont University President Bob Fisher with STARS CEO Rodger Dinwiddie in a kick-off rally Tuesday, the PeaceSlam, on Belmont’s campus with students from 23 area middle and high schools attending.
Dr. Mimi Barnard, Belmont’s assistant provost for interdisciplinary studies & global education, has been heavily involved in bringing PeaceJam to Middle Tennessee. “In announcing PeaceJam, it’s fitting that this year’s Campus Theme is E Pluribus Unum—out of many, one. We live in an increasingly complex geopolitical context, yet we are called to love our neighbor. To that end, Belmont is thrilled to partner with Students Taking a Right Stand (STARS) to become the PeaceJam Mid-South Affiliate, which includes Tennessee, Alabama, Louisiana, Arkansas and Kentucky. PeaceJam exists to create young leaders committed to positive change in themselves, their communities, and the world through the inspiration of Nobel Peace Laureates who pass on the spirit, skill and wisdom they embody. Our collaboration will enable leadership training for hundreds, if not thousands, of youth throughout the Mid-South,” Barnard said.
One of more than 300 chapters nationally, the Belmont Chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America received two national awards at the 2012 PRSSA National Conference, held Oct. 12-16 in San Francisco. Belmont students brought home four national student awards.
Belmont PRSSA received the Outstanding Regional Conference Award for the PRSSA Region 5 Conference held on campus March 30 and 31, attracting 125 students from 14 chapters in several states. The award specifically recognizes the overall benefit the conference gives to PRSSA members. The Chapter was commended for planning and executing a conference with speakers including public relations professionals from the Dallas Cowboys, HGTV, Cracker Barrel, Cision, IBM and Bonnaroo.
The Chapter also received a fourth PRSSA Star Chapter Award, presented annually since 2009 to recognize a handful of chapters meeting 10 criteria of excellence including ethics advocacy, chapter development and community service.
Endowed scholarship created to honor longtime University Photographer
University Photographer Michael Krouskop, a Belmont employee for more than 11 years, passed away Saturday evening at Vanderbilt University Medical Center following a 10-month battle with T-cell lymphoma. A memorial service to celebrate Michael’s life was held Wednesday morning, October 17, at Belmont University’s Troutt Theater.
Greg Pillon, the director of communications at Belmont and Michael’s supervisor, said, “We were truly blessed to have a talent like Michael Krouskop as part of our Belmont family. Michael was an amazing artist whose photos captured the untold stories of our students and university accomplishments. Michael loved Belmont, and we loved him. His legacy will live on forever in our hearts through his amazing images he has left us.”
As Michael noted on his website, “I love challenges, and more than that, I love capturing a story with my photography.” During his 51 years, Michael captured countless stories through his camera lens and translated them in a way that only a photographer of immense talent could do. After serving in the U.S. Navy, Michael began his career as a TV news photographer in Charleston, South Carolina, winning an Emmy Award and the Dupont-Columbia Award. He was also named the Best News Photographer in the Southeastern United States by the National Association for Professional Journalists.
Tired of focusing on images of “crime and disaster,” Michael transitioned his work into the motion picture industry, bringing his journalistic style to shoot behind-the-scene videos for MGM, HBO Films and ABC television. He worked on several music videos, documentaries and short films as a cinematographer, lighting designer and as a still photographer. He then focused on still photography garnering a client list that included Microsoft Learning, McDonalds Corporation, HCA, the U.S. Army and AT&T, among others. His photographs were featured in the New York Times, Rolling Stone, People, Harper’s Bazaar, Southern Living and many other publications. He was also nominated for a 2004 Dove Award for his photography work on The Fisk Jubilee Singers CD In Bright Mansions.
Since 2001, Michael served as the University Photographer for Belmont University while also conducting his own successful wedding photography business. The consummate visual storyteller, Michael won numerous awards during his time at Belmont for photography that appeared in the University’s Circle magazine and annual President’s Report.
As a wedding and commercial photographer, Michael’s work was equally appreciated, drawing consistent rave reviews from his clients. One bride noted, “Michael was the ideal wedding photographer and a true artist behind the lens,” while another client commented, “his professionalism, patience, flexibility and talent cannot be matched.”
John Michael Krouskop was born to Eralynn and John Krouskop in Columbus, Ohio on Dec. 29, 1960. He is survived by his mother Eralynn Wolken, son Jacob Krouskop, sisters Cindy Jones and Heidi Steklis, mother of his son Chelsea Kloepfel, and step daughter Mira Kloepfel. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society or to an endowed scholarship in Michael’s name at Belmont University. Contact the Office of Development for more information.
Alumna Brenna Mader was named Miss Tennessee USA on Oct 6. She represented Davidson County in the competition. The pageant, which was held at Austin Peay State University’s Music and Mass Communications Theater, opened with a choreographed dance number featuring all the contestants. Over the course of the evening, the contestants were narrowed down to 15 semi finalists, and then to five for the final competition. In the final round, the women were scored on their swimwear and evening wear. Each category made up 50 percent of their score.
Mader graduated with her Bachelors of Science in journalism in the spring of 2009. Having won the Miss Tennessee USA competition, she will represent the state of Tennessee in the Miss USA pageant.
Coordinator of Instrumental Studies Joel Treybig and trumpet students Anthony Baird, Kevin Griffin, and Elias Salazar will be a part of the Gaylord Opryland Tree Lighting Ceremony on Nov. 15. This is the 30th year for the event. Their performance will be in collaboration with Vanderbilt trumpeters.
