Worship Leader magazine has named religion Associate Professor Steven R. Guthrie’s Creator Spirit: The Holy Spirit and the Art of Becoming Human on its 2011 Best of the Best Books list. The book discusses the Holy Spirit and how humans are created in the image of their maker.
“Why is this book and developing a theology of the Spirit especially important? Because when the foreground is solely transcendent and “beyond this world,” what is expressed in art and spirituality will be totally different than if devotional art and the art of living is approached from a perspective of God dwelling in and with us,” writes Andrea Hunter in the magazine’s review of Creator Spirit.
Guthrie Work Named ‘Best of the Best’
Belmont Students Contribute to Guatemala City Surgical Center and Pharmacy
Belmont’s Pharmacy School partnered with Nashville’s Shalom Foundation to renovate the organization’s surgical center and pharmacy in Guatemala City, Guatemala.
Last fall, fourth-year pharmacy student Chris McKnight worked with the foundation to design plans for the center’s pharmacy after the entire site underwent a renovation. Although Shalom had doctors, surgeons and nurses on the board to contribute, they didn’t have pharmacists to add to the conversation. McKnight became that voice.
After spending over a week working in the center, McKnight said one of his favorite parts was, “the processes of seeing the pharmacy go from my sketches on the backs of napkins, to fruition in Guatemala City.”
Sara Poe, another fourth year student in Belmont’s program, also had the opportunity to work with the foundation’s center. She was focused on the medicine patients were being prescribed and made daily rounds to ensure accuracy and the installation of proper protocol.
Poe also spoke to the experience of working in such a clinic. “I would say that best moments of the trip came from silence, for silence meant no one was in pain and all was well down the hall. That alone has made me a different person.”
Speech & Debate Team Receives High Ranking in Alabama Tournament
The Belmont Speech & Debate traveled to the University of Alabama Oct. 15 for the Crimson Classic forensics tournament. With 18 colleges and universities competing, Belmont students had their most successful year ever at this large tournament, ranking 4th overall during the second half of the competition. Awards received included:
First Half of Tournament
Nicole Bright
- 5th place, Poetry Interpretation
- 3rd place, Programmed Oral Interpretation
Matthew Roberts
- 4th place, After Dinner Speaking
- 5th place, Extemporaneous Speaking
- Semi-Finalist, Impromptu Speaking
Eric Schoen
- 7th place, Dramatic Interpretation
Jenni Gustafson
- Top Novice, Impromptu Speaking
Second Half of Tournament
Nicole Bright
- 1st place, Programmed Oral Interpretation
- Semi-Finalist, Prose Interpretation
Matthew Roberts
- 1st place, Extemporaneous Speaking
- 4th place, After Dinner Speaking
- 3rd place, Communication Analysis
Eric Schoen
- 2nd place, Dramatic Interpretation
- 3rd place, Impromptu Speaking
Belmont PRSSA Takes National Honors
Chapter Honored for Excellence and Organ Donation Awareness
Belmont University Chapter of PRSSA received a 2011 Star Chapter Award at the recent PRSSA National Conference in Orlando. Only a handful of the 300 chapters of the Public Relations Student Society of America are designated as a Star Chapter. The annual award was established in 2009 and recognizes chapter excellence in 10 criteria; the Belmont Chapter received the award in 2009, 2010 and 2011.
Belmont PRSSA also received a national third place award for organ donation awareness, recognizing the work of Susan Barnes’ event planning class in Spring 2011. The award is sponsored by the National Organ Donation Awareness Campaign and Rowan University.
“These awards recognize the excellent leadership and service of our student officers and members, as well as the creative and effective promotion by Professor Barnes’ class of the importance of organ donation,” said Bonnie Riechert, director of the public relations program.
Faculty advisor for Belmont PRSSA, Riechert was one of six advisors honored at the national conference for distinguished service as a faculty advisor. Riechert has served as Belmont PRSSA advisor since 2006, and she was faculty advisor to the University of Tennessee Knoxville Chapter from 2001-2005.
Psychological Science Faculty Present at Conference
Psychological Science faculty members Linda Jones, Seraphine Shen-Miller, Lonnie Yandell, William Bailey and Pete Giordano made presentations at the Society for the Teaching of Psychology Best Practices Conference held in Atlanta, Ga. on Oct. 14-15. The 2011 conference focused on teaching and learning in Introductory Psychology. Along with a colleague from the University of San Diego, Shen-Miller, Jones and Giordano presented a session titled “Cross-Cultural Concepts in the Introductory Course: Teaching a Psychology for All People.” In addition, Jones, Yandell, Shen-Miller, Bailey and Giordano presented a session titled “Development of a lab component in General Psychology: Six Years and Counting.”
Students Pilot Project with InspireHealth
Belmont University students are working with a local nonprofit organization to create a national template for communities to improve their residents’ body, heart, mind and spirit using free resources.
In early October, Adjunct Instructor Dane Anthony’s freshman seminar “The Art of Paying Attention” classes worked with Neighborhoods InspireHealth to interview senior citizens in the Sunnyside and 12South neighborhoods. Together the students and nonprofit conducted the first focus group to determine the biggest healthcare challenges facing seniors. The focus group launches a 12-month project within the neighborhoods where students will meet with residents from various demographics.
“Interviewing this community of people widened my eyes to who I was as a part of the world. It was helpful to be a part of this process because it made me realize my role in the community and how important it is to become involved. This process taught me to pay attention to myself, others and the community as a whole,” said Sophie Martin, a freshman studying exercise science, who added that she learned more in casual conversations with the seniors than while asking the assigned questions.
“The amount of rich knowledge and wisdom with which they spoke about their personal experiences was heartwarming. Just in one simple hour I felt I had gained more from a conversation with strangers than I had in a semester of school. They were full of advice on how to avoid certain health issues as we aged, hints on where to go in town, and simply to live life to its fullest,” Martin said. “I left that morning feeling as if I had learned how to appreciate life more than ever before. I am forever grateful to have been presented with this amazing opportunity for self-growth and to have met such exquisite individuals.”
Student worked in groups to weave through the narratives they captured and to look for solutions for overarching themes, such as lack of transportation, access to healthy food options and financial constraints on a fixed income.
Pharmacy Students Reach No. 5 Spot in Clinical Pharmacy Challenge
The Belmont University School of Pharmacy rose above 85 competing schools to rank No. 5 in a national pharmacy and clinical skills competition.
The group traveled to Pittsburgh, Pa. on Oct. 15 for a live competition at the annual American College of Clinical Pharmacy Clinical Pharmacy Challenge and lost to Campbell University College of Pharmacy by less than 300 points in the quarter-final match. Both teams were quick on the buzzer and displayed a broad knowledge of clinical pharmacy. Ultimately, the winner of the match came down to the last 300 point question.
Team members are Rebecca Lucas, Kimberly Bentley and Lee Rembert. John Barnwell and Courtney Manning are alternate members. Assistant Professor and Director of Drug Information Services Cathy Ficzere is the students’ coach.
Ficzere said, “There were so many questions in several rounds that our students could answer. I was amazed. Many times the students associated a specific faculty member with the topic.”
School of Pharmacy Dean Phil Johnston said, “We are in some tough company in the finals, but we have been competing with well established schools in all the previous rounds and obviously scoring very well. What is so impressive to me is that we have students competing who have not completed all of their electives nor their final clinical rotations, yet are showing they have great critical thinking skills, work well as a team, and can apply their knowledge. We are absolutely thrilled with the success of the team, the faculty coaches and supporters, and happy that this reflects well on Belmont.”
All team members and alternates received certificates for their achievement from ACCP staff.
Orange Thread Media Featured in National Magazine
Orange Thread Media, a Nashville-based company owned and founded by Belmont alumnus Luke McElroy, was awarded one of the “Best of the Best” products from Worship Leader magazine for their product, The Playback Drive.
“The Best of the Best” is a directory of everything from the best music resources to the ultimate software, visual and presentation technology, worship training, musical instruments, apps, sound and recording equipment, books and devotionals to the leading products in lighting, screen and projectors and more.
This mention in the industry recognized directory will be the first for Orange Thread.
“Being included in this list is a true honor. It’s fun when you do work you love in a way that gets recognized by the industry as a powerful asset for customers,” McElroy said.
Occupational Therapy Students Assist Older Drivers
Dozens of doctoral and master’s degree-seeking students from the School of Occupational Therapy recently participated in a CarFit Technician Training and CarFit Event to offer older adults the opportunity to check how well their personal vehicles fit them.
The events are part of a national program coordinated between the American Occupational Therapy Association, the American Automobile Association and the American Association of Retired Persons.
“I found my experience with the CarFit Training program very educational for my professional career as well as in my personal life. We learned appropriate measurements in which individuals should be placed in vehicles to ensure optimal safety,” said occupational therapy student Mandy Alford, who adjusted her car seat and mirrors after CarFit training. “The training taught us how to recognize when individuals are having difficulty completing necessary tasks to ensure that they are safe operating a vehicle. This learning experience strongly relates to our occupational therapy courses, in particular Technology and Interventions.”
Using a 12-point check list, students reviewed seat positions and adjusted mirrors, headrests, seat belts and steering wheels to prevent whiplash and make driving more comfortable for senior citizens. They used a set protocol and handouts from a national resource bank and will send data collected to CarFit to help with further research on older drivers.
“As we get older, our body changes significantly so we need to change our behavior so our cars fit us,” said Associate Professor Ruth Ford. “People drive in unsafe condition because they forgot how to change seats back after technicians moved them while servicing cars. New cars have so many new features that people many not know how to tilt their seats.”
Accounting Team Named Semi-Finalist in National Competition
Belmont’s Accounting Case Competition Team was judged as one of 10 semi-finalists out of 215 in the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) Case Competition. Composed of all undergraduate students in Belmont’s College of Business Administration, team members Romina Ponce (captain), Sarah Olinde, Shoheb Punjani and Christina Read will now compete in a video submission semi-final round (deadline Nov. 7) with public voting starting Nov. 14. The top three teams will compete live in Washington, D.C. in mid-December. To get more information about the voting round and view the semi-finalist page, click here.
