Belmont University recognized recording artist and longtime Bruins supporter Vince Gill today with an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree during the 10 a.m. spring commencement celebration at the Curb Event Center. Click here to view the presentation, and click here to read more about Belmont’s Spring 2011 Commencement ceremonies.
Presenting the degree to Gill during the graduation ceremony, Belmont President Dr. Bob Fisher said, “As a singer, songwriter and multi-faceted musician, Vince Gill has mastered his craft and yet he keeps pushing himself to greater excellence. Moreover, as a citizen and humanitarian, he dedicates himself to service and providing opportunities for others to succeed. Vince is truly a Nashville—and national—treasure. His professional experiences and personal contributions make him an ideal candidate for this doctorate degree and a perfect model for Belmont students to emulate.”
In an acceptance speech marked with both humor and emotion, Gill reflected on his own education while also encouraging his fellow graduates to focus on friendships. “I knew as a young guy that college was not in my future. I was led by my ears. I didn’t see my future—I heard my future. I learned everything I know how to do by listening. I never in my wildest dreams thought that a day like this could happen… In all honesty I was hoping that this [doctorate] would be in friendship. That’s the single reason I stand before you today—and that’s because of your head basketball coach, Rick Byrd.
“I met Rick on a golf course. I was making records at that point but couldn’t prove it because no one owned them. He was coaching basketball, but he couldn’t prove it then because no one came to the games. It’s easily been one of the best friendships I ever had… I’d like to thank Bob Fisher and all the faculty. I have never been more honored to receive anything in my life because it came strictly from a friendship.”
Gill’s contributions to Belmont University are plentiful, starting in 1990 with the Vince Gill Celebrity Basketball Game and Concert which raised funds for scholarship and program enhancement for Belmont University’s Athletics and Music Business programs. For more than 12 years, the event also provided an invaluable opportunity for students to gain experience in planning and executing a music-industry event.
Belmont Honors Vince Gill with Doctorate of Humanities
Belmont University to Join Ohio Valley Conference
Belmont University has accepted an invitation to join the Ohio Valley Conference as its 12th member institution, effective July 1, 2012, President Dr. Robert C. Fisher announced Friday. Belmont University will begin competition in the Ohio Valley Conference in the 2012-13 academic year.
“The Ohio Valley Conference is one of the most tradition-rich and respected athletic conferences in NCAA Division I,” Fisher said. “We were honored by the invitation to join such a great family of fine universities, and look forward to establishing new traditions and new friendships.”
Belmont University joins Austin Peay State University, Eastern Illinois University, Eastern Kentucky University, Jacksonville State University, Morehead State University, Murray State University, Southeast Missouri State University, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Tennessee State University, Tennessee Technological University and the University of Tennessee at Martin.
“Given Belmont University’s commitment to excellence, both in the classroom and on the playing fields, they are a wonderful fit for the Ohio Valley Conference,” said Beth DeBauche, OVC Commissioner. “I am delighted to welcome them to the Conference. They are a wonderful addition and the right fit for the OVC.”
The far-reaching academic successes of Belmont University Athletics – most notably seven Atlantic Sun Conference All-Academic trophies in nine years and 26 consecutive semesters of a departmental G.P.A. of 3.0 or higher – mirror the academic standards of the Ohio Valley Conference. The OVC boasts 196 all-time Capital One/CoSIDA Academic All-America selections, including 35 in the last four years.
“The addition of Belmont University adds great value to our already stable and healthy Conference,” said Dr. Thomas Rakes, University of Tennessee at Martin Chancellor and current Chair of the OVC Board of Presidents.
“This is an exciting day for Belmont University and our athletic program as a whole,” Belmont University Director of Athletics Mike Strickland said. “Membership in the OVC offers our student-athletes and alumni numerous opportunities and advantages, and we look forward to forging these new relationships.”
Founded in 1948 and headquartered in Brentwood, Tenn., the Ohio Valley Conference is the eighth-oldest NCAA Division I athletic conference. In 1995, the OVC implemented a first-of-its-kind “Sportsmanship Statement” – a policy promoting the principles of fair play, ethical conduct and respect for one’s opponent. The statement answered the challenge of the NCAA Presidents Commission to improve sportsmanship within collegiate athletics, and has become a model for others to follow across the nation.
On the field of competition, the OVC has distinguished itself among the nation’s best. In particular, men’s basketball has been an area of considerable strength for the OVC, one of just 10 conferences – and one of only four non-BCS conferences – to record victories in three consecutive NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championships. This past year, seven OVC institutions earned postseason play in basketball (four men, three women).
Linklater, Fiedler Named Student-Athletes of the Month
Belmont freshman track and field athlete Jilian Linklater (Lake Orion, Michigan) and senior men’s track and field athlete Matt Fiedler (LaGrange, Illinois) were named Belmont Student-Athletes of the Month for April 2011. Click here to read more on this story.
MSN Graduates Achieve Perfect Pass Rate on Nurse Certification Exam… Again
For the seventh consecutive year, the graduating class from Belmont University’s master’s program for Family Nurse Practitioners (FNP) have achieved a 100 percent first time pass rate on the advanced practice nursing examination for family nurse practitioners, administered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). Fifteen MSN graduates from Belmont completed the examination during the past year.
ANCC, the world’s largest and most prestigious nurse credentialing organization, recently announced that the overall pass rate for the FNP exam was just over 83 percent in 2010. 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.
Hachtel Receives Community Volunteerism Award
Dr. Yvette Hachtel, professor of Occupational Therapy, was recently recognized by the American Occupational Therapy Foundation as a recipient of the Patterson Award for Community Volunteerism. The award is co-sponsored by the Patterson Foundation of St. Paul, Minnesota and was presented at the annual meeting of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Dr. Hachtel was one of five award recipients who exemplify the outstanding commitment of occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants to their communities. She was recognized for her work with the Odyssey Program of the Campus for Human Development in Nashville serving men who are chronically homeless.
School of Nursing Helps Celebrate Public Health Nursing in Davidson County
Recently, Belmont’s School of Nursing joined with the Metro Public Health Department (MPHD) to celebrate 100 years of public health nursing in Davidson County. Keynote speakers were Dr. Alisa Haushalter from MPHD and Assistant Professor Loretta Bond from Belmont. Dr. Haushalter spoke about the history of community health nursing in Davidson County, and Professor Bond spoke about the history of the term “health disparities,” which is the focus of her doctoral research.
Belmont’s Community Health Nursing students presented posters of their projects involving historical inquiry into a wide range of public health topics from rabies to infant mortality to seat belts. The projects were supervised by Dr. Ruby Dunlap and Ms. Emily Morse. Click here for more information about the centennial for public health nursing in Davidson County.
Marketing Class Wins Loden Vision Center’s ‘Battle of the Boulevard’
This spring Dr. Robert Lambert’s Strategic Marketing Management class at Belmont accepted the invitation to compete against Lipscomb University in a marketing plan contest for Loden Vision Center. In “The Apprentice”-style match up, both schools conducted a market analysis of LodenVision Centers and developed a marketing plan to increase the volume of iLasik procedures performed at their Nashville and Goodlettsville offices.
Upon review of submitted materials, the Loden Vision Centers’ senior management named Belmont’s team the contest winner and made a $5,000 donation to Belmont’s marketing department (Lipscomb received a $2,500 donation for second place). Dr. Lambert, professor of marketing at Belmont, said, “We enjoy working with local businesses, like Loden Vision Center, to help our students apply learning through real-world projects. The class put together an impressive deliverable and gained valuable experience through the process.”
RCA Studio B Receives ‘Commissioner’s Award’
RCA Studio B was given the “Commissioner’s Award” by the Metro Historical Commission in a ceremony at the downtown Nashville Public Library on May 11. Mike and Linda Curb accepted the award from Commission member and Belmont CEMB faculty member Don Cusic on behalf of the Mike Curb Foundation, the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business at Belmont University. Pictured, left to right, are Don Cusic, Mayor Karl Dean, Mike and Linda Curb and Tim Walker, executive director of the Metro Historical Commission.
MAA/ACM Student Chapters Sponsor Game Day
Thirty-two people attended the recent Game Day, sponsored by the Belmont student chapters of the Mathematical Association of America and Association for Computing Machinery (MAA/ACM). All enjoyed card games, video games, board games, pizza, snacks, desserts and good company.
Bill Lee, Eugenia Winwood Elected to Belmont Board of Trustees
Bill Lee and Eugenia Winwood have been elected to Belmont University’s Board of Trustees.
Belmont President Dr. Bob Fisher said, “The addition of Eugenia Winwood and Bill Lee to the Belmont Board of Trustees generates an even stronger and vibrant force for creating excellence at Belmont University.”
Lee earned his Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from Auburn University. He became president of Lee Company in 1992 and currently serves as CEO. He has also served on the boards of the Tennessee Institute for Public Policy, president of Tennesseans for Economic Growth, past president of the Associated Builders and Contractors, the Executive Committee of YMCA of Middle Tennessee, Downtown Rotary Club of Nashville, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Men of Valor Prison Ministry, Operation Andrew, Hope Clinic for Women, Bridges Academy and many other community organizations. In addition, Lee has served as the Chairman of the Board of Grace Center Church in Franklin. Lee is founder and chairman of the Firm Foundation of Middle Tennessee and was named Father of the Year in 2007 by The American Diabetes Association.
Winwood earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in management from Belmont. Along with her husband, international recording artist Steve Winwood, she has supported Belmont through an endowed scholarship. She currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the Friends of Radnor Lake. In addition, Winwood has worked with the Berklee School of Music in Valencia, Spain, Room in the Inn, St. Patrick’s Shelter, Baptist Children’s Hospital and Salama Ministries in Nashville. She serves as company director for FS, Ltd. and Wincraft Music. She is a member of the Episcopal Church.
