Dr. James Wells (English) was the Shakespeare textual expert on an April 15 panel as part of the “Inside Out of the Lunch Box” series featuring the Nashville Ballet’s interpretation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, sponsored by Vanderbilt University and the Tennessee Performing Arts Center.
Athletics Hosts Business Etiquette Dinner for Graduating Seniors
On April 15, Belmont University’s Department of Athletics hosted a Business Etiquette Dinner for its senior student-athletes and students from the University student body as a career development opportunity conducted by the department’s CHAMPS/Life Skills program.
Approximately 40 students participated in the event conducted by Angela Chapman, career counselor at Vanderbilt University Law School. Chapman instructed the students in proper business and dinner etiquette and expected protocol when entering today’s job market. She also discussed appropriate interviewing techniques that would assist them after graduation in their job search. In addition, a number of local business professionals participated in the event, relaying their real-life experiences to the students.
“I am pleased with the success of our first Business Etiquette Dinner,” said Sarah Cowart, Belmont’s CHAMPS/Life Skills Coordinator. “I believe every person in attendance, both the students and our professionals, learned something during the event that they can take forward into the business world.”
“This dinner was very helpful for me as I enter the job market after graduation next month,” said Sara Bentley, a senior on Belmont’s softball team. “You never know what the deciding factor will be for an employer in a hiring situation, and the advice Ms. Chapman gave us will hopefully give us an advantage over other job applicants.”
The dinner was the result of a NCAA Educational Affairs Pilot Grant directed for student-athlete development that the department received in March. Belmont is one of 30 NCAA institutions and the only Atlantic Sun Conference member that received this grant. The CHAMPS/Life Skills program supports the student-athlete development initiatives of NCAA member institutions and enhances the quality of the student-athlete experience within the context of higher education.
Pharmacy Students Serve Ronald McDonald House
Belmont University School of Pharmacy Class of 2013 recently made two visits to the Ronald McDonald House in Nashville. Approximately 20 student volunteers went on two occasions to prepare lunch for the Ronald McDonald House. RMH provides living arrangements and adequate food to families that have children receiving medical treatments far from home and strives to provide a home-away-from-home comfort for these families. The student pharmacists at BUSOP were delighted to learn more about RMH and the residing families through conversations over spaghetti and meatballs or by playing with the children in the playroom, all while helping to serve the families and make their stay in Nashville more enjoyable. BUSOP Class of 2013 hopes to make these volunteer lunches for RMH a monthly project that continues to grow as a way of service and outreach to the Nashville community.
Wind Ensemble Members Perform at Conference
Several members of the Belmont University Wind Ensemble were selected to perform as members of the Tennessee Music Educator’s Association Conference All-Collegiate Band on April 15 as part of the annual TNMEA conference. The students rehearsed throughout the day on Wed., April 14 and performed a feature concert during the opening general session at the Nashville Convention Center. Students worked with guest conductor, Andrew Boysen, Director of Bands at the University of New Hampshire. Membership was comprised of students from colleges and universities throughout Tennessee. Participating students were Eric Taylor-saxophone; Matt Rhea-saxophone; Jonathan Murrah-trumpet; Scott Hearn-trombone; Wes Crenshaw-trombone; Cassie Swiney-percussion; Tim Reitnouer-tuba; Callie Compton-bassoon; Mary Harl-clarinet; Allison Berwald-flute and Tara Kloostra-horn.
Van Hatten-Granath Featured in Huffington Post
Teresa Van Hatten-Granath, associate professor of art, was recently featured as one of the “Ten Anti-Plastic Heroes” by the Huffington Post for her work as the Green Bag Lady. Click here to read the article.
Belmont Greek Organizations Raise $9,000 During Greek Week
Belmont’s Greek organizations raised more than $9,000 during Greek Week from April 5-11. Greek Week included several fundraising opportunities benefitting the Make-a-Wish Foundation, including a bake sale, a Cold Stone Creamery sale and the annual Greek Sing. The eight organizations partnered with Residence Life for the “Change a Life” change drive. The drive continued until the culmination of Greek week on April 11 at Belmont’s annual Greek Sing production.
The Greeks gave $6,000 to sponsor a local child, Hunter Bernhardt (above), through the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Hunter, age 5, has been battling Burkitt’s Lymphoma for a year. Because of Belmont’s efforts, Hunter will attend the grand opening of the Harry Potter theme park at Universal Studios in Orlando, Fla. Hunter learned that his wish came true on April 21, at his Harry Potter-themed wish reveal party on Belmont’s campus. Students dressed up as Harry Potter characters to surprise Hunter. Click here to view WKRN News 2’s coverage of this story.
The remaining $3,000 will be donated to The Oasis Center, a Nashville organization dedicated to helping young people overcome challenges in their lives. Last year, Greek Week raised more than $4,000. Due to an overwhelming response from Greek chapters, Belmont Residence Life and the Nashville community, this year’s $6,000 goal was reached early in the week.
Greek Week started off with a blast from the past on April 5 as members from all of the fraternities and sororities on campus competed in a ’90s Nickelodeon-themed trivia game. Players were challenged to remember the beloved characters from their childhoods. The fun continued the next night with the glow in the dark games. The Nickelodeon theme continued on April 8 with Nick at Nite-themed games on the South Lawn. On April 9, the Greeks held a faulty appreciation breakfast and their annual Greek Olympics, which were modeled after the Nickelodeon show “Guts.” Challenges include a tug-of-war, egg toss and pyramid-building. Greek Week closed on April 11 with the Greek Sing, and all proceeds went to the Make-a-Wish Foundation.
Dr. Liotta-Kleinfeld to be Inducted into AOTA Roster of Fellows
Dr. Lorry Liotta-Kleinfeld will be inducted into the American Occupational Therapy Association’s Roster of Fellows at the 2010 AOTA conference in Orlando, Fla., on May 1. The Roster of Fellows recognizes occupational therapist members of the AOTA, who with their knowledge and expertise, have made a significant contribution to the continuing education and professional development of members of the association. Dr. Kleinfeld’s award is in recognition for advancing occupational therapy education.
This prestigious honor has been awarded to less than 1 percent of practicing occupational therapists since its inception in the 1960s.
Norton Receives AT&T Advertising Solutions Scholarship in Public Relations
Belmont University junior Sarah Elizabeth Norton was named in a ceremony yesterday as the fourth recipient of the AT&T Advertising Solutions Scholarship in Public Relations (formerly known as the AT&T Real Yellow Pages Scholarship in Public Relations). AT&T Advertising Solutions is supporting Belmont University’s public relations program with a five-year scholarship commitment, with the inaugural award given in 2007. The $2,500 prize is presented annually each spring to the public relations major who demonstrates academic excellence, campus service and professionalism. Applicants must also write an essay that effectively responds to the question, “What role should public relations play in corporate social responsibility?”
AT&T Vice President Kenny Blackburn said, “We are very proud of our long-time association with Belmont University and our sponsorship of this prestigious award. Congratulations to Sarah and her family for her outstanding performance and contributions to the university and the community.”
Norton said, “I have tried to learn as much as a I can as a public relations student through my classes and internships and I’m so glad that AT&T recognized me for that. Their support of our program has been great.”
Hailing from Jacksonville, Fla., Norton is majoring in public relations with a minor in journalism while also participating in the Honors program. She has an anticipated graduation date of May 2011. An active leader on campus, Norton has served as president for two years of the Belmont chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA). She has also been a member of the university’s Bruin Recruiters and the Beaman Leadership Team as well as served as an Intramural Student Coordinator and Chief Student Justice. In addition, she has held internships on and off campus in the areas of editorial writing, marketing and event management. She has previously received the Altschul Champions for PRSSA Outstanding Internship Award, Belmont’s Hale Second Year Leadership Award and the PRSSA Presidential Service Award.
Thom Storey, the chair of Belmont’s media studies department, wrote in his recommendation, “Sarah is an excellent student and role model, particularly for Public Relations majors and minors. She is a servant leader and a problem solver. I feel she could pick just about any career path and succeed.”
Marty and Betty Dickens Host Event for International Students
Belmont University Board of Trustees Chair Marty Dickens and his wife Betty (pictured at right with Fulbright student Marcus Mueller from Dresden, Germany) hosted the International Student Association to their home last Friday night for a cookout. The couple is “sponsoring “ two students at Belmont from Moldova and have a high interest in international students and helping them to feel welcome at Belmont and in Nashville. Twenty students attended Friday night’s event.
Director International Student Services Kathy Skinner said, “Marty and Betty Dickens truly understand that welcoming international students into Belmont and our community enriches American and international students and helps begin a dialog of friendship and understanding of each other.”
Cusic Helps Unveil “Silver Screen Cowboy” Postage Stamps
Don Cusic, Professor of Music Business, was recently at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City for the unveiling of the new postage stamps honoring silver screen cowboys Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, Tom Mix and William Hart. Cusic served as a consultant during the development of the stamps. Cusic’s biography of Gene Autry has just been released in paperback.
