On Nov. 7, Belmont computer science students Heather Ellis, Ross Buffington, Will Proffitt, Rachelle Holloman, John Leonardini and Andrew Turner attended the Big LAMP Camp at The Factory in Franklin, Tennessee. Together with hundreds of LAMP (Linux, Apache, My SQL and Perl, PHP or Python) developers, they gathered to learn about the inner workings of the LAMP software suite from bleeding edge technologists and business innovators. The Camp offered direct access to the coders who use, troubleshoot and evangelize the LAMP software suite, providing an excellent recruiting opportunity for firms that require exceptional talent. In addition, the credibility and authority of the Camp speakers provided a high-powered, training opportunity for development teams and our students.
Belmont PRSSA Receives National Awards
The Belmont Chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) received two national chapter awards and two national student awards at the recent 2009 PRSSA National Conference in San Diego. Belmont’s chapter was one of six chapters nationally to receive a Star Chapter Award. The new award recognizes chapter performance in 10 categories including ethics advocacy.
The chapter also received a national Ethics Advocacy Award. The chapter tied for third place, bringing home its third award in four years in this category. Sarah Norton, president of the Belmont Chapter of PRSSA, received the Altschul Champions for PRSSA Outstanding Internship Award, which includes a $300 scholarship. The award recognizes extraordinary success in a public relations internship. MacKenzie Fischer, a May 2009 public relations graduate, received a PRSSA Presidential Citation for her leadership in Tower Creative Consultants, the Belmont student-run public relations firm.
The ethics advocacy award received by the chapter includes $500 to the chapter and $100 to the faculty advisor, Bonnie Riechert. Representing Belmont at the conference were chapter officers Norton and Bethany Nelson, as well as Riechert and Susan Barnes, faculty members. One of 284 chapters nationally, the Belmont Chapter of PRSSA was chartered in 2005 and has received previous national awards for Ethics Advocacy, Chapter Development and Outstanding Relationship with its sponsoring professional chapter.
Littlejohn in China, Speaks on the Wisdom of Daoism
On Nov. 5, the First International Summit on Laozi and Daoist Culture was held in Beijing, attracting 600 professionals, scholars, Daoists and followers of Daoism. One of the keynote speakers was Dr. Ronnie Littlejohn, chair of the department of philosophy and director of Asian studies, whose recently published book is titled Daoism: An Introduction. “My own belief is that Daoism’s contribution to the world will lie in what it can offer to an understanding of religious experiences and the human encounter with the numinal,” Littlejohn said in his paper, “How Daoism Can Be for the World.”
The two-day summit, with the theme of “Daoism, Science, Harmony, Health,” was sponsored by the China Research Association of Laozi Daoism Culture (CRALDC). Fulfilling the guideline of “creating a harmonious society together,” participants explored the strategic meaning of what Daoism’s innovation means to the world. They also reflected on the prospects of the Daoist culture in the 21st century.
Ward Attends Conference, Makes Presentation
Barbara Ward, assistant professor in the department of mathematics and computer science, recently attended the 21st Annual Conference of the Eastern Regional Competency-Based Education Consortium (ERCBEC) in Myrtle Beach. Ward received full funding from the American Statistical Association to participate in the workshop “Improving the Value of a First Course in Statistics.” She also gave a presentation titled “Teaching a First Course in Statistics for Science Majors.”
Oglesby-Pitts Presents at the Greater Nashville Alliance of Black School Educators
Dr. Myron Oglesby-Pitts, assistant professor of education, recently presented at the Greater Nashville Alliance of Black School Educators (GNABSE) on “The ‘I’ Factor: Transferring Resilience to Organizational Leadership.” The “I” factors were identified in successful leaders who knew and understood that resilience in families could be replicated in their schools. Steven B. McCrary, President-Elect of the GNABSE, wrote the following about the presentation in a thank you letter to Dr. Oglesby-Pitt: “I want to thank you for participating in GNABSE’s Educational Forum. Your participation was a display of your support of our organization, your commitment to the community and to the children of Middle Tennessee. Your workshop for administrators went far beyond our themes, ‘Educating our Children to Become Tomorrow’s Leaders’ and has challenged us to meet the challenges of our youth head on.” Along with Dr. Oglesby-Pitts’ presentation, Dr. Jesse Register, director of Metropolitan Nashville Schools, also spoke.
Osborn Featured in a Local Art Show
Dr. Ginger Osborn, assistant professor of philosophy, has five works of art on display in a show in the “Art Gallery” meeting room of The University Club at 2402 Garland Avenue off 25th Avenue. The show runs from Nov. 12-Dec. 30; all of the works are in oil. The show also features the work of Osborn’s sister, Rebecca Marshall, as well as Gayle Levee, Gary English, and other notables. The name of the show is “Eclectic, too” in honor of the diverse styles and subjects the artists chose to exhibit. There is no admission charge. The best time to see the works is daily between 2-5 p.m., but visitors are encouraged to call ahead to be sure the room is not in use: 615-322-8564.
Watkins Participates in VSA Arts of Tennessee Awards Ceremony
Dr. Cynthia Watkins, associate professor of education, recently took part in the VSA Arts of Tennessee awards ceremony at Dollywood. The VSA Arts is an international non-profit organization founded in 1974 by Jean Kennedy Smith to create opportunities for people with disabilities to learn through, participate in and enjoy the arts. The Tennessee affiliate holds a statewide competition for any vocalist or musician under the age of 25 with any form of disability to compete. The top five contestants are invited to perform several pieces, live, on stage at Dollywood. Watkins is a member of the VSA Arts Tennessee board and assisted with the participants and the presentation of awards at Dollywood.
Acree Serves as National Science Foundation Mathematics Reviewer
Dr. Glenn Acree, professor in the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, recently served as chair of a panel charged with reviewing grant proposals for the National Science Foundation. The NSF review panels met Nov. 4-6 in Arlington, Virginia. The grant applications were for the Scholarships for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics program which seeks to increase the quality and number of undergraduates with majors in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
This fall the Belmont University School of Sciences is benefiting from its own S-STEM grant through which five entering freshman are receiving $10,000 scholarships. These scholarships are renewable for up to four years. Five additional Pathways Scholars will be added each year for the next 3 years, so that a total of 20 students in the sciences will be supported by the grant. Belmont has committed to sustaining this grant beyond the NSF funding period.
Belmont Student-Athletes Rank High on NCAA Report
Bruins Once Again Set the Pace in Graduation Success Rate Report
Belmont University student-athletes received high marks in the 2009 Graduation Success Rate (GSR) Report released Wednesday by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). By any means of comparison – to other Atlantic Sun member institutions, the NCAA national average or to the general Belmont student population – Bruin student-athletes stand tall.
The two-pronged report contained both Federal graduation rates, which are based solely on freshman scholarship student-athletes enrolling between 1999 and 2002, and a Graduation Success Rate (GSR) that takes into account transfers in and out of the institution for the same time period. Both surveys are based on the student-athletes having six years to graduate from the time of their initial enrollment.
Five Belmont programs – baseball, men’s basketball, men’s tennis, women’s golf and women’s tennis – not only ranked among the nation’s best but paced the Atlantic Sun Conference in GSR within their respective sports. Four had perfect scores of 100 for the reported cohort. Click here for more on this story.
Ethics Bowl Team to Compete in National Championship
Belmont’s Ethics Bowl team finished in the top tier of the Mid-Central Regional Competition last weekend and will represent Belmont at the Ethics Bowl National Championship in Cincinnati next March. In addition to the Belmont team, teams from Indiana University, The University of Kentucky and Wright State University will represent the Mid-Central Region in the national competition. The Belmont team finished the competition ahead of eleven other teams, including those from The University of Michigan, DePauw University, Butler University, Marian University, Taylor University and Univ of Southern Indiana.
The College of Business Administration’s Ethics Bowl team is coached by Jennifer Wilgus, Harold Fogelberg and Harry Hollis. The student team members, pictured left to right, include Stas Ghiletchi, Sammi Parks, Lindsey Ricker, Susan Harbison, Kathleen Bond, Nick Calderwood, Eric Deems.
