Dr. Susan Williams, professor of management, was recently a featured speaker at the Nashville 2009 Healthtrust University Conference. Other keynoters at this year’s national conference included Professor Uwe E. Reinhardt from Princeton University, Dale Smith Thomas of Winners by Choice, Inc., and Vicki Smith-Daniels from Arizona State University’s Carey School of Business. Event entertainers included Belmont’s own Josh Turner, as well as Little Big Town. Professor Williams’ topic was “Let’s Make a Deal: How to Hone Your Negotiation Skills.”
Alumna Guest Performs on ‘America’s Got Talent’
Alumna Melissa Schott (’98) appeared on the Sept. 16 airing of “America’s Got Talent” as part of the cast of Cirque du Soleil’s newest show, Banana Shpeel. Schott is a singer/dancer in the 20-member cast which includes Broadway veterans Annaleigh Ashford (Wicked, Legally Blonde: The Musical) and Michael Longoria (Jersey Boys). In late 2008, Schott performed as a member of the national company of Irving Berlin’s White Christmas. Schott was selected as a part of the ensemble and the understudy for the role of Judy Haynes for that production. Banana Shpeel opens in Chicago in November and then heads to New York’s Beacon Theatre in early 2010.
Thorndike Presents on Tolkien at Retreat
Dr. Jonathan Thorndike (Honors Program) presented “J. R. R. Tolkien: Heeding the Inner Vision Regardless of Cultural Change” at the Christian Editors and Publishers Annual Retreat last week. He discussed the development of the major works including The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion, which were written while Tolkien was a professor of Anglo-Saxon at Merton College of Oxford University in England. Tolkien was hopelessly out of step with modernity and pursued his creative vision with no awareness of market considerations. The fact that his books became bestsellers and enduring classics has enormous implications for editors and publishers who pay too much attention to current literary and cultural fashions. Thorndike teaches a course on C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien and the Inklings every other year at King’s College in London through the Cooperative Center for Study Abroad.
Alumna Trisha Yearwood to Host ‘Christmas at Belmont’
Schermerhorn performance will be nationally broadcast on PBS December 23
Belmont University announced today that three-time Grammy Award winner and Belmont alumna Trisha Yearwood will serve as host for the 2009 “Christmas at Belmont” performance at Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony Center. The program will air nationally on PBS on December 23 (check local listings).
“Christmas at Belmont,” a production of Nashville Public Television (NPT) with funding from the Beaman Family Foundation, features a collage of familiar carols, classical masterworks, world music and light-hearted seasonal favorites. More than 400 student performers will join Yearwood and the Nashville Children’s Choir to present the annual holiday production. Previous hosts of “Christmas at Belmont” include alumni Melinda Doolittle and Josh Turner as well as recording legend Brenda Lee.
Belmont President Bob Fisher said, “It was a great joy to welcome Trisha back ‘home’ for our special edition of the ‘Grand Ole Opry’ in honor of the 2008 Town Hall Presidential Debate. Her vocal talents leave every audience wanting more, and we are thrilled to partner with this amazing artist and friend for our annual ‘Christmas at Belmont’ production.”
A 1987 Belmont graduate, Yearwood possesses three Country Music Association honors and 19 top 10 singles in addition to her three Grammys. Her career-defining hits include such memorable songs as “She’s in Love With the Boy,” “Walkaway Joe,” “Perfect Love” and “How Do I Live.” Yearwood released her tenth studio album, Heaven, Heartache, and the Power of Love, in November 2007. Last year the multi-talented artist co-authored a New York Times-bestselling cookbook with her mother Gwen and sister Beth, Georgia Cooking in an Oklahoma Kitchen. A second cookbook is anticipated to hit stores in Spring 2010.
Yearwood noted, “I loved my Belmont experience, and I’m honored to be a part of this year’s Christmas at Belmont!”
Tony Campolo Kicks Off EMERGE
Acclaimed author/speaker Dr. Tony Campolo kicked off EMERGE this week, an annual week-long experience meant to inspire and encourage the Belmont community in corporate and individual faith journeys. This fall EMERGE is focusing on the topic of “Jesus, The Original Radical.”
Campolo, professor emeritus at Eastern University, is the founder of the Evangelical Association for the Promotion of Education, an organization that develops schools and social programs in various third world countries and in cities across North America. He is the author of 35 books, his latest three being Letters to a Young Evangelical, The God of Intimacy and Action and Red Letter Christians, A Citizen’s Guide to Faith and Politics.
On Monday, Campolo discussed three areas of faith that he believes are greatly impacting the current college generation’s approach to religion: ritual, mysticism and the concept of salvation. “Ritual enhances loyalty and creates solidarity… As ritual has declined, so has commitment faded. When you lose the ritual, you forget what should never be forgotten.”
Advocating for students to consider a mission year and to ponder whether their legacy will be titles or testimonies, Campolo closed the morning session noting that “Jesus calls us to a lifestyle of loving and sacrificing for others… We can make a difference from the bottom up.”
On Tuesday and Wednesday, Nekeisha Alexis-Baker will be offering her thoughts on the theme of “Jesus The Original Radical” as well. A native of Trinidad with a degree in Africana Studies form NYU and a master’s in theology from Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Alexis-Baker’s work includes creation care, racism and the intersection of politics and Christian faith. Click here for more information.
Curb College Launches Professional-in-Residence Series with Wynonna
On Sept. 10, Belmont University’s Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business launched its inaugural Professional-in-Residence series with Wynonna Judd presenting on the topic: “Journey of the Creative Business Mind.” Designed to enrich the university environment by exposing students to industry professionals who will help ensure that the Belmont learning experience remains dynamic, the Professional-in-Residence Program provides a small group of senior level students the opportunity to engage Wynonna in an intimate, conversational setting. Along with Judd, her manager Kerry Hansen and long-time producer and musician Don Potter will contribute to an ongoing Q&A discussion panel series.
Of her participation in the Professional in Residence program, Wynonna said, “I am looking forward to the opportunity to share my testimony with the next generation in hopes that my story will encourage them to follow their dreams.”
The three-part series will explore topics related to Wynonna’s personal journey in the entertainment industry as both an artist and a businesswoman. Student Megan Lopez said, “I think she gave a very eye-opening and inspiring advice on being an artist… It changed my whole view on how to approach my music career.”
Byrd to Take Part in Tip-Off Breakfast Fundraiser
Belmont University men’s basketball head coach Rick Byrd will take part in the 2009 Coaches vs. Cancer Tip-Off Breakfast Thursday, Oct. 8 at Wildhorse Saloon. Byrd, along with Vanderbilt head coach Kevin Stallings, Tennessee State head coach John Cooper, and Lipscomb head coach Scott Sanderson, will preview the upcoming season in a casual, open forum discussion of college basketball. Click here for more information.
Belmont’s ATO Chapter Ranks Second in the Nation
The Iota Phi Chapter of Alpha Tau Omega at Belmont University earned recognition recently as Top Chapter Runner Up. This is the first time the award has been given to the Iota Phi Chapter. Iota Phi was ranked second in the country out of 250 active chapters around the U.S.; Iota Phi also received awards in academic excellence, recruitment, charitable giving, membership education, campus involvement and chapter board of trustees.
The Iota Phi Chapter also won its ninth consecutive “True Merit Award.” Since Iota Phi’s chartering in 1999, they have been the only chapter to receive “True Merit Award” since its founding. Iota Phi earned this ranking by reaching out to not only to the Belmont Community, but also worldwide. The Iota Phi chapter hosted its second charity golf tournament benefiting Blood Water Mission an organization started by the Christian band Jars of Clay. The chapter raised over $22,000 from Belmont alumni, faculty and staff, and Nashville area businesses.
Iota Phi also hosted the first ever “Tennessee Tau” community service event. Belmont Alumni Klay Kelley ‘09 organized the event, which brought local Tennessee ATO chapters together for Community service around the Nashville Area. Kelley the organizer was named honorable mention for the prestigious “Thomas Arkle Clark Award.” The award recognizes the most outstanding ATO in the U.S. For more information on Iota Phi, click here.
Paisley Leads CMA Nominees and Will Co-Host Show
Alumnus Brad Paisley led the list of finalists this week with the announcement of nominees for the 43rd Annual CMA Awards. Paisley was nominated for Entertainer; Male Vocalist; Album for American Saturday Night, which was produced by Frank Rogers and Chris DuBois; Single and Song for “Then” (DuBois and Ashley Gorley are also nominated as songwriters); and Music Video for “Start a Band” with Keith Urban, which was directed by Jim Shea. The 43rd Annual CMA Awards will be broadcast live from the Sommet Center in Nashville, Wed., Nov. 11 on ABC. Reigning CMA Male and Female Vocalists of the Year Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood return for a second year to host “County Music’s Biggest Night.”
Bennett Speaking at Upcoming Events
Dr. Sybril Bennett, media studies, is a featured speaker for the Scarritt Bennett Path and Pen Conference, Sept. 11-12, on spiritual writing. Also, on Oct. 10, Bennett will be the Urban League Young Professionals in partnership with the National Association of Black Journalists featured speaker on “Social Media Madness: What you NEED to Know.”
