As part of Belmont University’s Homecoming week festivities, alternative pop artist and 2003 alumnus Andy Davis came home to Belmont as the host of the ASCAP Writers’ Night on Fri., Feb. 27 in the Curb Café. Students and faculty in the audience heard his well-known hit “Brown Eyes” and title track on his latest album “Let the Woman” along with performances by student writers Kara Reynolds, Josh Johnson and 2008 ASCAP Foundation Scholarship recipient Clare Dunn. Johnson, winner of the evening, joins the lineup for the annual Best of the Best Showcase on April 25 at 7 p.m. in the Curb Event Center. He will perform alongside winners from the CEMB Showcase series as well as fellow writers Chase Foster, Brooke Annibale, Stephanie Lambring, Matt Wright and the winner of the final Writers’ Night of the year (March 24, 6 p.m., Curb Cafe).
Davis Performs at Homecoming Writers’ Night
Alumna Receives Medal for Exceptional Service
Alumna Ashley Richardson (’04) was awarded the medal for Exceptional Civilian Service by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates in January. Richardson served in various positions in the Bush administration, with the most recent being country director in the western hemisphere group in the Pentagon. In this capacity Richardson was a policy advisor to the secretary and dealt directly with U.S. embassies and foreign officials on various treaties and international security issues, as well as coordinated humanitarian aid.
Students in Free Enterprise Publish Book
Belmont University Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) recently self-published a children’s book, Freddie’s Organic Farm, to teach elementary-age students about the sustainable practice of organic farming. The book features real-life organic farmer Freddie Haddox of Williamson County, whose family inherited 112 acres near Columbia Pike during reconstruction in the 1860s. The land was always farmed organically, but Freddie continues that tradition as the first in his family to become certified as an organic farmer.
Freddie’s Organic Farm was written by Jen Hermansen and illustrated by Clare Cannon, both Belmont students. Hermansen and Cannon joined “Farmer Freddie” at Percy Priest Elementary School on Fri., Feb. 27 for the first book reading. Click here to read The Tennessean‘s coverage of this event.
This book is the first in a series, with two more books anticipated on the topics of recycling and conservation. Upcoming editions will be translated into Spanish, and additional readings are planned for other area schools. The book will be presented at the SIFE National Competition in the organization’s environmental sustainability category.
Lunsford Receives Whipple Grant
Dr. Lauren Lunsford, assistant professor of education, received the Gertrude Whipple Grant from the International Reading Association (IRA). The grant will fund books for area youth through the Sevier Park Community Center in the Belmont/Hillsboro neighborhood. Belmont’s education students and faculty work with children at Sevier Park by teaching literacy strategies.
Paoliello Named A-Sun Player of the Week
Junior tennis player Joao Paoliello helped the Belmont Bruins to a win last week with victories in both doubles and singles play. On Wednesday, the junior earned the first Player of the Week honor of his career. It’s the first time since 2004 that a Belmont tennis player has been chosen for the weekly award. Click here for more on this story.
Men’s Basketball Players Featured in Local Media
Senior men’s basketball player Andy Wicke was the subject of a major feature in Nashville’s City Paper on Thursday, the day of Belmont’s first game in the Atlantic Sun tournament. Click here to read the story.
Also, senior point guard Alex Renfroe (Hermitage, Tenn.) was the subject of a feature story on NewsChannel 5’s “Sunday Sports Central” program Mar. 1. Click here for the link to the story.
Students Attend Conservative Political Action Conference
Several Belmont students recently attended the largest gathering of conservatives and libertarians in the country, the Conservative Political Action Conference, which took place Feb. 25-March 1 at the Omni-Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C. Politicians, authors, media moguls, policy leaders and nonprofit groups came to speak and host workshops over the course of the three-day conference. Students attending included Michele Waddell, George Scoville, Travis Harvey, Eric Deems, Athena Phillips, Lindsey Pearson and Rachel Baily.
Pharmacy, Nursing Faculty Attend Health Forum
Drs. Phil Johnston and Eric Hobson (Pharmacy) and Drs. Ruby Dunlap and Sharon Dowdy (Nursing) attended the Middle Tennessee Global Health Forum Feb. 27, sponsored by the Vanderbilt School of Medicine’s Institute for Global Health. This inaugural meeting brought together more than 100 health care providers (faith-based, NGO and other entities) from around the world to share strategies for meeting health care needs in underserved communities. The dialog and networking will result in greater opportunities for Belmont to serve others through its many medical mission activities.
Renfroe Named A-Sun Player of the Year
Belmont University men’s basketball senior Alex Renfroe (Hermitage, Tenn.) has been named 2009 Atlantic Sun Conference Player of the Year, the league announced Tuesday. Picking up right where he left off after his dazzling display in the 2008 NCAA Tournament against three-time National Champion Duke, Renfroe showcased consistency and a vast all-around game in leading the Bruins this season.
The 6-2 point guard finished the regular season ranked in the Top 10 in the Atlantic Sun in a whopping eight categories. Renfroe was first in assists (4.86), fourth in field goal percentage (.563), fourth in steals (2.24), fifth in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.32), seventh in scoring (16.3), seventh in defensive rebounds (4.59), ninth in rebounding (6.7) and 10th in offensive rebounds (2.14). Click here for more on this story.
Wiseman Among Bruins Honored at Dinner of Champions
Former Belmont University women’s basketball head coach and current Senior Woman Administrator Betty Wiseman was among five Belmont Bruins recognized at the 11th Annual O’Charley’s Dinner of Champions Monday night. Wiseman, whose efforts were instrumental in the beginning of women’s college basketball in the southeast, received the Fred Russell Lifetime Achievement Award. A member of the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame and honored by the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, Wiseman was a four-time Coach of the Year and won 248 games in 16 seasons. She has been a Belmont institution since 1961.
Belmont men’s basketball head coach Rick Byrd and former Bruin great Justin Hare were nominated for the Ed Temple Amateur Athletics Award. Byrd and Hare spearheaded Belmont’s drive to a third consecutive Atlantic Sun Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance in 2008. Former Bruin cross country standout Kipkosgei Magut was also nominated for the Community Spirit Award, in large part to his leadership in the ‘Girls on the Run’ after-school running program.
Belmont freshman softball pitcher Devon Schmidt was one of five finalists for the High School Female Athlete of the Year award. Schmidt, who led Goodpasture High School to a fifth consecutive state title, has made an immediate impact on the mound for the Bruins.Lastly, Belmont men’s basketball’s performance against Duke in the 2008 NCAA Tournament was listed No. 3 among the Top 10 Sports Moments of 2008. The event was hosted by the Nashville Sports Council and held at the Renaissance Hotel.
