Belmont student Monti Herring recently completed his first semester as an adult student in the University College Liberal Studies program. Only 18 months ago Herring was battling addictions to drugs and alcohol and staying at the Nashville Rescue Mission. Now, in addition to his studies, Monti works with the Rescue Mission and is actively involved at Brentwood Baptist Church. His accomplishments, a true “new beginning,” were featured recently on Nashville’s local FOX-TV affiliate. Click here to watch the story.
Magruder Published in Journal
Dr. Robert Magruder, chair of the Chemistry and Physics department, has had the following article published in the January 1, 2009 issue of The Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids: “Optical Properties of Ag Nanocrystals in Sc and O Sequentially Implanted Silica.”
Science Faculty Offer Class Sessions for Home Schoolers
Four School of Sciences faculty members–Drs. Steve Murphree, Rachel Rigsby, Steve Robinson and Bill Hooper– offered sessions for area home-schooled children last semester. The one-to-two hour sessions featured the areas of electricity, chemistry, computer programming and biology. Though these sessions have primarily been aimed at students in grades 1-6, the program hopes to expand to reach middle and high schoolers as well.
Faculty members who are interested in learning more about this area of outreach or would like to offer a session next semester, please contact Steve Murphree at murphrees@mail.belmont.edu or x6221.
Wicke Named Candidate for Lowe’s Senior Class Award
Belmont University men’s basketball senior Andy Wicke (Hendersonville, Tenn.) has been selected as a candidate for the 2008-09 Lowe’s Senior Class Award for men’s basketball. One of only seven players in all of college basketball this season with the opportunity to earn a fourth consecutive automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, Wicke has been a leader on and off the court for the Bruin program. Click here for more on this story.
Belmont Holds Winter 2008 Commencement
Belmont University held its Winter 2008 Commencement ceremony on Fri., Dec. 19 at 7:30 p.m. in the Curb Event Center. Nearly 350 undergraduate and master’s degrees were conferred.
Dr. Robert C. Fisher, president of the University, presided over the event and presented the graduates with their degrees. Bachelor of Music candidate Dwan Hill (see image bottom left) offered the Student Reflection for the ceremony. President and Mrs. Fisher hosted a reception for the graduates and their guests at the conclusion of commencement in Belmont’s Beaman Student Life Center.
Patci Scores Free Tuition with Half-Court Shot
Belmont junior Rick Patci, a music business major from Columbia, Mo., walked away from the women’s basketball game Wednesday night with a major Christmas gift: free tuition for a semester. Patci won free tuition by sinking a half-court shot during one of the game’s media timeouts.
Click here to watch a video of his $10,000+ shot.
Magut Featured in Tennessean
Belmont cross country and track and field standout Kipkosgei Magut was recently featured in The Tennessean for his volunteer work with Nashville’s Girls on the Run, an organization that teaches self-confidence and healthy living to young girls. To read the full story, click here.
Sturgis Named Finalist for Two Podcasting Awards
Amy Sturgis, an adjunct instructor for University College, is a finalist in two categories (Best Narrator and Best Fact Article Contibutor) in this year’s Sofanaut Podcasting Awards. Voting is open now at http://www.micropoll.com/akira/TakeSurvey?id=1118390 and will remain open until Jan. 23. (A complete list of Sturgis’ podcast commentaries, interviews and unabridged dramatic readings is available here.) In addition, she has just agreed to write a new book for Zossima Press tentatively titled The Gothic Imaginations of J.R.R. Tolkien, Madeleine L’Engle and J.K. Rowling for publication in Spring/Summer 2010.
Alexander Elected Chair of Baldrige Board
Joe Alexander, associate dean and senior professor of performance excellence, has been elected chair of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award (MBNQA) Foundation’s Board of Directors for 2009. Other Board members confirmed as officers for the coming year are Debbie Collard, director of program management and business excellence for Integrated Defense Systems/The Boeing Company (chair-elect) and Loren Meyer, CEO of Wheaton Franciscan Medical Group (secretary).
The Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award was the vision of President Ronald Reagan and created through an act of the U.S. Congress in 1987 as a means of enhancing the competitiveness of U.S. businesses. Award recipients are selected annually as examples of “best practice” for achieving high levels of performance excellence and typically receive their awards from the President of the United States in a special ceremony.
Alpha Chi Inducts New Members
Membership to the Alpha Chi National Honor Scholarship Society is the highest academic honor awarded by Belmont University. Its requirements are to be in the top 10 percent academically of all students and to be of junior or senior class rank. Alpha Chi members are nominated by the faculty, must have “outstanding moral character” and display leadership, integrity and service.
Alpha Chi inducted 71 new members in a ceremony on Nov. 7: Fatima Abdalla, Caroline Adams, Nathan Baldwin, Allison Berwald, Jared Bohland, Whitney Brazeal, Jennifer Brelsford, Payten Butler, Stefani Butler, Addie Campbell, Henry Carter, Andrew Chapman, Michael Chapman, Dana Clasby, Hailey Clowdus, Amy Cross, Amanda Danley, Allison Dowell, Carly Escue, Audrey Filson, William Forshee, Sarah Gaskin, Mark Gerdesmeier, Erin Gier, John Gladwin, Mary Gray, Kaitlin Guest, Jennifer Hermansen, Kristopher Hill, Laura Houser, Colleen Iuliucci, Jill Johnson, Ruchi Kapadia, Lezley Keppler, Hali Krewson, David Kumler, Natalie Lassinger, Jill Lawton, Matthew Lefavor, Kathleen McCrary, Brittany Meeks, Brittany Moe, Joseph Mosby, Catherine Mundy, Jane Nicholson, Bethany Parker, Lauren Payne, Heidi Pedersen, Kathleen Redding, Adam Richardson, Jessica Roadcap, Kimberly Scott, Mary Simpkins, Kirby Standifer, Hoyt Steel, Lindsey Stickline, Rachael Stuemke, Caleb Swartz, Michael Teutsch, Kelly Thomas, Grace Thomson, Brittany Thune, Jessica Tidwell, Amanda Tincher, Amy Valentine, David Vigil, Jessica Walker, Ashley Wannemacher, Kathleen Wells, Jackie Whitis and Justin Wood.
