IMPORTANT NOTE: These are the archived stories for Belmont News & Achievements prior to June 26, 2023. To see current stories, click here.

Home Blog Page 75

Senior Lucy Walsh Completes Communications Internship with Nashville Mayor’s Office

Emma dela Pena
-
0
Senior Lucy Walsh Completes Communications Internship with Nashville Mayor’s Office

Belmont public relations senior Lucy Walsh is currently completing a unique internship as the communications intern in the Office of Mayor John Cooper of Nashville, Tennessee. In the mayor’s office, she has been given an opportunity to become more familiar with the city of Nashville and the resources available to the neighbors that need them. 

With significant events in Nashville taking place this past year, Walsh has had the opportunity to assist in uniting the city. This semester she worked on the COVID-19 flag memorial project when Davidson County announced 500 deaths in January and helped with the tornado anniversary walk that commemorates the tornado that devastated much of Nashville on March 3, 2020. Throughout the course of her internship, she has also gained skills and experience in reading social media analytics and writing press documents. 

Currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in the public relations department with a minor in publishing, Walsh has been involved in a number of different organizations on campus that have helped her land her current internship. PRSSA, Belmont’s student-run PR firm Tower Creative and her senior PR capstone project all have been influential in her academic and professional career. She also is holding another virtual internship with the public relations department at Belmont where she runs the PR at Belmont blog and all social media channels. 

“The PR department has been so instrumental in my success, and I have felt so unbelievably valued by them since my first visit on campus as a high school student in 2016,” Walsh said. She shared that her experience in the Belmont East program, a study program in New York City, during the Spring 2020 semester presented her with opportunities and mentors that “have really inspired me to think about the type of life I want, the people I want to surround myself with and the work I want to do.”

Walsh shared that her internship with the Mayor’s office has allowed her to embrace Nashville as a long-term home as opposed to a campus community. Walsh is set to graduate this spring and is then moving onto Vanderbilt’s Master of Marketing program in the Owen School of Management.

BOLD Students Participate in Virtual Programs throughout Semester, Continue Leadership Development

Haley Charlton
-
0
BOLD Students Participate in Virtual Programs throughout Semester, Continue Leadership Development

Throughout a year unlike any other, student leaders in the Belmont Office of Leadership Development (BOLD) have continued to work on their co-curricular leadership certification virtually.

While it may seem unique and at times difficult to navigate a leadership certificate online, BOLD experiences are still vital and continue to provide students with ample information, support and guidance needed to be better-equipped leaders.

Every Monday in March, a new “Leadership Lately” session is posted for students to learn about topics such as how to be a likeable leader, the importance of ethics in leadership and inclusive leadership. Additionally, dozens of students were able to complete an interactive overview of socially responsible leadership called “Social Change & Me.”

Students are actively sharing their transformational leadership stories by posting “Tower Talks” in Bruin Link. These inspiring talks allow students to share and gather insight into other individual’s leadership journeys and will be offered through the end of the Spring semester.

Throughout the leadership development process, students are able to engage with their close circles or communicate virtually with others navigating this different way of learning. Junior and BOLD participate Peter Geoly said, “I think there is nothing that compares to being in the room with other awesome leaders, learning with them and from them. Both the Tower Talks and Social Change & Me do a great job of forming leaders on this campus and highlighting their achievements in the hope that other people will want to follow.”

Student leaders will close out the semester with the Belmont Leadership Awards where students from across campus will be recognized for their leadership contributions on and off campus. 

In-person interaction and experiential learning have always been key elements to the BOLD curriculum. However, the challenge of engaging virtually is still worth it and just as influential and transformative as in-person experiences.

BOLD continues to offer The BEAT – Belmont Ethics and Accountability Training – online until April 5. This is a self-paced online interactive training program for all student leaders to sharpen their leadership skills and qualities that will help them ultimately engage and transform the world.

Leadership development programs continue to be offered across campus, and BOLD continues to work to offer experiences and activities that are beneficial and engaging for all students. Both graduate and undergraduate students can join BOLD or GOLD- Graduate Opportunities in Leadership Development experiences in Bruin Link. Email bold@belmont.edu with any questions.

Alumnus Selected for TikTok’s Incubator Program for Black Creatives

Leah Kuhn
-
0
Alumnus Selected for TikTok’s Incubator Program for Black Creatives

Pastor and TikToker. Two professions you might not imagine have much in common, let alone imagine someone simultaneously doing both. It is not only possible to do, but possible to do successfully. Just ask 2016 Belmont alum Kristoff Hart.

The foundation for Hart’s life and purpose is his faith as a Christian. Attending church was a big part of his upbringing, and he continued to practice his faith when he came to Belmont in the fall of 2012. When asked how he found Belmont, Hart replied with a chuckle, “I got kidnapped into going to Belmont.” He continued to explain that he came to Nashville with his father while he was attending a conference at the Opryland hotel. One morning, they went out for a drive and much to the surprise of Kristoff, they arrived at Belmont for a tour. Although the involuntary excursion was initially frustrating, Hart couldn’t deny the incredible experience he had when he set foot on campus. “I fell in love with the school that day!”

He recalled his first weeks at Belmont, sitting in the lobby of Maddox Hall discussing faith with some fellow residents who identified as atheist and agnostic. Hart found himself unable to answer questions he had never been asked before and was inspired by them to dig deeper to find these answers for himself. Throughout his first year, he deconstructed his faith, which he realized was built from borrowed elements of his parents, and began to reconstruct a faith of his own. 

There were two major figures that Hart attributed to greatly supporting him and his faith journey in his time at Belmont: the men’s basketball team and Dr. Sybril Brown. Volunteering as a manager for the men’s basketball team, Hart considered the team to be his family. Spending extended periods of time together, he expressed gratitude for having people to lean on when things got tough, as well as having people to celebrate life’s (and basketballs) victories with. Hart met Dr. Brown when he first toured Belmont as a prospective student, also upon the arrangement of his father. He enjoyed talking with her and wound up enrolling in one of her classes. One class turned into a few, which became an enduring friendship and mentorship. “She would encourage me, or give me real talk,” Hart recalled. Her honesty coupled with her genuine support helped Hart to find his path in both his career and his life. 

After graduating from Belmont in 2016 with a degree in music business, Hart worked in marketing and social media for the music industry. While working for various companies in the creative realm, Hart continually asked, “How do we create things that are excellent?” Much of his creative inspiration can be drawn back to the book of Genesis. “The first way that God is characterized in the Bible is as a creator,” he shared.

When he transitioned into ministry, serving as a communications director, his skills in social media and content creation continued to serve him. He realized that “furthering the name of Jesus is what I was meant to do.” He continued on to be a creative director and then an online pastor. At the height of the pandemic, he found himself re-defining the platforms in which he could share his faith. While continuing to preach regularly, he began pursuing the development of Christ-centered social media content, namely Instagram and TikTok. Despite feeling a bit unsure if this was a conflict of interest, preaching and developing a social media presence for himself, he continued creating content. He felt that God called him to do it.

One day, while scrolling through TikTok, Hart came across the Incubator Program for Black Creatives. Normally, this would have initiated a spiral of self-doubt, but he submitted the brief application without hesitation and remained fully authentic to his content. Hart is one of only 100 individuals accepted to the program among more than 5,000 applicants. The program is aimed at enabling Black creatives to continue creating content at a high level while continuing to develop as creatives. It connects them with large-scale brands and provides the resources to advance their talents into a career.

Hart is thrilled to be in the program to continue advancing his skills but says he’s not looking to stop preaching anytime soon. “God has been so kind to me and he’s not finished yet! I’m excited for what’s to come.” 

Belmont Pharmacy Student Receives United States Public Health Service Excellence in Public Health Pharmacy Award

Emma dela Pena
-
0
Belmont Pharmacy Student Receives United States Public Health Service Excellence in Public Health Pharmacy Award

Riguin Zengotita Borges, a fourth-year student in Belmont’s College of Pharmacy, was recognized by the Office of the United States Surgeon General for his significant contributions to advancing the goals of Healthy People 2030. To be considered for the award, students are evaluated on their contributions towards voluntary health-related services, an emerging public health issue or contributions to the National Prevention Strategy. 

Over the past four years, his dedication to maintaining health in medically underserved communities here in Nashville has been tremendous. Borges has worked with populations that are vulnerable — the homeless, the HIV infected and the elderly. Early on in the pandemic, he seized opportunities to be on the front line testing patients for COVID-19 at a center for underserved and indigent patients. 

After vaccination efforts began in December, Borges again found a way to be involved, this time with elderly nursing home patients in Nashville and the surrounding areas, some of them rural, including LakeShore of Heartland (Nashville), Standing Stone Care + Rehab (Monterey), Pavilion THS (Lebanon) and Cedar Hills Assisted Living (Cookville).

In addition to receiving the USPHS Excellence in Public Health Pharmacy Award, Borges has been recognized previously for his hard work. In 2019, he was awarded the Walgreens Multilingual Scholarship for his work with the Spanish-speaking community in Nashville. 

College of Pharmacy Professor Dr. Angela Hagan said, “He is a great example of a student leader dedicated to making a difference in the lives of those around them.” As an underrepresented minority in pharmacy education, Borges serves as a role model and mentor to not only the diverse students in the College of Pharmacy but also to the patients that he interacts with. 

Borges has been chosen to complete a residency at Holyoke Health Center Pharmacy, which is a federally qualified, non-profit community health center (FQHC), in Holyoke, MA. He will continue to improve the health of patients through his role in providing comprehensive community-based programs to those in need. 

As a bilingual pharmacist, he will work with a patient population that is primarily Spanish-speaking. Borges radiates with passion for helping those around him. When asked to elaborate on his calling, he has said, “I didn’t get into this profession to watch from the outside.”  Borges models collaboration and inclusion by exhibiting respect and empathy for others, and he has clearly had a significant impact through his efforts in public health.

Belmont Pharmacy Students Receive Prestigious Air Force Scholarship

Emma dela Pena
-
0
Belmont Pharmacy Students Receive Prestigious Air Force Scholarship

Every year, hundreds of pharmacy students apply for the Air Force Health Profession Scholarship, but only four awards are granted nationally. Belmont junior pharmacy students Austin Bailey and Xrystina Bicoy were among two of the four nationally selected students to be awarded this competitive scholarship.

The scholarship includes two years of paid tuition and the commissioned officer rank of the second lieutenant throughout pharmacy school. Once Bailey and Bicoy graduate, the scholarship will require them to complete three years of active duty service which follows a five-week training course post-graduation. 

“For Austin and Xrystina to both be selected for the Air Force Health Professions Scholarships sends a tremendous message about their character and the type of students we are blessed to have in our program. Our College of Pharmacy has a foundational value of service and we are grateful for their commitment to their education in serving patients and how they will serve our country in the Air Force in the near future,” said Dr. David Gregory, dean of the College of Pharmacy.

After their training program, Bailey and Bicoy will be assigned to a base depending on their duty which can range from hospital pharmacy to managing an outpatient clinic. The scholarship is highly competitive and will provide the select few students with opportunities to further their experience.

Belmont Professor Shares Expertise in CreditDonkey Article

Emma dela Pena
-
0
Belmont Professor Shares Expertise in CreditDonkey Article

Belmont Professor of Entrepreneurship Dr. Mark Schenkel was recently featured on the personal finance website CreditDonkey for his expertise in opening a business account. A professor in Belmont’s College of Business, Schenkel also serves on the boards of local ventures in Nashville. 

In his feature in CreditDonkey, Schenkel specifically shares what a small business should be looking for in regards to a business bank account. He emphasized that businesses should be asking themselves why they need the account and paying attention to the fees that come with opening a bank account. 

Schenkel is well accomplished with previous experience at The Habegger Corporation, David E. Estes Engineering, Inc., The Hennegan Company and Wright Brothers Inc. This is also not the first time his work has been published, as his works can be found in the Academy of Management Review, British Journal of Management, New England Journal of Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurship & Regional Development and Management Research News.

Nursing, Pharmacy Students and Faculty Staff Nashville’s Mass Vaccination Event

Haley Charlton
-
0
Nursing, Pharmacy Students and Faculty Staff Nashville’s Mass Vaccination Event

More than 100 Belmont School of Nursing faculty and students and approximately 50 College of Pharmacy students and faculty staffed what Nashville Mayor John Cooper called a “watershed moment” for the city as it hosted a mass vaccination event on March 20 at Nissan Stadium.

Joining forces with city health officials and volunteers, Belmont representatives aided in 10,000 people receiving their Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccination by the end of the event.

College of Health Sciences and Nursing Dean Cathy Taylor said, “This was an extraordinary opportunity to serve and learn alongside our public health colleagues and community volunteers. Our students demonstrated skill and caring typically expected of more seasoned professionals, and I couldn’t be more proud or inspired by their work.”

Nursing Instructor Martha Ezell recognized that Belmont students made great contributions to the event including putting patients at ease, taking time to offer assurance and careful explanations and even signing for a deaf patient. Beginning in the cold and dark at 5 a.m. and staying long past the last scheduled appointment when it was once again cold and dark, students and faculty stayed the course to see that every patient was served.

Mackenzie Race, P3 pharmacy student working toward her PharmD, said the day was a humbling and emotional experience. “After seeing our community lose so much over the past year, Saturday felt like a real step to making progress towards healing our city. Witnessing so many healthcare professionals come together and work as a team for the benefit of our community was astounding and something I will never forget,” she said. “I am so thankful that I got to serve the residents of Nashville alongside my colleagues at Belmont. I’d like to thank Dean Gregory for extending pharmacy students the opportunity to serve Nashville; it was an experience I will treasure for the rest of my life and carry forward with me in my professional career.”

Caroline Worley, P4 pharmacy student and Pharm.D. candidate, also enjoyed working alongside other healthcare professionals from different fields, knowing they all had a common goal- keeping patients healthy and helping each other through this pandemic. She said, “I learned how passionate the city of Nashville is about our own health and the health of those around us, even those we don’t know. Nashville is truly an amazing place to live with inspiring people in it.”

Dr. Lucyellen Dahlgren, assistant professor of nursing, commented on the students’ ability to interact with a diverse general public and emotions ranging from fear and trepidation to excitement and joy. With gratitude, she noted Belmont’s ability to participate in this historic event during the crisis of a pandemic, stating it was “a great learning event, time to share tasks as a team, and just an overall positive feeling of goodness.”

Varallo Public Relations also took several photos of Belmont students and faculty staffing the event, featured below.

Madison Thorn Photography provided several shots that illustrate the hard work put in by Belmont students and faculty, seen below.

Belmont Alumni Music Duo Tigirlily Signs with Monument Records

Emma dela Pena
-
0
Belmont Alumni Music Duo Tigirlily Signs with Monument Records

The Belmont alumni musical duo Tigirlily recently signed with Monument Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment. The duo, composed of sisters Krista and Kendra Slaubaugh originally from North Dakota, announced the news through a radio announcement a few weeks ago and have since been featured in Music Row magazine. 

Their February release “Somebody Does” moved to the top of the iTunes Country Songs Charts and the iTunes All Genre Charts which was a huge success for the two as they have been booking shows since they moved to Nashville in 2017. Both members of Tigirlily are alumni of the music business program and competed in Belmont University’s Country Music Showcase of 2019. 

Belmont Student Hunt Admitted to Oxford University

Emma dela Pena
-
0
Belmont Student Hunt Admitted to Oxford University

The Faculty of Oriental Studies of Oxford University recently announced the admission of Belmont student Emily Hunt into its Master of Philosophy in Tibetan and Himalayan Studies. Hunt is currently working towards completing a double major from Belmont in philosophy and English with a concentration in writing. She is set to graduate in the spring of 2021. 

Hunt was also offered admission to Trinity College, Dublin; Goldsmiths, University of London and The Courtauld Institute of Art, one of the world’s leading centers for research into art history, conservation and curating. She attended Oxford during the Michaelmas semester of 2019, the first academic term of universities in the United Kingdom, where she took Modern Literature and Aesthetics, working at Oxford’s Ashmolean Museum.

In preparation for her application to Oxford’s program in Tibetan studies, Hunt applied and was selected for the University International and Intensive Program on Buddhist Studies convened by McMaster University in Ontario, Canada in the summer of 2020. The supervisor, tutor, for her course of study will be Lama Jabb, Leverhulme Fellow in Tibetan Literature and faculty of Oriental Studies at Wolfson College, Oxford.

Belmont University Joins Campuses Nationwide in Effort to be ‘Voter Friendly,’ Receives Official ‘Voter Friendly Campus’ Designation

Haley Charlton
-
0
Belmont University Joins Campuses Nationwide in Effort to be ‘Voter Friendly,’ Receives Official ‘Voter Friendly Campus’ Designation

Belmont University has been designated as a “Voter Friendly Campus.” The initiative, led by national nonpartisan organizations, Campus Vote Project and NASPA – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education, held participating institutions accountable for planning and implementing practices that encourage their students to register and vote in 2020 elections and in the coming years. Belmont is part of a select group of campuses from around the country that participated and received the designation.

Belmont’s efforts, despite great challenges presented by Covid-19, to break down barriers and empower students with the information and tools they need to participate in the political process lead to historic youth voter turnout and opened the door to lifelong civic engagement.

In order to embed higher rates of voter registration, education, advocacy and turnout, Belmont’s Voter Friendly Campus Steering Committee tapped into the interest and momentum provided by the final United States Presidential Debate, hosted at Belmont in October 2020, to lay the groundwork for a voter engagement plan not only for the 2020 election cycle, but for the campus in the academic year of 2020-2021 and beyond. Through putting together this plan, the team identified various groups, programs and individuals working on voter engagement across student, staff, faculty and senior leadership groups.

The committee highlighted five major events and initiatives: Rock the Vote at Belmont University: Nashville Colleges Celebrate Democracy, a voter registration drive at The Store –  a non-profit serving the Nashville community opened by Belmont alumnus Brad Paisley and his wife Kimberly Williams Paisley, – a “Bruins Vote” campaign website though Belmont’s Athletics program, partnerships and events with Belmont Greek organizations and the Black Student Association, as well as voter registration promotion at every event associated with Belmont hosting the Presidential Debate.

Tim Stewart, director of Service Learning at Belmont, said, “This is not the culmination of our efforts, however. Think of it as a commencement! We’ve got a lot of work ahead to continue making Belmont a leader in engaging our students in the community and the democratic process, and to continue being worthy of the Voter Friendly Campus designation.”

The mission of the Voter Friendly Campus designation is to bolster efforts that help students overcome barriers to participating in the political process. Belmont was evaluated based on a campus plan about how the school would register, educate and turnout student voters in 2020, how the team facilitated voter engagement efforts on campus, and a final analysis of efforts- all in the face of the upheaval caused by a global pandemic. The designation is valid through December 2022.  

Belmont has made a strong statement about the civic mission of higher education to prepare students to be engaged participants in our democracy and is excited to continue engaging students through 2021, 2022 and beyond. 

About

NASPA is the leading association for the advancement, health, and sustainability of the student affairs profession. Our work provides high-quality professional development, advocacy, and research for 15,000 members in all 50 states, 25 countries, and 8 U.S. territories. 
Fair Elections Center is a national, nonpartisan voting rights and legal support organization that works to eliminate barriers to voting and improve election administration across the United States. Fair Elections Center’s Campus Vote Project works with universities, community colleges, faculty, students and election officials to reduce barriers to student voting and helps campuses institutionalize reforms that empower students with the information they need to register and vote.

1...747576...887Page 75 of 887
Belmont University Logo | News & Media

CONTACT US

University Marketing and Communications
615-460-6650
communication@belmont.edu

FOLLOW US

Secret Link