Sophomore Scott O’Brien (Brookings, S.D.) delivered the highlight of the spring golf season Tuesday, earning individual medalist honors as Belmont University men’s golf placed fifth at the MSU Spring Invitational. O’Brien entered Tuesday’s final round three strokes off the pace after carding rounds of 69 and 71 Monday. But the 6,858 yard Par 72 Greystone Golf Course layout was a much sterner test Tuesday with winds gusting to 25 miles per hour. As the overnight leaders fell back, O’Brien remained sharp and steady. His final round of one under par 71 proved good enough for first place at 211 (-5).
O’Brien Scores Medal at MSU Spring Invitational
Students Join First Res Life Alternative Spring Break Trip
Over Spring Break six students participated in the first annual Residence Life-sponsored Alternative Spring Break trip. Instead of basking in the warm Florida sun or going snow skiing in Colorado, they traveled to Statesville, N.C. to help Habitat for Humanity build a three bedroom, two bath home for a deserving family. The new homeowner will move in with her daughter and use the home to provide foster care. Among the Belmont students on the trip were Annalise Emerick, Britney Monroe, Brittany Hodges, Lindsay Barnes, Nicole Pearce and Wes Burkhart, who all spent the week swinging hammers, installing drywall, attaching exterior siding and adding a wooden deck.
Hare, Peeples to Play in Music City All-Star Classic
Belmont Basketball senior Justin Hare (Cleveland, Tenn.) and junior Will Peeples (Little Rock, Ark.) have been selected to play in the inaugural Music City All-Star Classic hosted by Tennessee State University. The game is scheduled to be played Sat., April 19 at 5 p.m. Central in TSU’s Gentry Center. Belmont University head athletic trainer Paul Malloy will also be participating.
The Music City All-Star Classic will feature the top college basketball seniors in the state of Tennessee, welcoming players from Belmont, the University of Tennessee, Memphis, Vanderbilt, Austin Peay, Tennessee State, Lipscomb, Tennessee-Martin, Trevecca and Cumberland. Festivities will kick-off with a three-point contest and a slam-dunk contest, followed by the game. Events are scheduled to begin at 5 p.m., doors open at 4 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance and discounted with a student I.D. Contact Tennessee State Athletics for more information.
Sophomore Matt Lee to Perform for Pope
Sophomore Matt Lee, a music business major and student worker in the Office of Alumni, will be performing with his band Full Armor next week for Pope Benedict XVI in New York City. Full Armor was chosen from more than 150 bands that auditioned for the slot and will perform three songs in front of an anticipated crowd of 20,000 at the Pope’s Youth Rally on April 19. Other performers that day include Kelly Clarkson and Third Day. Lee, who plays the violin, said the band formed two years ago to play for a weekly teen mass at a Catholic church in a suburb of New York, and Full Armor’s second album is scheduled to be completed by the end of April.
Click here to read more on the story from a local newspaper. Click here to visit the band’s Web site.
‘Best of the Best’ Concert Honors Mulloy Legacy
Last Saturday, the Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business presented its annual Best of the Best Showcase, which included a special celebration of the life and legacy of former faculty member and alumnus Bob Mulloy. Known for his passion for students and his dedication to Belmont University, Mulloy was the vision and drive behind Belmont’s renowned music business program.
The evening included a moving video tribute, a song dedication from notable Belmont alumnus Gordon Kennedy and the presentation of a $25,000 check to fund an endowed scholarship in Mulloy’s honor. Students pursuing careers in the music business and entertainment industries will be eligible to receive assistance to pursue their goals, and those selected will hold the distinguished title of “Mulloy Scholar.” In addition, Belmont President Dr. Bob Fisher announced the establishment of the Robert E. Mulloy Award of Excellence, an annual award to be given to an individual who has achieved a level of excellence in the music business and entertainment industries with notable service to Belmont University and the Nashville community. Both awards will have inaugural presentations in 2009.
As always, Best of the Best also highlighted some of Belmont’s remarkable student talent with performances from winners of past CEMB showcases and writers’ nights playing before a packed house. Showcase winners who performed included Alvin Love (Urban/Pop), Jordan Kyle (Christian), Shea Raye (Country), Lorien (Rock) and Stephanie Lambring (Cover). In addition, ASCAP Writers’ Night Winners presented their original compositions: Joshua Eric Wright, Andrew Mallanik, Troy Akers, Matt Dragstrem, Greg Bates and Nathan Klages.
For information on how to contribute to the Mulloy Endowed Scholarship, email mulloyscholarship@mail.belmont.edu.
Wofford Publishes Article in Journal of Pediatric Nursing
Dr. Linda Wofford, assistant professor in the School of Nursing, published an article titled “Systematic Review of Childhood Obesity Prevention” in the February 2008 issue of the Journal of Pediatric Nursing, the refereed official publication of the Society of Pediatric Nurses. This work is an outgrowth of Dr. Wofford’s capstone project for the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from the University of Kentucky, which she successfully defended on March 24.
Rick Byrd Signs Contract Extension
Belmont University and head men’s basketball coach Rick Byrd have agreed to a five-year contract extension, Belmont Director of Athletics Mike Strickland announced today.
Byrd, who with 541 career victories is one of 15 active Division-I men’s basketball coaches with 500 or more career victories, was named 2008 Atlantic Sun Conference Coach of the Year. This past season, the Knoxville, Tenn. native directed the Bruins to an NCAA era-best 25 wins and a memorable near-upset of three-time national champion Duke in the NCAA Tournament.
Moreover, Byrd led Belmont to its third consecutive Atlantic Sun Championship – becoming the first program in league history in earn three straight bids to the NCAA Tournament.
The Bruins ended the season ranked 16th in the final Mid-Major Poll of 2008 on CollegeInsider.com.
On Mar. 12, Byrd was also selected as one of 10 finalists for the Skip Prosser Man of the Year award, given annually to a Division I head coach who best represents the high standards of the coaching profession: Winning with integrity.
A 2004 NAIA Hall of Fame inductee for his service in leading the Bruin program, Byrd also received the Dr. James Naismith National Sportsmanship Award in 1994.
But of even greater satisfaction to Byrd than his sparkling coaching record is the unparalleled academic success of his student-athletes. Since Belmont joined the Atlantic Sun Conference in 2001-02, Belmont Basketball has had 67 players earn Academic All-Conference honors – far and away the league standard. Moreover, each of the program’s three leading scorers of its NCAA era – Wes Burtner, Justin Hare, and Adam Mark – earned ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America honors and were named Atlantic Sun Conference Male Student-Athlete of the Year.
“Any and every success that our basketball program has enjoyed, credit must begin with Rick Byrd,” Strickland said. “Coach Byrd stands for all that is good in college athletics; challenging, teaching, and inspiring his players. This is an exciting time of growth and achievement for our program, and we could not imagine anyone else on the sidelines for Belmont.”
Byrd is the winningest active men’s basketball coach in the Atlantic Sun Conference and the state of Tennessee.
As per university policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.
Eighth Annual Family Literacy Day to Be Held April 12 in Rose Park
Belmont University’s Eighth Annual Family Literacy Day will take place, rain or shine, on Sat., April 12 from 1-4 p.m. at Rose Park in the Edgehill community. The event, called “Read With Me,” is aimed at children from pre-K through grade 6 and their families and is designed to celebrate the joys of reading with a free afternoon of interactive story times, crafts and games. The primary focus of the event is Reading Circles, hosted by various campus groups such as the Student Government Association, the Pan-Hellenic and Intra-Fraternity Councils, and Reformed University Fellowship. Each group picks a different theme and offers a variety of books for all ages.
Tim Stewart, Coordinator of Community Service and advisor to the Belmont Volunteers for Literacy group, said, “Every year, more and more Belmont groups and students get involved. This year we’ve also experienced a significant increase in involvement by Belmont alumni, including help obtaining sponsorships and donations, as well as participation in the actual event. We are also pleased to partner with Metro Parks and Edgehill residents in sharing this event with the Nashville community. We hope it will further strengthen the common bond that we share in wanting to make Nashville a better place for our children and for all of us.”
When children visit a circle and listen to or read a book, they receive a sticker. After collecting two stickers, children can visit the games or crafts area where they can play a reading-related game or make a reading-related craft such as a book mark or book or visit the refreshment area for a treat.
Students Win Prizes in Business Plan Competition
Congratulations to Belmont students Kevin Jennings, Andy Tabar and Emily Swinson who all competed recently as finalists at the annual business plan competition at the University of Evansville. Kevin Jennings took third place, winning $2,500 for his business soundAFX, which specializes in sonic branding for businesses. He has already worked for clients such as MTV and Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Andy Tabar took second place, winning $5,000 for his business Bizooki, which offers a web-based platform to help manage virtual teams. The competition drew finalists from several universities including Purdue University, Bradley University and Indiana University. Click here to read the story from the Evansville Corier Press.
Alumnus Jay Ayres Signs with Major League Soccer Team
Former Belmont University and Nashville Metro soccer standout Jay Ayres has signed to play for the San Jose Earthquakes of Major League Soccer, the top professional league in the United States. Ayres, a central defender, was a two-time Atlantic Sun Conference Defensive Player of the Year, a two-time Atlantic Sun Conference First Team selection and an All-South Region player. The Valrico, Fla. native was a four year starter and a two year captain at Belmont. Moreover, Ayres, who graduated this past December with a degree in accounting, was a three-time Academic All-Conference honoree.
“We are all very proud of Jay, and his success is an example of the quality coming out of Belmont Soccer and the Atlantic Sun,” Belmont head men’s soccer coach Earle Davidson said. “MLS is the soccer equivalent in the United States of the NFL or the NBA. To have one of our players graduate and go directly into the top level of soccer in our country is a tremendous accomplishment.”
Ayres signed a developmental contract and was in uniform Thursday evening as San Jose opened its MLS regular season against David Beckham and the Los Angeles Galaxy. The Major League Soccer Season runs from April through the end of November.
