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.
SIFE Team Wins Regional Competition Third Year in a Row
Belmont University announced today that its Students in Free Enterprise Team (SIFE) recently won first place in the southeast regional SIFE competition in Atlanta. This marks the chapter’s third consecutive win. SIFE is an international organization that mobilizes university students to make a difference in their communities while developing the skills to become socially responsible business leaders. The Belmont team won its league, which comes with an invitation to nationals in May in Chicago and a $1,500 prize. In addition, Belmont was the only school in the Top 20 project competition to win for three projects and will receive $1,000 per project win.
Dr. John Gonas, assistant professor of finance and the Sam Walton Fellow responsible for coordinating the projects and preparing the students for the regional and national competition, said, “We are very grateful to have developed and maintained such deep-rooted community partnerships over the past three years. The corporate sponsors of SIFE have continuously awarded us – embracing and validating the meaningful and sustainable changes we strive to make in teaching entrepreneurship, financial literacy and life skills within the greater Nashville community. I am amazed at the transforming effect of a successful SIFE project – especially in how it can engage the community partner to gain a sense of ownership of its newly acquired knowledge while simultaneously blessing the Belmont students with opportunities to unconditionally give of their time and talent.”
Cusic Quoted in Christian Retailing Article
Dr. Don Cusic, author and professor of music business at the Mike Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business, was recently quoted in an article in Christian Retailing on “Mopping Up,” a discussion on how publishers and retailers respond to author/artist morality clause violations. Click below to download the complete article.
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Cal Turner, Howard Olds Speak on Different Kind of Leadership
A long-time supporter of Belmont University, Cal Turner Jr. and his pastor, Rev. J. Howard Olds of Brentwood Methodist, shared their insights on leadership and decision-making in a convocation session this morning in the Massey Boardroom. Turner is the chairman of the Cal Turner Family Foundation and the retired CEO/Chairman/President of Dollar General Corporation. He and Olds co-wrote the recently released book Led to Follow: Leadership Lessons from an Improbable Pastor and a Reluctant CEO.
Turner began the convo by talking about his belief in Belmont University, its mission and its students, noting that Led to Follow may be an appropriate choice for those facing graduation or worrying about their future. “This book speaks in a special way as to what may be going on in your life. We hope it will help liberate you from trying to figure out what you’re supposed to do… Life is about figuring out who you’re supposed to be.”
In a question and answer session, Olds followed up on the same theme in response to a student’s inquiry about attempting to make the “right” career decisions. “You make the best decisions you can in the moment, but as a friend once told me, you also have to remember that’s not the only time the train is going to come by the station. There will be a lot of opportunities in your life to consider.”
The convocation concluded with the performance of an original composition by sophomore Josh Wright, a Turner Scholar.
Led to Follow examines how true leadership grows out of the spiritual journey of following a higher calling. With an open, honest, and conversational style, a minister who also manages and a manager who also ministers share insights they’ve gained through failures, successes and struggles in their personal and professional journeys. From crises in the family business to existential struggles in the face of recurring cancer, the authors show that the heart and soul of leadership is found in following: following your call, following others’ input, following your failures, following change and even following the unknown.
Wicks, Bryan Offer Students Insiders’ View on Music Business
The Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business recently welcomed artists Chuck Wicks and Luke Bryan to campus as guests for The Insider’s View. Both are currently nominated for CMT Music Awards, and the two shared their experiences in the music industry with the audience.
RCA Nashville recording artist Chuck Wicks has garnered his first 2008 CMT Music Awards nomination for USA Weekend Breakthrough Video of the Year for his Top 5 hit “Stealing Cinderella,” from his debut release Starting Now. After a hugely successful run as the opening act on the final leg of Belmont alumnus Brad Paisley’s Bonfires & Amplifiers Tour earlier this year, Paisley announced that Wicks will be back on the road touring with him this summer on the Hershey’s Presents: The Paisley Party.
Luke Bryan, a new recording artist on Capitol Records, hails from Leesburg, Georgia. Bryan starts 2008 with nominations for the CMT Music Awards’ USA Weekend Breakthrough Video of the Year and for the Academy of Country Music’s Best New Male Artist. Since January, Bryan has been opening for Trace Adkins’ “American Man” tour and Dierks Bentley’s “Throttle Wide Open” tour and will be part of some of Kenny Chesney’s “Poets & Pirates” stadium dates this summer.
School of Sciences to Host Academy of Sciences Meeting
On Sat., April 12, the School of Sciences will host the Tennessee Academy of Sciences (TAS) Middle Collegiate Division Meeting from 8:30 a.m. until noon. This spring meeting of the TAS provides an opportunity to focus on undergraduate research, and 43 presentations will be given by students representing eight universities and colleges in the Middle Tennessee district. Additionally, many of the graduating seniors from Belmont’s School of Sciences will be presenting their senior research projects.
