As a result of her outstanding scholastic achievement and her involvement with the Beta Gamma Sigma (BGS) Business Honor Society, Belmont Senior Entrepreneurship major Kassi Konz was chosen to represent the University’s BGS chapter at the Student Leadership Forum held Nov. 1-3 in Tampa, Florida. Konz is a resident of Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
While attending the forum, Konz will be working with BGS student members from Colleges and Universities across the country for a chance to improve her leadership skills. The Student Leadership Forum will be challenging the chosen participants to examine their leadership styles through team-building exercises, social activities, and networking. Beta Gamma Sigma is a business honor society which serves programs accredited by the AACSB International (The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business).
Entrepreneurship Senior Attends Leadership Forum in Tampa
Belmont Partners with Local Church to Give Free Flu Shots in Edgehill
Belmont University and Kayne Avenue Missionary Baptist Church announced today that they are partnering together to provide a free family flu shot clinic at the Easley Community Center in Rose Park (1000 Edgehill Avenue) on Sat., Nov. 3, from 10 a.m.-noon.
In anticipation of flu season, Belmont recently offered shots to all students, faculty and staff for $16 each. More than 200 additional vaccinations are being offered for free to the university’s neighbors in the Edgehill community, and student nurses from the Gordon E. Inman College of Health Sciences and Nursing will administer the shots. In addition, approximately 40-60 doses will be offered free of charge to residents of I.W. Gernert Homes, which serves seniors and individuals with disabilities.
“Belmont students, faculty and staff are already involved in a number of projects in the Edgehill community,” said Dr. Jason Rogers, the university’s vice president for administration and university counsel. “But we are always looking for opportunities to further our service-learning initiatives and to be the best neighbors we can be. Hopefully, this event will go a long way toward keeping our community healthy this winter.”
Vincent K. Campbell, senior pastor of Kayne Avenue Missionary Baptist, noted that the church’s youth (Next Generation Now) and community outreach (Helping Hands) ministries will be hosting a family festival at the Easley Center that morning to help attract parents and children to the event. In addition to games and music, the church will be providing food, candy and prizes.
Massey Graduate Students Visit South Africa
As part of the Massey School’s International Business Field Study course, 18 graduate students along with the College of Business Administration’s Dr. Jeff Overby and Belmont Instructional Technology Coordinator Claudia Myrick departed Oct. 27 for Cape Town, South Africa.
As business becomes increasingly global in nature, The Jack C. Massey Graduate School now appears to have been ahead of its time when, back in 2000, it began requiring all of its students to take an international study trip at some point during their degree programs. The School views this practice as a way of expanding students’ views of culture and the interdependency that exists between companies and countries around the world. Only a handful of other graduate business programs, such as Georgetown and Southern California, hold their graduate business students to a similar requirement.
The group’s itinerary for the week in South Africa includes visits with various businesses and lectures from a number of speakers in order to learn more about doing business in South Africa. In addition, this trip includes a special focus on social entrepreneurship, allowing students to see real-life examples of how individuals have used their entrepreneurial skills to solve social problems and empower the poor. Throughout the process, the program seeks to provide students a better understanding of the interrelationships between poverty, AIDS and economic development. To read updates on the group’s blog, click here.
Proposed Massey trips for the next year include Valencia, Spain (March 1-8), China (May 15-24), Know Europe–Belgium, Holland, France and Spain (June-July 2008), Brazil (Aug. 9-16) and Prague (Nov. 1-8, 2008).
Josh Turner Inducted into Grand Ole Opry
Multi-platinum MCA recording artist and Belmont alumnus Josh Turner, pictured at right with his wife, Jennifer, and Dr. Fisher, was inducted into the world-famous Grand Ole Opry Saturday evening by Opry superstar Vince Gill.
After Turner performed current radio hit “Firecracker” and his breakthrough debut single “Long Black Train,” Gill made Opry membership official. During the induction, which aired live on Great American Country (GAC), Turner was presented the Opry Member Award, a 14-inch bronze and oak wood replica of the Opry’s vintage microphone stand. Opry Vice President and General Manger Pete Fisher said, “We’re so happy to formally welcome Josh into our family tonight and look forward to years of great Opry performances and career accomplishments to come.” To view Turner’s induction and performance, visit Opry Live.
Just prior to the telecast, GAC aired a new documentary titled “Josh Turner – My Road To The Opry.” The one-hour special included segments filmed on Belmont’s campus with Josh and his wife Jennifer, also an alumna, recounting how they met as well as how Josh was first inspired to write “Long Black Train” after a session in Bunch library listening to a Hank Williams box set. The program is scheduled to air again on Tues., Oct. 30 at 4 p.m. Central. For additional broadcast dates, click here.
Turner burst onto the national scene in 2003 with his debut album Long Black Train, selling more than a million copies. His follow up disc, Your Man, has sold more than double that amount establishing Turner as one of the fastest-rising stars in country music today. The singer’s latest album, Everything Is Fine, hits stores Oct. 30. For more information, visit www.joshturner.com.
For more on this story, read The Tennessean‘s weekend interview with Josh Turner here.
Entrepreneurship Program Chosen as Award Finalist
Belmont University has been chosen as a finalist for the National Model Undergraduate Program by the United States Association of Small Business and Entrepreneurship (USASBE). USASBE is the main academic association for entrepreneurship education, with more than 800 members around the US.
Past winners of the undergraduate award include such nationally recognized programs as Babson College, Syracuse University, University of Iowa, the University of Arizona, Miami University (Ohio), University of St. Thomas, University of Nebraska, Baylor University, Ball State University and University of Illinois–Chicago.
Generally, there are two finalists chosen each year with the programs competing head to head at the USASBE annual meeting, which will be held in San Antonio in January. The Center for Entrepreneurship will be putting together its final nomination package during the next two weeks. For more on this story, click here.
Oglesby-Pitts Honored by Local Church
Dr. Myron Oglesby-Pitts, assistant professor from Belmont’s Department of Education, was honored at the Patterson Memorial United Methodist Church ‘An Evening with the Stars.’ She was vetted for her outstanding contributions in education. Dr. Oglesby-Pitts joined the faculty at Belmont in 2005 and teaches classes in Diverse Learners, Educational Psychology and Foundations of Education. Prior to joining Belmont, Dr. Oglesby-Pitts served as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Vanderbilt University in the Department of Leadership, Organization and Policy, and for more than 25 years, Dr. Oglesby-Pitts served as an educator with the Metropolitan Nashville Davidson County Public Schools System.
Alexander Speaks at TriStar Health Summit
Dr. Joe Alexander, associate dean of The Jack C. Massey Graduate School of Business, was a featured speaker at the TriStar Health Systems Summit for Chief Executive Officers and Chief Nursing Officers, held Oct. 24-26 in Adairsville, Georgia. Alexander’s presentation was focused on lessons learned by an organization that has successfully pursued the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. Other featured speakers at the Summit were Massey MBA Alumnus Charles Hagood, president and CEO of Healthcare Performance Partners, LLC (Nashville); Dr. David Munch, Chief Clinical and Quality Officer for Exempla Healthcare (Denver); and Bradford S. Koles, Jr., Executive Director for the Advisory Board Company (Washington, D.C.).
Williams Speaks at Economic Summit
Dr. Susan Williams, professor of management in The Jack C. Massey Graduate School of Business, was a featured speaker at the Tennessee Economic Summit for Women, held Oct. 22-23 in Nashville. She addressed the group on gender issues and negotiation around salary, presenting research on the effects of poor negotiation on women’s economic futures. The conference was attended by more than 500 Tennessee women from government, education and business sectors. Pat Schroeder, former US Senator, and Marie Wilson, Director of the White House Project, were keynote speakers.
Dr. Bonnie Riechert Inducted into PRSA College of Fellows
At the 2007 Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) International conference held this past weekend in Philadelphia, Dr. Bonnie Riechert, assistant professor in the Communications Studies Department, was one of only nine individuals inducted into the prestigious College of Fellows, a lifetime achievement award given to only two percent of PRSA members.
“The award of the designation as a Fellow by PRSA is one of our profession’s most distinguished honors,” said PRSA Chair & CEO Rhoda Weiss. “As a mentor and a role model, Fellows contribute immensely to the growth of our profession and the respect accorded to it.”
Riechert said, “It was humbling and gratifying to be recognized by my colleagues in public relations for contributions to the profession and to public relations education. Induction to the PRSA College of Fellows represents a commitment to continue to advocate for the practice of strategic and ethical public relations, serving the public interest and building on the contributions of the pioneers, leaders and mentors to whom we owe so much.”
PRSSA Chapter Wins Three National Awards at Convention
At the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) conference held this past weekend in Philadelphia, Belmont’s chapter won three national awards, taking home top honors in two categories and third place in another. Of the 285 chapters at colleges and universities nationwide, Belmont was selected for the Chapter Development Award and the Outstanding PRSA/PRSSA Chapter Relationship Award, winning a total of $1,100 in addition to an engraved bell and the presentation of two plaques.
Dr. Bonnie Riechert, assistant professor in the Communications Studies Department, serves as the group’s faculty adviser. Riechert, who was also admitted to PRSA College of Fellows (to see story, click here), said, “The national awards our student chapter received recognize the effective student leadership and overall program excellence. Our chapter is noted for its championship of ethics, its support and involvement from area professionals and its unique sense of community, extending to chapter members even beyond graduation.”
Pam Parry, associate professor and director of the public relations program, founded Belmont’s PRSSA chapter, which received its charter in July 2005. Parry said, “To have an objective panel of judges deem your PRSSA chapter as the best in the country is an amazing compliment. To have it happen twice in one year is almost surreal. I could not be more proud of Dr. Bonnie Riechert and her work with our PRSSA Chapter. She and the students have surpassed my exceedingly high expectations, moving the bar even higher.”
