On Thurs., Oct. 4, Belmont Athletics inducted its 2007 Hall of Fame class in an event held in the Maddox Grand Atrium of the Curb Event Center. New Hall of Fame members Al Allen (’96), Jaymie Moore Rankhorn (’98) and Daree Pilkinton Merritt (’91) along with Chaney Award honoree Patrick Russo were all on hand for the ceremony.
Assistant Athletic Director Betty Wiseman said, “This was one of the most memorable Hall of Fame Banquets that I can remember because of the special people we honored and their genuine and heartfelt gratitude expressed for the honor bestowed upon them. We were all reminded of our rich history and heritage in Belmont Athletics.”
Allen was one of the most imposing and productive interior players in Belmont men’s basketball history. Despite playing just three seasons, Allen is one of only eight players in program history to score over 2,000 career points (2,030). Belmont went an astounding 95-20 during Allen’s career, including 37-2 in 1994-95. That season, Allen was named Second Team NAIA All-American and TCAC Co-Player of the Year as Belmont earned its first-ever No. 1 national ranking and a trip to the NAIA Final Four. His career field goal percentage of .669 is the highest in Bruin history, a mark that will likely stand the test of time.
Rankhorn will go down as one of the greatest volleyball players in Belmont history. An explosive yet versatile performer, Moore Rankhorn ranks first all-time in kills (1,622), hitting percentage (.325), aces (229) and digs (1,222). Her single season marks–562 kills in 1995 and .421 hitting percentage in 1994–have not been threatened since. Behind Moore Rankhorn’s play, Belmont won the TCAC regular season and tournament titles in 1995 before transitioning into NCAA Division-I play.
Daree Pilkinton Merritt (’91) was a four-time All-TCAC selection in women’s basketball. A multi-faceted player, Pilkinton Merritt’s name floods the Belmont record book. She ranks first in career steals (404), second in career assists (574) and third in career three-point field goals (222). Pilkinton Merritt also set the single season standard for steals with 135 in 1990. Moreover, she is one of just five Bruins ever to score over 1,500 career points, ranking fifth all-time (1,645). Belmont went 105-26 over her four-year career.
Bruin supporter Patrick Russo was awarded the Carl Chaney Memorial Award, which was established in 1977 to honor those athletic boosters who give untiringly to the success of a particular athletic program and/or to the athletic program as a whole.
The Belmont University Athletic Hall of Fame was established in 1980 to recognize and honor those individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the achievements and prestige of Belmont University and its intercollegiate athletic program. To be nominated, an individual must have completed his or her athletic eligibility at least seven years prior.
Athletics Inducts 2007 Hall of Fame Class
Moser Comments on China Connections
Belmont assistant professor of music business David Moser, who is teaching in Hong Kong this semester, was quoted in a recent Tennessean story about the increasing connections between colleges and China. Belmont senior Mana Shahgoli, who went on the summer study abroad program last year, was also interviewed.
New Pharmacy Faculty to be Published
New School of Pharmacy faculty member Dr. Eric Hobson recently received word that an article he co-wrote has been accepted for publication. “Utilizing Focus Groups to Inform Pharmacy Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy,” which was written with Sally A. Huston, will appear in Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy, likely in Spring 2008. The piece was commissioned (and peer reviewed) to provide an entry point into the topic of focus group research methods for pharmacy researchers who are not often familiar with the finer points of qualitative research methods. Hobson, who started at Belmont Oct. 1, is the School of Pharmacy’s Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.
ASCAP Writers’ Night Series Features Guest Writer Kyle Jacobs
The Curb College welcomed songwriter Kyle Jacobs as the guest writer for the Oct. 2 ASCAP Writer’s Night held in the Curb Café. Performing alongside Jacobs were senior Andrew Mallanik, sophomore Hailey Steele and senior Bobby Hamrick.
Jacobs, an accomplished writer and vocalist with Curb Music Publishing, is a co-writer on Garth Brooks’ new No. 1 single, “More Than a Memory,” the highest debuting country single in history. He also shared rights on Kimberley Locke’s Top 10 hit, “8th World Wonder.” Jacobs songs have been recorded by artists Jo Dee Messina, Craig Morgan and Trace Adkins.
Alumnus Attempts Greenland Icecap Trek
As reported in August, Brice Minnigh, a 1993 Belmont Journalism grad, recently embarked with two friends on a 700-km unsupported crossing of the Greenland ice cap, the world’s second-largest after Antarctica. The trio aimed to travel approximately 20 km a day in average temperatures of -20 to -30 degrees Celsius in order to reach their destination before their food ran out.
However, according to a Sept. 23 article in the South China Morning Post, the trio fell slightly short of their target. “The Hong Kong adventurers were forced to abort their trek through the hostile environment following a catalogue of mishaps that brought them much closer to death than to their destination… After enduring 35 days of relentless blizzards, white-outs and headwinds on severe rations and narrowly escaping dangerous icefalls, their food began to run out.”
Mundy Named A-Sun Player of the Week
Belmont Volleyball junior Cat Mundy (Dallas, Texas) has been named Atlantic Sun Conference Player of the Week, the league announced Monday. The dynamic outside hitter recorded 33 kills, 15 digs, and two blocks as the Bruins defeated USC Upstate and ETSU this past weekend to remain atop the conference standings. Mundy hit. 378 and had 19 kills Friday night against the newcomer Spartans – one kill shy of her own Curb Event Center record for kills in a three-game match. This was Mundy’s first Atlantic Sun Player of the Week honor.
Students Participate in Hands On Nashville
A number of Belmont students participated Saturday in Hands On Nashville Day, a volunteer event organized annually by Hands On Nashville that pairs community volunteers with Metro Schools for improvement projects. More than 1,000 volunteers spend a morning painting, landscaping and improving 60+ public schools. This year’s Belmont team, organized by student Jeffrey Ibarra, worked at Bellevue Middle School on a number of different projects, including painting a fence.
Hands On Nashville is the recognized leader of programs, partnerships and services that maximize volunteer impact in the greater Nashville community. They offer a variety of programs and resources that empower people to make volunteering a regular part of their lives.
Turner Invited to Join Grand Ole Opry
According to a press release from his label, MCA Nashville recording artist and Belmont alumnus Josh Turner was invited to become the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry this past weekend. Turner, a 2001 graduate of the School of Music, will be formally inducted into the Opry family by Vince Gill on Sat., Oct. 27.
In an interview with The Tennessean, Opry chief Pete Fisher said, “He has just blended in so well with the cast and really represents what the Opry stands for, and that is a respect for tradition but certainly relevancy for today. Josh has built his music and his career on tradition, but he comes out and does it in a real new fresh way and with a fresh attitude.”
Turner’s Dec. 21, 2001 Opry debut is one of the most memorable in recent history. Though he hadn’t yet had a song released to country radio at the time, the singer earned a standing ovation for the song that would become his breakthrough hit, “Long Black Train,” during the performance of the song and a second standing ovation following an encore.
First Class Graduates from Scarlett Leadership Institute
After investing more than 150 hours over 14 months, the first class of the Scarlett Leadership Institute at Belmont University received their graduation certificates Friday in a ceremony held at Maggiano’s on West End.
Andy Gilbert, president of Genesco Licensed Brands and a Scarlett student, said, “The Scarlett Leadership Institute brings leadership development to a new level by applying not only current leadership training to ‘real world’ business situations but teaches the principles of moral purpose and ethical leadership which are vital to success. As a result of our participation in the program, the Scarlett Leadership Institute has created residual value for the company, the shareholders and, most of all, the individual.”
Joe Scarlett, the chairman and former CEO of Tractor Supply Co., funded and facilitated the start of the Scarlett Leadership Institute on Belmont’s campus last year. Custom built around the leadership development concerns of 35 prominent Nashville CEOs, the goal of the Institute is to take good leaders and make them better.
The Scarlett vision, which is “to build first class executive educational programs with primary focus on leadership and ethics,” focuses particular attention on effective communication and measurable behavior change. The class is structured to meet for a total of 18 days over a 14-month period, with a maximum class size of 16 students.
The Institute’s inaugural class began meeting last fall and graduated following a speech by special guest Nelson Andrews, co-founder of Leadership Nashville. Companies represented in this first graduating class include Cracker Barrel, SunTrust, Ingram Barge, Bellsouth, Bridgestone/Firestone, LP Building Products and Cat Financial, among others. Two other classes have since been started that will graduate next year with a fourth class set to begin soon.
Belmont Launches Online Parent Community
Continuing the momentum started with the Parent and Family Weekend held Sept. 28-29, the Student Affairs office recently launched an online site designed for Belmont parents. The Belmont Parents Online Community is an interactive community intended to connect parents regionally, socially and professionally. With groups for every state and most major cities, parents will have the opportunity to interact through group specific event postings, message boards and emails. Furthermore, the online community provides resources to post upcoming university events, Belmont news, athletic events and other pertinent communications. The online community will serve as the foundation for the new Belmont Parent Association to be launched June 1, 2008. For additional information or to sign-up, visit www.belmont.edu/parents or e-mail BUParent@mail.belmont.edu.
