Atlantic Sun Player of the Year Alysha Clark posted her league-leading 17th double-double of the season as top-seeded Belmont advanced to the A-Sun Championship semifinals with a 64-52 win over No. 8 Mercer at the Dothan Civic Center.
Belmont opened the game on an 8-0 run and looked about ready to put it into cruise control before Mercer came roaring back. The Bears scored seven straight points capped by a Megan Lewis three-pointer eight minutes into the contest. The top seed regained control with a quick 10-0 spurt highlighted by back-to-back three-pointers from Destri Bockey and Brittany Myers that left Belmont with an 11-point advantage they would continue to enjoy at halftime.
The Bruins scored the first seven points out of the locker room to double up the Bears with 17:54 left in the game. Mercer’s defense sparked a rally for the Bears as they held Belmont scoreless for over five minutes. The lead was cut to 36-30 following Sally Skeldon’s three-pointer at the 13:06 mark. The game of runs continued however as Belmont outscored Mercer 13-2, pushing the lead out to 17 points after an Alysha Clark transition basket.
Belmont advances to face the winner of No. 4 Gardner-Webb versus No. 5 Campbell.
Top-Seeded Belmont Advances to A-Sun Semifinals
Belmont Students Film Anti-Piracy PSA For the Motion Picture Association Of America
The Belmont University Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE) chapter created a 60-second public service announcement on illegal downloading and file sharing for a SIFE contest sponsored by the Motion Picture Association Of America (MPAA). The winning video’s team will receive a $3,000 prize
Dr. John Gonas, Belmont’s SIFE chapter adviser, Belmont students Mark Ahlberg, Kurt Nelson, Tyler Seymour and Seth Jones filmed the PSA with a group of six Belmont student actors and actresses. The Belmont video focuses on the idea of “file sharing” as a harmless activity while highlightng the ehtical questions involved. The SIFE team also created a Web site, FileSharingFacts.com that contains answers to frequently asked questions about file sharing compiled by Dr. David Moser, associate professor in Belmont’s Mike Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business.
The video can be seen on YouTube, Nashville’s ABC affiliate (WKRN Channel 2), CBS affiliate (NewsChannel5), NewsChannel5Plus and a variety of stations on Comcast cable. The winner of the competition will be announced at the national SIFE convention in April and will be used in the MPAA’s national and regional marketing.
Belmont Hosts Middle Tennessee Diversity Forum
Belmont University hosted the Middle Tennessee Diversity Forum Tuesday, March 6, for senior leaders of large organizations in Middle Tennessee who seek to benchmark their organizations’ internal diversity. Sponsors of the forum included Middle Tennessee Career Center, Gaylord, HCA, Coca-Cola, Deloitte Services, Goodwill Industries, BellSouth and Vanderbilt University.
Toni Riccardi delivered the keynote address at the forum. Riccardi is the CEO of RED, a consulting firm providing diversity and inclusion consulting, coaching and training. Riccardi is a retired partner from PricewaterhouseCoopers where she served as the company’s first Chief Diversity Officer.
Cambodia and Guatemala Get Critical Health Care From Belmont University Medical Teams
A BU Physical Therapy Graduate Team Works with Children in Guatemala City in March and a BU Nursing Team Cares for Indigent in Phnom Penh in May
This spring, in an effort to address the impending, international health care crisis, particularly in poor, developing countries, students and instructors from two of Belmont University’s Gordon E. Inman College of Health Sciences & Nursing have stepped up to provide critically-needed health care to remote parts of the third world where medical practices and professionals are frighteningly scarce, and scores of suffering people have almost nowhere to turn.
For the first time in Belmont history, 11 physical therapy graduate students and a clinical instructor have committed to spending their spring break (March 3 – 10, 2007) in the only hospital PT wing in all of Guatemala City (population 5 million plus); and for the third year in a row, a Belmont team of nursing students will care for the suffering people of Cambodia at Sihanouk Hospital Center of Hope in Phnom Penh (May 10-31, 2007).
Both the Belmont student nursing and graduate student PT teams will engage in teaching and training medical professionals in more advanced health care practices; and care for the indigent in those cities. At the same time, they’ll gain an extraordinary education in service, skills development and cultural immersion.
BU’s PT Grad Students Go to Guatemala City
At the Rehabilitation and Infectious Disease Hospital for Children (Hospital Infantil de Infectologia y Rehabilitacion) in Guatemala City, Guatemala, the Belmont PT graduates will work with: children with developmental delays as a result of having gone untreated for normal childhood diseases and trauma patients—accident victims or those whose illnesses have led to brain damage. They’ll also be teaching modern physical therapy to Guatemalan doctors and nurses.
“The PT team will not only use the skills they’ve gained at Belmont in service to others, but the education they’ll receive will be life changing,” Sheila Gaffney, adjunct PT professor and clinical instructor at Belmont, said. “And the fact that grad students are doing this is a rarity.”
BU’s Nursing Students Continue Giving Hope in Phnom Penh, Cambodia
On May 10 – 31, Belmont University will take its third team of nursing students to Sihanouk Hospital Center of Hope in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, to help teach and train Cambodian medical professionals in more advanced health care practices and care for the suffering people of Cambodia—among them victims of the HIV AIDS epidemic, land mines and poverty—the residual effects of mass genocide by an extremist communist regime 30 years ago. The trip is the third of its kind since 2005 and is part of an elective, international clinical course taught by assistant professor at Belmont University’s School of Nursing, Sharon Dowdy, and Belmont alumna and clinical instructor, Susan Taplin. Taplin spent two years of residency at Sihanouk Hospital as director of nursing between 2005 and 2007.
To access the Guatemala blog between March 3-10, go to: http://forum.belmont.edu/ptmission.
To access the Cambodian images and story, click here: http://www.belmont.edu/press/pdf/pitch.AL.pdf. The Cambodia trip blog can be accessed between May 10-31, URL to be determined.
Cynthia White Named Director of Belmont University’s New Office of Sponsored Programs
Cynthia (Cindy) White has been named the Director of Belmont University’s new Office of Sponsored Programs. White comes to Belmont from Washington University in St. Louis, Mo., where she has served as Director of the Research Office, leading a staff of nine, since 1998. Washington University consistently ranks in the top lists of private and public universities in research grant funding, receiving well over $500 million annually in sponsored research funds.
“Cindy White brings exceptional ability and experience to Belmont University to help us launch our initiative to support funding for academic programs, partnerships and faculty research,” Dr. Dan McAlexander, Belmont provost, said. “With the high-caliber leadership that Cindy White will provide, the Office of Sponsored Programs will enable us to enhance our strong academic programs and to support our talented faculty and students in securing funding for a range of projects and research.”
White received the 2006 National Distinguished Service Award from the National Council of University Research Administrators, and is widely recognized as a leader in all facets of research administration in higher education. Before taking her position at Washington University, White was Assistant Director of the Division of Sponsored Research at Vanderbilt University. White received a B.A. in Sociology from Louisiana College and a M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration from Vanderbilt University.
“Belmont University offers me the opportunity to work side by side with faculty and administration to build capacity for resources for the remarkable array of academic programs, faculty research, and new initiatives the university has under way,” White said.
The Office of Sponsored Programs at Belmont University will open July 1, 2007.
Going Dancing Again!
Bruins Earn Second Consecutive NCAA Berth With 94-67 Victory Over ETSU In A-Sun Championship
The Belmont men’s basketball team earned their second consecutive NCAA Tournament berth as they captured the Atlantic Sun Championship Saturday afternoon with a 94-67 victory over No.1 seed and host ETSU. It marked the second straight year No. 2 seed Belmont defeated the No.1 seed in the championship game.
The victory for the Bruins was keyed by their shooting and rebounding. For the game they shot 50 percent, 48 percent from behind the three-point arc. They also outrebounded the Bucs 53-33.
Belmont jumped out to an early double digit lead mainly due to their remarkable shooting in the first half. They shot 53 percent in the first half and a staggering 63 percent (12-19) from three point range. At halftime, the Bruins led 49-30 after Justin Hare’s running three-pointer at the buzzer.
In the second half, Belmont’s shooting cooled off, but the Bucs could not capitalize as the Bruins responded to every ETSU scoring run. The closest the Bucs came was 14 points, but could not get any closer.
Belmont had four players in double figures. They were led in scoring by Andrew Preston and Andy Wicke who led the team with 18 points. Preston added a team-high 10 rebounds. Justin Hare added 17, while Boomer Herndon added 10 points.
ETSU was led by Courtney Pigram who had 21 points in the loss.
Three Bruins were named to the All-Tournament team: Andy Wicke, Andrew Preston and Justin Hare, who was named MVP.
For complete coverage of Belmont’s road to the NCAA Championship Tournament, visit BelmontBruins.com.
MORE
“Another Dance For Belmont” – The Tennessean, March 4, 2007
“Belmont dances back into NCAA tournament” – Nashville City Paper, March 4, 2007
“Byrd approaches NCAA different this time” – Nashville City Paper, March 5, 2007
Bruins Defeat Campbell To Reach the A-Sun Championship
The Belmont men’s basketball team advanced to their second straight A-Sun Championship game with a 79-63 win over Campbell Friday night in Johnson City, Tenn.
The Bruins had four players score in double figures. They were led by Justin Hare’s 13 points. Andrew Preston and Boomer Herndon added 12. They outrebounded the Camels 41-34.
The Bruins will take on host East Tennessee State University Saturday. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN2 at 3 p.m. CST.
Visit BelmontBruins.com for complete coverage of Friday night’s game.
Belmont PR Students Help Promote Educational Initiative
Belmont University public relations students are joining community leaders to help the Metro Nashville public schools create healthy and successful learning environments for children and youth. The students, as part of a class project, will be working with Alignment Nashville – a community organization that works hand in hand with Metro Nashville Public Schools to align community resources with the strategic goals of the schools. In addition, the organization has played a key role in bringing more than $11 million in grants into Nashville.
“Alignment Nashville is a unique partnership between community resources – nonprofit organizations, universities, businesses, Metro Government and faith-based organizations – and the Metro Nashville Public Schools,” Associate Director Dan Surface said. “We believe it takes the whole community to ensure that all of our children have a healthy and successful learning experience in preparation for whatever path they take upon graduation.”
The organization contacted Belmont University to enlist its public relations students in raising public awareness about Alignment Nashville in the community. In this partnership, 14 Belmont students are providing public relations expertise in addition to preparing media kits and other communications tools for the Alignment Nashville committees and their initiatives.
“The service-learning aspect of the class is a win-win program,” said Dr. Bonnie Riechert, Belmont professor teaching the class. “Alignment Nashville and the community benefit from the upper-level students’ skills in research, planning, communication and evaluation. The students benefit from gaining practical experience in a real-world setting.”
This is the third year Belmont public relations students have worked in the community as a part of a course titled “Public Relations Strategy and Implementation,” which pairs students with members of the nonprofit sector.
“At Belmont, we emphasize hands-on experience as a significant part of our curriculum, because we believe students ought to do public relations as well as study it. We are delighted that our students will be advancing their own education while enhancing the local educational system,” Pam Parry, director of the public relations program at Belmont and member of the Nashville Alignment communications committee, said.
Dr. Larry Hall Named Executive Vice President and Dean of the College at Lenoir-Rhyne College
Dr. Larry Hall, dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, will assume a new appointment as Executive Vice President and Dean of the College at Lenoir-Rhyne College in Hickory, N.C., as of June 1, 2007, after 17 years of service to Belmont University. Hall joined the Belmont faculty in 1990, won the Chaney Distinguished Professor Award in 2001 and has served in his current role as dean since August 2001.
Under his leadership, the College of Arts & Sciences has increased its enrollment by 60 percent, launched innovative programs such as New Century Journalism and the Montessori Education program and led major outreach initiatives such as Conversations at Belmont for secondary teachers across the disciplines and the new partnership with Bridges Academy.
“While we are truly sad to lose the benefit of Dr. Hall’s leadership, we are delighted for him that his record of substantial accomplishment at Belmont has been acknowledged with this significant appointment,” Belmont Provost Dr. Dan McAlexander said. “We will miss him and his brilliant wife, Dr. Amy Sturgis, who has served as an outstanding member of our faculty. We are grateful to Larry for the strong position in which he will be leaving our College of Arts and Sciences and wish him all the best in this new endeavor.”
Dr. Jimmy Davis, Dean of University College, will lead a national search for a new Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences. The search will begin immediately with the goal of having the new leader in place by August 2007.
Hare Named Academic All-American
Belmont University junior Justin Hare received one of the most prestigious honors of his collegiate career Wednesday, as he was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Second Team.
The Cleveland, Tenn. native, who Tuesday was named First Team All-Atlantic Sun, received Academic All-District honors for a second consecutive year earlier this month. Hare sports a 3.85 GPA in his major of exercise science and health promotion.
The reigning Atlantic Sun Tournament MVP leads Belmont in scoring at 14.4 points per game and ranks among the Atlantic Sun leaders in five offensive categories.
Hare becomes the third men’s basketball player in school history to be so honored, joining Wes Burtner (2001, 2002) and Adam Mark (2002, 2003, 2004).
“I think it is one of the nicest awards you can receive as a student-athlete,” Belmont Head Coach Rick Byrd said. “It takes into account achievements both in the classroom and on the court. Justin worked hard to earn this recognition, and it is nice for him to follow in the footsteps of Wes and Adam who set a standard of academic and athletic excellence as we moved into Division-I play.”
Hare is fifth on the Bruins’ career scoring list (NCAA era) with 1,221 points. He was one of 40 First Team Academic All-District honorees in Division-I basketball up for the award.
Complete ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Teams can be viewed at www.cosida.com.
