Dr. Amy Sturgis, adjunct instructor of interdisciplinary studies, is a finalist for the inaugural Northeast Tolkien Society’s Imperishable Flame Award for Tolkien/Inklings Scholarship in 2005. Sturgis was nominated for her work in managing the Past Watchful Dragons International Conference held at Belmont University in November. She has also given talks about J.R.R. Tolkien at various venues, including The One Ring Celebration and assorted radio programs such as NPR’s “Talk of the Nation.”
International Country Music Conference Honors Cardwell, Flippo
Academic papers examine politics, outlaws, Americana and the MuzikMafia
The International Country Music Conference (ICMC) honored longtime country music journalist Chet Flippo and also the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Nancy Cardwell Friday with the Charlie Lamb Award for Excellence in Country Music Journalism, as part of the annual conference at Belmont University, now in its 27th year.
Cardwell is the Charlie Lamb honoree in the contemporary category while Flippo, currently the editorial director of CMT and CMT.com, is the Charlie Lamb honoree in the career category. The Charlie Lamb award, funded by Gary and Peggy Walker of Nashville’s Great Escape record store, is named in honor of the founder of two key early publications devoted to country music – The Music Reporter and The Sound Format. To music journalism, Lamb also introduced the “Big 100” concept and the “bullet” which identified a fast rising record.
The Music Reporter was the first to use two-color and three-color process printing. Lamb also organized the first disk jockey convention in Nashville, and played an important role in the careers of Elvis Presley, Hank Snow, Kitty Wells, Brenda Lee and Marty Robbins.
The conference featured a strong line-up of academic papers from those who study country music. The conference was dedicated to the memory of Dr. Charles Wolfe, a long time attendee and one of the premier historians of country music.
The conference also featured a special panel presentation of “The Outlaws,” celebrating the 30th anniversary of the release of the album by Waylon Jennings, Jessi Colter, Willie Nelson and Tompall Glaser that was the first “Gold” album by country artists from Nashville. Key figures in the Outlaw Movement in the mid-1970s sat on the panel: Hazel Smith, Chet Flippo, Richard “Pete” Peterson, Don Cusic and moderator Ronnie Pugh.
The Belmont Book Award for the Best Book in Country Music in year 2005 was presented Friday at the conference luncheon. The “Lifetime Achievement” award for “linking books with country music” was presented to Richard “Pete” Peterson. The Charlie Lamb Excellence in Country Music Journalism Awards was presented to Flippo and Cardwell.
The keynote speaker for the conference was Lance Ledbetter who spoke on “Standing in the Presence of the Past: Dust-to-Digital and the Preservation of Old Time Music.”
Complete conference schedule: Click here.
Belmont University SIFE Team Wins at National Competition
The Belmont University Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) team won the Rookie of the Year award at the 2006 SIFE USA National Exposition in Kansas City, Mo., Monday. The team also was named first runner up in the Entrepreneurship competition, behind Drury University, the national champion two years in a row.
The entrepreneurship competition awards the SIFE teams that were most effective in teaching entrepreneurship skills through outreach projects in their communities. As the first runner up in entrepreneurship, Belmont’s SIFE team was recognized at the national exposition and received a $2,000 cash award and trophy.
The Belmont University SIFE team, under the leadership of assistant finance professor, John Gonas, was created a year ago and qualified for the national exposition after winning first place in the Southeast regional SIFE competition in April.
The Belmont SIFE team projects included a volunteer income tax assistance program for low-income and elderly taxpayers, raising awareness of the HIV/AIDS crisis in Africa by generating funds to support relief efforts, assisting the Nashville-based non-profit organization, Thistle Farms, by helping employees develop a business plan, providing graduating college seniors with information regarding finances and money management and assisting minority-owned businesses in the greater Nashville area with their basic business needs. For a complete report on the SIFE team’s projects, click here.
“The Belmont College of Business SIFE team exceeded all of our expectations for their first year. The team consisted of enthusiastic, smart and truly caring students who worked hard to develop the quality and content of their presentations,” Dr. Pat Raines, dean of the College of Business Administration, said. “The projects they completed were meaningful and fulfilling and were highly valued by the organizations that received them. From helping Mama Turney’s Pies organize their financials to helping Thistle Farms at the Magdeline House develop a successful grassroots marketing program, the projects were exemplary of the SIFE mission.”
SIFE is an international, non-profit organization active on over 1,000 college and university campuses in more than 40 countries. SIFE students form teams that serve their communities by developing projects that take what they are learning in their classrooms about business and use it to solve real world problems for real people. The SIFE program concentrates on five areas: entrepreneurship, market economics, success skills, financial literacy and business ethics. Each year, the teams present their projects at competition where they are judged on creativity, innovation and effectiveness.
Wynia Wins Qualifier for U.S. Open
Former Bruin standout Adam Wynia earned medalist honors at a U.S. Open Local Qualifying Tournament May 22, putting him one step away from a spot in the 2006 U.S. Open Championship.
Wynia’s two-under-par 69 on the Par 71 Minnehaha Country Club layout put him two shots clear of the field. The former team captain and First Team All-Atlantic Sun selection now moves on to one of fourteen Sectional Qualifying Tournaments.
Wynia is entered in the sectional at Saint Charles Country Club in Saint Charles, Ill., on Monday June 5. The Sectional Qualifiers – which boast PGA Tour and European Tour players – are 36 holes of medal play with roughly 80 players from the various sites earning entry into the U.S. Open field.
This year’s U.S. Open Championship is to be played at historic Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, N.Y., June 15-18.
Belmont Student Receives Koch Fellowship for Summer
Belmont student Will Cromer has been selected as a Charles Koch Summer Fellow this summer in Washington, D.C. Sponsored through the Institute for Humane Studies, the Koch Fellows program is a highly competitive internship and academic program. Cromer is among approximately 50 particpants selected from over 900 applicants.
Participants are placed in internships at different policy institutes; Cromer will intern at the Americans for Prosperity Foundation. In addition to the internship, he will attend lectures at George Mason University’s School of Law and work on group and individual research projects. The fellows are also expected to publish at least two articles during the summer. The fellowship covers all costs related to the experience and provides fellows an additional stipend.
Cromer is a rising senior in the Honors Program, majoring in Economics, Philosophy and Politics. He was recently elected as incoming president of the Belmont University Student Government Association.
Elliott Slated to Speak at Music Conference
James Elliott, assistant professor of music business in the Mike Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business, is scheduled to speak at the Musicians’ Conference at Hume Lake Christian Camps in Hume, Calif.
The Musicians’ Conference is designed to provide “Spiritual Career Development” for musicians, artists, bands and songwriters 18 or older who are interested in music ministry.
Harrington to Speak at Brevard Conference on Music Entrepreneurship
Dr. E. Michael Harrington, professor in the Mike Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business, will speak at the Brevard Conference on Music Entrepreneurship (BCOME) at the Brevard Music Center in North Carolina July 14-16.
The BCOME conference will help musicians begin a career that lies beyond the traditional pathways – teaching or performing in an ensemble.
Belmont Graduates Over 500 At Spring Commencement
Belmont University graduated over 500 students Saturday during Spring Commencement ceremonies held in the Curb Event Center. Belmont president Dr. Robert Fisher gave the commencement address.
Dr. Merrie King, associate professor of education, was awarded the Chaney Distinguised Professor Award, which goes to a faculty member who best represents the vision of the university to be a “premier teaching institution.” Dr. Robbie Pinter, professor of English, was recognized with the Presidential Faculty Achievement Award.
Cornwall Blog Named to Top Ten List
The Web site cheaphostingdirectory.com named Jeff Cornwall’s blog, The Entrepreneurial Mind, one of the top 10 best small business blogs on the Web today. Cornwall is the chair of Belmont’s Center for Entrepreneurship in the College of Business Administration.
“Written by the Director of Belmont University’s Center for Entrepreneurship, Jeff Cornwall, and is purported not to be a stuffy academic journal. This blog looks at everything from how current political issues affect small business mixed in with solid advice for any entrepreneur.”
The Venezuela Journal Chronicles Student Athletes’ Mission Trip
A team of Belmont University student athletes, faculty and staff will travel to Venezuela May 15-26 for a 10-day sports evangelism mission trip, the 13th trip of its kind under the leadership of Senior Women’s Administrator in the Belmont Athletic Department, Betty Wiseman. Previous teams have traveled to the Ukraine and Brazil in recent years.
An online account of the team’s experiences is available at The Venezuela Journal. The site will be updated regularly by participants on the trip.
