A group of Belmont media studies, motion pictures and audio engineering technology students recently served as production assistants for the Feb. 15 National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) Midsouth Regional Emmy Awards. Held at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center, Belmont Instructor of Journalism/Cinema, Television, & Media Jennifer Duck served as a presenter for the awards show, while students Nathan Stultz, Caitlin Alexander, Stacia Foresta, Holly Vonder, Katie Knipper and Alexandria Evelyn volunteered as PAs.
Nashville Soccer Club Announces Song from Alumni Band Judah and the Lion as Club Anthem
As Nashville welcomes its first major league soccer team this year, the Nashville Soccer Club, Nashville staples are rallying together to give the team a true Music City welcome. The Club just announced that their club anthem will be “Never Give Up on You” by Belmont alumni band Judah and the Lion.
The team will begin play in the league in 2020 as a continuation of the USL club of the same name and will play home matches at Nissan Stadium.
For its home opener on February 29, Nashville Soccer Club is going all-out with a star-studded cast performing before the start of the game against Atlanta United, including a set by Judah and the Lion. The band’s 20-minute performance, which will include the anthem, will take place after both teams leave the field following warm-ups.
Following the anticipated entrance of both teams on the pitch, American singer and actor Charles “Chip” Esten will perform the National Anthem. Esten, a soccer advocate himself, was a key supporter of the #MLS2Nashville campaign that brought MLS to Music City.
As Nashville SC players set up on the pitch to kick off their inaugural season in MLS, fans will want to pay attention to The Backline section where rock artist Lzzy Hale will be the first to perform the Gibson Guitar Riff. The Gibson Guitar Riff is a special ritual that will showcase different artists throughout the season as they increase the energy by riffing live on an NSC customized Gibson guitar right before kickoff.
To get tickets to the game, visit the Nashville Soccer Club’s website.
Heard, Alumna Co-Author Article for International Environmental Science Journal
Dr. Matthew Heard, assistant professor of biology, co-authored an article entitled “Variation in the presence and abundance of anthropogenic microfibers in the Cumberland River in Nashville, TN, USA” with recent biology graduate Lina Said (’19) in the journal Environmental Science and Pollution Research.
This article was the first study to examine how microplastics and other microscopic pollutants are impacting the Cumberland River in Nashville, Tennessee.
Environmental Science and Pollution Research is an international journal that covers all areas of environmental science and related subjects with an emphasis on chemical compounds.
To read the article, visit https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11356-020-08091-x.
Belmont Vision Brings Home 11 Awards from 2020 Southeast Journalism Conference
The Belmont Vision, Belmont University’s student news organization, celebrated its many achievements last week at the 2020 Southeast Journalism Conference. The conference was held at the University of Southern Mississippi from Feb. 13 – 15.
At the on-site sweepstakes competition, the Belmont Vision placed third overall. Dorren Robinson, instructor of media studies and the Belmont Vision faculty advisor, was honored with the Journalism Educator of the Year Award at the Best of the South banquet held on Friday evening.
“I’m so incredibly proud of Dorren for winning Journalism Educator of the Year,” said senior Tina James. “It is so well-deserved, and my heart was just swelling with love and pride for her. She’s taught me so much, and getting to experience that moment with her is something I’ll never forget.”
Competing with more than 31 colleges and universities, the Belmont Vision won six awards in the Best of the South competition including content published on the Belmont Vision’s site from November 2018 to November 2019. Joe Bendekovic and Justin Wagner both placed in the Top 10 for Best News Writer. Bronte Lebo won seventh place for Best Arts and Entertainment Writer. Steven Boero won second place for Best Sports Writer. Caitlin Alexander placed in the top five for Best Television News Feature Reporter. Colby Crosby won ninth for Best Press Photographer.
“I am unbelievably proud of my staff for the amazing work they’ve done,” shared Belmont Vision editor Steven Boero. “The Best of the South represents our hard work and dedication all year. It’s so wonderful to see my colleagues be rewarded.”
On Robinson’s award, Boero added, ” I can’t think of anyone who is more dedicated to her classes and her students. Dorren deserved this award more than any teacher or adviser I’ve ever had. She works just as hard as us and is always there to make sure we are growing as writers, reporters and people.”
During the on-site competition, members of the Belmont Vision staff won five awards from more than 150 competitors and 31 schools. Sarah Lawson won first place for Copy Editing. Marissa Avnaim won second place in TV Anchoring. Tina James won third place for Public Relations. Evan Dorian won third place for Sports Writing. Rob Redel won second place for Current Events.
“Winning third place in Public Relations was a pivotal moment in my college career,” said James. “Competing at this conference as a senior was a test to see if I truly got everything I wanted out of my education to successfully apply skills outside the classroom. It was a wonderful feeling to know that all of my preparation, practice and much more paid off.”
Belmont Welcomes Hughes, Deans for Post-Graduate Fellowship Programs in College of Pharmacy
After an extensive interview process, two students have been selected for Belmont’s post-graduate fellowship programs, housed in The Christy Houston Foundation Drug Information Center within Belmont’s College of Pharmacy. These two-year fellowships are designed to provide pharmacists with an intensive program focused in drug information, evidence-based practice, corporate management, teaching and research.
Chelsa Deans from the University of Tennessee has been selected for the Clinical Pharmacist Fellowship in Drug Information with Belmont and Aegis Sciences Corporation.
Sally Hughes from Washington State University has been selected for the Clinical Management Fellowship in Drug Information with Belmont and HealthTrust.
Both fellows will begin their program in June 2020 within the Christy Houston Foundation Drug Information Center under the mentorship of Genevieve Lynn Engle, PharmD. Fellows complete their training at Belmont University the first year and then with the corresponding corporate sponsor during the second year of the program.
Dr. Bernard Turner, Tim Stewart Appear on cityCURRENT
Dr. Bernard Turner, director of the social entrepreneurship program, and Tim Stewart, director of service-learning, recently taped a segment on service-learning and social entrepreneurship for cityCURRENT, a weekly radio show in Nashville.
The cityCURRENT Radio Show airs across all five collective radio stations in Nashville each Sunday morning. The show features interviews with a combination of business and community leaders who discuss significant efforts, trends, lessons learned and ways to make an impact across Middle Tennessee.
Turner and Stewart discussed Belmont’s social entrepreneurship program and its involvement with service-learning, as well as the distinction between community service and service-learning.
The cityCURRENT summary explained, “Social entrepreneurship students will participate in service-learning, an internship and an extended capstone project in the senior year. Through these components, the liberal arts and entrepreneurship content is integrated with the experience and service that characterizes the practicing social entrepreneur.”
Belmont Invites Community to Enjoy Free Night of Basketball, Food, Activities
Belmont’s annual community night event livens the Curb Event Center up every year as thousands of local Nashvillians make their way to campus for a night of family activities, free food and cheering for the Bruins. The event has become a significant staple on campus for the University to show the community how much it appreciates their support.
After a dinner of hot dogs, chips and sodas, guests were ushered upstairs for the Men’s Basketball game against Tennessee State University. The Women’s team defeated TSU with a final score of 70-58, and the Men’s Team came out with the same outcome, defeating the Tigers 74-51.
Elements of Community night were made possible through sponsorships from Five-Star Food Service, Pepsi, Nashville Electric Service, Citizens Bank and Grayline.
One event attendee has brought the residents of one of Metro’s Development and Housing Agency’s communities to the event for the past three years. Social Service Coordinator John Walker said, “This night gets our residents out of their own community since most of them do not have transportation and lets them know that a Greater Nashville exists. It lets them know that there are other people that think about them, care about them and would like to enjoy their company,” he said. “This year is fun because I am actually a TSU graduate and I got to come and watch my school while enjoying Belmont’s hospitality. But mostly, it’s the experience for the people that I serve. I hope they come away with a sense of community, a thankfulness for the kindness of Belmont and a connection to the sporting event between two local schools in Nashville.”
Bishop Calvin Barlow, Jr. from the Second Missionary Baptist Church opened the game in prayer. The game ball was presented by Metro Council Member-at-Large Sharon Hurt, who is an alumna of both TSU and Belmont and currently serves as the chair of the Metro Council Minority Caucus. Fans cheered the team to victory and were extra excited when the legendary Red Panda performed at half time.
Walker added, “I appreciate Joyce Searcy [Belmont’s director of community relations] for inviting us, and we will be here next year.”
Belmont Homecoming 2020: A Recap in Photos
Belmont celebrated Homecoming February 10 – 15, 2020 with events scheduled on campus throughout the week, providing the opportunity for alumni, students, faculty and staff to come together to celebrate life at Belmont.
For the past few years, the Homecoming celebration has focused on a theme each day of the week.
Mission Monday kicked off the week with a Homecoming Chapel alumni panel (Photo gallery here), an alumni non-profit fair, and open house and O’More College alumni panel in the Leu Center for the Visual Arts. Monday also included the first event in the Jack C. Massey College of Business Legacy Lecture series with Entrepreneurship Professor Jeff Cornwall.
Students were also invited to “Build a Bruin” (Photo gallery here). Other bears dressed for Homecoming by departments and organizations around campus were on display and voted on social media to determine the Best Bear of All. View a photo gallery of all the bears here and the Top 11 bears here. Wonder Bruin (pictured), designed by the Belmont Store, was named the winner.
On T-Shirt Tuesday, students were encouraged to wear merch to represent the student organizations around campus, and there were Homecoming t-shirts handed out, designed by student Abraham Mast (Photo gallery here). There was a gallery talk around the Faculty Art Exhibition in the Leu Art Gallery, which will be on display through February 28. Marketing Professor Jeff Overby presented the second Legacy Lecture on International Business Inventory and Global Awareness Training. The night concluded with a Symphony and String Chamber Orchestra Concert.
Wow Wednesday launched with University Staff Advisory Council members handing out free donut holes and coffee to passersby in the Massey Business Center lobby (Photo gallery here.) The Office of Career and Professional Development sponsored a skills studio event focused on “what employers really want.” The Dining Hall featured a “Chef’s Table” with Provost Dr. Thomas Burns and student Ryan Sheldon behind the grill (Photo gallery here.) The afternoon continued to “wow” campus as senior leaders served a popcorn bar, complete with marshmellows, chocolate chips and other decadant toppings (Photo gallery here). The third Legacy Lecture series event featured Director of the Kennedy Center for Business Ethics Boyd Smith. Belmont’s pep band spread spirit as they marched around campus and helped students get excited for the DJ Competition and Dance Party later that night in the Beaman (Photo gallery here).
Thank You Thursday gave students, faculty and staff the opportunity to write thank you cards for their colleagues and peers. Alumni Relations also hosted the Belmont Faithful Thank You Luncheon in Harrington Place Dining Hall for donors who have made consecutive gifts for two or more years (Photo gallery here). Belmont hosted Community Night at the Men and Women‘s basketball games against Tennessee State University, inviting the community to come out for a night of free food, activities and basketball (Photo gallery here).
FANtastic Friday began with Homecoming Chapel featuring alumni Luke Putney and Cathy Jennings, discussing overcoming adversity (Photo gallery here). Assistant Professor of Communication Studies Dr. Jeremy Fyke delivered the annual Robert E. Simmons Distinguished Faculty Lecture. The afternoon included the third annual corn hole classic and several baseball and softball games. The night ended with the 8th Annual Homecoming in the Round Concert, featuring Chad Cates, Mike Grayson, Bekah Joel, Kevin Monahan, CJ Solar, Cheryl and Adam Stark, and Anna Vaus (Photo gallery here.)
Homecoming Saturday invited alumni back to campus for reunions, open houses and the Tower Society Reunion, Annual Brunch and Induction Ceremony, celebrating the elite group of alumni from Belmont’s 50-year and earlier classes (Photo gallery here). Presidential scholars gathered (Photo gallery here), the campus community spent time in prayer and thanksgiving to God for the many ways He has blessed the Belmont community, beginning with remarks from Betty Wiseman and ending with a prayer walk around campus (Photo gallery here), and the sounds of the annual Homecoming Carillon Concert could be heard from the Bell Tower.
Jim ‘n Nicks catered the Tailgate at the Tower before the double header (Photo gallery here). Athletics played a slew of games, including softball against Western Michigan and later Green Bay, Baseball against Kansas and the Men and Women’s basketball teams’ wins against Jacksonville State. Between the basketball games, the basketball court was named after Former Head Coach Rick Byrd (Photo gallery here). The 2020 Homecoming Court was announced during halftime of the Men’s game (Photo gallery here). Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia’s Sinfonian Band performed a concert after the game, and alumni were invited to a Homecoming Social at Chago’s Cantina.
To view a full collection of the Homecoming 2020 galleries, click here.
Belmont’s United Sound Organization Offers Inclusivity through Music
Sophomore composition major Justin Schwartz has seen firsthand that “music is the universal language.” While attending Ravenwood High School in Brentwood, Tennessee, Schwartz was part of one of the first 20 pilot schools to launch a United Sound program, a national nonprofit organization that provides free music lessons to young adults with special needs. Observing how impactful the program was at his high school, Schwartz knew he wanted to start a United Sound chapter at whatever college he ended up attending.
Arriving at Belmont last year as a freshman and realizing the University’s focus on serving others and the community, along with its highly-regarded music programs, he knew it would be the perfect fit.
“The big thing about United Sound is that its whole goal is inclusion. A lot of times, adults with special needs are kind of forgotten about in the music community. United Sound is part of a larger organization called Music for All that allows music to be for everyone. Through music, everyone is able to be reached,” explained Schwartz. “That’s the beauty of this organization—everybody gets to be included, and the labels that get put on from society don’t matter. When we are at a United Sound meeting, we are going to try different things until we can get it.”
United Sound started as a high school program, typically involving students enrolled in special education programs, but it has recently started to expand to the higher education level at places like the Berkeley School of Music and Auburn University. However, there were no higher education United Sound programs in Tennessee. Schwartz approached Associate Professor of Music Dr. Barry Kraus and Director of the School of Music Dr. Jeremy Lane last year with the idea, and both agreed the organization would be successful at Belmont.
Schwartz recruited sophomore music therapy major Sofia Valle to be his co-president, and the two brought senior music education major Alex Domeier on board for guidance as the special education club president, tasked with providing a lesson plan for each meeting. “Alex has been instrumental in helping structure our new organization due to his prior experience as a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and the National Association for Music Education,” said Schwartz.
After months of planning and recruiting its 13 current mentors, Belmont’s United Sound organization finally began meeting in October with young adults with special needs from the local community over the age of 18. Most, if not all, of the Belmont student mentors are music majors, with a mixture of some music education, some music therapy and some commercial music.
Co-President Valle said, “United Sound has been a blessing to be a part of as it reminds me why I am pursuing a music therapy degree. We may be teaching the students how to play an instrument, but they are teaching us valuable life skills and they have so much to offer the world.”
Belmont’s United Sound organization is currently working with four young adults who are assigned two to three mentors each. One student is learning rhythmic percussion (like the snare drum); one is learning mallet percussion (like the glockenspiel); one is learning the flute and the other is learning saxophone. In each group, at least one Belmont student mentor is familiar with the instrument they are teaching.
“One of the benefits of working with Belmont students is the fact that we have music education majors who have already taken the instrumental methods class, so that allows us to have no limits on which of the band instruments we choose,” said Schwartz. “Instead of telling the student which instrument they’ll be able to play, we ask them what they’d like to play.”
United Sound provides training for all of the mentors, instrumental method books for the groups to work from, and suggested songs that have been performed successfully in the past. The students picked a piece from that list and will be performing the first-ever United Sound concert in April in conjunction with Belmont’s concert band and wind ensemble.
Dr. Kraus said he is delighted to host a chapter of United Sound on campus. “Belmont seeks to provide opportunities for students to engage and transform the world, and inclusion is a driving force in modern music education. With these ideas in mind, United Sound introduces our instrumental music majors to real world challenges—bringing music education to adults with special needs. Our students have been remarkably vigilant in structuring and staffing this organization on campus, and I’m very proud of their work,” he said. “The United Sound participants will perform with the Belmont Concert Band on April 14, and I look forward to this very special opportunity for them to play in McAfee Hall with a full ensemble.”
Looking ahead, Schwartz would like to see the organization grow with more United Sound students through developing partnerships with local organizations that work with young adults with special needs. As more Belmont students have found out about the club, a lot of students want to join but would not have a young adult to work with. Schwartz also wants to develop more formal partnerships in the community so the organization can continue to thrive after he and the other founding members graduate.
“Belmont puts an enormous emphasis on serving the community and serving others, and I think this club really does serve an otherwise underserved group in the music community,” said Schwartz. “I think we definitely have potential to grow in size because this club really embodies what Belmont is about.”
Alumnus Luke Putney Inspires Students with His Story of Triumph Over Adversity
Luke Putney, presidential scholar and summa cum laude graduate in Music Performance, visited Belmont’s campus once again to share his story of overcoming medical challenges to pursue his musical passions while making a difference in the lives of others through his nonprofit, Instrumental Horizons.
With humor and heart, Putney shared his journey with students. He explained that he began going blind at 11 years old and had his first brain surgery at just 12 years old. Through the years he continued to experience various medical problems. By the time he began his freshman year at Belmont, he was totally blind.
“Blind, but having fun!” Putney said. Despite these adversities, he had a college experience similar to many of his Belmont peers, with opportunities to make new friends, play bass in numerous bands, and study abroad in Spain.
In his senior year at Belmont, Putney started his not-for-profit charity Instrumental Horizons. His nonprofit provides music education and music instruments to socioeconomic depressed groups in the states and around the world, as well as provides music instruments and music therapy to children in hospital systems. The work of this organization has reached marginalized communities locally in Nashville, through partnerships with Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital, and globally, through partnerships with Music Works in Cape Town, South Africa.
Soon after his first international trip with his nonprofit following his graduation, Putney experienced what he thought was a migraine, but soon learned was a tumor on his brain. After having surgery to remove the tumor, he had many complications including a stroke and coma, and went through another eight surgeries to save his life.
Patients in recovery in the ICU were encouraged to set goals for themselves. “I chose my goal to be taking instruments and pushing music therapy to a small town in Cape Town, South Africa,” said Putney.
He set out to accomplish his goal. Putney was told he would never be able to walk again, but miraculously, he began taking a few steps. He thought if he could walk a few steps, he could walk a mile and if he could walk a mile, he could walk a marathon. He then set out to walk a marathon, one mile a day for 26 days, during his recovery as he was re-learning to walk and as an opportunity to fundraise for his nonprofit, specifically funding Music Works in Cape Town.
“I wrote ‘Cape Town (I Miss Africa)’ as a song that would be a reward to anyone that made a donation,” said Putney. Putney plans to take a trip to Cape Town soon to present Music Works with the funds raised.
“I believe that God desires that we all use our passions, talents and interests to further God’s kingdom in unique ways, and I try to do that to the best of my abilities,” Putney said. His current medical situation is complicated, but is slowly getting better with each day. His prayer is to ask God to strengthen his body to be a blessing to others and to strengthen God’s kingdom.
