IMPORTANT NOTE: These are the archived stories for Belmont News & Achievements prior to June 26, 2023. To see current stories, click here.

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Sport Administration Students Win Case Study Competition

Hope Buckner
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Sport Administration Students Win Case Study Competition

Belmont’s Sport Administration Program won the Applied Sport Management Conference Case Study Competition held at the First Tennessee Park in Nashville on February 15. Students AB Hawkins, Ben Weisel, Declan McManus and Monica Fishering presented their solutions concerning a case focused on the expansion of a Major League Soccer (MLS) Franchise.

“We are very proud of  the work this group produced, they represented our program wonderfully,” said Dr. Stephen Shin, a faculty advisor on the project. The team from Belmont beat six other university teams to take home the honor.

Shin, along with Belmont faculty member Dr. Dana Shaw, selected the Case Study Team which completed a modified feasibility study on MLS bids and recommended a final expansion location.

Interior Design Studio Dream Becomes Reality for O’More Alumni

Staff Writer
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Interior Design Studio Dream Becomes Reality for O’More Alumni

Opened in August 2018, Modern Remains is an interior design studio located in Nashville, TN that was dreamed up by three then-students in the studio at O’More School of Design, previously known as O’More College of Design. Despite graduating from O’More around the same time, the trio–made up of Evan Millard, Betsy Trabue and Lauren Moore–didn’t find a direct path to opening Modern Remains.

“I think we all came from a round-about way to O’More, and perhaps that is why we gravitated toward each other,” Trabue said. After originally earning a degree in psychology from Lipscomb and spending time in the Navy, Trabue returned home to Franklin and enrolled at O’More. Her colleagues stories are similar, as they both also enrolled in O’More after having attended elsewhere.

Millard had already completed studies in public relations and graphic design but was drawn to interior design for certain reasons. “I knew I needed a different atmosphere to hone my creative talents,” he said. Millard found that atmosphere and feeling at O’More, making the decision to attend the school even easier.

Moore’s path to O’More began after she graduated from the University of Tennessee. She completed an internship in New York City that led to a passion for design. “After completing my internship, I decided to go back to school to pursue the passion I had always thought of as a hobby, interior design,” she said. The three designers met at O’More in the fall of 2010 and quickly became friends.

After their shared time as interior design students, the three parted ways after graduation and went on separate careers in the industry. Trabue and Moore stayed locally in the Middle Tennessee area and worked for Carolyn Kendall at Alcott Interiors on a variety of projects. Millard also had the opportunity to work on several different projects through his work with Alessandra Branca, both locally and in Chicago.

Reflecting on their time at O’More, Millard, Trabue and Moore agree that the design school gave them a good foundation and a creative place to grow their passion for design. “O’More opened my eyes to a whole new world of design,” Moore said. “It helped me see the world differently…design school began to train my eye, focus my attention and helped me learn how to take an idea and bring it to life.”

“At O’More, just seeing how a concept can drive 20 students to shape a basic rectangular space in so many intriguing ways was such a lesson to me in how helpful conceptual design, and research on the front end, can be,” said Trabue. O’More curriculum focuses on teaching students how to design, while also cultivating their own philosophy.

Throughout their time at O’More, Millard, Moore and Trabue bonded over late nights working on projects and shared time in the studio. The memories they each have from O’More impacted them as students but also contributed to their careers in interior design. Each of them had the opportunity to design spaces for real clients, as students, and were able to see their designs come to life.

“My most memorable experience while pursuing my degree at O’More would be the summer week spent in Lewisburg. During Studio on the Square, Susan Besser and Rebecca Moore challenged me to see beyond the space assigned and to consider its surroundings,” said Millard. From that experience, Millard’s design, that he produced with another O’More student, now serves as an open-air venue for events.

The three designers were able to make their dream from their time as students at O’More a reality by opening Modern Remains. They will continue to bring their creative skills and designs to Nashville in a new way.

“Starting an interior design atelier and showroom with two close friends is a dream come true,” said Millard. “Every day I step into Modern Remains brings the biggest smile to my soul.”

Belmont Up ’til Dawn Raises Over $130,000 For St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Staff Writer
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Belmont Up ’til Dawn Raises Over $130,000 For St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Every year, Belmont University’s Up ’til Dawn team works to raise money to support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Their fundraising efforts culminate at an overnight event where students commit to “staying up for good” to help fight childhood illnesses.

This year’s event took place in Belmont University’s Curb Event Center and was themed “All Around the World.” The theme was inspired by how St. Jude shares its research and treatments throughout the world. Students who raised $100 or more were able to come to the event to stay up all night, play games and learn more about St. Jude. Activities for the night included inflatable obstacle courses, karaoke, mini gold, a hip-hop dance class and the annual silent disco, a fan favorite.

Prior to the event, the Up ’til Dawn board holds many events to recruit students and raise funds. These include “Wake-up Wednesdays” where they hand out coffee and talk to people about St. Jude and the event. They also hold “No More Cancer Rallies” aimed at fundraising and giving tips on how best to secure support.

Following the theme of “All Around the World,” the evening “took off” with flight attendant emcees, traveled to different countries for different games and concluded by “landing” in Memphis at St. Jude to reveal the total amount of money raised. The big reveal announced the total to be $134,255.90 raised for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Up ’til Dawn has been an organization at Belmont for five years and has been able to raise over $500,000. “Moving forward, I hope that Belmont Up ’til Dawn and our Board can just continue to share our passion and efforts for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital,” said Katelyn Bosse, event and logistics director on Belmont’s Up ’til Dawn board. “A patient’s overall treatment at St. Jude costs about $425,000, so to know that we as a Belmont community helped to save a child’s life and be there during this cancer battle, is inspiring and makes me so proud to be a part of this.”

College of Pharmacy Student Presents at Health Information Management System Society Global Conference

Hope Buckner
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College of Pharmacy Student Presents at Health Information Management System Society Global Conference

Angelina Babakitis, a Doctor of Pharmacy student in the pharmacy informatics focus track at the Belmont University College of Pharmacy, recently presented a poster at the Health Information Management System Society (HIMSS) 2019 Global Conference in Orlando, Florida.

The poster, entitled “Enhancing pharmacist intervention effectiveness by implementing custom clinical decision support,” was authored by Babakitis, PharmD Candidate 2020, Wesley Geminn, PharmD, BCPP and Erica Schlesinger, PharmD. It describes the development of clinical decision support (CDS) tools to aid pharmacists when verifying medication orders for pregnant patients at four state-funded regional mental health institutes.

When medications carrying a high risk for pregnant patients are ordered, the pharmacist is warned with a custom notification. Before the pharmacist approves the order, they must weigh the benefits and risks of using the medication or contact the physician regarding risk.

This custom CDS tool has led to more meaningful and direct communication between the pharmacist and physician and increased safety for patients.

Belmont’s College of Pharmacy is the only pharmacy school in the US to be recognized as a Health Information Management System Society (HIMSS) Approved Education Partner (AEP). As the sponsor of the HIMSS/Belmont partnership, Associate Professor Anthony Blash, Pharm.D., CPHIMS has created a four-course sequence of classes that meets the HIMSS rigorous standards for quality health IT or healthcare education. The informatics courses provide student pharmacists in the healthcare informatics focus track an advanced knowledge of health IT upon graduation. Additionally, through a combination of expert conversation, live projects and traditional study, students gain the advanced knowledge of healthcare informatics needed to successfully achieve the Certified Associate in Healthcare Information & Management Systems (CAHIMS) certification, further demonstrating the certificate holder’s knowledge of health IT and management systems.

Babakitis was the only student of the nine presenters which included an emergency medicine professor from Harvard Medical School, a quality performance management associate from Athenahealth, a manager from the Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine HR Center of Expertise, a program manager of patient access at Emory Healthcare, an associate professor of health informatics from Florida Polytechnic University, a nurse manager at the University of Colorado Health’s Virtual Health Center and a clinical assistant professor of informatics at Georgia State University’s College of Nursing.

West Honored as ‘Groundbreaker’ by Habitat for Humanity

April Hefner
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West Honored as ‘Groundbreaker’ by Habitat for Humanity

Dr. Susan West, Belmont vice president and chief of staff, will be honored next month as one of 12 extraordinary Groundbreakers by Habitat for Humanity of Greater Nashville. According to the organization’s website, “Groundbreakers are a determined group of women who are spirited, self-confident and mesmerizing in their fields of endeavor.  Philanthropic, graceful, positive mentors, these women bring their unique bearing on our community, elevating Nashville to be a more inclusive and thriving environment.”

West said, “My life’s work is ensuring that young people receive the education they desire. I know that the students that I serve will transform the world with the skills that they’ve obtained through the educational process.”

West and 11 other Groundbreakers will be honored March 31 at Habitat’s seventh annual Couture Construction event, a night of fashion, shopping and networking. Held at The Dillards at Green Hills, 100 percent of the ticket sales and a portion of Dillard’s proceeds from the evening will go towards Women Build, a unique partnership of female community leaders, along with companies focused on women as executives and mentors, coming together to sponsor, build and dedicate a house for a female homeowner. Women Build is focused on the power of networking to help women achieve their goals, including making home ownership a reality for a Habitat partner family each year. The 2019 Women Build project will benefit Shameka Harris, a single mom to two young daughters.

Tickets for the Couture Construction event to support the “Women Build” initiative are $50 and can be purchased online.

Students Participate in Social Change & ME, An Interactive Leadership Development Session

Hope Buckner
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Students Participate in Social Change & ME, An Interactive Leadership Development Session

Belmont University’s Office of Leadership Development (BOLD), in partnership with 13 faculty and staff members from across campus, recently guided more than 100 students through understanding and applying the 7 Cs of the Social Change Model. Hosted through “Social Change & ME,” an interactive overview of socially responsible leadership through the framework of the Social Change Model, the team provided sessions for students to complete in January and February.

The model’s 7 Cs include consciousness of self, congruence, commitment, collaboration, controversy with civility and citizenship. During SC&ME, students rotated through stations titled “I Change” (individual values), “We Change” (group values) and “World Change” (societal/global values). Each station included interactive activities that challenged students to learn and practice implementing behaviors related to each of the 7 Cs while collaborating and engaging with each other.

The sessions’ purpose was to help students realize that they can begin being socially responsible leaders now, both on and off campus. Students should use the tools they’ve learned during Bruin Lead, an in-depth review of practices of exemplary leadership from the fall 2018, and skills learned during SC&ME to increase leadership behaviors that can bring about positive change.

When asked what was the biggest take away from this experience one student stated, “I believe the activities really helped cement the idea that everyone has different opinions, but there are ways to go about discussing them openly.” Another said, “I learned how you can be a good leader, but you have to take that out in the world to affect positive change. You have to bring self, group and citizenship to make a real difference.”

Students most appreciated open conversations, new ways to talk about leadership, diversity of the presenters and activities and being able to put their learning into practice.

Dr. Adrianne Archie, assistant dean and director of leadership development said, “It’s incredible to watch these students realize that they are leaders now. We will continue to work to prepare them with the toolbox of skills and experiences they will need to be socially responsible leaders here on campus and anywhere else they may go.”

SC&ME is a program in the Believing Emergent Leader Level of Engagement in BOLD. Next, students will participate in Belmont Homecoming activities and Leadership Lately with Ms. Nikki Campbell, President Bob Fisher and Dr. Wayne Barnard. Learn more here.

Music Students Sing Background Vocals for Ed Sheeran, Elvis Tribute on NBC

April Hefner
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Music Students Sing Background Vocals for Ed Sheeran, Elvis Tribute on NBC

Belmont School of Music students, led by Professor of Music Dr. Jeffery Ames,  made a surprise appearance on NBC last night, singing background vocals for Ed Sheeran in the nationally telecast “Elvis All-Star Tribute.”

Ed Sheeran takes selfie with Belmont studentsLast fall Ames received a message from Pat McMakin, director of Ocean Way Nashville Recording Studios (which is owned by Belmont), that Ed Sheeran’s team was looking to assemble an ensemble to contribute background vocals on a song the artist was recording. Ames contacted 16 School of Music vocalists, both undergraduate and graduate students, and wrote the arrangement. The group rehearsed three times before taping “Can’t Help Falling in Love” with Sheeran at Ocean Way last fall.

“Now that it’s aired, I had no idea of the magnitude and scope this production would have,” said Ames. “It truly was an opportunity to allow Belmont to shine on a national platform.”

In addition, it was a tremendous learning experience for all of the students involved, allowing them to record professionally in the studio with a highly skilled and popular artist.”

Freshman David Perry, a musical theatre major, said, “This experience was great knowing that right out of the gate you can find so many opportunities through Belmont and thankfully through Dr. Ames. It was so fun to make so much magic with a bunch of people who are so kind, including Ed. He’s a great person.”

Music education major Anna Hulst, a senior, added, “I’m just so grateful for this moment, this day, for Belmont, for Belmont’s reputation, the leadership of Dr. Ames and the other students here. I could never have dreamed or imagined for something like this to have happened in my life, but I’m grateful and I’m excited to see what happens with it all.”

The national broadcast of the recording occurred last night as part of the “Elvis All-Star Tribute.” The two-hour program on NBC was roughly timed to mark 50 years since Presley’s historic ’68 Comeback Special, which resurrected the singer’s music career. The lineup for the performance included Sheeran, Kelsea Ballerini, John Fogerty, Jennifer Lopez, Carrie Underwood, John Legend, Post Malone, Yolanda Adams, Shawn Mendes, Josh Groban, Keith Urban, Darius Rucker, Little Big Town, Josh Groban, Dierks Bentley, host Blake Shelton and more.

A video clip of Sheeran’s performance can be viewed on NBC.com.

Kennedy Center for Business Ethics Brings ‘Nature Nate’ to Campus

Staff Writer
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Kennedy Center for Business Ethics Brings ‘Nature Nate’ to Campus

On Feb. 13, Belmont’s Edward C. Kennedy Center for Business Ethics sponsored a chapel convocation and lunch with Nathan Sheets, CEO and founder of Nature Nate’s Natural Honey. Nature Nate’s is America’s largest branded honey company and values caring for its employees, the environment and supporting homeless and Christian ministries.

Nathan Sheets of Honey Gives Hope speaks at Chapel at Belmont University.

Sheets shared he has taken over 100 mission trips. After shifting from full-time ministry to Nature Nate’s, he has found the values and principles transfer completely. He said intentionality for the kingdom is most important.

Before Nature Nate’s, Sheets was one of the driving forces behind the global “I Am Second” media campaign that highlights stories of hundreds of lives transformed through Christian faith.

He said in 1996, he and his wife were watching television trying to decide on a new hobby to start together and saw a commercial featuring a woman in a beekeeping suit. Sheets’ commitment to the honey business began with one hive in his parents’ backyard to now 130 staff and 18 million pounds of honey bottled and distributed this past year.

Nathan Sheets of Honey Gives Hope speaks at Chapel at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, February 13, 2019.

Sheets shared many ways he leads his staff according to ethical principles, including the Bee Attitudes, a representation of values the company holds most important. These values were inspired by the biblical Beatitudes, eight blessings recounted by Jesus in the book of Matthew, and include being generous, loving, honest, faithful, passionate and creative.

To create a culture of accountability, Sheets offers financial management classes to elevate people out of poverty, encourages philanthropy and participates in initiatives such as turning the honey labels pink for National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

One of the key initiatives Sheets shared was the story of Bonton Honey, a honey company in the disadvantaged neighborhood of Bonton, South Dallas, Texas. Bonton Honey began with seven men in hopeless situations who needed work. Sheets told them if they put in the effort and they all put in the time, he would put in the money and eventually give the company to those who stuck with it.

Two months ago, Sheets legally gave Bonton Honey to Clifton Reese, one of the original seven men who started the company with Sheets. Sheets said the other men who started with him were given the opportunity to dream and have a vision for their lives through Bonton Honey, which led to other endeavors.

Bonton Honey will soon launch a beekeeping program for young boys in Bonton to give them that vision, as well.

Sheets concluded by saying he sees himself as the Steward and President of Nature Nate’s and believes God is the CEO. He said he will continue to seek ways to share God with his customers, employees and the world.

Alumnus Pauley Appointed to Small Business Administration Leadership Position

Staff Writer
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Alumnus Pauley Appointed to Small Business Administration Leadership Position

Belmont alumnus Todd Pauley was recently announced as the new Director of the Office of Faith Based and Community Initiatives for the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Pauley graduated from Belmont in 1998 with a degree in business administration, and since his graduation has been working in various fields, giving him a diversified work background.

Looking back at his time as a student at Belmont, Pauley recalls the range of skills he learned in the music business program. “What is so unique about that program at Belmont, and I have found to be essential to my career, is that when you graduate from that program, you graduate with a very versatile and incredibly valuable bachelor’s degree in Business Administration,” Pauley commented. “My Belmont experience gave me opportunities and provided the educational resources necessary to develop confidence in my ability to contribute in a way that offers value to any effort and makes a meaningful difference in any arena.”

Pauley began his career in the music industry here in Nashville shortly after graduating from Belmont. He went on to work for Sony Music, MCA Nashville and Reunion Records doing marketing, radio promotion and project management. But his time away from Belmont did not last long as Pauley came back to the University to work with fundraising efforts.

After making a career switch, Pauley earned his Juris Doctor degree from the Oklahoma City School of Law and since then has gained experience in politics, legislation and law. He also worked with small businesses, faith-based organizations and nonprofits. Most recently Pauley served as the vice chancellor for governmental relations at the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and as the senior adviser, counsel and finance and political director to U.S. Senator James Lankford of Oklahoma.

In his new role with the Small Business Administration, Pauley will work with the leaders of faith-based community organizations to encourage entrepreneurship and further economic growth. He will help further the SBA’s mission through this position and through working with community organizations.

This new work comes easily to Pauley, who said, “public service and ministry is a calling for me. My goal is to always be striving to live a life worthy of my calling. My education and experience at Belmont supported my calling, strengthened my ability to achieve my goals and promoted values, including working to the best of my ability and in a spirit of unity with others.”

“The education and experience at Belmont provided exactly the right preparation for every professional and community opportunity that has now led me to my new role here at the SBA serving faith-based and community leaders and organizations, and those they serve,” Pauley said. “Together we will build an even stronger economy that will be of great benefit in our neighborhoods and to our nation.”

Alumnus Matt Kinney Creates OtherWorld Encounter Interactive Art Exhibit

Staff Writer
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Alumnus Matt Kinney Creates OtherWorld Encounter Interactive Art Exhibit

Belmont alumnus Matt Kinney, bachelor of music composition, was a part of a Nashville-based interactive visual art exhibit from late December through January 13.

OtherWorld Encounter combined elements of an art festival, science-fiction cinema and The Escape Game with innovative technologies including virtual reality, interactive music rooms, holograms and sound design. Kinney was able to create an experience for audiences to make music, walk through different soundscapes and shape a water stream in his “Slow Motion Fountain.”

The large, multi-room, multimedia exhibit was founded by Nashville’s OWN (OtherWorld Network) and highlighted the city/s new technology and immersive art experiences.

Kinney is a composer, performer and multimedia artist and has exhibited his work over the past 10 years through interactive installations, orchestrated original musicals, transcribed pop arrangements for harp, broadcast film and more.

In 2013, he co-founded Patchbay, a program that commissions new collaborations between music composers and visual artists.

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