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AET Students take Top Honors at AES 145th International Convention

Staff Writer
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AET Students take Top Honors at AES 145th International Convention

Belmont’s undergraduate and graduate audio engineering students won top honors in research and music production at the 2018 International Audio Engineering Society conference in New York.

Professor of Audio Engineering Technology Dr. Wes Bulla and recent master’s of audio engineering graduate Paul Mayo were awarded “Best Peer-Reviewed Paper” for innovative research on how loudspeaker placement interacts with sense of elevation.

In the student recording competition, two student teams won first and second place in the Traditional Studio Recording category. Russell Scarborough, with his collaborators Cameron Row and Max Ingersol, received the Gold Award for their Jazz/Pop recording of “Bad Bad News. Hannah Wright with her team Rocco Fiorentino, Adam Krulewicz and Reggie Ecklund received the Silver Award for the Modern/Country recording of “Thoughts of You.”

This year continues a five-year streak for the AET program with awards across multiple categories, including Sound for Visual Media (2017 Silver and 2016 Bronze, Kerrick Crace), Modern Studio Recording & Electronic Music (2015 Silver, Nick Lobel), Traditional Studio Recording (2014 Gold, Cory Wilhite) and an Honorable Mention for Modern Studio Recording (2014, David Villa).

Celebration Marks Completed $2.5 Million Pledge for Travis Scholarship Endowment

April Hefner
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Celebration Marks Completed $2.5 Million Pledge for Travis Scholarship Endowment

The Office of Development recently hosted a celebration to mark the completion of a $2.5 million pledge to the Leon and Jeanette Travis Scholarship Endowment for Nursing. Since 2004, the Foundation has donated $3,550,000 to the fund, which has provided scholarships for 177 nursing students to date including traditional students and many second-degree accelerated students.

Pictured above are Jeanette Travis Foundation trustees Richard Warren and Tom Baker who were in attendance for the event along with two Travis Scholarship recipients, Christy Chicas and Hannah Abbunag, who spoke at the event.

Chicas graduates in December and will begin her career in the Adult Oncology Nurse Residency Program at Vanderbilt University Medical Center with plans to one day purse a Master’s in Nursing “so that I can provide a higher level of care to my patients and become a nurse educator,” she said. “My passion for nursing has grown since I have been at Belmont University, and I know this would not be the case without the professors here who have taught me by sharing their experiences as well as prayed for and encouraged me when they saw potential in me that I could not see myself… Yet, pursuing my Bachelor of Nursing would not be possible without your help, and I am extremely humbled by your support. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve people through this career.”

Belmont’s Phi Mu Chapter Raises $63K at Fundraiser Featuring Hunter Hayes

Staff Writer
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Belmont’s Phi Mu Chapter Raises $63K at Fundraiser Featuring Hunter Hayes

Dollars raised to support the organization’s philanthropy, Children’s Miracle Network

Belmont University’s chapter of Phi Mu sorority recently hosted their annual fall philanthropy event, BonnaMu. This years event, dubbed BonnaMu Unplugged, featured an appearance from a big name artist that was sure to draw a crowd, Hunter Hayes. Through fundraising efforts of both ticket sales and an online fundraiser, the organization was able to raise a total of more than $63,000 for their philanthropy, Children’s Miracle Network.

Before Hayes made his headlining appearance, several student performers were featured as opening acts including Taylor Bickett, Sydney Dumler, Delaney Schueler and Maggie Renfroe. BonnaMu was organized by Phi Mu philanthropy chair Britney Sams who said she wanted to change the feel of the event this year and make it more intimate, hence the Unplugged name.

Sams said bringing in Hayes to play came from a desire to make the event bigger than it was in previous years. “I knew that I wanted to make BonnaMu a larger event than it had been in years past. With Belmont’s huge influence in music, I thought that this event had so much more potential to be filled, so we gave it our best shot to bring it up a notch this year,” she said.

Money raised from the annual event, which took place in McAfee Concert Hall on campus, will go to support the local Children’s Miracle Network hospital, Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.

“Children’s Miracle Network is a very important part of our organization because it is one thing that ties all Phi Mu chapters across the nation together,” Sams said. “It allows us to come together for a cause that is so much greater than ourselves and opens our eyes to the passion and perseverance that the children and their families in this organization have in their daily lives.”

Belmont Announces Plans for 2018 Veterans Week

Hope Buckner
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Belmont Announces Plans for 2018 Veterans Week

To celebrate Veterans Day, Belmont University has announced the schedule for its 2018 Veterans Week, an opportunity for students, faculty and staff to remember and honor the contributions of our veteran and military students, faculty and staff. Sponsored by Belmont’s Veteran Success Team, this year’s schedule of events encompasses a range of activities geared toward recognition of those who have served.

This year’s events include:

  • Veteran Career Transition Day on Tuesday, November 6 from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. in the Bruin Vets Center Speakers from Belmont’s Career and Professional Development Staff, area military-friendly corporations and student veterans organization Bruin Vets alumni will speak on a variety of topics including translating military to civilian skills, resume writing, LinkedIn usage and more. This event is reserved for veterans and dependents. 
  • Thank Our Veterans: Tie a Yellow Ribbon ‘Round a Tree on Wednesday, November 7 at 10 a.m. in front of the Belmont Mansion The week’s official kick-off event will invite members of the Belmont community to tie a yellow ribbon on trees in front of the Belmont Mansion in honor of Belmont’s student veterans or others who have served around the world. Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness Dr. Paula Gill and President of Bruin Vets Robbie Tyrney will share remarks. Additionally, Bruin Vets will be hosting an opportunity for participants to write a letter to military members overseas during the event. Doughnuts and coffee will be served.
  • Instagram Takeover with a Student Vet on Thursday, November 8 Follow Belmont University on Instagram and watch Brian Bergeherer, a student veteran and sophomore business major, as he takes over the reins of Belmont’s account. He will share his experiences on campus through pictures and videos.
  • Thanking Those Who Served Luncheon on Monday, November 12 at 11 a.m. in The Bruin Vets Center Student veterans, active military, dependents and faculty & staff who have served in the military will be honored as Belmont Provost Dr. Thomas Burns and Associate Provost & Dean of Student Affairs Dr. John Delony share words of gratitude. This event is reserved for the above listed communities. 
  • Green Light a Veteran on Monday, November 12 The Bell Tower and Fountain in front of McWhorter Hall will be lit green in honor of the national campaign to show appreciation to our nation’s veterans and establish visible support.

First established in 1919 by Congress, Veterans Day is intended to thank those who have served in the military – in war or peace time. Belmont’s event are an opportunity for the university community to do just that. As of Fall 2018, Belmont has more than 280 veterans and military family members enrolled across campus.

“We are proud to extend our Veterans Day celebration to a series of events this year,” said Associate Provost of Interdisciplinary Studies and Global Education Dr. Mimi Barnard. “Service is an integral part of Belmont’s mission, and we thank the many veterans on our campus and in our community for their dedication to our country. These students are a vital part of the campus community and we want to honor their service as well as their commitment to their academic endeavors.”

Murabito Receives Tennessee Nurses Association Award for Nursing Excellence

Hope Buckner
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Murabito Receives Tennessee Nurses Association Award for Nursing Excellence

Dr. Sandy Murabito, undergraduate program director and assistant professor of nursing, was recently given the Tennessee Nurses Association (TNA) Award for Nursing Excellence at their annual meeting in Murfreesboro. The award recognizes a member of TNA who demonstrates outstanding performance in nursing practice, nursing education, advance practice nursing, nursing research or nursing administration by promoting and maintaining excellence in professional practice, a commitment to the nursing profession and TNA, contributing to professional development of other nurses, leadership which improves the quality of nursing care and professional and community service.

Associate Director of Nursing Dr. Martha Buckner said, “Dr. Murabito promotes excellence as a nursing faculty leader and holds herself and others to the highest standards. She has given exemplary service to the profession as past president of the TNA and has long served as advisor to our Student Nurses Association. She is respected by faculty, staff and students as a leader who is able to move people with varying perspectives and opinions toward a  common goal. We are honored to work alongside her.”

Dean of the College of Health Sciences and Nursing Dr. Cathy Taylor said, “Dr. Murabito leads by example every day. She is an expert nurse and educator, an innovator and a skilled consensus builder. This award is well-deserved recognition for her many accomplishments.”

Students Volunteer at Annual Edgehill Halloween Family Night

Staff Writer
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Students Volunteer at Annual Edgehill Halloween Family Night

A group of Bridges to Belmont scholars volunteered at the annual Edgehill Halloween Family Night on Wednesday. The students facilitated a face-painting booth, led games and activities with community partners including costume and dance competitions and distributed treats for trick-or-treating.rs.

“Every year the Edgehill Resource Center organizes this event to create a safe and fun experience for neighborhood families and children,” said Megan McNeese, student support specialist for Bridges to Belmont. This event gives scholars an opportunity to help host a memorable Halloween night for the neighborhood families.

“It is instantly rewarding for scholars to see kids’ eyes light up throughout the evening and to hear laughter throughout the community center,” she said. “The scholars can see the reward of their volunteer efforts right away, which is extremely meaningful and powerful.”

Overall, she and the scholars hope that the kids have an enjoyable night, full of fun activities and opportunities for them to use their imagination and make memories with their friends.

“We also hope that interacting with other scholars and seeing their Belmont shirts inspires the children to envision themselves in college one day and to learn more about Belmont, which is so close to their neighborhood,” said McNeese.

Chemistry and Physics Hosts Local Students for Workshop

Hope Buckner
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Chemistry and Physics Hosts Local Students for Workshop

Belmont’s Department of Chemistry and Physics recently hosted “Back Titrations: Neutralizing Agents – How Basic is It,” a half-day guided inquiry workshop for advanced placement (AP) chemistry high school students. This semester, 22 AP chemistry students from Stewarts Creek High School attended. Event organizer Dr. Danielle Garrett, assistant professor of chemistry education, led an interactive discussion covering topics including neutralization reactions, titration curves and back titrations. Each student was then responsible for completing a series of back titrations to determine the effectiveness of commercial products used to reduce stomach acid such as baking soda, antacid-reducing tablets and milk of magnesia.

After the workshop, students had lunch and engaged with senior chemistry student Christopher Hansen.  After a campus tour, students toured Belmont’s lab facilities with College of Sciences and Mathematics Dean Dr. Thom Spence.

This is the third time that AP Chemistry teacher Kevin Vaughn has brought students to this event.  Although acid-base chemistry will not be covered in his curriculum until the spring semester, Vaughn stated that the “easy-to-understand explanation of acid-base chemistry was well received by my students, and they truly enjoyed themselves.”

Knowing that schools sequence their course materials in different ways, Garrett works to gear each pre-lab discussion to the group she’s working with. “No matter where students are in their chemistry learning sequence, I love having the opportunity to work with students like Mr. Vaughn’s – engaged, eager to ask and answer questions and eager to learn new material,” she said.

A second workshop will be hosted later this semester for AP chemistry students from Christ Presbyterian Academy.

Students Named March of Dimes “Nursing Student of the Year”

Hope Buckner
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Students Named March of Dimes “Nursing Student of the Year”

Two Belmont nursing students, graduate student Jaanki Bhakta and undergraduate student Grace Waters, received March of Dimes Nursing Student of the Year Awards at the March of Dimes Nurse of the Year Awards Banquet held on Belmont’s campus today.

Bhakta, a BSN-DNP student, is a member of the Graduate Affairs Committee and serves as a program recruitment volunteer where she organized a student panel to answer prospective student questions. While on campus, she has been very engaged throughout the program as she has organized tutor/study groups and has volunteered for the Patient Design Challenge. In the community, she serves as a volunteer for Room in the Inn and The Next Door.

Waters is the past president of SNA, the Student Nurses Association, a peer tutor and a Bruin Recruiter. Additionally, she serves on the College of Health Sciences and Nursing’s Dean’s Student Advisory Council, is a member of Kappa Alpha Theta and serves on the Sisterhood Committee and is an active member of The Village Chapel. She has also traveled to China where she participated in a mission trip and studied abroad in Geneva.

Associate Dean of Nursing Dr. Martha Buckner said, “Both of these students are true leaders in and out of the classroom. We are so proud of their accomplishments.”

Alumni, Students Star in Local Production of ‘Disney’s The Little Mermaid’

April Hefner
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Alumni, Students Star in Local Production of ‘Disney’s The Little Mermaid’
Catherine Birdsong as Ariel; Photo by Michael Scott Evans
Catherine Birdsong as Ariel; Photo by Michael Scott Evans

Belmont alumni Catherine Birdsong (“Ariel”), Piper Jones (“Ursula”) and Isaac Brotzman (“Scuttle”), along with current students Lexie McEntire and Jack Tanzi, are appearing in the upcoming run of “Disney’s The Little Mermaid” production at Nashville Children’s Theatre. Nashville Children’s Theatre (NCT) is the nation’s oldest professional theatre for young audiences and the largest theatre in Middle Tennessee.

Birdsong, a graduate of Belmont’s musical theatre program, will play the lead role of Ariel in the production. “The Little Mermaid was the first movie I saw in the theater,” she said. “From that first viewing I have identified with Ariel’s sense of adventure and her ability to dream big. It’s not often that we see our childhood dreams play out in adulthood, and I am so grateful to have the opportunity to bring my favorite princess to life at NCT.”

Pictured above are the Belmont actors at a recent rehearsal for the show: (l-r) Birdsong (2010, musical theatre), Tanzi (senior, theatre and education), McEntire (senior, musical theatre), Brotzman (2016, musical theatre) and Jones (2012, commercial music).

“Disney’s The Little Mermaid” has music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater, and book by Doug Wright. The musical runs at NCT from November 8 – December 23, 2018. Single tickets are on sale now and available by calling NCT’s box office at 615-252-4675 or visiting NashvilleCT.org. All performances take place at The Martin Center for Nashville Children’s Theatre, 25 Middleton Street, Nashville. Free parking is available on site.

Belmont Student Colton Smith Competes on NBC’s ‘The Voice’

Staff Writer
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Belmont Student Colton Smith Competes on NBC’s ‘The Voice’
Colton Smith headshot
(Photo: NBC/The Voice)

On this season of NBC’s “The Voice,” Belmont student Colton Smith is competing for the opportunity to be the next winner. As a talented singer, Smith was able to use his voice to wow the judges into voting for him. Coach Jennifer Hudson originally selected Smith to be on her team after he performed “Alive” by Sia during the audition rounds of the show.

Following a duet “battle” with another contestant, Hudson chose to eliminate Smith. But that did not mean his time on the show was over. After hearing Smith sing “God Gave Me You,” coach Blake Shelton stole Smith, giving him another chance on the show.

Smith does not take the his opportunities on “The Voice” lightly, as he feels singing is something he has worked hard at his entire life. His chance to work with artists like Hudson and Shelton has also been exciting for him. “I feel so blessed and honored to have been selected for the show,” said Smith. “It has been such an amazing experience so far. I would do it again 10,000 times!”

Originally from Albertville, Alabama, Smith is a commercial voice major with an emphasis in music business at Belmont. He is involved in several ensembles on campus including the Beltones and Company. Smith credits his involvement with these groups for instilling in him the ability to communicate well with other artists. “I am a perfectionist,” Smith said, “so I cherish the values and skills that the leaders of each of those groups instilled in me.”

As for what is next in Smith’s music career, he has some of his own original songs he’d like to one day release as well as tour and perform across the country. Smith’s interests don’t stop at simply singing; he also has a passion for musical theater that he someday hopes to explore.

Nov. 6, 2018 Update:
Though eliminated in last night’s Knockout Round, Smith was “stolen” back by his original coach, Jennifer Hudson, and will compete in the show’s Live Playoffs, which begin next week.

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