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

Home Blog Page 246

Arbor Day Foundation Recognizes Belmont as a Tree Campus USA®

Staff Writer
-
0
Arbor Day Foundation Recognizes Belmont as a Tree Campus USA®

The Arbor Day Foundation recently honored Belmont University for its conservation efforts and its commitment to effective urban forest management by recognizing it as a Tree Campus USA® for 2017. This is Belmont’s 4th consecutive year receiving the recognition.

Tree Campus USA® is a national program that honors colleges and universities committed to engaging staff and students in conservation goals. The program is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. Belmont achieved the title by meeting the programs’ five standards which include maintaining a tree advisory committee, having a campus tree care plan, dedicating annual expenditures for its campus tree program, having an Arbor Day observance and engaging students in a related service-learning project.

The Arbor Day Foundation has helped campuses throughout the country plant thousands of trees, and Tree Campus USA colleges and universities invested more than $48 million in campus forest management last year.

Belmont is committed to its campus-wide sustainability efforts and has a number of green initiatives that contribute to campus conservation including LEED certified buildings, educational and sustainable green roofs, geothermal heating and cooling systems and its Tennessee arboretum designation. In addition, Belmont continues to celebrate its Conservation Covenant, a campus-wide initiative that recognizes the University’s existing sustainability efforts and challenges campus to take the covenant even further.

This year, Belmont students, faculty and staff will continue in their charge by celebrating Earth Day 2018 in a number of ways including a week-long celebration leading up to the big day.

Belmont Vision Sweeps Awards at Southeast Journalism Conference 2018

Staff Writer
-
0
Belmont Vision Sweeps Awards at Southeast Journalism Conference 2018

The Belmont Vision won many awards at the annual Southeast Journalism Conference last week at Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas. The conference consisted of 45 schools from across the Southeast, 30 of which submitted 412 entries, according to 2017 Best of the South Report. Eleven members of the Belmont Vision staff attended the conference and took home nine awards in the Best of the South Competition for content posted on their website from November 2016 – November 2017.

Individual winners include:

  • Zach Gilchriest, 4th place, College Journalist of the Year and 6th place, Best News Writer
  • Bronte Lebo – 5th place, Best Feature Writer and 3rd place, News Writing
  • Sara Scannel – 6th place, Best Public Service Journalism
  • Melissa Kriz – 2nd place, Best Opinion-Editorial Writer and 2nd place, Copy Editing
  • Paris Lawson – 8th place, Best Sports Writer
  • Hunter Morgan – 4th place, Best Press Photographer
  • Rebecca Arnold – 2nd place, Best Special Events Reporter
  • Jason Saitta – 1st place, Radio News Reporting
  • Caroline Cathey and Aggie Smith – tied 3rd, TV News Reporting

“Finding the In-Between,” a podcast run by the Belmont Vision that focuses on sharing the stories of the Belmont community, won 2nd place for Best College Audio News Program, Vision staffers won five awards for on-site competitions at the conference, and The Vision also won 4th place for Best Overall.

Ippenson Named Blue Ribbon Recipient

Staff Writer
-
0
Ippenson Named Blue Ribbon Recipient

Ippensen HeadshotBelmont Masters of Arts in English student Katelyn Ippensen was one of 50 educators honored with a Blue Ribbon Teacher award this year. This program aims to recognize top teaching talent in Metro Nashville public schools. Winners this year include those recognized for their outstanding work in literacy instruction, support of English Language Learners, and teacher leadership.

Those honored will be recognized at a reception in March and celebrated through a month-long city advertising campaign.

Belmont Welcomes Neighbors for 10th Annual Community Day

Staff Writer
-
0
Belmont Welcomes Neighbors for 10th Annual Community Day

The Curb Event Center was full last night as more than 3,000 people from Belmont and the surrounding community flooded its seats to watch the Belmont Bruins men’s basketball team defeat Eastern Kentucky (84-73) and women’s basketball achieve an astounding 95-62 win against the same opponent.  Community centers, elementary schools, nonprofits, senior citizens and more attended the event, and families from the Belmont neighborhood claimed tickets to cheer the Bruins to victory.

kids cheering from the basketball stands, holding signs with the number 3As a showing of gratitude to its neighbors, the annual event featured a balloon artist, face painter,  entertainment and more. Some of the city’s favorite mascots were also in attendance to celebrate Bruiser’s birthday. This year’s host partner was Google Fiber.

Additionally, Dalmation Creative Agency donated t-shirts with the event logo to the first 70 guests to arrive. All of those attending were offered the opportunity to register to vote, learn about proposed improvements to Nashville’s transit system and give their opinions on services and programs they would like offered at the Easley Community Center in Rose Park.

Holding onto last year’s impressive turnout, Metro Parks had the most attendance of any group, followed by Knowledge Academy and Eakin Elementary. Gray Line Tennessee also deserves thanks for providing transportation for seniors from five different senior housing sites.

Family standing in front of balloons, smilingBefore the Bruins took the court, the game ball was presented to Senator Steve Dickerson, and Pastor Jeremy Maynard of Southside Community Church opened the event with a word of prayer.

Director of Community Relations Joyce Searcy said the event is one of the best parts of what she does. “We are so grateful to the members of our community, and as ‘Nashville’s University,’ it’s our honor to spend time with those who live in our neighborhood,” Searcy said. “It’s a team effort, and I couldn’t be more pleased with this year’s event. From those who cooked hot dogs, to the students who cheered alongside our guests–we do this for the community. And we’re so happy to be able to continue doing it.”

Searcy and her team bustled around campus all night greeting buses filled with excited children, scooping popcorn and handing out tickets. Student volunteer chairs Sophie Moll and Sydney Prichard, along with 30 other volunteers, ensured that all the night’s guests had a fun experience. As each attendee left for the night, the Community Day team’s words were heard all across campus–“see you next year!”

Belmont Achieves Highest-Ever Career Outcomes Rate

April Hefner
-
0
Belmont Achieves Highest-Ever Career Outcomes Rate

History of strong first destination numbers signals value of Belmont education 

Time to celebrate!

When a University defines its purpose as helping “students explore their passions and develop their talents to meet the world’s needs,” ensuring meaningful outcomes is paramount. Those outcomes, often referenced as an institution’s “First Destination Rate,” measure the percentage of graduates who secure employment, enroll in graduate school or enlist in military service within six months of graduation

For Belmont, which draws that information from student and alumni surveys, the most recent rate is 94 percent, significantly higher than the national average and the strongest number to date the University has achieved.

Mary Claire Dismukes, director of the Office of Career & Professional Development, said, “Belmont graduates are in demand. More than 75 percent of graduates complete at least one internship during their educational experience and the majority of students complete more than one.  We believe this practical experience along with the excellent teaching students receive in the classroom enhances their career readiness. Employers continually tell me that Belmont students stand out for their awareness, curiosity, determination, moral compass and contributions to the team.”

Elizabeth Ann FellRecent graduate Elly Fell certainly fits that description. A double major in mathematics and music with a minor in business administration, Fell landed a position as an actuarial analyst for a Nashville firm. She helps prepare analyses for casualty lines of insurance coverage such as workers compensation, general liability and automobile liability.

Fell noted that the Career and Professional Development team, specifically Rachel Walden, helped her fine tune her resume and prepare for job interviews. In addition, “The well-rounded liberal arts education I received from Belmont, as well as my involvement in organizations such as Belmont Actuarial Student Society, provided me with the communication and technical skills necessary to succeed in the workforce.”

Belmont’s Career Development Team consists of experienced professionals who offer individualized assistance to current Belmont students and graduates. They partner with a number of local and national employers to connect individuals to job opportunities. From organizing large-scale career fairs to meeting one-on-one with current students and graduates seeking professional career coaching, the Career Development staff plays a critical role in Belmont’s efforts to promote the best possible outcomes for students’ education.

The Office of Career & Professional Development is dedicated to focused engagement with students and graduates. Staff specialize in majors and industries based on career clusters, working directly with specific colleges across campus, an effort that allows them to tailor their services to students and graduates as well as connect with employer partners in related fields. And the office’s functions span a wide range of activities as they encourage career exploration, develop educational and professional partnerships and provide intentional career development programming.

Want to know more about the programs and application process for Belmont University? Visit the Admissions website. 

Study Abroad Director, Maymester Faculty Published in Journal

Staff Writer
-
0
Study Abroad Director, Maymester Faculty Published in Journal

Dr. Thandi Dinani, Belmont study abroad director, and Drs. Mitch McCoy and Sally Holt, Belmont faculty who lead the Belmont in Spain – World Religion and Identities Maymester in Spain, recently had articles published in the journal “Frontiers: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Study Abroad.”

Dinani’s article, “Faith Development While Abroad Amongst African American Students,” explores scenarios of students exploring their faith while studying abroad. The article also describes how study abroad programs provide opportunities for self-exploration and personal development, enhance cognitive and affective skills and increase cultural empathy and intercultural awareness of participants. Studying abroad has been marked as a natural transition period (similar to leaving home for college, traveling or moving from one community) that provide students opportunities to interrupt reliance on external authorities and reflect on their own value systems and beliefs.

McCoy, assistant professor in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, and Holt, professor in the College of Theology and Christian Ministry, co-authored “Convivencia, Abrahamic Religions and Study Abroad in Spain,” which details the genesis and evolution of their annual Maymester study abroad program.  It describes how they weave international travel with carefully selected readings and classroom discussions to introduce students to the concept of ‘convivencia,’ the living together of Jews, Christians and Muslims in medieval Iberia. Additionally the article considers how Iberian religious plurality influenced daily life and sacred spaces, how it shaped individual and collective identities and how it challenged notions of hospitality and tolerance.

“Frontiers: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Study Abroad” is an open-access, peer-reviewed academic journal that communicates the latest research on education abroad within a multi-disciplinary forum to reflect on critical issues and concerns for academics and professional practitioners. It is published by The Forum on Education Abroad.

Belmont Hosts Metro Minority Caucus 13th Anniversary Reception

Hope Buckner
-
0
Belmont Hosts Metro Minority Caucus 13th Anniversary Reception

Belmont University served as the site for the Metropolitan Minority Caucus’s 13th Anniversary Reception on Monday, February 12 where government officials, local business owners and community leaders celebrated the event’s honorees. The event’s Keynote Speaker was Miramar, Florida Mayor Wayne M. Messam, President of the National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials.

This year’s event recognized State Senator Thelma Harper and Former Metro Councilwoman Lois Jordan. Awards were presented by Councilmember Jacobia Dowell.

Belmont students enrolled in Dr. Mitch McCoy’s Spanish class served as event hosts.

Belmont Entrepreneurship Program Featured in Seventeen Magazine

Staff Writer
-
0
Belmont Entrepreneurship Program Featured in Seventeen Magazine

Belmont University was given a shout-out in the latest edition of Seventeen Magazine as Best College for Business Majors. The article reads, “Getting ready to make your mark on the world? Consider your passion, then check out these schools that can help you reach your goals.” It then goes into detail about this year’s student-run shops House Of and Boulevard Record Shop and this year’s Entrepreneur-in-residence, Victoria Kopyar.

Indeed, Seventeen Magazine was right to call Belmont’s entrepreneurship program a Best College for Business. The program has been named one of the Top 25 Undergraduate Entrepreneurship Programs in the country by “The Princeton Review” and has also been recognized as a National Model Undergraduate Program for Entrepreneurship Education by the United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (USASBE). In 2010, the program was featured as one of five schools to consider when studying entrepreneurship by “Fortune” magazine.

Belmont also offers its students The Hatchery, an office environment providing resources and support to help students develop their own entrepreneurial ventures. These resources also include free legal clinics, accounting clinics and practicing entrepreneur roundtables. Students are advised by faculty, staff and local entrepreneurs, as well as the school’s Entrepreneur-in-Residence.

This year’s Entrepreneur-in-Residence, Victoria Kopyar, is the founder of women’s golf and activewear clothing brand VK Sport, LLC. She offers one-on-one advising and support and acts as a bridge between Belmont students and the larger Nashville community by bringing in speakers, setting up students with mentors and engaging students through other events in the area.

To learn more about Belmont’s Entrepreneurship program, click here.

Olympian, Former WNBA Player Chamique Holdsclaw Encourages Students to ‘Play Like a Girl’

April Hefner
-
0
Olympian, Former WNBA Player Chamique Holdsclaw Encourages Students to ‘Play Like a Girl’

Gold-medal winning Olympian and former WNBA player Chamique Holdsclaw visited campus last week, speaking to students in a convo co-sponsored with Athletics and the Counseling Center and participating in a luncheon focused on women in sports. The University of Tennessee graduate and former Lady Vol discussed her journey from a broken home to basketball super-stardom, offering insights on her struggles with mental illness and often-difficult path to recovery.

Following her parents’ separation, Holdsclaw grew up in New York City and was raised by her grandmother in the inner city. Though she was teased for being the only girl playing with the boys, Holdsclaw embraced basketball as an outlet and began attracting the attention of college coaches and recruiters.

While she selected a handful of schools that were of interest, it was legendary Tennessee Coach Pat Summit who made the biggest impression. “Other coaches promised I would start, but she promised that I would graduate because she wanted to keep her 100 percent graduation rate!” Holdsclaw recalled with a laugh. “That’s when my grandmother said, ‘You’re going to Tennessee!”

Growing up in the city and moving to middle Tennessee brought a tremendous amount of culture shock, particularly the lack of diversity she encountered. But Coach Summit emphasized, “This is a family. This is a sisterhood. When I told your grandmother that I was going to take care of you, I meant I was going to take care of you.”

The close relationship Holdsclaw held with Summit, who died in 2016, was evident throughout her remarks, particularly  as she recounted her personal difficulties and the constant wise presence her coach consistently offered. Still, she realized in college that the depression and anxiety that first arose in her as a child was becoming a problem beyond what she could manage on her own. Though it took years–and many wrong steps along the way–Holdsclaw has now been correctly diagnosed and treated for bipolar disorder. Her recovery is ongoing, and it’s led her to a new career as a passionate advocate for others battling the same issues. She now openly and discusses her journey, despite frequent pressure to return to the game as a coach or broadcaster.

“I know who I am and I am confident in that… I worked my butt off for athletics. It’s applying that attitude to my life, my wellness. No one should make you feel bad for working to be the best you you can be.”

Holdsclaw will be inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in June.

Holdsclaw was in Nashville to do a screening of her documentary, “Mind/Game: The Unquiet Journey of Chamique Holdsclaw,” followed by discussion and Q&A as part of the 2018 Play Like a Girl Summit, which was held on Belmont’s campus. Since 2004, Play Like a Girl has built a network of clubs and events that has served more than 100,000 girls nationwide. The organization seeks to help girls aged 9-13 find the courage to do things beyond the field of play that they never thought they could. Play Like a Girl operates on the belief that when girls are given the opportunity to play on a team, they become women who have the confidence to stand on their own.

Belmont Law Hosts Panel on ‘Managing Risk and Creating Opportunity’

April Hefner
-
0
Belmont Law Hosts Panel on ‘Managing Risk and Creating Opportunity’

Spicer Rudstrom, PLLC and the Association of Corporate Counsel – Middle Tennessee recently hosted a panel discussion entitled “Managing Risk and Creating Opportunity” at Belmont University College of Law. Panelists discussed 2018 changes to tax law, and the resulting implications for business, IT compliance, insurance, cross border considerations and crisis management. Belmont Law Dean Alberto Gonzales gave a warm welcome address to begin the session. Event sponsors also included the Association of Corporate Counsel – International Legal Affairs Committee, the International Society of Primerus Law Firms Client Resource Institute and Belmont Law.

(Pictured above back row L-R: Caroline Lafourcade (Gordon Arata Montgomery Barnett), Brian Wagner (Mateer & Harbert, P.A.), David Keil (Century II) & LaBella Alvis (Christian & Small LLP), front row L-R: Jeff Horst (Krevolin & Horst, LLC), Horace Green (Buchman Provine Brothers Smith LLP), Brent Usery (Spicer Rudstrom, PLLC) & Randy Bennett (Technicolor Group), not pictured Devin Buford (First Tennessee Bank) & Mike Baas (Van Meter Insurance Group))

 

1...245246247...887Page 246 of 887
Belmont University Logo | News & Media

CONTACT US

University Marketing and Communications
615-460-6650
communication@belmont.edu

FOLLOW US

Secret Link