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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Librarians Volunteer at Local Business

Hope Buckner
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Librarians Volunteer at Local Business

A Belmont librarian volunteers his time at a local library.Zach Quint, cataloging and metadata librarian and Lina Sheahan, music librarian, volunteered this summer at the Page Duke Landscape Architecture firm on Music Row. Page Duke holds a collection of more than 400 books on landscape architecture, architecture, design and fashion.

The collection also includes unique items related to the southern region that the firm uses on local and regional projects. The two spent their time cleaning and organizing the library, adding records to the online cataloging system and labeling each book they cataloged.

Campus Preps to Go Dark on Aug. 21 for Once-in-a-Lifetime Solar Eclipse

April Hefner
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Campus Preps to Go Dark on Aug. 21 for Once-in-a-Lifetime Solar Eclipse

While the first day of classes is just around the corner, there’s another event creeping up on the calendar catching the attention of students, faculty and staff. On Monday afternoon, Aug. 21, Belmont will host a campus-wide educational event to celebrate a once-in-a-lifetime total solar eclipse that’s making headlines across the nation.

A total solar eclipse–when the moon passes in front of the sun in such a way as to completely block light to the earth–doesn’t occur every day. In fact, the last time Nashville was in what’s referenced as the “path of totality” of a solar eclipse was July 29, 1478. Yep, you read that right. The last time a total solar eclipse was visible in middle Tennessee was 14 years before Columbus landed in America.

Students on the lawn, preparing for the eclipse viewing.However, for nearly two minutes on Aug. 21–from 1:27-1:29 p.m.–Nashville will go completely dark as the path of the eclipse cuts across the state. As the largest metropolitan area in the path of totality, Music City is anticipating significant upticks in visitors as locations across the region host viewing parties and events. Belmont will join the fun by providing Solar Eclipse viewing glasses for everyone on campus along with special music and guest speakers on the Lawn in the hour prior to the event. Approximately 300 high school students will also be on campus to learn more about the eclipse from Belmont faculty.

Dr. Thom Spence, dean of Belmont’s College of Science and Mathematics, said, “This is an incredibly exciting event and truly represents something most of us will never have the opportunity to see again. Partial eclipses are cool, but the visuals and experience of a total eclipse is unlike anything else. Normally, we can only see out into the cosmos at night when the earth shields us from the sun. It is only during a total solar eclipse that humans can observe the universe by staring back through the center of our own solar system.”

Spence went onto to note that during the event, no fewer than four planets will be visible with Venus and Jupiter being  two of the brightest objects in the sky. The observable stars will be those normally seen in late February. In addition, as the sun disappears, the irregularity of the cratered edge of the moon will be apparent and, for a couple of seconds, a “diamond ring” pattern will appear as the last bit of sun goes behind the moon. At this point, the sun’s irregular corona will be visible ringing the moon and the entire horizon will take on a sunset-like appearance. Spence added, “It will be an amazing display. Totality will only last for only around 100 seconds so take in the sights!”

The Eclipse glasses!But viewing the eclipse in all its beauty also requires taking the proper precautions. As noted on the VisitMusicCity.com Eclipse site, “Before you look at anything, make sure you have approved solar glasses or solar shades handy. During the partial phases, it is NOT SAFE to look at the Sun with anything other than these. Sunglasses aren’t enough – nothing but approved solar glasses will work.” Belmont has ordered 10,000 solar shades that will be handed out for free to students, faculty, staff and guests for the August 21 viewing on The Lawn.

Spence said, “The lenses in our eyes can efficiently focus even a sliver of sunlight into a damaging beam than will permanently scar our retinas so it is vitally important to use proper viewing equipment until the eclipse has reached totality. We will be using a horn to alert viewers that it is OK to remove  viewing glasses and when it is time to put them back on. It is perfectly OK to take your glasses off and look at all of the other things going on before and after totality like the darkening of the sky, the changes in color at the horizon, stars, etc.  Just remember to not look directly at the sun until it is completely blocked by the moon.”

The VisitMusicCity site also notes that special filters need to be used on any cameras attempting to capture photos of the eclipse as it is also dangerous to view the eclipse through a camera lens alone.

And the next solar eclipse? While partial eclipses are more common and several states will get a view of a total solar eclipse in 2024, Nashville won’t be in the “path of totality” again until 2566. One more reason to save the date now for August 21 on the Lawn.

 

Garrett Published in The Chemical Educator

Hope Buckner
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Garrett Published in The Chemical Educator

Danielle Garrett HeadshotDr. Maria Danielle Garrett, assistant professor of chemistry education, recently published an article titled “Wavelength Analysis of LEDs using Handheld Spectroscopes” in The Chemical Educator, a peer-reviewed journal that focuses on laboratory experimentation and teaching methods.

The article stemmed from her work with 4th grade students through the American Chemical Society Science Coaches program. This work gave Garrett the unique opportunity to collaborate with her father, Jack B. Garrett, PE, a licensed professional engineer with more than 20 years of mechanical engineering experience, who currently serves as vice president of capital asset management for HCP Incorporated in Franklin, Tennessee.

Murphree Busy with Summer Bug Activities

Hope Buckner
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Murphree Busy with Summer Bug Activities

Dr. Steve Murphree, professor or biology and entomologist, has had a busy summer full of bug-related activities. Murphree’s recent activities include:

  • Insect presentations at the Murfreesboro Bug Hunter’s Cub Scout Day Camp, the McKendree United Methodist Church Preschool and Montessori Centre.
  • A presentation on Civil War medicine, insects and diseases to children enrolled in the School of the Soldier summer day camp and the Natural History summer day camp at the Historic Sam Davis Home and Plantation.
  • at the Historic Sam Davis Home and Plantation
  • A Tennessee Naturalist Program workshop at Cedars of Lebanon State Park titled Invertebrates: Pollinators, Predators, Pests and Parasites
  • Assisting with the annual Insects of the Night program at the Warner Park Nature Center in Nashville.

Additionally, Murphree hosted his annual Beetles, Bugs and Butterflies summer day camps for rising 1st through 6th graders on Belmont’s campus all throughout the summer. Murphree said “I have provided events to hundreds of children throughout the years, and it has been a privilege to meet young people who are interested in insects and spiders.”

Dr. Adrianne Archie Named Assistant Dean and Director of Leadership Development at Belmont University

Hope Buckner
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Adrianne Archie Head ShotFollowing a lengthy nationwide search, Belmont University recently announced that Dr. Adrianne Archie has been named as the University’s assistant dean and director of leadership development, a newly created position. Archie will begin her position at Belmont on August 22.

A Louisville, Kentucky native, Archie has more than 16 years of experience and education in leadership, teaching, development and management. Throughout her career, Archie has served in a variety of roles within the nonprofit sector including managing young adult and college ministries, serving as a missionary and volunteer teacher abroad and working as an AmeriCorps Volunteer in Service to America (VISTA) before earning her Doctorate in Education in Learning Organizations and Strategic Change. Most recently, Archie served as executive director of Homework Hotline where she managed and provided tutoring to 5,000+ Tennessee students and parents, managed budgetary and strategic planning endeavors and oversaw the organization’s volunteer and development operations.

Seeing Belmont’s mission, vision and values as a reflection of her own, Archie said she is excited to begin her new role on campus. “I believe every individual has the ability to be a great leader,” she said. “Belmont recognizes the need for each student to be equipped with the necessary leadership skills, experience and resources to effectively engage and transform the world. I am passionate about empowering and developing others and will work diligently with the administration and staff to optimize and create leadership opportunities for all students.”

In her new role on campus, Archie will be responsible for developing, implementing and administering a campus-wide leadership development program for all students, assisting in providing support and direction to Belmont’s more than 165 student organizations and managing the Office of Leadership Development. “We are very excited to have Dr. Archie join our Belmont team,” Dean of Students Dr. Jeffery Burgin said. “She is very engaging, authentic and desirous of working collaboratively with Academic Affairs and community partners. She understands the importance of faith in the Belmont environment and how that can shape the student experience. Her ability to lead and work in the development of young people has been demonstrated throughout her career and brings me great excitement.”

Student Travels Tennessee to Capture Powerful Stories

Hope Buckner
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Student Travels Tennessee to Capture Powerful Stories

Crystal Lemus travels Tennessee for her work with TBI survivorsBelmont junior and neuroscience major Crystal Lemus will spend the last few weeks of her summer working for The Brain Injury Association (BIA) of Tennessee where she is assisting with one of the organization’s publications. Focused on the everyday life of traumatic brain injury (TBI) survivors, the publication seeks to share powerful stories and make the general public more aware of TBIs and their impact. In this role, Lemus is traveling the state, through a travel grant, to gather stories and share mental health information and resources.

Lemus got involved with the association through her work as a research intern at Vanderbilt’s Psychiatric Lab. With goals surrounding education and support of Tennessee’s TBI survivors, promoting awareness, peer mentoring and more, Lemus started her work with BIA in a fundraising and funding research role. Thanks to her success, she was given the opportunity to be the organization’s primary administrative writer, lead support groups, contribute to mental health curriculum and travel the state to collect survivor stories.

“Advocating for mental health has always been one of my top priorities,” Lemus said. “The more people I am able to reach, the better. Mental health is a real issue, and the world needs to know just how much importance is weighed on the matter.”

After graduation, Lemus said she hopes to go on to medical school and become a physician, all the while advocating for mental health. With these goals in mind, the opportunity to work along BIA was a perfect fit. “Not only am I learning more about mental health and traumatic brain injuries,” she said, “But I am also being exposed to legislation and current policy concerning healthcare. This information is a need to all pursuing medicine. To be well-rounded, we must be up to date on healthcare policies, and this is my way of maintaining my exposure.”

Though the opportunity to learn more and more about her future career field is a significant benefit, Lemus said the biggest reason she took this opportunity was to express her love for people. “Wherever the art of medicine is love, there is also a love of humanity,” she said. “Through this project, my main goal is to advocate for a more humanistic approach to traumatic brain injuries.”

Lemus’s work was recently featured in an article she wrote for the Robertson County Connection. Click here for the full article.

Adams Attends Dietary Supplement Research Practicum

Hope Buckner
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Adams Attends Dietary Supplement Research Practicum

Jamie Adam Head ShotDr. Jamie Adam, associate professor in the School of Nursing, was selected to participate in the Mary Frances Picciano Dietary Supplement Research Practicum held at the National Institutes of Health earlier this summer. The practicum experience is an intensive educational opportunity designed for faculty and practitioners within dietary supplement education and research. Participant selection is competitive and open to faculty, graduate students and research practitioners in health-related disciplines including nutrition, food science, pharmacy, pharmacology and pharmacognosy, exercise science and kinesiology, medicine, dentistry, nursing and complementary and alternative medicine.

During the practicum, Adam heard directly from key stakeholders including representatives from the dietary supplement industry, consumer advocacy groups and the media. The practicum faculty consisted of experts from the National Institute of Health, academic institutions, federal regulatory like the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and more.

Associate Dean of the School of Nursing Dr. Martha Buckner said, “Dr. Adam’s selection for this opportunity is a reflection of her great work in teaching pharmacology for nursing students for the past several years. Her participation will provide direct benefit to our students and faculty in understanding the complexities of supplement use among our population, the associated quality, safety, and regulatory framework.”

Third Annual ‘Battle of the Belmont Bands and Family Fun Festival’ Set for Aug. 26

April Hefner
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Third Annual ‘Battle of the Belmont Bands and Family Fun Festival’ Set for Aug. 26

Belmont University will kick off the 2017-18 academic year with a family-friendly music festival on Sat., Aug. 26 featuring exclusively student and alumni talent. The event will begin on The Lawn at 5 p.m. with an event designed for Bruins of all ages. Children’s activities will be held on the patio in front of McWhorter Hall, including face painting, balloon animals, inflatables,illusionist performances and more. Plus, a number of popular community food trucks will be on hand, stationed along the Lawn, to provide refreshments, and numerous arts, crafts and boutique vendors will be set up around the Lawn to welcome back alumni and friends and sell artist merchandise.

At 6 p.m., music performances kick off with the annual “Battle of the Belmont Bands” contest as selected student bands compete in front of a panel of industry experts in the audience to determine a winner. Those judges are organized by Musician’s Corner, the annual concert series in Centennial Park to promote emerging artists, which then invites the winner to perform at an upcoming concert.

This free event is open to the public, and parking is available on the north side of campus in the Inman/McWhorter Garage, the Ayers Garage and the Baskin Garage, all of which can be viewed on the Campus Map.

 

 

Motion Pictures Alumna Screens Film at CineArtistry

Hope Buckner
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Motion Pictures Alumna Screens Film at CineArtistry

Bethany Brinton, a recent Belmont graduate, recently screened her short film “My Practice,” as part of a bi-monthly series by CineArtistry, a group that promotes indie filmmaking. Brinton created the short as her senior capstone project for her degree in motion pictures, highlighting the combination of her two passions–music and film. Brinton also earned a degree in commercial music while at Belmont.

The screening, which included four shorts, took place at the Secret Rose Theater in North Hollywood. A facilitator hosted a question and answer session with the filmmakers after the showings. “I was so happy to screen my short for an audience and have my hard work pay off,” Brinton said. “It was received very well!”

Having lived in LA for the last year, Brinton said she’s been honored to learn more about her industry and have the opportunity to continue storytelling. “Living in LA has been great,” she said. “I’m hugely grateful to all the fellow students who helped make this film happen.”

 

Students Earn Top Marks at National Association of Teachers of Singing Competition

Hope Buckner
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Students Earn Top Marks at National Association of Teachers of Singing Competition

Four Belmont students recently competed in the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) semifinals, the most students Belmont has ever had to make it to this level of NATS competition and one student, Alex Wunder, won first place in his division, underclassmen men. In addition to Wunder, Belmont’s participants included Nick Branson, Melissa Starkweather and Jeff Tarver. To reach the semifinals, these students participated in the organization’s regional auditions which were hosted on Belmont’s campus in the spring.

Each region’s top five finalists then send performance videos to NATS for national semifinals consideration. Videos are then evaluated by voice teachers across the country, and only the top 15 are invited to the semifinals.

Participating students pose for the camera
Semi-finalists (L to R) Tarver, Starkweather and Branson enjoying beautiful downtown Boulder

At the event, singers perform a variety of repertoire pieces consisting of operatic arias, art songs or oratorio arias. After performing in the semifinals, Wunder was selected to competed in the finals and won first place in his division. This is the first time in four years that Belmont has had a first place winner.

Coordinator of Vocal Studies and Associate Professor of Voice Dr. Mark Whatley said, “This is a wonderful accomplishment for our students to have earned. They all gained valuable experience by auditioning and spending time in a competitive environment outside of Belmont. This also provides an opportunity to meet teachers and students from all across the country, making those all-important connections that are so critical to having a career in music.”

Above image (L to R): Wunder and Whatley

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