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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Student Wins LaunchTN Pitch Competition

Hope Buckner
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Student Wins LaunchTN Pitch Competition

Belmont student and entrepreneurship major Sara Beth Perry recently participated in LaunchTN’s 36|86 Student Pitch Competition and won in her category, Technology Enabled, earning her $15,000. With the Band, Perry’s startup, is a platform that allows devoted fans, new artists, songwriters and established artists the opportunity to engage and connect in a collaborative way.

Belmont was also represented by two other teams including Annabelle Bright and Jacob Kissamiss, Bloom Brightly Paper Co., in the Consumer Goods/Services category and Alex Wieseler, a current MBA student, who pitched PATH EX in the Commercialized Technology category and won.

Last fall, Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship Elizabeth Gortmaker applied to become a LaunchTN University Venture Challenge partner and received the largest partnership amount from the organization which sponsored Belmont’s recent Business Plan Competition. As a UVC partner, the winners from Belmont’s competition could apply to pitch at 36|86, LaunchTN’s premiere technology event. With the Band and Bloom Brightly Paper Co. were both chosen to pitch at the event.

Gortmaker said, “LaunchTN’s 36/86 Conference is a great opportunity for entrepreneurs to network and learn. We were thrilled to have four Belmont students selected to pitch their businesses this year. The students selected to pitch represented the best of the best from universities around the state, and having representation in three of the 13 selected businesses shows the fantastic work our students are doing.”

(Featured image L to R: Gortmaker and Perry pose with Perry’s check.)

 

Murray Included in Oxford University Press Virtual Anthology, Serves as Chawton House Library Visiting Fellow

Hope Buckner
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Murray Included in Oxford University Press Virtual Anthology, Serves as Chawton House Library Visiting Fellow
Dr. Douglas Murray poses with a collection of books inside Chawton
Murray inside Chawton’s Fellow Reading Room

In honor of the bicentennial of Jane Austen’s death, the Oxford University Press (OUP) has created a virtual anthology of recent work on Austen, including an essay by Professor of English Dr. Douglas Murray. All of the essays appeared in Review of English Studies, the OUP’s flagship journal of historical criticism.

The editor’s introduction to Murray essay said, “History for Austen also discloses more than her characters know. In ‘Donwell Abbey and Box Hill: Purity and Danger in Jane Austen’s Emma’, Douglas Murray re-reads Emma in light of techniques adopted from cultural and historical geography, with particular focus on Box Hill’s long-established identity as a site of social conflict and transgressive acts.”

To view the anthology, click here.

The exterior of Chawton
The exterior of Chawton

Additionally, during the month of June, Murray is serving as a Visiting Fellow at the Chawton House Library in Hampshire, England. The Chawton estate was owned by Austen’s brother Edward and she revised or drafted all six of her novels in a cottage in Chawton Village. During the last two decades, Edward’s manor house has become a preeminent center for the study of women’s writing from 1600-1830.

 

 

 

Massey Alumni Graduate from Inaugural Young Leaders Council Partnership

Hope Buckner
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Massey Alumni Graduate from Inaugural Young Leaders Council Partnership

Young Leaders Council (YLC), a Nashville-based nonprofit organization that has trained more than 2,500 men and women to effectively participate on the boards of nonprofit agencies since 1985, recently announced the graduates of its inaugural partnership with Belmont’s Jack C. Massey Graduate School of Business. The Massey alumni who have completed 28 hours of leadership training include Kurt Alexander, Touchstone Medical Imaging, Mark DeYoung, Alfa Insurance Company, Cameron Eades, W Squared, Inc., William Gilmore,Anderson Piping / Proctor & Graves, Tyler Graham, Bradford Real Estate, Aaron Harris, BubbleUp, Courtney Hensley,Aon Risk Solutions, Colton Langianese, Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Lindsay Mathews, BDO USA, LLP, Aaron Montlary, HCA Healthcare, Londa Morgan, Smith Travel Research, Tim Morrison, Ernst and Young LLP, Jennifer Pagliara, CapWealth Advisors, LLC, Jennifer Patterson, c3/consulting, Joshua Roberts, BlueCross BlueShield of TN and James Sherer, SalesOlogy.

In addition to the partnership with Belmont, more than 130 graduates enter the nonprofit community each year from four other YLC classes including two in Davidson County and two in partnership with the Williamson Chamber and the Junior League of Nashville. YLC was created by the Council of Community Services, the HCA Foundation and the United Way in 1985 to address the need to broaden and strengthen Nashville’s volunteer leadership base. For more information about Young Leaders Council, contact Diane Hayes at (615) 386-0060 or click here.

School of Music Recognized as Top 20 Program Nationally

April Hefner
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School of Music Recognized as Top 20 Program Nationally

SuccessfulStudent.org just named its Top 25 Music Programs in the country, and Belmont’s School of Music was ranked No. 19. The website noted the importance of personal skills, connections and the reputation of one’s school for graduates to obtain the upper ground in a competitive job market. The ranking took into consideration each school’s overall reputation, acceptance rate, diversity of programs offered and success of alumni in its listing.

Dr. Stephen Eaves, dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts, said, “The Belmont School of Music is pleased to be recognized nationally as a top music program. We are committed to the highest standard of excellence and providing serious study of all musical styles. We actively mentor and equip students to reach their potential and become musical leaders in the 21st century.”

Grossnickle Spends Summer in Senegal, Teaches Microfinance Classes to Locals

Hope Buckner
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Grossnickle Spends Summer in Senegal, Teaches Microfinance Classes to Locals

Sean Grossnickle, a Belmont junior and international business major, is spending the summer in Senegal as a Lumos Scholar. Having been there for just over a month already, Grossnickle will be in the country until the middle of August living in Saint Louis, just a few hours north of the capital, Dakar. While there, he is serving as an intern with Projects Abroad’s microfinance program, an opportunity that provides disadvantaged men and women in the community with the opportunity to improve their lives through loans of $50-$300.

“I get to do just about everything, which is really cool,” Grossnickle said. “I help collect repayments from people who already have loans, teach classes to potential beneficiaries (in French, of course!), draw up business plans, make formal loan presentations and give questionnaires to check on participants. I get to walk with people every step of the way and see the difference our program makes in their lives.”

Grossnickle rides a camel while in Senegal.
Grossnickle rides a camel while in Senegal.

As a Lumos Scholar, Grossnickle began preparing for his summer abroad last fall–completing his application, researching the opportunity and proposed budgetary needs and preparing for such an intensive experience. Created to transform student lives by embarking on a self-designed international working adventure, Grossnickle said he was interested in taking part in a Lumos project in Senegal as a way to deepen his understanding of international business, improve his French skills and put his learning in action. “I felt like I could make a difference in people’s lives while gaining invaluable skills that I hope to use professionally.”

Moving forward, Grossnickle is interested in pursuing international business after graduation–he’s hoping this summer will provide clarity into whether microfinance is his niche. Of course, he’s especially interested in putting his French speaking skills to good use.

Featured image: Ladies in one of Grossnickle’s microfinance classes participate in a lesson. 

 

Belmont Hosts International Country Music Conference

Hope Buckner
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Belmont Hosts International Country Music Conference

Belmont University recently hosted the International Country Music Conference in early June, the 20th time the University has held the event. Hosted by Dr. Don Cusic and Dr. James Akenson, the conference included presenters from Japan, Austria, England and Canada in addition to universities throughout the United States.

The Belmont Book Award, given annually to the “best book on country music” during the previous calendar year, was awarded to Without Getting Killed or Caught: The Life and Music of Guy Clark by Tamara Saviano. The Chet Flippo Award for Country Music Journalism, given by Rolling Stone magazine, was given to David Cantwell. The International Country Music Journal, an outgrowth of the Conference edited by Cusic, was released during the event.

Presenters shared academic papers on diverse topics including “How Immigrants Shaped the Look of C&W”  by Linda Ronstadt, “Feminism in Tammy Wynette’s Music,” a study of gender representation on the Billboard Country Chart anf the Nashville Sound, “Post Millennial Politics of Whiteness in Country Music” and “Mose Rager and the Muhlenberg Sound.”

A panel discussion on songwriters was held at Historic RCA Studio B during the conference.

Judah and the Lion Appears on Good Morning America

Hope Buckner
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Judah and the Lion Appears on Good Morning America

Belmont alumni act Judah and the Lion, led by alumnus Judah Akers, recently appeared on Good Morning America and performed “Take it All Back” and “Suit and Jacket” from their recent album “Folk Hop ‘n Roll.” Describing its sound as “a little bit of folk, little bit of hip hop and a little bit of rock and roll,” the band’s recent album has already seen success as it expresses the overlap of the group’s musical interests.

According to their website, “We wanted to make something raw, something with attitude,” Akers said. “We all grew up loving these hip-hop beats, so why not make an album that has the grit of Run DMC or Beastie Boys, along with all the folk instruments that we play?” With an award winning debut album, “Kids These Days,” Judah and the Lion played 150 shows in 2015 stretching audiences from the U.S. to Scandinavia. Focused on creating a record that mimics a live show, Akers and his team worked to create a sound on their newest album that would include all the points of human emotion–struggle, triumph and everything in between. Judah and the Lion will launch their own tour later this year.

Prior to their performance on air, Akers described how he and his fellow band mates met — all moving to Nashville and attending Belmont to study music years ago. Before beginning their first song Akers acknowledged his alma mater saying,”Shout out to my Bruins out there!”

 

Simulation Lab Named in Honor of Memorial Foundation’s Founding President, J.D. Elliott

April Hefner
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Simulation Lab Named in Honor of Memorial Foundation’s Founding President, J.D. Elliott

In a ceremony held last semester, Belmont’s College of Health Sciences and Nursing named its pediatric/obstetric simulation lab in honor of one of the college’s benefactors, the late J.D. Elliott. Elliott served as the founding president of the Memorial Foundation, which has donated more than $2 million to Belmont University over the past 20 years, almost all of which has gone to support health science and nursing education. In 2013, the Foundation granted Belmont $217,000 to renovate the lab space, purchase a new simulation Sim Mom manikin and update the lab’s simulation equipment.

Dr. Perry Moulds, Belmont’s vice president for development and external relations, said, “J.D. Elliott was a legend in this town not simply due to his role leading the Memorial Foundation nor for the countless boards and nonprofits where he donated his time and energy. Rather, his reputation centered on how he did everything he did—with compassion, humility and heart. We are proud to name this lab in his honor and hope that generations of health science practitioners to come will be inspired be his legacy.”

Mr. Elliott’s wife Anita, along with his daughter and son-in-law, Juanita and Jeff Stewart, attended the naming ceremony which included a reception and brief demonstration of the lab. Several guests from The Memorial Foundation also attended the event, including Foundation President Scott Perry and Foundation Board Member Drew Maddux, who also serves on the Belmont University Board of Trustees.

Perry said, “Throughout his long, successful career in healthcare, Mr. Elliott was always a strong proponent of quality education for the next generation of health care providers. He believed it was critically important in helping to promote increased access to quality health care services for all people. He was particularly impressed with the advanced technology for instruction such as this simulation lab that provides the opportunity for hands-on, experiential learning and that bridges the gap between theory and practice in a safe environment. Although Mr. Elliott was a humble man, I believe he would be happy to see this new Simulation Lab and would be humbled to have it named in his honor.”

At the time of his death in 2015, Nashville Mayor Karl Dean noted, “J.D. was a great member of our community. He gave back in countless ways and touched many lives throughout Nashville and Middle Tennessee through his leadership of The Memorial Foundation and its charitable efforts.”

The Memorial Foundation’s mission is to improve the quality of life for people through support to nonprofit organizations. The Memorial Foundation responds to diverse community needs, assisting agencies that focus on: Access to Quality Health Care Services, Human & Social Services, Education, Senior Citizen Enrichment Services, Youth and Childhood Development, Substance Abuse Programs, and Community Services.

Belmont Hosts Coffee Connection, Kicks off Campus-Wide Supplier Diversity Program

Hope Buckner
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0
Belmont Hosts Coffee Connection, Kicks off Campus-Wide Supplier Diversity Program

Belmont hosted its Coffee Connection Supplier Fair on Thursday, June 1, as part of the university’s newly expanded Supplier Diversity Program. Created two years ago to increase the number of minority suppliers the University hires, the pilot program included only a few select departments across campus. Recently, the program has been expanded campus-wide and includes minority- and women-owned businesses.

The Coffee Connection exists to allow minority suppliers and Belmont managers the opportunity to engage with each other and discuss opportunities for work in the upcoming fiscal year. Nearly 100 people participated in the event as suppliers from the maintenance services, telecommunications, printing and materials, marketing and catering industries, among others, attended.

The event began with a presentation by the Supplier Diversity team and included opportunities for attendees to hear from the pilot program’s participants. Belmont suppliers Karen Isabel, Dalmation Creative Agency and Richard Friley, InShuttle, shared their experiences during a panel discussion.

Director of Community Relations and the Supplier Diversity Program Joyce Searcy said, “It is important to Belmont to develop a contractor/supplier base more reflective of our community. The purpose of our Coffee Connection Supplier Fair was to connect Belmont employees with quality minority and women-owned businesses who could meet the needs of our University and to establish relationships that we can grow. For Belmont and our program partners, who are already the experts in supplier diversity, the Coffee Connection helped to increase support for and increase potential revenue for minority and women-owned businesses.”

 

Belmont Enactus Earns High Ranks at National Exposition

Hope Buckner
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0
Belmont Enactus Earns High Ranks at National Exposition

Belmont University’s Enactus Team competed against colleges and universities from across the country at this week’s National Exposition and came out in the nation’s top 16 teams. An international non-profit organization that brings together student, academic and business leaders who are committed to using entrepreneurial action to improve the quality of life and standard of living for people in need, Enactus provides opportunities for students to get first hand experience in the world of social enterprise.

After placing first in their region, Belmont’s team earned the opportunity to travel to Kansas City last week and participate in the national event. This year’s team consisted of 46 members representing a diverse array of majors. Of the team, national competition participants included Rachel Masterson, Audrey Aavik, Lucas Wilson and Olivia Hosey who presented on the projects Belmont’s team has spent the last year working on.

Evaluating the projects on their sustainability and scalability, the Enactus model encourages students to formulate projects that will create a social, environmental and economic impact once introduced to the market. But expert business leaders who serve as judges don’t stop there. Students are also expected to speak to the longtime sustainability of their plans, how they can be scaled and whether the impact will last beyond its initial stages.

Each year, Belmont’s team takes on a number of projects that will impact the Nashville community and beyond through a social, environmental and economic lens. One of the team’s most successful projects, Cul2vate, seeks to alleviate poverty through delivering food to those who are hungry. A multi-pronged approach, this initiative leverages a partnership between a nonprofit, the state of Tennessee and several local food banks with what the team calls a ‘triple bottom line.’

From a social perspective, Enactus’s partner nonprofit provides a workforce development program to employ formally homeless individuals as food cultivators. After graduating from the program (two of which already have since the pilot began), cultivators move on to working in the agriculture industry. Economically, Cul2vate facilitates a financial model that provides 50 percent of the food grown by cultivators to local food banks, while the other 50 percent is sold to the commercial marketplace. Environmentally, because all food finds a home, the project eliminates waste.

Additional projects from this year include:

  • LawSearchPro, a project created last year to help the Tennessee Association of Legal Services connect with community members in need of legal aid, that is now operating completely independently of Enactus.
  • A greeting card company based in Antigua, Guatemala Greetings provides meaningful employment to women and a wage higher than what is otherwise often attainable. Since its creation, the project has sold more then 400 cards, provided three women with employment earning three times the average wage and added one new retailer to the Antigua community.
  • Sports Officials International, a project originated by the University of Ottawa’s Enactus Team, exists to provide job opportunities as soccer referees to a marginalized group. With Nashville welcoming the largest refugee population in the state, this project relies heavily on partnerships from across the city as Nashvillians are able to find work through sport.
  • HEAL, an international project, is a nonprofit based in Uganda that works to empower vulnerable women and children through teaching sustainability and family preservation.

Rising senior, international business major and incoming president of Enactus Rachel Masterson has been involved with the team since her freshman year. A previous project manager, Masterson said the impact she’s seen her team’s work have on the communities they serve has been life changing. “Enactus truly lives up to its motto of using ‘entrepreneurial action to create a better world for us all,'” Masterson said. “The amount of impact that the entire Enactus organization has around the world probably can’t even be quantified, but it really is a win-win situation for everyone involved.”

Team Advisor and Associate Professor of Finance Dr. John Gonas said, “It is an honor to work with our Enactus students and our faculty advisors (Cate Loes, Jason Stahl and Nathan Adam). I am impressed with their ability to conceive and develop innovative and sustainable business models that offer so many social and/or environmental benefits to our community. We look forward to building on the great work of our seniors (Audrey Aavik, Eric Patterson, Simeon Fritz, Alyssa Reussow and Nathan Arnold) with an outstanding 2017/18 leadership team lead by Rachel Masterson, Kit Barker, Olivia Hosey, Alyssa Reussow, Emily Preston and Lucas Wilson.”

National Enactus competitions are held in 36 countries around the world to showcase how the organization’s students are transforming lives and enabling progress through entrepreneurial action. One team is selected from each national competition to represent their country at the Enactus World Cup, this year in London, England in September. Belmont’s Enactus team previously won the national championship in 2010 and 2012 and claimed the international title at the 2012 Enactus World Cup.

 

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