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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Belmont Honors Program’s E-Newsletter Nationally Recognized

Staff Writer
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Belmont’s Honors Program recently placed 3rd in a competition run by the National Collegiate Honors Counsel (NCHC) to recognize the best student newsletters released by college honors programs. The official awards ceremony is set to take place on October 14.

The program’s electronic newsletter, “BU Honors Newsletter,” was started 2 years ago by the Honors Program Student Council in an effort to foster a sense of community among honors students. The publication is sent out three times per semester and is entirely student-written and developed.

Honors students Sarah Everett and Jacquie Skokna contributed to the newsletter’s honor. Skokna is a junior publishing major and the main student member in charge of the publication’s content and design. She is also the editor.

Honors Program Director Dr. Jonathan Thorndike expressed his pride in his students and their hard work on the newsletter’s accomplishment. “We have the greatest students who are enthusiastic and passionate about opportunities and building a great community of learning and service,” said Thorndike. “The Honors newsletter is a great way to document the fantastic research, leadership and artistic projects undertaken by our students.”

Thorndike also discussed the ways the newsletter builds community within the Honors Program. The publication includes many of the social gatherings created by students and heavily advertises the freshman honors retreat, held at the beginning of each school year, to ensure new students feel welcomed into the program right away.

To learn more about the Honors Program, click here.

Junior Anna Vaus Receives First-Ever Miranda Lambert ‘Women Creators’ Scholarship

April Hefner
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Junior Anna Vaus Receives First-Ever Miranda Lambert ‘Women Creators’ Scholarship

Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business student Anna Vaus was recently selected as the first-ever recipient of the ‘Women Creators’ scholarship, established in 2015 by reigning Academy of Country Music and Country Music Association Female Vocalist of the Year Miranda Lambert. The scholarship was created to honor a female Belmont student who is majoring in music business, songwriting or entertainment industry studies and is actively working towards pursuing her dream of working in the music industry. The scholarship will provide Vaus with more than $40,000 in scholarship funds beginning in the 2016-2017 academic year.

Anna Vaus 3Originally from San Diego, California, Vaus was inspired toward music early on from her father, Grammy-winning artist, Steve Vaus. She has opened for country artists Hunter Hayes, Lonestar, Billy Ray Cyrus, LeAnn Womack and Phil Vassar among others and made her Bluebird Cafe debut in February 2016. Vaus is currently a junior at Belmont, majoring in songwriting with a minor in music business.

“I am so thankful and honored to have been chosen as the first recipient of the Miranda Lambert Women Creators Fund,” Vaus said. “Not just because of what a crazy opportunity it is for myself, but because the tide is changing for all of the young women in this industry. I have so much hope for women in country music because of the path that Miranda and so many awesome people are currently fighting to pave for us!”

Lambert established the Women Creators scholarship in an effort to encourage outstanding women to follow their passions and pursue careers in the music industry. In July of 2015, Lambert raised funds for the scholarship by headlining a songwriter round at 3rd and Lindsley in Nashville. Lambert was joined by her tour mates at the time Raelynn, Clare Dunn and Courtney Cole and female songwriters Natalie Hemby and Jessi Alexander. Hemby, Dunn and Cole are all Belmont graduates.

Candidates for the scholarship were asked to complete an online application and submit an original song. The Curb College then had a small selection committee review the 80 applications received for the scholarship, and the top six finalists were sent for Lambert’s review.

Doug Howard, dean of the Curb College, noted, “We are so grateful to Miranda Lambert for her fantastic commitment to the women songwriters and artists that comprise a major part of the creative community at the Curb College.  And, I want to congratulate Anna Vaus and the many women creators at Belmont University who participated in this year’s award process. Thank you Miranda!”

Belmont Recognized on The Princeton Review’s List of ‘Best Regional Colleges’

Staff Writer
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The Princeton Review recently listed Belmont as one of the ‘Best Regional Colleges’ in the southeast for 2017 for the second year in a row. The rankings recognized Belmont as one of 139 exceptional colleges in the region.

The list aims to honor universities that stand out academically in comparison to other popular choices in the area. The Princeton Review wants to point out to prospective students that the universities listed are “well worth consideration” when they are looking into schools.

Aside from academic achievements, The Princeton Review also considers ratings from current and former students and the results from surveys sent out to college administrators. The universities listed must also have a high rate of satisfaction from students currently enrolled.

About The Princeton Review
The Princeton Review is a leading tutoring, test prep and college admission services company. Every year, it helps millions of college- and graduate school-bound students achieve their education and career goals through online and in person courses delivered by a network of more than 4,000 teachers and tutors, online resources, and its more than 150 print and digital books published by Penguin Random House. The Princeton Review is headquartered in Natick, MA and is an operating business of IAC (NASDAQ: IACI). For more information, visit www.princetonreview.com. Follow the company on Twitter @theprincetonrev.

Belmont Named to MONEY Best College List

Hope Buckner
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Belmont Named to MONEY Best College List

Belmont was recently named as a MONEY Best College, among more than 700 (out of 2,000) four-year U.S. colleges and universities who deliver the best value. For MONEY, that means providing a great education at an affordable price while preparing students for fulfilling and successful careers.

For its methodology, MONEY eliminated schools with graduation rates below the median, poor financial performance and fewer than 500 undergraduate students. Schools were ranked on 24 factors in three categories including educational quality, affordability and alumni success. Beyond these characteristics, MONEY measured comparative value by assessing student success at each school.

Mathematics Major Passes Second Actuarial Exam

Hope Buckner
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savannah (2)Savannah Halliday (mathematics major, class of 2017) passed Actuarial Exam FM/2, the second of a nine-series exams which are required for full status as an actuary, in August. Exam FM/2 has a pass rate of less than 50 percent. Actuaries work in the insurance and financial sectors and specialize in analyzing the financial impact of risk and uncertainty.

Belmont University’s Belmont Actuarial Students Society is an organization for students interested in pursuing the Actuarial profession. Dr. Daniel Biles is the faculty advisor for this student organization.

Michael W. Smith Performs at Chapel Convocation

Hope Buckner
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Michael W. Smith Performs at Chapel Convocation

Belmont welcomed contemporary gospel singer-songwriter Michael W. Smith as a speaker at a convocation event on Wednesday, August 31 in the Massey Performing Arts Center. The three-time Grammy Award winner spoke on the growth of his Christian faith through hardship and performed several worship songs for students and faculty members. He also played his original song titled “Friends.”

During his talk, Smith discussed his relationship with his father and how it helped him understand God’s presence in a more concrete way. His father passed away last November after a long battle with Dementia. Smith recalled all of the fond memories he has of his father and spoke about he admired him. He connected their relationship  to his relationship with God and spoke about the similarities between the two. “You read all these Scriptures about the Father part of God… And my dad showed me a little bit of what God’s like,” said Smith.

0831-Michael W. SmithHe also aimed to assure those who may not have similar relationships that God is able to fill in the gaps that we most need filled. “If you didn’t have a good dad, God could father you. If you didn’t have a good mom, God could mother you,” Smith said.

After telling stories of where his career as a musician has led him, Smith also expressed the gratitude he has for being able to make music his career. “To be doing what you’re doing for over 30 years and still feel like the best is yet to come is incredible,” said Smith.

Smith described Belmont as being a great place with great faculty and students. He was introduced by new University Minister Heather Daugherty.

Belmont Hosts Second Annual Battle of the Belmont Bands Concert and Family Fun Festival

Hope Buckner
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Belmont Hosts Second Annual Battle of the Belmont Bands Concert and Family Fun Festival

Belmont’s Showcase Series, a concert series produced and managed by students of Belmont’s Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business, kicked off its 2016-17 line-up with the Battle of the Belmont Bands Concert on Saturday, August 27. Created to provide students with real-world training in all aspects of concert production, the series highlights student talent and contributes to the university’s sense of community.

Battle_of_the_Bands_2016_176Each year, the series features a number of concerts including the Battle of the Bands, Country Showcase, The Pulse of Color (Urban/Pop Showcase), At the Edge (Rock Showcase), Out of the Darkness (Christian Showcase) and the culminating event, Best of the Best. Each showcase highlights students bands, previously selected to participate, who compete to be named the show’s winner. The Best of the Best includes performances from each of the showcase’s top performer.

This year’s Battle of the Belmont Bands featured Laurel & the Love-In, The Civics, Wilder, Talia Stewart, Sawyer and Lost Stars with alumni band Koa/Waker.

Originally scheduled to take place on the Lawn, the concert was moved to the university’s Massey Performing Arts Center the day of due to inclement weather where more than 750 students, faculty and staff were in attendance.

 

Belmont Launches Live on Fridays with Mr. B, Captain America

Hope Buckner
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Belmont Launches Live on Fridays with Mr. B, Captain America

To provide students with opportunities for engagement and entertainment on campus at all hours of the day, Belmont’s Office of Student Engagement Leadership Development (SELD), in partnership with the Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business,  has launched Live on Fridays, a late night programming experience for students. Led by SELD Assistant Director Jessica Dykes, Live on Fridays begins each Friday night at 10 p.m. with fun continuing until 2 a.m. Saturday morning.

Events will be centered around campus traditions including Fall Follies, an improvisational and comedy-based student group who perform each year and holidays including a ‘Creepin’ in the Curb’ Halloween celebration and a Christmas extravaganza featuring a tacky sweater competition, faculty and staff karaoke, cookie decorating and more. As the semester continues, students will be polled via social media for movie selections and event details.

“We are excited to launch this programming for our students to provide them with opportunities to continue to be engaged on campus, even late into the night,” Dykes said. “When they return to campus each year, we understand that Belmont becomes their home and we want to ensure they have everything they need to be successful and enjoy their time on campus. We’re excited that this now means opportunities for relevant and fun entertainment on Friday nights.”

Live on Fridays began on Friday, September 2 with performances in the Curb Cafe from Belmont alumni group Mr. B and the Tribal Hoose. Immediately afterwards, Captain America, Civil War was shown in the Johnson Center’s Large Theater.

In anticipation for the programming launch, Belmont’s Office of Communications sat down for an interview with Mr. B, himself.

What’s on your radio right now?

“Flume, Glenn Miller and a bunch of instrumentals.”

Why are you excited to kick-off Live on Fridays?

“The first week of school at Belmont is always an exciting time. It’ll be cool to see new students and set a great tone for the upcoming year. I think they’ll really dig our vibe and invitation for them to join us on the stage. We’re hoping they come jam with us!”

Former Belmont University student Mr. B and the Tribal Hoose in Nashville, Tenn. August 30, 2016

Why rap as a genre?

“I like rap because you can say whatever you need to say, just in rhyme and cadence. Sometimes we need to point out the elephant in the room and rappers are great at doing that. When you rap something, it makes the truth easier to swallow, because it’s presented in a cool way. I can say things in my raps that I typically can’t say in person–it’s empowering.”

So, we’re all wondering. What’s the story behind your tribe’s name?

“The HOOSE! We named the band after the house (‘hoose’) we lived in while we were at Belmont. We used to make up words all the time and ‘Hoose’ just stuck. If we were a group normal, we’d call ourselves the Tribal House, but we’re not. So we’re proud to be the Tribal HOOSE!”

Why pursue a career in music?

“Music is the only thing I really care to dedicate my life towards. Songs live on long after we’re gone–it’s really powerful stuff. If you’re a songwriter, take that responsibility seriously. Don’t see yourself as a struggling musician–you’re a healer in this world. People have changed their lives after hearing songs, and athletes listen to music before games to get in the right head space. It’s so powerful. Besides being a servant of the Lord, music is the only thing worth dedicating my life towards.”

 

Student-Led BruinVote16 Initiative Brings Voter Education, Registration to Campus

April Hefner
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Student-Led BruinVote16 Initiative Brings Voter Education, Registration to Campus

Working with the voter education arm of the Commission on Presidential Debates, Belmont is one of 150 institutions nationwide participating this fall in College Debate 16, a non-partisan initiative to empower young voters to identify issues and engage peers in the presidential election.

A student team, led by junior journalism major Riley Wallace, was convened in the spring to lead Belmont’s work on this initiative, and plans began to form under the banner #BruinVote16. This summer the team joined forces with leadership from SGA and SAPB to combine efforts for educational programs and voter registration promotion. Events already scheduled include debate watch parties, voter registration drives, informative convos and a documentary screening on civil discourse.

Riley Wallace and Sybril Brown
Riley Wallace and Dr. Syb Brown

In June, Wallace attended a conference at Dominican University of California with other College Debate 2016 delegates from across the country. Dr. Syb Brown, professor of media studies, also served as featured speaker at the College Debate ’16 June conference, leading the delegates in a discussion on “Digital Citizenship.” Wallace said, “Being involved with #CollegeDebate16 was really interesting in that it showed the scope of how involved a college student can be within the political process, whether that’s working alongside policy-influencing organizations, expressing ourselves through the vote or organizing events to help bring attention to issues important to us and our peers. It was powerful to consider the amount of change possible just through the students in that room.”

Chris Dickerson, president of Belmont SGA, and the SGA and SAPB leadership teams were already hard at work on putting together programming for Fall 2016 to encourage an informed campus environment around election season. “Every year Student Governments across the state of Tennessee are charged by the Secretary of State’s office to engage with their campuses through voter registration drives and events geared towards political participation. This year, I’m excited that SGA and Belmont have taken this charge to an entirely new level through the efforts of #BruinVote16. People have given their lives fighting for the right to vote, and it is our collective responsibility to engage in the political process and make sure that our voices are heard.”

Wallace adds that she hopes the #BruinVote16 efforts also change how she and her peers converse on important issues.

“Through this program, I’d like to bring that sense of empowerment to Belmont’s campus. I’d love for BruinVote16 to help foster civil discussions on issues that will affect college students during and after the upcoming presidential election and provide welcoming and accessible platforms where students can learn more about our government and their role in it.”

Brown and Wallace are both participating in the organization’s next event Sept. 6-7, once again at Dominican University of California.

For more information and to view a current listing of events, visit bruinvote.belmont.edu.

Student-Run Boulevard Record Shop Opens on Belmont Boulevard

April Hefner
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Student-Run Boulevard Record Shop Opens on Belmont Boulevard

Friday, August 26 marked the grand opening of the new student-run business “Boulevard Record Shop” on Belmont Boulevard. The store moved into the previous location of BLVD Music.

The Boulevard Record Shop features an inventory of both new and used records in all different genres, record players and musical instrument accessories. If a customer is looking for a particular record that the shop doesn’t have in store, he or she can fill out a slip with the album’s title and band name and the shop will order it in.  The store also sells Switters brand coffee.

In addition to the store’s items for sale, Boulevard Record Shop features two listening stations that allow students to listen to any record while they sip their coffee. There is also a stage set up for live music events that are planned to take place in the evenings.

Senior music business major Jacee Badeaux is the manager of the shop and hopes its atmosphere will appeal to both students and non-students alike. “My favorite part of Boulevard is that it is a great space for everyone to use. Whether you are a freshman, senior or don’t even go to Belmont, you can feel comfortable here,” said Badeaux.

Boulevard Record Shop is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and is closed on Sundays. For more information on the shop’s location, events and new arrivals, check out its website.

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