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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Heron Hall Celebrates its Centennial

Hope Buckner
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Heron Centennial Photo BoothBelmont’s Office of Residence Life hosted the Heron Hall Centennial on Tuesday, April 26, in honor of Heron’s 100th year. The program started with the reveal and dedication of an photography piece featuring photos from the 1910s and 2016 that was created by Jennifer Johnson, adjunct art instructor.

The program also included a panel of past residence directors and resident assistants who shared memories of their time in Heron. Moderated by Assistant Dean of Students and Director of Residence Life Anthony Donovan, the panel included the current Residence Director of Heron Hall Kirsten Riedel, former Residence Directors Shanna Carmack and Keturah Williams and former Heron Resident Assistant Bethany Reilly. Following the panel, residents and attendees sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to Heron, ate birthday cake, took pictures at a photo booth, left painted handprints and signatures on canvases that will be hung up in the building, and told stories about life in Heron.

Riechert, Students Receive Public Relations Society of America Awards

Hope Buckner
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Riechert, Students Receive Public Relations Society of America Awards

Dr. Bonnie Riechert, chair of the Department of Public Relations, received the 2016 Hercules Award from the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Nashville Chapter at its 30th annual Parthenon Awards Banquet. The award, named for the hero from Greek mythology renowned for knowledge and strength, honors an individual with at least 10 years of experience who uses their professional talents for the benefit of the public relations profession. Nominees are judged on contributions to PRSA, the profession and the community; quality, creativity and effect of their professional work and the example set by their ethical practices.

“Belmont’s core values are integrity, inquiry, collaboration, service and humility,” said former Belmont faculty members Susan Barnes when presenting the award. “Not coincidentally, these are Bonnie’s values, too, and she has built the public relations department at Belmont on those values because that’s who she is.”

The award presentations also included Awards of Merit and Parthenon Awards in categories including public relations campaigns and public relations projects. Four student entries from Belmont, including two individual entries and two team entries, were recognized:

  • Makenzie Albracht, Sarah Kate Brewer, Mary Anna Davis, Megan McBride, Arielle Schrader and Aryn Van Dyke: Parthenon Award for “Best Buddies Friendship Walk Campaign” (a service-learning project completed in Public Relations Campaigns class)
  • Jessica Martin: Award of Merit for “Belmont Abroad Research Report” (an undergraduate research project completed in Public Relations Research class)
  • Chloe Brookshire, Margot Lied, Meredith Martin, Sarah Phillips and MacKenzie Wilson: Award of Merit for “Delight Ministries Inaugural Summer Series” (a service-learning project completed in Public Relations Campaigns class)
  • Missy Martin: Award of Merit for “Online Media Kit for Cultivate, a Student-Run Garden” (a project completed in PR Writing for Journalistic Media class)

The Public Relations Society of America is the world’s largest and foremost organization of public relations professionals with more than 22,000 public relations and communications professionals, in addition to more than 10,000 university and college students through the Public Relations Student Society of America. One of more than 100 local chapters, the PRSA Nashville Chapter sponsors student chapters of PRSSA at Belmont, Lipscomb, MTSU, Austin Peay and Western Kentucky University. The PRSA Nashville Chapter includes 180 professionals in public relations.

Melby Named to Young Entertainment Professionals Board of Directors

Hope Buckner
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Melby Named to Young Entertainment Professionals Board of Directors

caroline-melbyCaroline Melby, career development specialist, was recently named as a member of Nashville’s Young Entertainment Professionals (YEP) 2016 Board of Directors. YEP seeks to cultivate professional growth in the entertainment industry.

Melby was named among a number of other community members including MaryAnn Keen, Nettwerk/Ten Ten Music; Rachel Knight, Knight Agency/Turnipblood Entertainment; Katie Roth, Universal Music Group; Alina Thompson, Country Music Association; Amelia Varni, University Music Publishing Group; Laura Williams, Smith Wiles and Company and Christina Wiltshire, Latigo Shore Music.

 

Belmont School of Nursing Takes Pledge on Opioid Education

Hope Buckner
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Belmont School of Nursing Takes Pledge on Opioid Education

Belmont’s School of Nursing recently committed to educating advanced practice registered nursing (APRN) students on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain, as part of ongoing efforts to combat prescription drug and opioid abuse across the U.S. The commitment was featured in a White House fact sheet today as part of the White House Champions of Change event on Advancing Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery.

Earlier this month, administration asked the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s (AACN) member schools with APRN programs to partner on this initiative. Belmont recognizes that opioid abuse is a pressing public health crisis, and it is critical that students receive education on current standards.

Today, AACN’s President and CEO Deborah Trautman, PhD, RN, FAAN, will offer remarks at the White House to recognize the 191 AACN schools that have taken this pledge. “AACN is proud of the rapid response by our membership when the Administration called to help ensure future generations of providers who prescribe opioids for chronic pain are prepared for the critical work ahead,” said Trautman. “We commend academic nursing’s dedication to ensuring our nation’s future providers are prepared to address opioid abuse and overdose using best practices.”

Belmont’s Associate Dean of Nursing Dr. Martha Buckner said the university is committed to ensuring its graduates are prepared to combat the nation’s opioid abuse problem. “As primary care providers, APRNs are well positioned to be part of the solution to opioid abuse, a serious health problem affecting many Tennesseans,” Buckner said. “Our students will receive a firm grounding in best practices for prescribing as outlined in the CDC’s new guidelines.”

Escobar Places 6th in National Oratorical Tournament

Hope Buckner
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Escobar Places 6th in National Oratorical Tournament

Belmont senior Escarlet Escobar was one of two students who recently represented the state of Tennessee at the 142nd annual Interstate Oratorical Association’s (IOA) national tournament. By placing 1st at the 2016 Tennessee state tournament, she earned the honor to compete at nationals where she advanced past her preliminary and semifinal rounds, placing 6th overall.

escabar 2
L to R: Escobar with IOA President Larry Schnoor

IOA’s national tournament is the oldest collegiate speech competition in the nation. Contestants from across the U.S. participated including students from UT-Austin, James Madison, Penn State, South Dakota State and the University of Florida. Past competitors include prominent historical figures including William Jennings Bryan and Jane Addams.

Escobar presented a persuasive speech on marital rape. While the practice is illegal in all 50 states, many states have laws making the prosecution of the practice nearly impossible.  Belmont Speech and Debate Coach Jason Stahl explained that, “Escarlet’s speech is an important issue that so few people know about. Her eloquent message along with her passionate presentation not only made her a national finalist, but also shared an important message across the country.”

Escobar is a communication studies major, graduating in May. She plans to attend law school at the University of Memphis this fall.

Arianna Huffington Brings Her ‘Sleep Revolution’ to Belmont

April Hefner
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Arianna Huffington Brings Her ‘Sleep Revolution’ to Belmont

As the co-founder and editor-in-chief of online news aggregator The Huffington Post, a nationally syndicated columnist and author of 13 books, Arianna Huffington certainly qualifies as an expert on the tools needed to run a successful business. But these days, her answer is coming as a surprise as she touts her top performance enhancer: Sleep!

Fresh on the heels of her April 5 book release, “The Sleep Revolution: Transforming Your Life One Night at a Time,” Huffington visited Belmont’s campus last Friday, bringing words of encouragement and wisdom to a group of students attending her Sleep Revolution College Tour as well as to local business leaders and community guests attending the Executive Learning Network‘s Spring Leadership Luncheon.

The Sleep Revolution fair, held from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. in the Beaman Rec Gym, featured several booths offering giveaways and information on sleep and restfulness as well as a brief talk from Huffington, who also brought hundreds of copies of her recent book to hand out to attendees. She noted that this time of year is especially tough on college students, who by nature tend to stay up late, and who now face sleep deprivation spurred by final exams and end-of-semester project deadlines. “You have to convince yourself,” she said, “that sleep is essential… Read the science about how much easier it is to retrieve memories and information when your brains are recharged by sleep.”

Huffington also took a moment to introduce Belmont senior music business major Alex Beasley, pictured with the author above, who was recently named an editor-at-large for Huffington Post after contributing blog posts on her own health, fitness and sleep routines.

At the Spring Leadership Luncheon, Huffington shared that her research into sleep and its impact came after she collapsed herself from exhaustion, causing a broken cheekbone. “One of the things that makes it harder to sleep is our addiction to technology,” she said, admitting that as the head of a global media company that’s active in 15 countries she travels with two iPhones and an iPad to stay connected. “We’re drowning in data but starved for wisdom.”

However, she also noted that her new habits involve a digital detox every night, turning off all of her devices and placing them outside her bedroom at least 30 minutes before she turns out the lights. Interestingly, she also pointed out that two of the top three auto-completes on Google when entering, “Why am I…,” are “so tired” and “always tired.” Her research indicated that 99 percent of the population requires seven to nine hours of sleep per night but few actually get it.

During her talk, Huffington also mentioned that she’d read and enjoyed Belmont President Dr. Bob Fisher’s 2008 book, “Life Is a Gift,” about interviews he and his wife Judy conducted with more than 100 hospice patients. “Reading about death before you go to be is actually great,” Huffington said. “It really puts life into perspective.”

Searcy Receives Metro Community Service Award

Hope Buckner
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Searcy Receives Metro Community Service Award

IMG_1256Joyce Searcy, Belmont’s director of community relations, was among the citizens and Metro police officers recognized on April 27 for heroic and outstanding actions over the past year to enhance safety of Nashville’s neighborhoods.

Searcy was honored with the Community Service Award.

Carter Speaks at Voting Rights Act Symposium, Published in William and Mary Journal of Women and the Law

Hope Buckner
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Carter Speaks at Voting Rights Act Symposium, Published in William and Mary Journal of Women and the Law

Tracy CarterDr. Tracey Carter, assistant professor of law and director of academic success for Belmont’s College of Law, recently participated as a panelist during the Mississippi Law Journal’s Voting Rights Act Symposium at the University of Mississippi School of Law. The symposium focused on the current status of voting rights in the U.S. as seen through the unique lens of the southeast region and Mississippi, in particular.

Carter participated as a panel member for “In Order to Form a More Perfect Union,” and her specific presentation was titled “College Students and Voter ID Laws in Select States in the Southeast Region: Allowing Student IDs as Voter ID.” Other panelists included Tommie Cardin, former chair of the Mississippi Bar’s Government Law Section and former counsel for the Joint Committee on Reapportionment for Mississippi; Jack Park, former Alabama deputy attorney general who is assisting the Attorney General’s Office with the post-2010 census redistricting process; former Mississippi Supreme Court Justice James Robertson and Michael Wallace, an attorney who represented the Mississippi Republican Party in congressional redistricting trials following the 2000 census in state and federal courts. The panel discussion was preceded by a keynote address provided by Mississippi Secretary of State the Honorable Delbert Hosemann and was followed by an ethics presentation given by Mississippi Supreme Court Justice Dawn Beam.

In addition, Carter’s article “Local, State, and Federal Responses to Stalking: Are Anti-Stalking Laws Effective?” was recently published in the William & Mary Journal of Women and the Law’s winter 2016 edition. Carter’s article highlights stalking and addresses whether, 20 years after the original passage of the federal Violence Against Women Act in 1994, anti-stalking laws are effective at the local, state, and federal levels.

The article concludes with recommendations regarding interventions, prevention efforts and law enforcement practices to better protect victims of stalking. It goes on to state that in order to make anti-stalking laws most effective, there should be better identification of stalking offenses including increases in arrests, prosecutions, convictions and sanctions imposed upon stalkers to exhibit that stalkers will be held accountable for their conduct; and mandated professional counseling for stalkers.

McBride Published in The Physics Teacher

Hope Buckner
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McBride Published in The Physics Teacher

krista_mcbrideDr. Krista McBride, assistant professor of physics, recently had a paper published in The Physics Teacher, a journal “dedicated to the strengthening of the teaching of introductory physics at all levels…and provides peer-reviewed materials to be used in the classrooms and instructional laboratories.”

McBride’s paper is titled “Linking Science Fiction and Physics Courses.”

Students Create Mobile Art Project, Celebrate Community with Local Neighborhood

Hope Buckner
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Students Create Mobile Art Project, Celebrate Community with Local Neighborhood

The students in Belmont Instructor Arden Von Haeger’s Illustration course have left an impact on the neighboring Edgehill community through the creation of a mobile art project, now installed at the Midtown Hills Metro Precinct. Community Coordinator Sergeant Raymond Jones approached Belmont’s Art Department months ago with the idea of creating a piece of art to celebrate the neighborhood after seeing a similar piece at 50 Forward, a local nonprofit. After hearing of Jones’s idea, Von Haeger said he was immediately interested and knew his illustration students would jump on board.

metro art project-103-X3The student’s collaborative piece was unveiled at a celebration on Tuesday, April 19 at the Precinct. Metro officers, community leaders, Belmont students and residents filled the seats as Jones described the project and passed the microphone to Von Haeger before revealing the work. “I wanted us to capture the idea of community involvement that would keep that spirit alive–what better way to do that than through art?” Jones said.

Von Haeger went on to tell attendees that he believes artistic talent is a gift to be shared–it means far more than just a job or career. “I have a heart for using art as a means to enhance the lives of other people,” he said. “I try to communicate that with my students. Your art is bigger than a vocation and projects like this are a perfect example of how we can use our talents and apply them to the lives of others.”

The project will be on display at the Precinct until it is moved to other events throughout the community. With additional sides of the boxes used to create the project still blank, Von Haeger and Jones said they have even bigger dreams of continued art projects in the coming months.

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