Alicia Hsu, a senior biology major and pre-med student, was featured in a story on Fox news about figure skating. Hsu who says she finds “relaxation in the competitive sport” will soon be competing for collegiate nationals in figure skating at the 2014 U.S. Collegiate Championships held in Rochester, Mich., at the Onyx Ice Arena on Aug. 14-16.
Pre-Med Student Featured in Figure Skating Story
Belmont Places Second in Journalism Competition
Belmont University placed second in the onsite competition at the Southeastern Journalism Conference, held this year in Lafayette, La. Media studies department head Thom Storey and student publications adviser Dorren Robinson traveled with nine students to the conference to attend workshops and compete.
The following students placed in the onsite competitions:
- Nick Yacovazzi, second place for entertainment writing
- Heather Thompson, second place for copy editing
- Courtney Martinez, third place for current events
- autumn Allison, third place for sports photography
- Will Hadden, third place for news writing
In addition to the onsite competition, the Best of the South awards were handed out for work published over the past year. Belmont received three awards:
- Autumn Alison, second place multimedia journalist
- Katie Greene, seventh place, best sports writer
- Laura Hostelley, eighth place, best arts and entertainment writer
Nearly 300 college journalists and faculty attended the three-day event Feb. 20-22 at the University of Louisiana, Lafayette. The Southeast Journalism Conference includes more than 40 public and private colleges and universities from a seven-state region. Belmont’s journalism program has been a member since 1986.
Business Students Win Chartered Financial Analyst Research Challenge
Belmont University students won the Greater Tennessee Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Research Challenge competition for the second year in a row. The teams consisted of economics student Jake DeVries, accelerated Master of Business Administration student Yan Yan Dong, professional MBA student Justin Essary, finance student Wes Heginbotham and professional MBA student Reece Mabry. The competition included University of Tennessee Knoxville, Vanderbilt and Lipscomb Universities and four other colleges. Belmont’s team prepared an equity research report on Nashville-based health management company Healthways, which was presented to a group of Chartered Financial Analyst judges. The team will compete again in the Americas regional competition in Denver on March 18 and 19. Belmont alumnus Jay McCanless served as the team’s industry mentor.
Komen Recognizes Voight as Pink Tie Guy
The Greater Nashville affiliate of Susan G. Komen has recognized Physical Therapy Professor Mike Voight as a Pink Tie Guy during a celebration dinner that honored a 10 individuals from Middle Tennessee.
The Pink Tie Program features influential leaders who help mobilize, energize and engage audiences in the breast cancer movement through their role within the community, within their organizations and through their personal involvement. Pink Tie Guys bring a male voice to the urgency of finding a cure for breast cancer.
“Mike is the perfect Pink Tie Guy,” said Dr. Cathy Taylor, dean of the College of Health Sciences. “His positive energy is contagious, and he has worked tirelessly to mobilize others to race for the cure. We are so proud of his accomplishments and appreciate our Komen partners for rewarding his work in this way.”
Voight is the force behind Belmont’s annual participation in the local Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. Each year, over 100 students and alumni from the School of Physical Therapy volunteer to provide the main logistical support for the race. Komen International recognized Belmont University and the School of Physical Therapy last summer as the Volunteer Group of the Year for their service.
Lambert Interviewed Regarding Olympic Advertising
Professor of Marketing Dr. Robert Lambert was recently featured in an article by WalletHub on “Sochi Olympics by the Numbers.” Lambert provided expert insight into the value of mega-event advertising. Click here to read the full article.
Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business Honors Gordon Kennedy with Mulloy Award
Award presentation slated for March 29 ‘Best of the Best’ Showcase on Belmont’s campus
Continuing a tradition of recognizing music industry greats who are also dedicated to the educational process, Belmont University’s Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business will honor Gordon Kennedy with the sixth annual Robert E. Mulloy Award of Excellence on March 29. The award presentation, which will occur during the University’s 2014 Best of the Best Showcase at Belmont’s Curb Event Center, will feature special performances by Belmont students as well as Kennedy colleagues Peter Frampton and Ricky Skaggs. “Best of the Best” begins at 7 p.m. and is free and open to the public.
In the spring of 2008, the Curb College established the Award of Excellence in memory of program founder Bob Mulloy to annually recognize an individual who has achieved a level of excellence in the music business and entertainment industries with notable service to Belmont University and the Nashville community.
Curb College Dean Dr. Wes Bulla said, “It’s an honor for us to present the Robert E. Mulloy Award of Excellence to Gordon, who considers Bob one of his early mentors. Gordon has remained a long-time champion and unofficial spokesman for the Curb College and all things Belmont and has never said no to a favor that supports our students, faculty and programs.”
Belmont alumnus and Curb College Board Chairman Doug Howard added, “I often say that Gordon Kennedy is a ‘world class songwriter, musician, producer and performer. I need to add that he is a ‘Heaven class’ family man, friend and Christian brother. I know Bob Mulloy was extremely proud of Gordon’s professional achievements. However, the latter traits are what Bob sought to instill in his students and are truly what matter most of all.”
Musical Theatre Alumni Return to Nashville in ‘Ghost’
Alumni Ben Laxton (’11) and Andrea Rouch (’11) have returned to Nashville, Tenn. for the musical theatre tour of “Ghost,” which is showing at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center through March 2. Rouch and Laxton, who are engaged to marry in May, studied musical theatre at Belmont and are understudies for the lead roles in “Ghost” with Laxton playing charater Sam and Rouch as Molly. They also are in the ensemble cast. Use the promotional code “BELMONT” for 15 percent off tickets.
Author Malcolm Gladwell Reminds Executives, Students Importance of Legitimacy
When not legitimized by authority, anger transforms underdogs into radicals, bestselling author Malcolm Gladwell told business executives and students on Friday morning as he captivated their attention with his narratives.
Belmont University’s Executive Learning Network and Parnassus Books brought the author and The New Yorker staff writer to the Curb Event Center on Friday for the Spring Leadership Breakfast.
Gladwell shared the story of New York socialite turned suffragist Alva Vanderbilt and her philanthropist daughter, Consuelo, intertwined with nuggets on Northern Ireland women who marched on armed British soldiers. His talk was pickled with modern day references to the Kardashians, Kanye West lyrics and the Sochi Winter Olympics.
Li, Students Receive Grant for Research Project in China
Asian Studies and Chinese Language Assistant Professor Dr. Qingjun (Joan) Li and four of her students–Anna Croghan, Samantha Hubner, Joseph Minga and Ryan Pino–recently were awarded an ASIANetwork/Freeman Foundation Student-Faculty Fellows Grant. Of 27 team applications, only eight were selected for grants which will fully fund the team’s research project in China this summer.
“I am so excited about this invaluable research opportunity which allows me to take four of my remarkable students to China and work together with them for over three weeks. We all carry the great passion for China, and our study of the commodification of culture will result in new understandings about how Chinese culture is being made into a profitable industry. This is an intriguing project,” Li said.
The team will be in the People’s Republic of China for approximately four weeks in May and early June 2014. The research project, titled “The Commodification of Culture in China’s New Cultural Industry,” will examine the role of culture in China’s new cultural industry, which is a pillar economic commitment of over $172.95 billion or a full 2.78% of the country’s GDP.
Riechert Selected as Public Relations Officer
Dr. Bonnie Riechert, APR, chairman of the Department of Public Relations at Belmont University, is among the new officers for the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Nashville Chapter. The chapter hosted the 2013 PRSA Southeast District Leadership Rally in Nashville. PRSA includes 21,000 professionals committed to professional development, standards of excellence and ethical business principles.
