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 University Celebrates MLK Day with Two Weeks of Special Events

Paul Chenoweth
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MLK candle
Staff, faculty and students gather during the MLK Candlelight Vigil around the Bell Tower.

Belmont, TSU, Trevecca students join together for MLK Day of Service on Jan. 18

 In celebration of the Jan. 15 anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s birth date, Belmont University will hold two weeks of special events. The University’s theme for 2014 is “Postracial: The Problem of the Color Line in the 21st Century.” The University’s commitment to Martin Luther King Jr. Week through classroom and special events began in 1997 and continues to grow today. New this year are showings of documentaries  related to Dr. King and the Civil Rights Movement.

“In recent years, there has been a great deal of talk about whether or not we live in a so-called ‘post-racial’ society. In order to explore more fully this controversial idea, the committee this year thought it best to look to the past for inspiration. In that spirit, we chose as our theme, ‘Postracial: The Problem of the Color Line in the 21st Century,’ an homage to W.E.B. DuBois’ famous pronouncement, written well over a century ago, that ‘the problem of the 20th century is the problem of the color line,’” said Peter Kuryla, assistant professor of history and chairman of Belmont’s 2014 Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Committee. “So recalling DuBois and in keeping with Dr. King’s prophetic social vision, we’ve put together programming that addresses this issue of the color line from a variety of perspectives. We look forward to a campus-wide conversation.”

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Students, Alumni Get ‘Jumpstart’ for Poliana

Paul Chenoweth
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Poliana began beta testing in November.
Poliana began beta testing in November.

A group of Belmont students and alumni are working to increase civic responsibility through a web application that explains United States government and politics. Funded through a $15,000 investment, the app, Poliana, aggregates millions of data points on a wide range of government activity, including voting records, financial contributions, lobbying, bills and industry influence.

Nashville business incubator Jumpstart Foundry awarded Poliana founders with the start-up cash during a 14-week process. Throughout the process the founders–Belmont students David Gilmore and Patrick Cason along with alumni Grayson Carroll, Kenny House and Seth Whiting– were guided and mentored by Nashville’s most influential business people, designers, developers, lawyers, marketers and entrepreneurs.  Their entrepreneurial jumpstart culminated with “investor day,” where Poliana presented a 10-minute business pitch to hundreds of potential investors from all over the country.

“I was pushed to learn and produce results at an extremely accelerated rate, and the progress I made was clear. Overall, the experience more than prepared me for the trials of running a successful business, and I’m extremely thankful for the opportunity to learn from the brightest minds of the Nashville business community,” said Carroll (’13), Poliana’s chief executive officer.

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Alexander Honored with McWherter Leadership Award

Paul Chenoweth
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Joe AlexanderThe Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence announced Dr. Joe F. Alexander, associate dean and senior professor of performance excellence of The Jack C. Massey Graduate School of Business, is the recipient of the 2014 Ned R. McWherter Leadership Award, which recognizes an individual who exemplifies outstanding leadership in the pursuit of performance excellence and has furthered performance improvement beyond the boundaries of his organization. The McWherter Award is named after the Tennessee governor, who was instrumental in the center’s founding in 1993.

“From the time he arrived in Tennessee, Joe’s unparalleled commitment to quality and his passion for performance excellence have had a tremendous impact on Belmont University and organizations state-wide,” said board chairman Jim Duensing in a press release. “He has been an outstanding advocate for the TNCPE program and through his efforts, countless organizations have learned to apply principles that improve their processes and results—making Tennessee an even better place to live and work. We congratulate Joe on this well-deserved honor.”

Since 2007, Alexander has provided visionary leadership for The Jack C. Massey Graduate School of Business and taught graduate courses in marketing management and performance excellence. He serves on the board of directors for TriStar Centennial Medical Center and the Middle Tennessee Better Business Bureau, and has previously served on the board of directors for the Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence (chairman from 2011-12) and the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award Foundation (chairman from 2009-10). He is also a Six Sigma Black Belt and a Fulbright Scholar (Japan 2008).

 

OVC Names Wiseman as Thurston Banks Award Recipient

Paul Chenoweth
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bw-muralLegendary basketball coach and former Belmont Athletics administrator Betty Wiseman was named one of the 2014 recipients of the Ohio Valley Conference’s Thurston Banks Award for Distinguished Academic Service, as announced by the league office on Friday.

The award, selected by the OVC Faculty Athletics Representatives (FARs), was established in 2013 to recognize individuals (e.g. academic advisor, professor, tutor, etc.), with at least five years of service at one or more OVC member institutions, for their outstanding contributions to OVC student-athletes’ academic success, learning and development as well for his or her overall commitment to the institution’s athletics program.

The award is named after Dr. Thurston Banks, who served the Tennessee Tech Department of Athletics for 31 of his 34 years on the faculty and served as the Faculty Athletic Representative (FAR) for 25 years before stepping down in 2006. He was inducted into the OVC Hall of Fame in 2007.

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Jars of Clay Kicks Off 2014 Chapel, Launches Belmont Partnership with Blood:Water Mission

Paul Chenoweth
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Jars Of Clay-111-L
Jars of Clay’s (l-r) Charlie Lowell, Matt Odmark, Dan Haseltine and Steve Mason played a mini-concert as part of the first chapel service of the year.

Multi-platinum, Grammy and Dove Award-winning band Jars of Clay performed for students, faculty and staff and spoke about their passion for Blood:Water Mission during opening chapel on Wednesday in Neely Dining Hall.

In 2004, Jars of Clay founded Blood:Water Mission, a grassroots organization that empowers communities to work together against the HIV/AIDS and water crises in Africa. They have recently started a partnership with Belmont’s Living a Better Story initiative, allowing students to be part of their work with leaders in 1,300 communities in 11 African countries providing life-saving water and HIV/AIDs-focused health care for over 800,000 people.

“You find these places where you want more out of the world; you want love and peace,” said Jars of Clay lead singer Dan Haseltine. “We are glad to be a part of that with Blood:Water Mission.”

Living a Better Story is part of Belmont’s Sophomore Year Experience, known to students as Growth & Purpose for Students (GPS), a program intended to encourage students to engage in focused exploration of themselves and their places in the world.

Living a Better Story’s partnership with Blood:Water Mission gives sophomore students the opportunity to work within their residence halls to partner with a specific project supporting HIV/AIDS and water projects across Africa. These projects include providing water, sanitation and hygiene in the desert of northern Kenya; equipping teachers, religious leaders and community health workers with training in water, sanitation and hygiene; drilling and rehabilitation of wells; installing biosand filters; and expanding HIV/AIDS services to the peri-urban region of Suki.

Each student is given $10 cash. Those students then leverage that $10 into something more valuable whether that is a larger monetary donation or a means to raise awareness about the project itself. Suggestions are given on how to utilize the money, but ultimately it is up to the students on how to put the money to use. In addition to this program, Blood:Water Mission has made space for five students to travel to Zambia this summer to see Blood:Water’s work firsthand. The application process for this trip begins next week.

“We wanted a way to unite students behind a particular cause. We have faith in the work Blood:Water Mission is doing, and we’re glad to be a Jars Of Clay-109-Lpart of their efforts,” said Director of the Sophomore Year Experience David Sneed. “They have been very welcoming and hospitable to our students.”

Both Sneed and University Ministries Director of Outreach Micah Weedman explained that Blood:Water Mission is a perfect fit for Belmont because of the connections between faith, service, music and the University mission to engage and transform the world.

“They have an amazing sensibility between artists and their efforts both in the industry and in service. They understand the music industry and the concerns of Belmont students,” Weedman said.

“I think what’s exciting about this program is that it takes Belmont students and gives them the opportunity to use their talents to think imaginatively and creatively in order to make a difference in the world,” Weedman continued. “It allows them to find God’s purpose in the world while still maintaining their identity as artists, entrepreneurs and students.”

Further donations to this partnership can be made here: http://www.bloodwatermission.com/belmont/. Jars of Clay‘s most recent project, Inland, released last August.

Physical Therapy Student Builds Ramp for Patient

Paul Chenoweth
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ramp-building-for-patientSecond-year physical therapy student Ashley Barrett recently completed her clinical affiliations by working with a home health therapist and Belmont Doctor of Physical Therapy alumnus Maritza Garcia Williams (’02).  Together they worked with a man who has multiple sclerosis and is confined to a wheelchair. In addition to exercises and mobility training, they worked to determine an emergency exit plan from his home, as he was alone most of the day and unable to get his wheelchair out of the house.

Since Barrett’s grandfather worked in construction, she recruited his help to build a ramp and ensured that the cost of the supplies was covered.  After receiving permission from the patient and measurements needed for the ramps, Barrett and her grandparents went to the patient’s home and installed the ramp.

When Williams arrived at the patient’s home for the next therapy session, the patient met her outside.

“This is the first time in five years that he has been able to exit his home, easily and quickly, without assistance.  For him, this is major,” Williams said.

Jellissen Publishes Article

Paul Chenoweth
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Susan-Jellison-LDr. Susan Jellissen, associate professor of political science, published “On the Utility of Security Fences along International Borders” in the latest edition of Defense & Security Analysis Vol. 29, No. 3 (December 2013).  The journal is published by Taylor and Francis.


School of Science Students Win Awards for Poster Presentations

Paul Chenoweth
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TAS_Awards

Twenty-nine students from biology, environmental science, and biochemistry and molecular biology presented their senior research projects at the 123rd Meeting of the Tennessee Academy of Science held at Motlow State Community College in Tullahoma, Tenn.  The goal of the Tennessee Academy of Science is to promote scientific research, communication between researchers and the diffusion of knowledge concerning science in Tennessee.  Students had the opportunity to share their work with fellow students and professors at colleges and universities throughout Tennessee.

Biology professors Dr. Bob Grammer, Dr. Steve Murphree, Dr. Nick Ragsdale, Dr. Jennifer Thomas, Dr. Darlene Panvini, Dr. Chris Barton and Dr. Roger Jackson also attended the meeting.  Ragsdale and Thomas were section chairmen for the Health and Medical Sciences and Microbiology sections, respectively.  Panvini gave a presentation entitled, “Teaching Biology in the Prep Room: Co-curricular Science Education for Student Workers” in the Science and Math Teaching section.  Barton presented in the same section with a talk entitled, “Learning Community Courses: “Linking” Science with Diverse Academic Disciplines.” Murphree serves as treasure for the Tennessee Academy of Science.

Five Belmont students received recognition for the quality of their poster presentations. Winners from Belmont were:

Haley Ellison, under the direction of Julian Hillyer (Vanderbilt University) and Murphree, received first place in the Zoology section for her work, “Effect of Starvation on Heart Physiology of Anopheles gambiae.”

Kari Morse, under the direction of Panvini, received second place in the Zoology section for her work, “Community Analysis of Exotic and Native Worms at Shelby Bottoms Greenway and Nature Park”.

Crystal LeBlanc, under the direction of Thomas, received second place in the Health and Medical Sciences section for her work, “The Evaluation of Type I Interferons in HPV-Positive Cervical Cancer Cells and the Influence of Infection with Candida albicans”.

Megan Swaine, under the direction of Dr. Darlene Panvini, received second place in the Botany section for her work, “Influence of Invasive Exotic Plants on Earthworm Diversity”.

Ashley Allen, under the direction of Murphree, received third place in the Botany section for her work, “A Comparison of Algae and Chemical/Physical Water Quality Assessments in a Spring Fed, Open Field Stream in Davidson County, Tennessee”.

 

Belmont Joins ‘Penny Drive’ for Second Harvest Food Bank

Paul Chenoweth
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Mary Hance
Photo courtesy of Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee

Belmont University will join the “Ms. Cheap Penny Drive for Second Harvest” this month with an on campus promotion to allow students to donate to the drive via their Belmont IDs. Ms. Cheap, also known as Tennessean reporter Mary Hance, has been writing about frugal living for more than 20 years. Five years ago, she partnered with Nashville’s Second Harvest Food Bank to raise money for the nonprofit organization by asking readers and community members to donate their pennies and other loose change to the cause. Since then, the Penny Drive, which runs annually from Nov. 10-Jan. 31, has raised more than $110,000 for the food bank with the support of countless area businesses, churches and individuals who donate their change, cash or even checks to the cause.

Since college students rely on their IDs for on campus payments and often don’t carry cash or change, students, faculty and staff can donate “100 pennies” to the cause at cash registers across campus by adding a $1 fee to their purchase and paying with Bruin Bucks via their BUID. Official Penny Drive cans and jars will also be available for individuals to donate cash or loose change. At the end of the campaign on Jan. 31, Belmont’s Dining Services (provided by Sodexo), will donate to Second Harvest the full amount of all Penny Drive contributions received on campus.

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Belmont University Open Today, Monday, January 6

Paul Chenoweth
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As of 5 a.m., the Tennessee Department of Transportation reports no icy conditions on any of the major roadways in Davidson and surrounding counties. Campus sidewalks, roads and garages are also in good condition.  While it is extremely cold and will remain so all day, Belmont will be able to open today for the first day of classes to proceed as scheduled.  As always, because weather and road conditions can vary greatly within our region, students, faculty and staff are urged to use individual discretion when making the decision to travel to campus in snow or icy weather.

As a reminder, today’s high temperature is currently expected to be 9 degrees with wind chills making it feel much colder. In addition, the winter storm has caused travel delays for many students attempting to return to Nashville following the holiday break. Students and faculty are asked to work together to address any class time missed due to weather-related absences.
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