Belmont University’s Eighth Annual Family Literacy Day will take place, rain or shine, on Sat., April 12 from 1-4 p.m. at Rose Park in the Edgehill community. The event, called “Read With Me,” is aimed at children from pre-K through grade 6 and their families and is designed to celebrate the joys of reading with a free afternoon of interactive story times, crafts and games. The primary focus of the event is Reading Circles, hosted by various campus groups such as the Student Government Association, the Pan-Hellenic and Intra-Fraternity Councils, and Reformed University Fellowship. Each group picks a different theme and offers a variety of books for all ages.
Tim Stewart, Coordinator of Community Service and advisor to the Belmont Volunteers for Literacy group, said, “Every year, more and more Belmont groups and students get involved. This year we’ve also experienced a significant increase in involvement by Belmont alumni, including help obtaining sponsorships and donations, as well as participation in the actual event. We are also pleased to partner with Metro Parks and Edgehill residents in sharing this event with the Nashville community. We hope it will further strengthen the common bond that we share in wanting to make Nashville a better place for our children and for all of us.”
When children visit a circle and listen to or read a book, they receive a sticker. After collecting two stickers, children can visit the games or crafts area where they can play a reading-related game or make a reading-related craft such as a book mark or book or visit the refreshment area for a treat.
Eighth Annual Family Literacy Day to Be Held April 12 in Rose Park
Students Win Prizes in Business Plan Competition
Congratulations to Belmont students Kevin Jennings, Andy Tabar and Emily Swinson who all competed recently as finalists at the annual business plan competition at the University of Evansville. Kevin Jennings took third place, winning $2,500 for his business soundAFX, which specializes in sonic branding for businesses. He has already worked for clients such as MTV and Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Andy Tabar took second place, winning $5,000 for his business Bizooki, which offers a web-based platform to help manage virtual teams. The competition drew finalists from several universities including Purdue University, Bradley University and Indiana University. Click here to read the story from the Evansville Corier Press.
Alumnus Jay Ayres Signs with Major League Soccer Team
Former Belmont University and Nashville Metro soccer standout Jay Ayres has signed to play for the San Jose Earthquakes of Major League Soccer, the top professional league in the United States. Ayres, a central defender, was a two-time Atlantic Sun Conference Defensive Player of the Year, a two-time Atlantic Sun Conference First Team selection and an All-South Region player. The Valrico, Fla. native was a four year starter and a two year captain at Belmont. Moreover, Ayres, who graduated this past December with a degree in accounting, was a three-time Academic All-Conference honoree.
“We are all very proud of Jay, and his success is an example of the quality coming out of Belmont Soccer and the Atlantic Sun,” Belmont head men’s soccer coach Earle Davidson said. “MLS is the soccer equivalent in the United States of the NFL or the NBA. To have one of our players graduate and go directly into the top level of soccer in our country is a tremendous accomplishment.”
Ayres signed a developmental contract and was in uniform Thursday evening as San Jose opened its MLS regular season against David Beckham and the Los Angeles Galaxy. The Major League Soccer Season runs from April through the end of November.
SIFE Team Wins Regional Competition Third Year in a Row
Belmont University announced today that its Students in Free Enterprise Team (SIFE) recently won first place in the southeast regional SIFE competition in Atlanta. This marks the chapter’s third consecutive win. SIFE is an international organization that mobilizes university students to make a difference in their communities while developing the skills to become socially responsible business leaders. The Belmont team won its league, which comes with an invitation to nationals in May in Chicago and a $1,500 prize. In addition, Belmont was the only school in the Top 20 project competition to win for three projects and will receive $1,000 per project win.
Dr. John Gonas, assistant professor of finance and the Sam Walton Fellow responsible for coordinating the projects and preparing the students for the regional and national competition, said, “We are very grateful to have developed and maintained such deep-rooted community partnerships over the past three years. The corporate sponsors of SIFE have continuously awarded us – embracing and validating the meaningful and sustainable changes we strive to make in teaching entrepreneurship, financial literacy and life skills within the greater Nashville community. I am amazed at the transforming effect of a successful SIFE project – especially in how it can engage the community partner to gain a sense of ownership of its newly acquired knowledge while simultaneously blessing the Belmont students with opportunities to unconditionally give of their time and talent.”
Cusic Quoted in Christian Retailing Article
Dr. Don Cusic, author and professor of music business at the Mike Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business, was recently quoted in an article in Christian Retailing on “Mopping Up,” a discussion on how publishers and retailers respond to author/artist morality clause violations. Click below to download the complete article.
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Cal Turner, Howard Olds Speak on Different Kind of Leadership
A long-time supporter of Belmont University, Cal Turner Jr. and his pastor, Rev. J. Howard Olds of Brentwood Methodist, shared their insights on leadership and decision-making in a convocation session this morning in the Massey Boardroom. Turner is the chairman of the Cal Turner Family Foundation and the retired CEO/Chairman/President of Dollar General Corporation. He and Olds co-wrote the recently released book Led to Follow: Leadership Lessons from an Improbable Pastor and a Reluctant CEO.
Turner began the convo by talking about his belief in Belmont University, its mission and its students, noting that Led to Follow may be an appropriate choice for those facing graduation or worrying about their future. “This book speaks in a special way as to what may be going on in your life. We hope it will help liberate you from trying to figure out what you’re supposed to do… Life is about figuring out who you’re supposed to be.”
In a question and answer session, Olds followed up on the same theme in response to a student’s inquiry about attempting to make the “right” career decisions. “You make the best decisions you can in the moment, but as a friend once told me, you also have to remember that’s not the only time the train is going to come by the station. There will be a lot of opportunities in your life to consider.”
The convocation concluded with the performance of an original composition by sophomore Josh Wright, a Turner Scholar.
Led to Follow examines how true leadership grows out of the spiritual journey of following a higher calling. With an open, honest, and conversational style, a minister who also manages and a manager who also ministers share insights they’ve gained through failures, successes and struggles in their personal and professional journeys. From crises in the family business to existential struggles in the face of recurring cancer, the authors show that the heart and soul of leadership is found in following: following your call, following others’ input, following your failures, following change and even following the unknown.
Wicks, Bryan Offer Students Insiders’ View on Music Business
The Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business recently welcomed artists Chuck Wicks and Luke Bryan to campus as guests for The Insider’s View. Both are currently nominated for CMT Music Awards, and the two shared their experiences in the music industry with the audience.
RCA Nashville recording artist Chuck Wicks has garnered his first 2008 CMT Music Awards nomination for USA Weekend Breakthrough Video of the Year for his Top 5 hit “Stealing Cinderella,” from his debut release Starting Now. After a hugely successful run as the opening act on the final leg of Belmont alumnus Brad Paisley’s Bonfires & Amplifiers Tour earlier this year, Paisley announced that Wicks will be back on the road touring with him this summer on the Hershey’s Presents: The Paisley Party.
Luke Bryan, a new recording artist on Capitol Records, hails from Leesburg, Georgia. Bryan starts 2008 with nominations for the CMT Music Awards’ USA Weekend Breakthrough Video of the Year and for the Academy of Country Music’s Best New Male Artist. Since January, Bryan has been opening for Trace Adkins’ “American Man” tour and Dierks Bentley’s “Throttle Wide Open” tour and will be part of some of Kenny Chesney’s “Poets & Pirates” stadium dates this summer.
School of Sciences to Host Academy of Sciences Meeting
On Sat., April 12, the School of Sciences will host the Tennessee Academy of Sciences (TAS) Middle Collegiate Division Meeting from 8:30 a.m. until noon. This spring meeting of the TAS provides an opportunity to focus on undergraduate research, and 43 presentations will be given by students representing eight universities and colleges in the Middle Tennessee district. Additionally, many of the graduating seniors from Belmont’s School of Sciences will be presenting their senior research projects.
Hare Named Mid-Major Most Valuable Player
Earning perhaps his most significant national on-court honor to date, Belmont Basketball senior Justin Hare has been named Mid-Major Most Valuable Player by CollegeInsider.com, the site announced today.
Hare, who earlier this week was named to the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major All-America team, led the Bruins to a third consecutive Atlantic Sun Conference Championship and third consecutive appearance in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. Seeded 15th in the West Region, Belmont challenged three-time national champion Duke to the final horn, before losing 71-70. The Bruins finished the 2007-08 season with a record of 25-9. All told, Hare won 82 games in his four-year career.
“This is a tremendous honor for Justin,” says Belmont head coach Rick Byrd. “He has represented our program well, both on the court and in the classroom, during his time at Belmont. With all he has achieved and all he has meant to our program, it will be difficult not having him in a Belmont uniform to open next season. There is little doubt he will graduate as the most significant player of our Division-I era.”
“Justin Hare was a program-changer at Belmont,” says CollegeInsider.com’s Joe Dwyer. “Belmont had been a very good program at the division I level, but Hare helped to make them a great program. As he had done in each of the past two seasons, Hare was the driving force behind a third straight trip to the NCAA tournament. He’s has been a leader to his team in so many ways. Justin Hare epitomizes all that is good about collegiate athletics.”
He is on schedule to graduate in May with honors before pursuing medical school and will depart as the most decorated student-athlete in Belmont history.
Hare was named Preseason Mid-Major All-American by CollegeInsider.com.
Homeless, Working Poor to Offer Photo Exhibit at Belmont
Thanks to an idea developed by Belmont University students, the new Mobile Loaves and Fishes Photography Exhibit will be unveiled on the Belmont campus next week. The exhibit will display photographs taken by many of the homeless and working poor people from the streets of Nashville. Public viewings are scheduled for Wed., April 9 from 6-9 p.m. and Fri., April 11 from 10-11 a.m. in the University Ministries Student Lounge in the Gabhart Student Center at Belmont.
Mobile Loaves and Fishes (MLF) is a growing social outreach ministry to the homeless and indigent working poor that seeks to provide food, clothing and dignity to those in need. MLF started its Nashville relief efforts in Summer 2007, and before long, Belmont’s Sociology Department had signed on with a commitment to lead the way in providing volunteers. Numerous Belmont University students, faculty and staff have since joined in efforts to assist the organization. The goals of this exhibit include raising awareness about local issues of hunger and homelessness, introducing students to the work of Mobile Loaves and Fishes and showing the artistry that can be found in unexpected places.
Cash Forshee, a Belmont student who has volunteered with MLF and who first had the idea for a photo exhibit, said, “This project has been a year-long effort that began in the sanctuary of Trinity Presbyterian Church. My best friend, Micah, has been my partner in creating the project. Together, we wanted to create a project that would bring reality to the Belmont community, acknowledging the enormous differences and surprising similarities, as privileged students, that we share with the homeless. We had to de-generalize the homeless and remove the stereotypes that surround the homeless and their personal stories.”
