At the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) conference held this past weekend in Philadelphia, Belmont’s chapter won three national awards, taking home top honors in two categories and third place in another. Of the 285 chapters at colleges and universities nationwide, Belmont was selected for the Chapter Development Award and the Outstanding PRSA/PRSSA Chapter Relationship Award, winning a total of $1,100 in addition to an engraved bell and the presentation of two plaques.
Dr. Bonnie Riechert, assistant professor in the Communications Studies Department, serves as the group’s faculty adviser. Riechert, who was also admitted to PRSA College of Fellows (to see story, click here), said, “The national awards our student chapter received recognize the effective student leadership and overall program excellence. Our chapter is noted for its championship of ethics, its support and involvement from area professionals and its unique sense of community, extending to chapter members even beyond graduation.”
Pam Parry, associate professor and director of the public relations program, founded Belmont’s PRSSA chapter, which received its charter in July 2005. Parry said, “To have an objective panel of judges deem your PRSSA chapter as the best in the country is an amazing compliment. To have it happen twice in one year is almost surreal. I could not be more proud of Dr. Bonnie Riechert and her work with our PRSSA Chapter. She and the students have surpassed my exceedingly high expectations, moving the bar even higher.”
PRSSA Chapter Wins Three National Awards at Convention
OT Association Executive Director Visits Belmont
The Occupational Therapy (OT) faculty and third year OT doctorate students welcomed Fred Somers, executive director of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) in Bethesda, My., to Belmont on Mon., Oct. 22. Somers, who toured the Gordon E. Inman College of Health Sciences and Nursing (which houses the Occupational Therapy program), was impressed with the facility and technology in the OT labs, and he discussed with the students and faculty the role of the professional organization, its activities and the current priorities. He also answered questions from the students. “This event helped the students put a ‘face’ on our professional organization, and, hopefully, will facilitate their commitment to and involvement in AOTA,” said Dr. Susan Young, associate professor of occupational therapy and a member of the AOTA Board of Directors.
Internationally Acclaimed Psychologist to Speak on Montessori Method
Dr. Angeline Stoll Lillard—an award-winning researcher in cognitive development, best-selling author and professor of psychology at the University of Virginia—will be speaking in the Maddox Grand Atrium on Tues., Oct. 30 at 7 p.m. With her 2005 book, Montessori: The Science Behind the Genius, Lillard made a major contribution to the scientific exploration of how the Montessori education model best prepares children to succeed in school and later life.
Prior to Dr. Lillard’s lecture, State Representative Janis Sontany will present “House Joint Resolution No 292: a Resolution to Celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Montessori Method of Education.” A book signing will follow the lecture, which is open to the public for a ticket price of $25 per person and $40 per couple. Tickets will be available at the door. Belmont opened Nashville’s first Montessori teacher preparation program in 2005. The program, which is accredited by the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education (MACTE) and American Montessori Society-affiliated (AMS), offers both graduate and undergraduate tracks.
Merrie King, the Belmont Montessori Program Director, said, “The Nashville community is fortunate to have Dr. Lillard join us in celebrating the Centenary Anniversary of Montessori education! One of the goals of our Belmont program is to strengthen the teaching and learning for all children and families in our community. By focusing on research-based best practices, she provides significant information for teachers, parents and school administrators. We look forward to deepening this important dialogue among the citizens of Nashville.”
Freshman Chosen Miss Houston
Belmont freshman Rachel Garrett was chosen Miss Houston in a competition this past weekend that serves as a preliminary pageant for Miss Texas and Miss America. Garrett will compete for Miss Texas in July.
Alumnus Passes Tennessee Bar Exam
Alumnus Christopher D. Van Atta (’02) received news last week that he passed the Tennessee Bar Exam, which he took in July. Chris, currently employed at Nashville’s Agee Law Group, is married to 2001 Belmont graduate Kacy Van Atta, the daughter of Belmont Web Developer Paul Chenoweth in Information Technology Services and Coordinator of Promotions & Special Events Debbie Chenoweth in Athletics.
Orientation Publications Win Awards for Seventh Consecutive Year
For the seventh consecutive year, Belmont University Office of Student Affairs and Office of Communications’ graphic design team were recognized by the National Orientation Directors Association for three outstanding publication awards: Outstanding General Handbook for the Summer Orientation Schedule Booklet; Outstanding Publication for Family Members for the Parent & Family Calendar; and Outstanding Welcome Week Publicity for the Guide to Welcome Week, the New Student Involvement Poster, the New Student Programs Brochure and Lanyards. The award and the publications will be on display at NODAC’s annual conference in Dallas next weekend
Peacemakers Peggy and Art Gish Discuss Alternatives to War
While many people hope they would have the courage to die for what they believed, few individuals ever have that theory tested. But Peggy and Art Gish, leaders of Christian Peacemaker Teams who spoke on campus Wednesday morning, know exactly how it feels to put their lives on the line for the cause of peace.
Arising from a call in 1984 for Christians to devote the same discipline and self-sacrifice to nonviolent peacemaking that armies devote to war, Christian Peacemaker Teams today work alongside the oppressed in hotspots all over the world. Peggy, who has served multiple missions in Iraq since 2002, survived being kidnapped earlier this year and hopes to return to minister in Northern Iraq in the next few weeks. She is the author of Iraq: A Journey of Hope and Peace. Art, who works in Israel/Palestine, has written several books, including Hebron Journal: Stories of Nonviolent Peacemaking, which tells of the turmoil and suffering of the Palestinian people, the agony experienced by Israelis, and a vision of hope and new possibilities of reconciliation between Jews, Muslims and Christians.
During the morning convocation in Neely, both Art and Peggy Gish directed their comments to the Christian response to evil and violence. “We’re supposed to be glad and rejoice because so many of our enemies were killed,” said Art. “As a Christian, I find that repulsive… Over one million Iraqi people have died in response to 3,000 being killed in 9/11. Isn’t there a better way? Yes. The way of Jesus.” Peggy added, “The way of Jesus means being open and vulnerable, not assuming that anyone is our enemy.”
The Gishes noted that part of CPT’s most powerful impact comes from what they term as the “Grandmother effect,” the idea that their teams take on the role of a loving relative for the community and their presence alone tends to prevent fighting and injustice. Art said, “In a situation where they know they’re being watched and that what we see will be reported, it reduces violence.”
CPT embraces the vision of unarmed intervention waged by committed peacemakers who attempt to transform lethal conflict through the nonviolent power of God’s truth and love. Initiated by Mennonites, Brethren and Quakers with broad ecumenical participation, CPT’s ministry of Biblically-based and spiritually-centered peacemaking emphasizes creative public witness, nonviolent direct action and protection of human rights.
Former Bruin Signs With Pro Team in Japan
Former men’s basketball player Andrew Preston (Winchester, Ky.) has signed a professional contract with Niigata Albirex of Basketball Japan League. Preston, who just three weeks ago was selected by the expansion East Kentucky Miners of the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) in its college draft, generated significant interest late in the summer from teams in Portugal, China and Germany, among others.
Preston, a three-year starter and integral cog on Bruin NCAA Tournament teams in 2006 and 2007, developed into one of the most dependable post players of Belmont’s NCAA era. Named to the 2007 Atlantic Sun All-Tournament team behind his 18 point-10 rebound performance in the championship game victory at ETSU, Preston is the program’s NCAA era career leader in blocked shots (123) and ranks fourth in career field goal percentage (.534). Preston earned Academic All-Conference honors in 2006, and graduated this past May with a degree in accounting.
Bird Wins 2007 President’s Award for Collegiate Journalism
Chansin Bird, a junior biblical studies major and journalism minor, was given the 2007 President’s Award for Collegiate Journalism Oct.13 at the Baptist Press Collegiate Journalism Conference in Nashville, Tennessee. The annual award included a $1,000 scholarship.
The president of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee gives the national award to the person who demonstrates “sustained excellence as a student journalist,” according to the Baptist Press Web site. To enter the competition, Bird submitted a portfolio of 10 articles, including work she had published in The Washington Post, USA Today and the Fort Worth Star Telegram, as well as the Belmont student newspaper. Bird (pictured above with Terry Mattingly, director of the Washington Journalism Center in D.C. and Scripps-Howard religion columnist) was able to write such high-profile clips because she attended one semester at the Washington Journalism Center, where she was an intern for Religion News Services, a national wire service that covers religion news.
Bird also took first place honors for news writing in the individual newspaper awards competition for an article published in the Belmont Vision.
Junior Chosen Miss Hamilton County 2008
Junior public relations and music business major Kaley Schwab was chosen Miss Hamilton County 2008 in a competition this past weekend. Schwab also won the overall interview award. She will represent the area at the 2008 Miss Tennessee Pageant to be held in Jackson next June. For more on this story, click here.
