The National Child Labor Committee (NCLC) announced that Belmont University alumna Stacy Schumaker Maciuk (’05) received its prestigious Lewis Hine Award on Jan. 29 in New York City. Schumaker Maciuk, an advocate for foster care children, was honored for her work with local and state agencies to bring awareness to the special needs and challenges of foster care children. Maciuk became a foster care child at 2 and spent 17 years in the system, attending 10 different elementary and secondary schools before graduating and attending Belmont, where she graduated with a degree in social work and gave the commencement address at her graduation.
While at Belmont, Schumaker Maciuk led a task force to develop a system for recruiting, identifying and meeting the needs of foster care students. With Belmont President Dr. Bob Fisher and a committee, Belmont began providing housing for foster care youth duirng school breaks and raised scholarship money from outside donors for foster care youth. In 2003, as part of the Tennessee Youth Advisory Council, Schumaker Maciuk organized a suitcase collection drive to provide foster care children with a place to pack their clothes and possessions other than garbage bags. In both houses of the Tennessee General Assembly, she fought for college tuition waivers for foster care youth who have aged out of the foster care system. Schumaker Maciuk completed graduate school and now works in the Offices of Former Vice President Al Gore and Mrs. Tipper Gore.
Schumaker Maciuk is one of 10 recipients of the Lewis Hine award selected from hundreds of submissions across the nation. She received $1,000 and a trip to the awards ceremony in New York City.
The NCLC is a private, nonprofit organization founded in 1904 and incorporated by an Act of Congress in 1907. Its mission is to promote the rights, dignity, well-being and education of children and youth as they relate to work and the workplace. In its 10th decade, the NCLC continues the work of its founding visionaries as a leading force in ensuring child labor law compliance, transforming the workplace into a learning environment, improving youth occupational safety and health, educating children and increasing public awareness of the rights of children.
Belmont Students Win Multiple Awards at Southeast Journalism Conference
Belmont journalism and public relations students attended the Southeast Journalism Conference (SEJC) Jan., 25-27, in Birmingham, Ala. Belmont students finished second overall in on-site competition, finishing behind Ole Miss. The SEJC includes 50 member institutions from Tennessee, Louisiana, Mississippi, Georgia, Florida and Kentucky.
Belmont won the following awards at this year’s conference in the on-site and “Best of the South” competitions, which awards entries previously submitted from colleges and universities:
On-Site Competition:
Sports Writing, Henry Nichols, First Place
Entertainment Writing, Andrew Cole, First Place
Web Page Design, Nathan Baker, First Place
Photojournalism, Chris Speed, Second Place
Feature Writing, Adaeze Elechi, Honorable Mention
Public Relations, Stephanie Phalor, Lisa Bates and Anne Roberts, Honorable Mention
“Best of the South” Competition:
College Magazine, Connect Magazine, First Place
Journalism Research Paper, April Watkins (’06), Second Place
Entertainment Writing, Andrew Cole, Second Place
Feature Writing, Adaeze Elechi, Third Place
Editorial Illustrations, Cody Taylor, Fourth Place
Web Site, BelmontVision.com, Fifth Place
News Reporter, Nathan Baker, Eighth Place
Linda Quigley, faculty adviser for The Belmont Vision, and Pam Parry, assistant professor of public relations, accompanied the Belmont contingent. Quigley and Thom Storey, associate dean of the school of social sciences, were appointed co-presidents-elect of SEJC and Belmont was selected to host the 2009 conference.
Music Business Hosts Explorers Program
The Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business held the first session of the Boy Scouts Explorers Program on Thursday, January 25. This session was entitled “Careers in Music Business,” and was led by instructors Dan Wujcik and Mark Volman. The Boy Scouts Explorers Program was created as an opportunity to present a glimpse of the music industry to young, inquiring students.
Belmont Grad Charms Idol Judges
The Tennessean reported Sunday on Melinda Doolittle, a 1999 Belmont School of Music graduate who wowed “American Idol” judges Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson during her audition in Memphis and advanced to the Hollywood round of the competition. Click here to read the article.
Sturgis Featured in Hometown Paper
Amy Sturgis, assistant professor of interdisciplinary studies at Belmont University, was featured in the online edition of Tulsa World Sunday. Strugis presented “Harry Potter Is a Hobbit: The Tolkien Solution To the Rowling Problem” at her high school alma mater, Broken Arrow High School. Click here to read the article.
Belmont University Presents EMERGE: Reflect, Refocus, Renew
Belmont University presents EMERGE: Reflect, Refocus, Renew. EMERGE is a three-day experience for the community meant to inspire and encourage us in our corporate and individual walk with the Lord. This year EMERGE will feature author Daniel Taylor, a professor of literature and writing at Bethel University and author of six books, as well as a variety of Belmont and local community members.
What – “What If Your Life Were Serious”, kick-off convocation
Who – Dr. Daniel Taylor
When – Monday, January 29, 2007 from 10 a.m. to 10:50 a.m.
Where – The Maddox Grand Atrium at Belmont University
What – “Being a Character in the Story of Faith” We are called to be characters in the story of faith. Characters, in any story, must act. Action turns abstract value into a life-shaping virtue.
Who – Dr. Daniel Taylor
When – Monday, January 29, 2007 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Where – The Maddox Grand Atrium at Belmont University
What – “EMERGE @ the Curb” a time of music and fellowship
When – Monday, January 29 – Wednesday, January 31 from 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Where – Belmont University’s Curb Café
What– “Find a Plot for Your Life.”
Who – Dr. Daniel Taylor
When – Tuesday, January 30, 2007 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Where – The Maddox Grand Atrium at Belmont University
What – “The Purpose of All Things and All Stories: Reflections on Shalom.”
Who – Dr. Daniel Taylor
When – Wednesday, January 31, 2007 from 10 a.m. to 10:50 a.m.
Where – The Maddox Grand Atrium at Belmont University
What – “Telling Our Story to a Story-Hungry World: An Alternative to Culture Wars.”
Who – Dr. Daniel Taylor
When – Wednesday, January 31, 2007 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Where – The Maddox Grand Atrium at Belmont University
All events are free and open to the public. For more information please contact Guy Chmieleski at chmieleskig@mail.belmont.edu.
Volman Honored by Grammy Hall of Fame
Mark Volman, adjunct instructor for the Curb College, has been elected to the Grammy Hall of Fame along with band members of The Turtles for their 1967 hit, “Happy Together.” Every year, the Recording Academy honors “recordings of lasting qualitative or historical significance that are at least 25 years old.” To see a complete list of Grammy Hall of Fame inductees, click here.
Stepnick Participates with Tennessee Women’s Theater
Dr. Andi Stepnick, Chair of Belmont’s Sociology Department, delivered pre-show talks for Nickel and Dimed, the Tennessee Women’s Theater Project’s latest production. Andi spoke on the issue of low-wages through the duration of the show, which runs through January 27 at the Looby Theatre.
Venerable Cross and Byrd keep Belmont on track
The Nashville City Paper ran an article Thursday on the success and longevity of Belmont’s men’s and women’s basketball head coaches, Rick Byrd and Tony Cross. Click here to read the article.
Belmont PR Student Awarded Scholarship
Lisa Bates, a 2004 graduate of St. Joseph Catholic School, was awarded the Bridgestone Americas Public Affairs Scholarship for the spring semester at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn.
The $2,500 scholarship is awarded annually to the Belmont University public affairs student who demonstrates academic excellence, campus service and professionalism. Selected in a competitive process, Bates is the daughter of Keith and Freda Bates of Madison, Miss.
She is a junior majoring in public relations. Bates is a student worker in the Admissions Office at Belmont, treasurer of the university’s chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America and member of the Alpha Chi honor society. She recently was inducted in Alpha Chi – the highest academic honor Belmont bestows. She is also involved with Belmont’s on-campus PR firm, Tower Creative Consultants. In addition to her campus activities and internships, Bates has maintained a 3.95 grade point average on a 4.0 scale.
“Lisa is the kind of student who makes me glad I’m a teacher,” said Pam Parry, director of the public relations program at Belmont. “She is an excellent selection for this scholarship as she has demonstrated both academic excellence in the classroom and strong leadership in co-curricular activities, such as PRSSA. She’s respected by both her peers and her professors. She’s not just a quality student, but she is a quality person.
“We are so grateful to Bridgestone Americas for this generous donation to our young public relations program. Belmont began the program three years ago, and Bridgestone Americas has given scholarships for the past two years. Bridgestone Americas’ support has benefited our students and strengthened the PR major itself.”
