Following the March 26 announcement of Belmont University’s new Bridges to Belmont program, the campus’ dining services provider Sodexo offered a gift of 20 meal plans to support the initiative. The Bridges to Belmont program is designed to enroll 25 high potential students from Metro Nashville Public Schools who may not have previously been able to consider Belmont as an option.
Belmont Vice President and Chief of Staff Dr. Susan West said, “Sodexo has partnered with Belmont for more than two decades, and I have seen first-hand their investment in our students and in this community. Sodexo’s generosity in supporting our new Bridges to Belmont initiative is indicative of the values, excellence and commitment that make this company such a perfect fit for our campus.”
The donation of the meal plans for Bridge scholars came on the heels of Sodexo’s announcement that the company is investing in the construction of Belmont’s new academic and dining services complex.
Sodexo Senior Vice President Fred Formichella said, “Once again two great cultures come together to create and support a very unique program, one that both Belmont and Sodexo will be proud of for many years to come.”
In addition to the full scholarships, the Bridges to Belmont program will focus on creating a learning and service environment to empower students’ personal passion to meet the needs of the world. Bridge students will live and work on campus the summer prior to enrollment while attending an intensive institute that will allow them to take full advantage of the opportunities the college environment will offer. Programming will focus on quantitative reasoning, writing, public speaking skills and research methods as well as on creating a community of learners. The summer immersion program also will include community service and social activities for participants.
After state and federal grant assistance is applied, Belmont University will provide or raise the remaining funds to ensure all Bridge students have a full financial package to cover tuition, room, board and books. The pilot Bridges to Belmont program is open to students from Maplewood and Stratford High Schools for the 2013-2014 academic year and eventually could expand to include other Metro Nashville Public Schools.
About Sodexo
Sodexo is the global leader in services that improve Quality of Life, an essential factor in individual and organizational performance. Operating in 80 countries, Sodexo serves 75 million consumers each day through its unique combination of On-site Services, Benefits and Rewards Services and Personal and Home Services. Through its more than 100 services, Sodexo provides clients an integrated offering developed over more than 45 years of experience: from reception, safety, maintenance and cleaning, to foodservices and facilities and equipment management; from Meal Pass, Gift Pass and Mobility Pass benefits for employees to in-home assistance and concierge services. Sodexo’s success and performance are founded on its independence, its sustainable business model and its ability to continuously develop and engage its 420,000 employees throughout the world.
