Belmont University
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From Here to Anywhere
C I R C L E
M A G A Z I N E
UNITED in SPIRIT A P U B L I C AT I O N F O R S T U D E N T S , PA R E N T S , A L U M N I & F R I E N D S
FI R ST LO O K Belmont is preparing for its role as the host site of the third and final presidential debate, to be held on Oct. 22 in the University’s Curb Event Center. In addition to Debate banners that now decorate the campus, Belmont will provide a variety of opportunities for students, faculty, staff and the community at large to participate in educational programming surrounding the debate, all under the overarching theme “The Ideas of America.�
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U NIVE RS ITY ADMINISTRATIO N PRESIDENT
Bob Fisher PROVOST
Thomas Burns VP OF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS
John Carney VP OF INSTITUTIONAL EFFECTIVENESS
Paula Gill VP OF SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT
Todd Lake VP OF FINANCE AND OPERATIONS
Steve Lasley VP OF DEVELOPMENT AND EXTERNAL RELATIONS
A WORD FR OM T HE PRESI DENT CIRCLE MAGAZINE
I won’t lie. This was one of the toughest semesters in my 20 years at Belmont. I missed so many hallmark events, including all of our spring sports and the wealth of musical and theatre performances that so define our creative community. But I also missed the simple daily interactions with students, faculty and staff. As I walked Belmont’s campus this spring, I longed to see students on the Lawn, hanging out, studying for exams. Most of all, I missed celebrating our exceptional senior class at commencement, though I remain hopeful we can honor them in person in August.
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While COVID-19 caused those losses and ones far greater around the world, this virus also further revealed the remarkable resilience, grace, compassion and commitment found in the Belmont community. Our faculty worked extraordinarily hard to move to remote learning with just two weeks’ notice, while our students quickly adapted to finish the semester strong and support one another along the way. Our staff—both those at home and our essential workers on campus—kept University operations running at a high level. All of these individuals have truly United in Spirit, despite the physical distance circumstances required. I couldn’t be more impressed or more grateful to be on the Belmont team, and as you read the pages of this Circle magazine and our newly launched BelmontCircle.com website, I think you’ll find myriad reasons why. Be Well,
Robert C. Fisher, president
For Bonus Content, Visit: B E LM O N TCIRCLE.COM
ON THE COVER:
Alumna and current Alumni Officer for Young Alumni Engagement and Communications Julia Couch took the cover image on campus May 14 as the Blue Angels flew over Nashville in honor of health care workers, first responders and other essential personnel.
Perry Moulds VP OF ADMINISTRATION AND UNIVERSITY COUNSEL
Jason Rogers VP/CHIEF OF STAFF
Susan West
MAG AZ INE MANAGING EDITOR
April Hefner (M.A. ’07) DESIGNERS
Erica Belletete, Sarah Hobbs, Anna Howard (M.Ed. ’19), Myles Ketelsen UNIVERSITY PHOTOGRAPHER
Sam Simpkins CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Kenzie Baker (B.B.A. ‘21) Julia Couch (B.S. ‘16) Preston Eggert (B.S. ‘21 ) CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Haley Charlton (B.A. ’16), Grant Cohen (MSA ’21), Nicole Jones (B.S. ’20, Katie McAdams (B.S. ’20), Greg Sage Circle magazine is published biannually for alumni and friends of Belmont University. Address changes and alumni notes should be directed to the Office of Alumni Relations. Third-class bulk postage is paid at the U.S. Post Office, Nashville, TN. Direct inquiries and comments to: Office of Communications/Circle magazine 615.460.6641 or circlemag@belmont.edu Belmont University is a Christian community. The University faculty, administration, and staff uphold Jesus as the Christ and as the measure for all things. As a community seeking to uphold Christian standards of morality, ethics, and conduct, Belmont University holds high expectations of each person who chooses to join the community. In compliance with federal law, including provisions of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Sections 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Belmont University does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, military service, or sexual orientation in its administration of education policies programs or activities; its admissions policies; or employment. Consistent with applicable civil rights law, the University seeks employees of Christian faith who are committed to the mission of the University. The University has appointed the director of the Office of Human Resources to serve as coordinator of compliance with Title VII and IX issues and questions for staff and faculty. The Director of Title IX Compliance and Prevention Programs serves as coordinator of compliance for Title IX issues and questions for students. Inquiries or complaints should be directed to: Lauri Chaudoin, Director, Title IX Compliance and Prevention Programs, Freeman Hall, 3rd Floor, 1900 Belmont Boulevard, Nashville, TN 37212, 615.460.5661. Email: lauri.chaudoin@belmont.edu or Leslie Lenser, Chief Human Resources Officer/Sr. Director & Deputy Title IX Coordinator, Fidelity Hall, Room 426, 1900 Belmont Boulevard, Nashville, TN 37212, 615.460.6456. Email: leslie.lenser@belmont.edu.
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B EIN G BE L M O NT A new Homecoming tradition introduced campus to Build a Bruin, an interactive contest that challenged students and departments to create a Belmont-themed bear. See the Build a Bruin process and Top 11 bears at BelmontCircle.com.
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in this together
Belmont may be most well-known for its music and music business-related programs, but health care veterans recognize the University as a major source of exceptionally well-educated practitioners in a variety of fields, including nursing, which stands as Belmont’s second most popular major. In Middle Tennessee, Belmont nursing students aided on the frontlines of the battle against COVID-19. Graduate nurse practitioner students helped staff drivethrough testing at one of Nashville’s assessment centers. From collecting nasopharyngeal swab samples to specimen labeling, third year Doctor of Nursing Practice student Joanna Plumb appreciated the team mentality. “We are all working together to do our part during this pandemic.” Meanwhile, senior nursing major Mariam Fakhar worked alongside her peers answering phones for hotlines established by the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency and the Metro Nashville Health Department. In an interview with a local publication Fakhar noted that a big takeaway for her was the focus on patient-centered care. “It’s not just giving meds, but also being culturally competent and centering the care around the patients. While I wasn’t able to look at the patient, I was able to ask them how they were dealing with it and hear their concerns.”
Belmont alumni, students and faculty also contributed by making cloth masks to donate to hospitals and nonprofits.
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impacting the frontlines
And then, just as suddenly, new signs of innovation began to emerge. Classes moved online, and faculty remarked with both surprise and pride about student engagement. Virtual events celebrated scholarship and creativity. Nursing students exercised their skills on the disease’s front lines, and students from all majors discovered new ways to connect with their peers and their communities.
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The first U.S. case of COVID-19 was diagnosed on the West Coast Jan. 22, nearly seven weeks before its arrival was confirmed in Nashville. The virus’s rapid rate of infection forced drastic and sudden changes to everyone’s lives, including the Belmont community. By March 20, students had moved home for the remainder of the semester, commencement was postponed, significant year-end events were canceled and most employees were working remotely. Campus life as we all know it came to a screeching halt.
Belmont students, faculty and staff rose to the challenges presented by COVID-19, forging new connections and lifting one another’s spirits via remote outlets.
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Belmont nursing student Carol Pollock administers COVID-19 tests.
While the pandemic provided hands-on experience to many nursing students, most members of the Belmont community had joined the unprecedented nationwide movement to virtual learning, reimagining classes and coursework online. But demonstrating Belmont’s well-known penchant for creativity, students still found ways to exercise their talents
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innovating with virtual learning
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Dr. Bonnie Smith Whitehouse prepares for class at home with her pup.
in an innovative fashion. For example, the production team for Best of the Best didn’t let the absence of an arena show slow them down, instead pulling together an online, sociallydistanced performance for the entire Belmont community to enjoy.
Provost Dr. Thomas Burns congratulates scholars virtually during Scholarship and Awards Day.
Jaylen Palmer teaches a dance for Student Life's TikTok challenge.
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With social media allowing the Belmont community to stay connected, junior creative and entertainment industries major Domenica Coka has been reminded of how blessed she is to go to a university like Belmont. “I definitely think this time has proven that even though class work can be stressful, we take for granted how truly blessed we are,” she said. “I am so appreciative of the Belmont faculty and staff who’ve made this transition the best possible. We are very fortunate.”
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building community amidst social distance
While none of these significant events occurred as originally planned, all found excited and thoroughly engaged audiences participating on a variety of social media channels. And there were plenty of simply fun moments of connection as well, like when the Student Life team posted a TikTok challenge for Belmont students on its Instagram account. Sophomore public health major Jaylen Palmer led a simple choreographed dance to the upbeat song “Sunday Best” by Surfaces and encouraged fellow students to post themselves performing the dance. The viral post found dozens of students emulating Palmer’s moves with flair, even teaching it to their parents or dressing up in costumes to make the dance their own.
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Campus traditions also found new outlets, bolstering community and honoring achievements. The BOLD Campus-wide Leadership awards kicked off the season in late April with a full-day of social media posts and videos honoring student leaders, followed by virtual celebrations for Scholarship and Awards Day recipients and Athletics’ Bruin Choice Awards. New students were welcomed via a Virtual Be Belmont Day, and May 2020 graduates received their official conferral of degrees from Dr. Fisher via YouTube.
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celebrating our seniors
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Senior year, with its challenges and triumphs, is an exciting time in the life of college students. Despite the COVID-19 circumstances that cut this academic year on campus short, many seniors are staying positive, recalling their college journeys and looking to the future with hope. With dogged determination and a lot of FaceTiming and Zoom, members of the Class of 2020 finished the year strong and are now sharing their favorite college experiences and words of wisdom for continuing students.
MAS ON PO HLMA N Like so many others, honors student Mason Pohlman, an engineering physics major from Jacksonville, Illinois, misses his friends, but he has a lot to look forward to as he will begin a master’s program in mechanical engineering this fall, in part thanks to the input of physics professor Dr. Steve Robinson. “I loved going to the weekly Bible study he hosted… It really helped me to be able to learn and be challenged constantly by someone I could look up to, in both an academic and spiritual sense. Belmont would not have been the same without him.”
M ENA HA N-LA LIM E
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Hailing from Damariscotta, Maine, public relations major Mena Han-Lalime reflected on how much she values Belmont faculty, in particular her advisor Dr. Kevin Trowbridge. “He has given me so much of his time to help me make the best decisions possible for myself and been there to guide me when I’ve felt completely lost in search of a career path. He has always made me feel like my voice matters, and he encourages everyone to use their unique strengths and pursue what they are passionate about.”
ER I C R I V E R A Eric Rivera, a music business major from Lockport, Illinois, appreciated staying connected with his Belmont friends and faculty through classes and frequent check-ins on Zoom. Prior to COVID-19, he was active with Showcase Series and Up ‘Til Dawn and taught a fitness class in the Beaman called Hump Day Hip Hop. What he misses most about Belmont is the community, the simple joy of walking through campus and running into friends. His advice for his peers who aren’t graduating? “You have the time and space to really try anything you want at Belmont even when you don’t think you do. Trust me. Make the most of your friendships, get involved on campus and learn to take time for yourself and enjoy college.”
HA M ILTO N SPA R KS
Look for more senior stories at belmontcircle.com
From Orange County, California, Hamilton Sparks relied on phone calls, text messages and emails to keep in touch. A corporate communications major, Sparks advises her Belmont peers, “Be brave. Take that one fun class, introduce yourself to that WELL Core speaker and throw yourself into any dance party you stumble upon. Getting involved in college was scary for me, and I was slow to put myself out there. But now, the friends I have made have become my truest, dearest friendships that I will cherish forever. So be brave in each situation you find—great things will come of it.”
Men’s basketball earned a hardfought OVC title and entry to the Big Dance, but it was their attitude off the court that brought even greater applause.
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t was a dramatic, heart-stopping finish no matter how you look at it. Graduate student Tyler Scanlon made a reverse layin with 3.8 seconds left as Belmont men’s basketball defeated Murray State, 76-75, March 7. As the horn sounded, Belmont players erupted in pure jubilation, winning their first OVC Tournament Championship since 2015 and earning an automatic bid to the Big Dance.
And sadly, it was the last possession not just of the game but of the season. Five days later the NCAA canceled the men’s and women’s basketball tournaments due to COVID-19, and the March Madness every player and fan enthusiastically anticipated simply disappeared. “It’s kind of a weird feeling, the finality of it all,” Scanlon told The Athletic columnist Joe Rexrode. “It happened so abruptly. It was just over. Usually, there’s a certain sequence to things, survive and advance, win or go home. This was win and go home.” But despite the disappointment, Scanlon and seniors Michael Benkert and Seth Adelsperger made it clear to Rexrode that they knew they were blessed. They finished with a Championship. In fact, they finished with four: a regular season title, the Tournament Championship, the 2019–20 OVC Sportsmanship Award and top billing on the 2020 NCAA Tournament Academic Bracket, a product of the Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sports.
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Coach Casey Alexander noted after the game, “It was an emotional game, such a great game... Ebbs and flows of two good teams going at it with big play after big play. I’m glad we had the last good possession with the ball.”
Tyler Scanlon’s game-winning buzzer beater.
Responding to how he and the team were handling the season’s end, Alexander concluded, “Life is going to have disappointments, and this is a life lesson for all of us. How we handle it is our only responsibility at this point. There’s really no better time to exercise your faith than in moments like these. That’s what being a believer is all about is understanding whether good or bad, God is in control. We have so much to be thankful for.”
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LEVATING THE ART
In just a few short weeks Belmont University will begin courses in an exciting new undergraduate major, architecture. Announced in Feb. 2019, the five-year Bachelor of Architecture program will fill a significant gap for architectural education in the fast-developing Middle Tennessee region. Belmont’s program will be the only one of its kind in the area and one of only two in the state. “Architecture is a field that touches all of us in our daily lives,” said Dr. Jhennifer Amundson, dean of the O’More College of Architecture & Design. “Being an architect allows you to take part in a great expression of cultural merit. It’s a tremendous blessing to take part in building a community, to leave a lasting memorial to human values.”
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Belmont’s architecture students will enjoy an array of cross-disciplinary opportunities throughout the University, with O’More’s program in interior design as well as with the University’s long-established visual arts majors. In fact, Belmont is elevating its creative community with a recently announced intent
to merge with the Nashville-based Watkins College of Art. The new college will join Belmont’s highly regarded visual arts and graphic design programs with those from Watkins and will be helmed by longtime Belmont faculty member and alumnus, James Pierce. Belmont President Dr. Bob Fisher said, “For well over a century, Watkins has fostered the talents and honed the crafts of thousands of phenomenal artists. This merger will enable us to accelerate and elevate art education in the Southeast and beyond.” The addition of Watkins and the advent of the O’More architecture program further fortifies Belmont as the center for art and design in the region. In addition to the financial stability, resources and expanded reach Belmont offers, the partnership provides Watkins students with an array of opportunities not currently available, such as study abroad possibilities, dedicated career development staff and increased options for general education courses.
THE GROWTH OF ART AND DESIGN EDUCATION AT BELMONT TOOK ANOTHER STEP FORWARD AS THE FIRST ARCHITECTURE STUDENTS WERE ADMITTED AND THE UNIVERSITY MERGED WITH
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WATKINS COLLEGE OF ART.
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SPOT L I G HT New renderings of the under construction Belmont University Performing Arts Center show the 1,700 seat multi-purpose concert hall will create the largest—and most beautiful—classroom on campus when the Center opens in Fall 2021. Learn more about the facility on page 29.
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COMING
HOME
BRUIN PRIDE. There is no better example of uniting in spirit at Belmont than the annual Homecoming week. This year’s February celebration would be a week to remember as, though it wasn’t known at the time, it represented one of the campus’ last opportunities to physically come together as one body of Bruins: alumni, students, parents, faculty and staff alike. Each day focused on a fun theme to remind the Belmont community of why it is such a special place to be: Mission Monday, T-Shirt Tuesday, Wow Wednesday, Thank You Thursday and FANtastic Friday. Events all week—from alumni-hosted Chapel services and special lectures to the Dance Party and annual Homecoming in the Round concert—brought Bruins of all ages together. One particularly popular event was the invitation for students to “Build a Bruin” teddy bear, a new Belmont tradition that is sure to be a hit year after year. Departments and organizations across campus all dressed up their own bear representative to put on display and on the ballot for the Best Bear of All. The Belmont Store’s “Wonder Bruin” claimed the inaugural title with the most votes on Facebook. Homecoming Saturday invited alumni back to campus for reunions, continuing education opportunities, sporting events and a Tailgate at the Tower celebration. Of special note was the annual Tower Society Reunion, celebrating the elite group of alumni who graduated from Belmont 50 years ago or more. To conclude the day, during halftime of the men’s basketball game, senior public relations major Morgan James was crowned Homecoming Queen, and junior Levi Blazer, a public health/corporate communications double major, was named Homecoming King.
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A WEEK-LONG CELEBRATION OF
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CAMPUS COMMUNITY TOGETHER FOR
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HOMECOMING 2020 BROUGHT THE
ALU M N I STO RI E S
Paynter, ’13
Howard, ’16 Ferrari, ’18
M E E T A LU M N A E L A U R E N , H E AT H E R A N D M E G Soccer Alumnae Demonstrate Skills, Compassion in COVID-19 Fight
Women’s soccer alumnae Lauren Paynter, Heather Ferrari and Meg Howard are just a few of Belmont’s former student athletes who are currently working in the healthcare field and helping in the fight against COVID-19. Paynter, a 2013 nursing graduate, is currently working in Kentucky in the labor and delivery field and recently became a certified nurse midwife. “Belmont is very unique in that it allows for a very challenging soccer career as well as a very challenging nursing career. Learning things like teamwork and leadership, I’ve used those types of skills every day that I’ve worked as a nurse, especially now during this virus outbreak. We’ve really had to come together within the hospital setting.” Ferrari, a Duluth, Ga., native and 2018 nursing grad, currently works as a nurse in Nashville for Vanderbilt Health in the Cardiovascular ICU. With Vanderbilt Health not allowing families
’13, ’18 AND ’16
and visitors in the unit during this time, Ferrari and her co-workers act as the primary support system for their patients. “Normally what family members do, we’re having to do as nurses,” Ferrari said. “Instead of just being the nurse, we’re having to be the emotional support, trying to show them love even though we’re not the family.” Following her 2016 graduation, Howard moved to Houston and currently works as a Pediatric ICU nurse. With Belmont Women’s Soccer preaching chemistry day in and day out, Howard has taken that mindset into her work as a nurse. “We were so great at being really tightknit, working hard together, working hard for each other, and we had a family vibe there [at Belmont]. I’m translating that into my unit now,” she said. “We work as a family, we work hard for each other and our patients. It’s the same skill set. It’s just a new team, not on the soccer field, but in the hospital.”
ANGIE UNDERHILL ADAMS ’ 9 0
CEO of Nashville’s nonprofit PENCIL Foundation, accounting graduate Angie Adams spends her days connecting students to working professionals who can tutor and mentor them while also providing resources to schools and teachers. In an age of social distancing and school closures, those functions aren’t possible. She and her team worked instead to safely make and deliver educational kits. “More than anything I’m learning that human relationships are the top priority, both personally and professionally. It’s reassuring to us all that we’re in this mess together—and we’re going to find a way out together.
E VA N + J E N N Y OW E N S
’05 AND ’05/’07
Co-founders of REBOOT Recovery, which was started to minister to soldiers recovering from trauma, Evan and Jenny Owens now want to help everyone cope with the trauma of the pandemic. “For millions of Americans this crisis has been traumatic financially, emotionally, spiritually and health-wise. We have seen an unprecedented demand for our trauma healing courses and have expanded our course offerings to include medical workers and the general public.”
Z ACH BE VI LL ’06
Commercial music graduate Zach Bevill is helping the cause through his work as operations and programming director at Project Connect Nashville, which seeks to break the poverty cycle. “We are serving 400-500 hot meals each day in North Nashville, and many of those are delivered to the elderly and disabled who should not leave their homes with the pandemic. While we have expanded direct service in new ways, we are also doing so with many safety measures in place to keep everyone clean, distanced and safe.”
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Deployed to serve as a clinical nurse at the Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx, Stahl said, “When you go into a patient’s room with COVID-19, it’s really hard. You know that you are walking into the line of fire. But when you look at your patient in a holistic way, you look into their eyes, you hear their story, and you recognize that you can be there to help them with your nursing skills or your faith or sometimes even just your presence. You know you’re in the exact place you’re meant to be, equipped with all the right experiences you need to provide that help.”
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Lara Stahl, nursing class of 2004, is battling COVID-19 on two fronts: as a regional clinical operations director for Premise Health in Fort Worth, Texas and as a Captain in the U.S. Air Force Reserves. Lara was called up to serve in the hard hit area of New York City. A family nurse practitioner and certified occupational health nurse specialist, she was working on a corporate COVID-19 clinical task force to help Premise Health support their over 600 primary care and occupational health centers around the country before being asked to head to NYC with 16 of her fellow airmen with less than 24 hours’ notice.
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L A R A S TA H L
CAM PUS N E WS
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RICK BYRD COURT: CURB EVENT CENTER FLOOR NAMED FOR COACHING LEGEND As part of the 2020 Homecoming celebration, Belmont’s basketball court in the Curb Event Center was officially named Feb. 15 in honor of retired men’s basketball Coach Rick Byrd. In recognition of Byrd's vast contributions to the lives of student-athletes and the broader campus community, Belmont is also establishing the Rick Byrd Endowed Scholarship. "There are few individuals who have made a bigger impact for Belmont Athletics and Belmont University than
Rick Byrd," said Director of Athletics Scott Corley. "The naming of the court and establishing a scholarship in his name is the appropriate way to honor his legacy. It gives me great satisfaction in knowing that the Curb Event Center court will forever bear his name as a reminder of the incredible impact he has made on the Belmont community." As part of Belmont's We Believe campaign, all gifts and pledges made to the Rick Byrd Scholarship Endowment up to $1.5 million will be matched by the University
through May 31, 2021. Contributions can be made at belmontbruins.com/ coachbyrdscholarship. Byrd's 805 career victories rank 12th all-time among NCAA Division I head coaches. "I am very thankful to Belmont University for this recognition," Byrd said. "I truly wish we could put the names of all the players—the ones who earned the wins and championships—on the court, but I gratefully accept this honor on their behalf. I cannot overstate how meaningful this is to me and my family."
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The family of former Chancellor and President, the late Dr. Herbert C. Gabhart, gathered for a celebration to dedicate the University Chapel in his honor. Deemed the “heart and soul” of the institution, Gabhart served Belmont for 50 years, leaving a lasting legacy.
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CHAPEL DEDICATION
CURTAIN CALL
The School of Music awarded its annual Curtain Call award to commercial music alumni and Grammy winners Alvin Love III and Dwan Hill, who co-wrote “Never Have to Be Alone” for former Belmont trustee and 2019 “Christmas at Belmont” guest artist CeCe Winans.
SOLICITOR GENERAL APPEARANCE
Belmont Law hosted Noel Francisco, current Solicitor General of the United States, to speak with current students and members of the Nashville legal community in a Q&A session with Dean Alberto Gonzales.
FULBRIGHT RECIPIENTS
Alumnus Dylan Windler, a member of the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers, was on hand to celebrate with Coach Byrd.
Two Belmont graduates were awarded prestigious Fulbright Teaching Grants this spring. May 2020 international business/ management graduate Anas Saba will begin in Mexico in January, and 2018 PR/ journalism alumna Elizabeth Stewart will teach in Israel.
VARIETY, BILLBOARD HAIL BELMONT AS TOP SCHOOL FOR FILM, MUSIC BUSINESS
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SHOWCASING SINGERS
SHAPE THE FUTURE
The Belmont Pitchmen won first place at the annual International Competition of Collegiate A Cappella semifinals in Durham, North Carolina in early March, while the Belmont Beltones came in third.
As part of this year’s Bateman Team, a group of public relations majors earned national recognition for a promotional campaign they created for the U.S. Census Bureau titled, “Shape Belmont and Nashville’s Future.”
WELLNESS while we wait
What a one-two punch! In back-toback weeks, Belmont was lauded in premiere publications covering film and music business—Variety and Billboard, respectively—regarding the University’s undergraduate majors in those arenas.
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In April, Belmont’s motion pictures program was included in Variety’s cultivated list of the top film schools from the United States and abroad. The list brags on the motion pictures department and the fact that students will shoot and edit their first film immediately after the semester starts. “The school boasts a 250seat theater and sound mixing stage and it’s one of those rare film school programs in which students have access to cuttingedge Dolby Atmos sound-mixing equipment,” the article noted.
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Chair of the Motion Pictures Department Will Akers said, “After only seven years, to find ourselves on a list with the University of Southern California, La Fémis and the Beijing Film Academy is nothing short of extraordinary.”
ADDY WINNERS
WELLNESS WHILE WE WAIT
Seven Belmont students won American Advertising Awards, or Student ADDYs. Three of those students (including Abraham Mast, pictured far right) won district awards and are being judged at the national level of the advertising design competition.
Thanks to a partnership between Counseling Services, University Ministries and Fitness & Recreation, students were treated to an engaging “Wellness While We Wait” video series on YouTube to promote mental, spiritual and physical health while students were away from campus due to the pandemic.
M E N TA L H E A LT H C O U N S E L I N G recei ved
CACREP
N AT I ONAL ACC R ED I TAT I O N
The following week Billboard magazine recognized Belmont’s Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business as one of the “2020 Top Music Business Schools” in the country. The authors particularly noted how the recent COVID-19 health crisis has demonstrated the advantages of a liberal arts education. Schools like Belmont, which offers a liberal arts foundation, can aid aspiring music business leaders in their long-term goals. Doug Howard, dean of the Curb College, said, “We celebrate being selected by Billboard to be included in their truly elite list of music business and entertainment programs... Curb College is the place to come experience industry-professional faculty in the classroom, world-class studios and technology and incredible internship opportunities, all on the path to a student’s dream career.”
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ENTREPRENEURSHIP NATIONALLY RANKED
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The Princeton Review and Entrepreneur Magazine named Belmont No. 20 on its list of “Top 50 Undergraduate Schools for Entrepreneurship of 2020.” Belmont represented the only school in Tennessee, and one of only six colleges in the Southeast, to be named to the list.
MOBILIZING MEDICINE
Pharmacy students travelled to El Zamorano, Honduras in December on a Belmont on Mission trip, ministering to and providing medical care and medication to those without access to adequate health care.
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MOCK TRIAL TEAM SUCCESS
After securing third place at the Mid-South Invitational, Belmont’s Undergrad Mock Trial Team completed a successful season at Regionals, winning the “Spirit of American Mock Trial Association Award,” which recognizes the team that best exemplifies the ideals of civility, justice and fair play.
GOING VIRTUAL
To maintain necessary social distancing, Belmont held its annual Scholarship and Awards Day on the University’s Instagram account. The virtual event presented various student and faculty awards, including the Presidential Faculty Achievement Award and the John Williams Heart of Belmont Award, among others.
186,058 Impressions of the
‘BLOOM WHERE YO U A R E P L A N T E D ’ L E A D E R S H I P AWA R D S
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PAISLEYS’ THE STORE OPENS EARLY, OFFERS AID TO ELDERLY DURING CORONAVIRUS CONCERNS Belmont alumnus Brad Paisley and his wife Kimberly Williams Paisley’s nonprofit, The Store, opened earlier than anticipated this spring, thanks to the work of many dedicated volunteers, staff, partners and donors. The freereferral based grocery store on Belmont’s campus is now serving the needs of the Nashville community beyond the initial scope of its original mission. When the city began advising against going out to shop in the midst of growing concerns of spreading COVID-19, The Store stepped in to mobilize delivery of a
week’s worth of groceries on Wednesdays and Thursdays to elderly residents in the Edgehill and Berry Hill communities. “In light of changing times, we are doing things a little differently,” said Brad on his Instagram account. “I can’t think of a better time for this to be open and serving our community.” Executive Director of the Store Courtney Vrablik said the store received a generous amount of support to make this possible. “We are really grateful for the Belmont students who volunteered at The Store,”
she explained. “It’s this heart for service that keeps us excited to continue working with the student body moving forward and as they return to campus life.” Belmont partners with The Store for Legal Aid Clinics at the University’s Ministry Center and plans to also offer healthcare services. Both groups will work closely together to serve the broader community in a range of ways once social distancing protocols are lifted.
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BELMONT ANNOUNCES NEW INDOOR ATHLETICS PRACTICE FACILITY
NATO Supreme Allied Commander General Wesley K. Clark (ret.) brought his “Renew America Together” initiative to campus Jan. 13 featuring a conversation with former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee. The Democratic and Republican leaders sought to host a constructive dialogue in order to promote and teach civics, citizenship and civility.
Alumnus Mike Sistad, an integral member of ASCAP’s Membership group, was honored as this year’s Music City Milestone Award recipient. Sistad has nurtured and signed some of the organization’s top talent, including Chris Stapleton (far right), Kelsea Ballerini, Old Dominion and more.
In addition to housing two full courts for basketball and volleyball, the twostory, 45,000 square-foot facility will feature athletic training and strength and conditioning space, a video room with theatre-style seating, locker rooms, coaches’ offices, conference rooms, equipment rooms and team lounge areas. “This indoor practice facility is a game-changer for Belmont University Athletics,” Belmont Athletics Director Scott Corley said. “This project builds on our championship tradition and positions us favorably in attracting student-athletes who want to be part of the next chapter of Belmont’s success story.” Scheduled for completion in Fall 2021, the facility will be located on Compton Avenue and will include a shared lobby with Belmont Tennis at the adjacent Belmont University South Garage.
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“This is an exciting day for Belmont University and our student-athletes,” Belmont President Dr. Bob Fisher said. “The project coincides with other transformational capital projects on campus and speaks to our commitment to provide Belmont students with the facilities, tools and resources to thrive academically, athletically and spiritually. The facility will unite Belmont champions of the past, present and future.”
RENEWING AMERICA TOGETHER
SPRING 2020
Practice makes perfect… and now Belmont student-athletes will have a perfect place to practice. In January, Belmont announced plans for the construction of an indoor practice facility to benefit University athletics. The facility will serve as the primary training home for Belmont’s nationally-regarded men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball programs, and complement the existing game day environment at the Curb Event Center.
DANCING WITH DIANA
HELPING CHURCHES THRIVE
Internationally renowned choreographer Diana Scrivener, who worked most recently on “Downton Abbey,” led student dance and movement workshops on campus in February.
Belmont was awarded a $1 million, five-year grant from Lilly Endowment Inc., designed to help support Nashville urban churches in their efforts to thrive.
Belmont Law 2019 Graduates Place
#6
N AT I O N A L LY F O R B A R E X A M PA S S R AT E
for first- time test takers
WE BE L I E VE CA MPA IG N
PAYING IT FORWARD—GIVING HOPE IN HARD TIMES Support for student scholarships needed now more than ever 1,412. That’s how many students would have crossed the stage in the Curb Event Center on May 2 to receive their diplomas if not for the postponement of the Spring 2020 commencement due to COVID-19. These new graduates were still celebrated, albeit virtually, for what they’ve accomplished. They were honored for taking the next step in a mission to use the challenging education they received to go forward “to engage with and transform the world.” Naimisha Champaneria, a 2020 nursing graduate and Clayton McWhorter Society Scholarship Recipient, said, “I hope to become a NICU nurse and eventually to get my NP license. My one wish as a nurse is to make someone’s stay at the hospital a little bit easier. Sometimes knowing someone is there through it all, is all you need. My ultimate goal is to know that I have made a difference in someone’s life while pursuing the passion I have for nursing.” That is the epitome of a Belmont graduate: thinking first of how to help others. But these students often need help themselves to complete their education and achieve their dreams. Approximately 78 percent of undergraduates receive financial aid of some kind. While
Belmont is consistently rated among universities that provide the best value according to Kiplingers, paying for a college education remains a challenge for many families. The economic hardships caused by this year’s pandemic makes those situations even more difficult. That’s why Belmont is engaged in its most extensive fundraising campaign in the University’s 130-year history, and it’s why the We Believe campaign is prioritizing scholarship endowments as a key area of focus. In fact, Belmont will match endowment gifts between $25,000 and $1.5 million with unrestricted income to double the donor’s impact. The world needs more individuals like Naimisha Champaneria. A Belmont education can help many more cross that stage and go make a difference for a world in need.
*BELMONT IS MATCHING ENDOWMENT CONTRIBUTIONS BETWEEN
$25,000–$1.5 MILLION TO CAMPAIGN PRIORITY AREAS
T O TA L R A I S E D
$252,965,439
YOUR GIFT MAKES A DIFFERENCE “Belmont has transformed my life and shaped the direction of my future. I have one simple goal for when I graduate, and that is to be the best nurse that I can be while showing others the love of Christ, whether taking care of my patients or serving my coworkers. By making a financial investment in my education, Belmont donors are investing in the future of the healthcare field! Thank you!”
$300,000,000
ABIGAIL COMBS Senior Nursing major $200,000,000
$100,000,000
20,203
Total donors to the We Believe campaign
$3,457,360
Raised to support missions
$24,071,545 In gifts eligible for University match*
PERFORMING ARTS CENTER BEGINS TAKING SHAPE
Belmont’s programs in the performing arts are shaping the future of music in Music City and around the world as alumni educated on this campus are touring sold-out arenas, forming the backbone of countless symphonies, stealing the stage on Broadway and inspiring audiences everywhere they go. These students and alumni who are so boldly embodying Belmont’s “From Here to Anywhere” mantra deserve a world-class venue in which to perfect their craft.
The new Belmont University Performing Arts Center, which broke ground in 2019, will make this vision a reality when it opens next fall. Construction on the 1,700 seat multi-purpose space is ongoing, but the building is beginning to take shape and will define the campus’ southeast corner, creating a true arts district with neighboring Troutt Theater and McAfee Concert Hall. Upon completion, the venue will provide Belmont with its largest classroom, offering students the opportunity to learn, create and perform in a venue intended to be the finest of any to be found on a college campus. As Belmont Board of Trustees Chairman Marty Dickens said, “Our students are just the best, and they deserve the very best.”
GIVE NOW
Now is a great time to join the We Believe campaign. To learn more about our campaign, please visit webelieve.belmont.edu or call 615.460.5517.
1900 Belmont Boulevard Nashville, TN 37212-3757
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