BELMONT UNIVERSITY | CIRCLE MAGAZINE FALL 2016
Belmont Partners with
KEN BURNS on ‘Country Music’ Documentary
FIRST
LOOK
Three filled-to-capacity shows made the 2016 "Christmas at Belmont" another astounding success. Check your local listings for the late December PBS re-broadcast of the 2015 "Christmas at Belmont" show with host Kathy Mattea. FALL 2016
1
FROM THE PRESIDENT I’ve had the incredible fortune to spend my entire career on a college campus. There’s truly something invigorating about being around young people as they’re shaping their identities, discovering their passions and preparing for their futures. Being a university president often comes with its share of challenges, but I can honestly say that serving these students and being a witness to their development is an incredible honor and privilege. Of course, my experience as a college administrator may be biased since I’m blessed to be president of Belmont University. I’m convinced that this campus attracts the best and brightest of each generation. These students are dedicated to service and full of creativity and innovation beyond compare. This semester, perhaps more than any other, I’ve witnessed the Belmont community at its best, exemplifying compassion, inclusion, civility and justice, and doing it all with the love of Christ as their guiding principle. They make me proud to be a Bruin. Best Regards,
Robert C. Fisher, president
Dr. Fisher presented the annual President’s Spirit Cup trophy this fall to sorority Alpha Gamma Delta at the OVC Cross Country Championship meet in Nashville. 2 A
CIRCLE CIRCLE MAGAZINE MAGAZINE
SPRING 2015
2
From the President
4
‘Country Music’ in Motion
6
Moving on Up!
8
Building a Diverse Community
10 #BruinVote16 12
Night at the Museum
14
Being Belmont
16
Believing in Education
18
Campus News
28
We Believe
ON THE COVER: Filmmaker Ken Burns, Nashville Mayor Megan Barry and country artist Ricky Skaggs joined Dr. Fisher on campus Nov. 2 for the announcement that Belmont will be a sponsor of Burns’s upcoming documentary.
CIRCLE MAGAZINE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATION President Bob Fisher Provost Thomas Burns Vice President/Chief of Staff Susan West Vice President of Finance and Operations Steve Lasley Vice President of Administration and University Counsel Jason Rogers Vice President of Development and External Relations Perry Moulds Vice President of Spiritual Development Todd Lake Vice President of Institutional Effectiveness Paula Gill
MAGAZINE Managing Editor April Hefner (M.A. ’07) Designers Nicole Childress, Glenda Dahlhauser, Hilary Griffith, Natalie Smith (B.F.A ’08) University Photographer Sam Simpkins Contributing Photographers Evan Davies (B.B.A. ’16), Joan Marcus Contributing Writers Hope Buckner (B.S. ’12), Kelsey Herbers (B.S. ’17), Greg Sage Circle magazine is published biannually for alumni and friends of Belmont University. Editorial content, graphic production, printing and distribution are coordinated by the Offices of Communications and University Marketing & Public Relations. 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 regarding Circle magazine content to: Belmont University Office of Communications/Circle magazine 1900 Belmont Blvd., Nashville, TN 37212 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. Belmont University does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, military service or sexual orientation. Inquiries or complaints concerning the application of these policies to students should be directed to the Dean of Students, Beaman Student Life Center Suite 200, 1900 Belmont Blvd., Nashville, TN 37212, deanofstudents@belmont.edu or 615.460.6407.
/belmontuniversity /belmontuniv /belmontu /belmontu
Baseball… The Civil War… Jazz... The National Parks…
anticipated 16-hour series. As part of the partnership, Belmont will have the opportunity to host a private screening for an episode of the series The list of subjects covered by Emmy Award- on campus along with a Q&A session for students winning documentarian Ken Burns are as iconic as and faculty with Burns. In addition, Belmont American culture itself. Now, Belmont University students and faculty will be invited to visit Burns’s has agreed to partner with Burns on his latest Florentine Films editing facility to view portions project, the highly anticipated “Country Music,” of the work-in-progress, and starting next year, slated to premiere nationally on PBS in 2019. students will intern with the film company. The sponsorship will also deliver tens of millions At a press conference Nov. 2 to announce the of impressions for the Belmont brand upon its partnership, Burns said, “[Country music] is broadcast on PBS, along with its presence on the American history firing on all cylinders… A good website, home video packaging and promotional deal of the story of country music is, of course, materials for the series. this magnificent tension between the town of Nashville and these hillbillies who invaded it in Belmont President Dr. Bob Fisher said, “We are the early part of the 20th century. That tension honored to partner with Ken Burns on a series is one of the great driving forces of the history of that will undoubtedly bring greater attention to our country music and of this extraordinary town. It is hometown, Nashville, as well as to an industry that no better epitomized and reconciled than it is at employs so many of our own alumni and friends. Belmont… we are unbelievably thrilled to have this Moreover, I am thrilled at the opportunity ‘Country opportunity to work with Belmont to help tell that Music’ will provide to music, music business and story in exactly the right way.” motion pictures students to personally witness the work of Ken Burns, an absolute legend in his craft. The Belmont grant will help underwrite a portion This kind of opportunity is one of the many things of the production and distribution costs for the that make Belmont so unique in higher education.” •
4
CIRCLE MAGAZINE
FALL 2016
5
6
CIRCLE MAGAZINE
B
With the largest incoming class in history this fall, Belmont reaches a new enrollment record while maintaining its academic excellence.
elmont’s fall 2016 semester kicked off with a recordbreaking enrollment number for the 16th consecutive year as the University welcomed 7,771 students to the first day of classes. The enrollment number includes the University’s largest incoming class to date with 1,613 new freshmen and 465 transfer students. Belmont also began the fall with multiple new academic programs to serve its growing population, including new undergraduate majors in Public Health, Global Leadership Studies and Sport Administration, as well as new graduate programs in Audio Engineering and Mental Health Counseling. Belmont President Dr. Bob Fisher said, “The growth this University has experienced, particularly in the past decade, is astonishing, but what makes me most proud is that our faculty and staff continue to put students first. No one at Belmont is a number. Here, every student’s success is our priority, and I believe that emphasis is what continues to attract so many to make Belmont their collegiate home.”
The University plans a full and engaging orientation called “Welcome Week” to help new students acclimate to college life. In addition to moving into residence halls and finding their way
around the 75-acre campus, Belmont students also spend an afternoon serving in their community. Participants in this year’s SERVE event volunteered with a variety of nonprofits doing different tasks, from painting to cleaning offices to landscaping. New motion pictures major Madison Eby said, “Participating in SERVE gave me an opportunity to give back to my community while also engaging with peers and learning their own stories. The fact that Belmont gives its students the opportunity to give back in their new home blows my mind. It allows us to understand the true mission of our university and how important it is to put others above ourselves.” Service is central to Belmont’s mission, as is providing students with an academically challenging education. This fall Belmont was lauded again in multiple categories in U.S. News & World Report’s recent ranking of America’s Best Colleges. Landing at No. 6 in the Best Regional Universities—South field, Belmont was praised for the ninth year in a row for its commitment to innovation. The University was also recognized for its Strong Commitment to Undergraduate Teaching, Internships, Learning Communities and Service-Learning programs as well as for being one of the Best Colleges for Veterans. •
FALL 2016
7
BUILDING A
diverse
COMMUNITY With the second annual Diversity Week and the establishment of a new multicultural office, Belmont emphasizes its efforts for inclusivity.
The launch of a new office focused on Multicultural Learning and Experience (MLE), along with the University’s second annual Diversity Week, displayed Belmont's continuing emphasis on being a welcoming and inclusive community. The Office, led by Dr. Mary Clark, is charged with providing academic and experiential multicultural learning opportunities that serve the university’s mission to engage and transform the world. In managing the Office, Clark will work to strengthen and expand Belmont’s culture of inclusion and diversity by supporting awareness events across campus, establishing programming and creating new initiatives and opportunities for diverse experiences. The development of the MLE allows Belmont to take a proactive approach in providing opportunities to further engage cultural competencies. Serving as the central location for diversity planning, the MLE will partner with initiatives across campus including the Welcome Home Team, a University committee focused on racial and ethnic diversity and the host of Belmont’s Diversity Week. This semester Belmont held its second-ever Diversity Week celebration, intent on providing engaging and collaborative dialogue
8
CIRCLE MAGAZINE
among students, faculty and staff. The week included a Diversity Forum, two “Real Talk” sessions where participants were led through facilitated discussion, an opportunity for faculty and staff to discuss implicit bias and micro-aggressions and an interactive art project focusing on individual diversity. Throughout the week, service opportunities were offered at local nonprofits where members of the Belmont community worked alongside fellow Nashvillians. The celebration culminated with a special keynote address by Metro Nashville Mayor Megan Barry. During her time on campus, Mayor Barry discussed the city's diversity initiatives, her vision as it relates to diversity and inclusion and what Belmont can do to contribute to that vision. A successful Nashville is a diverse Nashville, Barry said. Because our citizens can “only be what they see,” they must see people of all backgrounds in all positions. As the leader of Belmont’s hometown, Mayor Barry said she sees herself as a “convener,” and with less than three years left in her term, she feels a sense of urgency. “I only have 1,011 days left to move this needle,” she said. “And we don’t solve these problems on our own—we have to solve them together through the lens of equity, diversity and inclusivity.” •
FALL 2016
9
Students Make Their Voice Heard During Campaign Season contentious presidential campaign season may have provided a difficult backdrop, but Belmont students spent the fall doing their best to practice civil discourse and gain understanding about issues impacting millennials through a series of programs called BruinVote16. Belmont was one of 150 institutions nationwide that participated this fall in a non-partisan initiative—promoted by the Commission on Presidential Debates—to empower young voters to identify issues and engage peers in the presidential election. BruinVote16 events included numerous voter registration drives, informative lectures, panel discussions, a political causes fair and a documentary screening on civil discourse. Chris Dickerson, president of Belmont SGA, said, “People have given their lives fighting for the right to vote, and it is our collective responsibility to engage in the political process and make sure that our voices are heard.” Watch parties were also held on campus for students to gather as a community to view the presidential debates and election returns. David Plazas, opinion/ engagement editor at The Tennessean, joined students at the first watch party and led a conversation after the debate to gauge students’ reactions to the candidates and the issues. Noting that “the audience comprised a racially, ethnically and ideologically diverse group of young women and men,” his column the following day also conveyed, “They could have modeled the two larger-than-life personalities on the screen, but Belmont University students who watched the first presidential debate together decided to respect each other instead… They expressed their opinions passionately, listened intently to others and did not try to interrupt each other—or their moderator —when their ideas were challenged. These too-often maligned millennials modeled civil behavior, something missing during this presidential election.” •
10
CIRCLE MAGAZINE
FALL 2016
11
Proposed artist rendering
Steven Kern Shaw estate donates vintage instrument collection to University to establish new interactive museum.
12
CIRCLE MAGAZINE
Curb College Dean Doug Howard and George Gruhn
W W
ith nearly half of the undergraduate population pursuing degrees in music and entertainment-related business, it’s clear that Belmont is deeply entrenched in the culture of Music City USA. Now, the University will go a step further with the news in November of plans to open a new and extensive vintage instrumentfocused museum. The gift of nearly 500 historically significant instruments and supporting endowment—amounting to a total value of approximately $10.5 million— comes from the estate of the late Steven Kern Shaw. Shaw, a collector, was the grandson of Broadway composer Jerome Kern, one of America’s foremost composers (responsible for such classic songs as “Ol’ Man River,” “The Way You Look Tonight” and “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes”). The Shaw collection consists primarily of iconic 20th century American-made guitars and mandolins. Beyond conveying the important history and design of these instruments, the new Belmont museum will be interactive, bringing new life and music to these unique, irreplaceable guitars and mandolins
rather than merely displaying them behind glass. Shaw family friend George Gruhn, founder of Gruhn Guitars and vintage instrument expert, serves as coexecutor of the estate. He said, “These instruments are to be played and heard in concerts and recordings as well as to be available for students, musical instrument builders and scholars to study, play and learn from association with them. Belmont University was the natural choice for a permanent home for this collection.” This will be the first instrument-driven museum of its kind to open in Music City, and Gruhn noted his belief that it “has the potential to be one of the finest fretted instrument collections in the world.” The museum will seek to highlight the artistic and scientific design of the pieces while also promoting usage of the instruments. In fact, plans for the museum even include a performance space where many of the instruments will be played by both wellknown and student musicians, and several of the instruments will be available for students, faculty and musicians to borrow for recordings and concerts. Butch Spyridon, president and CEO of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp., said, “I can’t think of a more fitting addition to our city’s world famous brand. Belmont has long preserved, advocated and educated in the world of music, and now they can add ‘museum quality exhibit’ to their music offerings. We could not be more proud of our partner, member and neighbor.” • FALL 2016
13
BEING
BELMONT
14
CIRCLE MAGAZINE
Brilliant colors and a beautiful campus make fall at Belmont ideal for outdoor reading.
FALL 2016
15
Elan-Polo Chairman Joe Russell and his wife, Nashville attorney Anne Russell, both give a great deal of time and energy to Belmont University and serve on the Board of Trustees. But this fall, the couple took their support a significant step further as they honored Joe’s parents’ legacy by establishing a $4 million endowment to support the Bridges to Belmont program. Russell recalls, “I grew up in a family where the only question was where I would get a college education, not if. My mother and dad saw the difference between what a college degree could mean for my financial and social enhancement as well as my overall quality of life.”
Joe’s parents’ focus became a strong theme in Russell’s own life. Contributing to the Bridges to Belmont program connects his passion for education to his personal history in other ways, too, since he grew up in East Nashville, where he attended a public school that saw less than a fourth of graduating seniors go to college. Russell said, “There’s a little bit of magic for me in this gift to Belmont in that I know it can help kids in public schools from my hometown receive a potentially lifechanging education.”
The $4 million endowed fund will support the Bridges to Belmont program, which currently includes more than 100 Scholars Joe’s father, John who are receiving Russell, was the second a Belmont education oldest of seven children with all costs for tuition, and left school in the ninth room and board, books and JOE & A N N E R U S SE LL grade following his father’s fees covered via University death in order to help provide for scholarships along with state and his family. While working at the same bank federal grants. for 47 years, he clearly saw the opportunities that abounded for men and women with college In gratitude for this gift, a 400-bed residence hall educations. Joe’s mother, Frances Russell, worked that opened on campus in 2014 under the name Two for years as the assistant head nurse in a hospital Oaks was renamed in honor of Joe’s parents, and a pediatric ward. The couple fervently encouraged ceremony was held on campus in November to unveil their son toward college. the new John and Frances Russell Hall moniker. •
16
CIRCLE MAGAZINE
LONG-TIME TRUSTEES
JOE & ANNE RUSSELL SPUR $4 MILLION ENDOWMENT TO SUPPORT BRIDGES TO BELMONT, FOLLOWING IN JOE’S PARENTS’ FOOTSTEPS TO SUPPORT EDUCATION.
FALL 2016
17
CAMPUS
NEWS
18
CIRCLE MAGAZINE
CAMPUS NEWS
FAMILY WEEKEND HITS RECORD NUMBERS
JOJO BECOMES ‘FRESHMAN FOR A DAY’ Students, faculty, staff, Bruiser and Belmont President Dr. Bob Fisher welcomed pop singer JoJo to Belmont’s campus just like they do for every other freshman— by surrounding her car and cheering. Students voted for JoJo to visit campus as a “freshman for a day” as part of an online voting competition held by Topsify, a tool used with Spotify to access Top 40 playlists in several countries. JoJo embraced the student experience, participating in many activities typical for the Belmont campus. Following her arrival, she attended an artist management class in the Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business where she joined the class discussion and gave a presentation. She then visited the Robert E. Mulloy Studios where she surprised a music student in the process of recording. A pit-stop to jam out with students in one of Belmont’s many gazebos was followed by a performance and Q&A session in front of a packed-house in the Massey Performing Arts Center. Her evening opened, though, with a surprise medley of her hits from popular acapella student-group The Beltones. JoJo ended her visit by thanking Belmont for hosting her and sharing how impressed she was with the student body. “I’ve heard so much talent in just the few hours I’ve been here, on both the business and creative side [of music]. It’s inspiring.”
Belmont hosted its annual Parent and Family Weekend this fall and welcomed more than 1,500 guests to campus for activities, nearly doubling last year’s event attendance.
BELMONT SPONSORS NMAAM APP Belmont announced its sponsorship of the National Museum of African American Music’s Rivers of Rhythm Digital Exhibition during a press conference with CeCe Winans.
FULL ACCREDITATION FOR LAW Belmont’s College of Law was granted full approval by the American Bar Association this summer and received full accreditation in the earliest possible timeframe.
TOP 5 STUDY ABROAD Belmont’s study abroad program was ranked No. 5 for short term programs by the Institute of International Education, the University’s highest ranking to date.
CAMPUS NEWS BIO TEAM ON JAPANESE PUBLIC TV Biology professor Dr. Robert Grammer and student Brian Song were featured on The Japan Broadcasting Corporation for their research on nematodes’ response to cancer cells.
BELMONT RENOVATES OLD ATHLETE’S HOUSE SITE FOR NEW CAMPUS STORE
SORORITY BID DAY More than 320 women received bids to join one of Belmont’s four Panhellenic sororities this fall, making this year the largest Bid Day in the University’s history.
CAREER CONVERSATIONS ‘BRUIN TO BRUIN’ The Offices of Alumni Relations and Career & Professional Development piloted a program this semester to gather alumni and students, ‘Bruin to Bruin,’ for conversations about career and life.
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS FAIR Representatives from more than 75 area nonprofits came to campus this semester to engage with students at the Community Connections Fair.
Following last year’s purchase of the Athlete’s House International, Ltd., Belmont began renovations this semester for the space to become the new campus bookstore. Located at the intersection of Belmont Boulevard and Portland Avenue, the property sits near the University’s Gabhart Student Center and provides a convenient location for campus members seeking to purchase apparel, supplies, textbooks and academic materials. “This store always had a reputation of being a neighborhood friendly retail operation, even providing a water cooler on the sidewalk as a hydration station for runners,” said Belmont President Dr. Bob Fisher. “That legacy of being a good neighbor for this community is a tradition we share at Belmont and one we want to continue with the move of the Belmont campus store to that prominent corner.” The stand-alone building will also enable the newly named Belmont Store to develop its own brand in a more visible retail location. Plus, the corner spot with its own parking lot will make shopping easier for alumni, prospective students and families, as well as campus constituents. The Belmont Store is anticipated to open during the Spring 2017 semester.
FALL 2016
21
22
CIRCLE MAGAZINE
The advent of fall on Belmont’s campus means crisper air, falling leaves… and the start of Belmont Basketball season. This year looks to be a great one as both the men’s and women’s teams are coming off strong 2015–16 performances. Belmont’s women’s team boasted a 24–9 record and went undefeated last season at home in the Curb Event Center. Following an electrifying three-game run in the OVC Championship tournament, the team was selected to be a No. 13 seed in the NCAA tournament, traveling to Mississippi to play No. 4 Michigan State. Though the Bruins came up a bit short in the close fought contest, the players and coaches clearly made a statement to MSU’s Spartans and the rest of the NCAA that this team is on the rise. The team emerged strong this fall prior to the start of conference play, including a 38-point win over Lipscomb. Meanwhile, the men’s team is coming off its 10th postseason appearance in the last 11 years, having won 15 conference championships since 2006, including the 2015–16 regular season championship. The Bruins, though, then suffered a heartbreaking 97–96 overtime decision versus Austin Peay in the OVC Championship Game followed by a tough loss to the Georgia Bulldogs in the first round of the 2016 Postseason NIT. This season, the team returns 13 letter winners eager to prove their mettle, including senior Evan Bradds, who was named the preseason mid-major player of the year and a candidate for the 2017 Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award. The Bruins opened their season with a tough stretch of non-conference match ups including contests against cross-town rivals Vanderbilt and Lipscomb. Men’s basketball closed out its first weeks of play in November with a dramatic win at the buzzer in the Battle of the Boulevard. To see the latest results and upcoming schedule for all Belmont Athletics, visit BelmontBruins.com.
CAMPUS NEWS
IT’S BRUIN TIME!
UNDER CONSTRUCTION Belmont will break ground in January on the University’s largest residence hall to date, offering 600 on campus living spots to upperclassmen.
TRICK OR TREAT Belmont’s Greek Life chapters hosted Halloween events at nearby Rose Park, providing a fun and safe celebration for more than 400 local kids.
RECORD RETAIL New student-run Boulevard Record Shop opened on campus in August with an inventory of new and used records, record players and musical instrument accessories.
WAR AND PEACE Former U.S. Attorney General and Belmont Law Dean Alberto Gonzales released a new book this fall titledTrue Faith and Allegiance, A Story of Service and Sacrifice in War and Peace.
Photo by Joan Marcus
CAMPUS NEWS DAYS GONE BY More than 50 Ward-Belmont alumnae and their families filled the Belmont Mansion for their annual reunion and program.
THERE’S AN APP FOR THAT Assistant Professor of Information Systems Management Dr. Lakisha Simmons and her husband collaborated on the creation of the Homework Suite Student Planner, a new academic planner mobile app.
NEW CVPA DEAN Formerly of Friends University in Wichita, Kansas, Dr. Stephen Eaves joined Belmont this fall as the new dean for the College of Visual & Performing Arts.
STUDENT WOWS IN 'HAMILTON' Belmont senior musical theatre major Christopher Lee was recently cast as Marquis de Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson in the Chicago production of “Hamilton” after submitting a video submission to the show’s production team. Lee said the opportunity to join the cast and crew of “Hamilton” is a life changing one. “This opportunity means literally everything,” he said. “One day it was a far-fetched dream, and today, it’s a reality.” This experience hasn’t come without significant work, and Lee said he points to God for his success. “I thank God for every open and closed door that led to this experience,” Lee said. “I also thank my family, the Belmont University Musical Theatre Program and last but definitely most, my mother. She’s everything.” The first reviews of the production, released in October, include rave remarks from Variety Magazine on Lee’s performance saying he “looked perfectly at home on stage with veteran performers, and his bounding energy was infectious… it’s hard to believe anyone on stage was having more fun than those two [Lee and Alexander Gemignani, a co-star].” Looking to the future, Lee said he hopes to become a working actor, singer, songwriter and all-around artist. The show, which is the first off-Broadway production of the Lin-Manuel Miranda creation, officially opened in October, and tickets are now on sale for shows scheduled through September 2017.
GREEN AWARD WINNERS Belmont was named a winner of the 2016 Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Award for exceptional voluntary actions that improve or protect the environment and natural resources.
FALL 2016
25
26
CIRCLE MAGAZINE
CAMPUS NEWS
WRIGHTS DONATE $1 MILLION TO SUPPORT BELMONT MISSIONS Belmont Trustee Jim Wright (the now-retired, former chairman and CEO of Nashvillebased Tractor Supply) and his wife Susan recently created the Jim and Susan Wright Missions Endowment with a gift of $1 million to the University. The major gift comes within three months of the launch of Belmont’s $300 million We Believe comprehensive fundraising campaign, and the endowed fund will directly benefit one of the campaign’s top giving priorities, missions. The Wrights said, “We are involved in Belmont and remain committed to this University because it’s staying true to its core as a Christian institution while continuously and passionately working to provide the best opportunities and education possible for its students. Those qualities align with our own beliefs, both personally and professionally, of the life God calls us to live. It’s a privilege to have the means to support Belmont at this level, and we are excited to see how this gift allows more students to develop and spread their faith in the coming years.” Frequently, Belmont mission trips are tied to academic pursuits, allowing students to see how their chosen field of study can impact places and cultures they never before imagined. In 2015–16, 250 Belmont students engaged in mission-oriented experiences with trips ranging from tutoring at an after-school program in downtown Chicago to leading songwriting workshops in Zimbabwe to providing a free health clinic in Jamaica. Most importantly, these trips foster students’ spiritual growth alongside the academic, physical, social and cultural challenges they face in different situations at home and abroad.
CANOE CLEAN UP Eight students and two staff members participated in a clean-up of the Harpeth River in September through Fitness & Recreation’s Outdoor Program.
CONVERSATIONS THAT MATTER The Institute for Innovative Faith Based Leadership held several events this fall, gathering church and nonprofit leaders for a “Conversations That Matter” series.
ACADEMIC CHAMPS… AGAIN! Belmont was awarded the 2015–16 OVC Academic Achievement Award, meaning student athletes have claimed their conference’s award 13 of the last 15 years.
MIRANDA LAMBERT SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT Curb College student Anna Vaus was selected as the first-ever recipient of the Women Creators’ scholarship, established in 2015 by Miranda Lambert.
Since the public announcement of our $300,000,000 fundraising campaign earlier this year, donors have demonstrated their belief in the future of Belmont in a big way. Here’s a quick summary of where we stand at the end of 2016.
10,145
$300,000,000
total donors to We Believe campaign
15
gifts of $1 million or more
66
$200,000,000
$96,467,876
new endowed scholarships created
$2,187,314 new dollars raised for missions
$100,000,000
$12,696,962
new dollars raised for Bridges to Belmont
$3,430,426 in gifts eligible for University match
28
CIRCLE MAGAZINE
CAMPAIGN PRIORITIES The We Believe campaign focuses on five key areas that are critical to enriching and preserving what Belmont can offer its students for the next 125 years.
Your gift makes a
DIFFERENCE.
Endowed Scholarships Privately supported scholarships provide much needed assistance to students with financial need and often mean the difference between choosing to attend Belmont and forgoing the opportunity.
Faculty Support Gifts in the form of endowed chairs and professorships allow Belmont to recruit excellent new faculty, provide opportunities for professional development and enhance resources available to direct toward student learning.
Missions Increased private support for missions will allow Belmont to enhance its ability to make life-changing missions part of the student experience.
Athletics Endowed athletic scholarships increase Belmont’s ability to recruit high-caliber student athletes who embody our values and represent the University around the world.
Annual Giving The Annual Fund serves as a mechanism to support the student experience in the most direct way possible, funding activities such as student conferences, mission trips, special speakers and performances, student competitions and research, and much more.
DID YOU KNOW? Gifts of $25,000 or more made to a campaign priority are eligible to be matched by the University.
“My favorite part of being here at Belmont is knowing that all the faculty and staff are here to help and see me succeed. I hope to touch people’s lives with the talent God gave me in order to heal them through the power of music. The scholarship [I received] gave me an opportunity to fulfill God’s plan for me and also gave me the ability to realize that Belmont is the place he wants me to be.” ANGELA ESPINOZA MURFREESBORO, TN MUSIC THERAPY MAJOR CLASS OF 2020
To make your gift to the We Believe campaign, visit WEBELIEVE.BELMONT.EDU or call 615.460.5517.
BELMONT.EDU
COM-16151
Save the date