Motlow Buzz Releases Print Issue for October 2024

 

Motlow Students Invited to Participate in Public Speaking Contest

     SMYRNA – Motlow students can receive career-changing recognition, prizes and awards by participating in the second annual Debbie Zimmerman Oratorical Contest on Oct. 21.      

      According to Professor Robert Davenport, the contest is open to Motlow students from any of the MSCC campus locations, regardless of major or prior speaking experience. The deadline to enroll is Oct. 18 (Friday). Students can register by accessing the QR code on the event flyer or sending an email with their name, email address, phone number, and MSCC campus location to rdavenport@mscc.edu.

      Students will deliver original persuasive/argumentative speeches. The contest rules and requirements can be found in the Dean of Students shell on D2L.    

      “This is a wonderful opportunity for students to develop better speaking skills and more experience,” said Davenport, who serves as the event’s oratorical contest coordinator and an associate professor of speech on the Smyrna campus. “Effective communication skills are the number one characteristic employers look for in potential employees. Give this a shot to grow your communication skills.”

      If more than 10 students enter the contest, there will be a “semifinal” round in which students will submit a video recording of their speech. These speeches will be evaluated by a group of communication professors. The top 10 speakers from that round will qualify for an in-person final round on the Moore County campus in November (date to be announced soon). If there are 10 or fewer entrants, all will advance to the final round to be eligible for prizes and awards.     

      The Smyrna Entertainment, Arts and Media Club and Motlow Humanities Department began sponsoring a college-wide public speaking competition called the Debbie Zimmerman Oratorical Contest in 2023. Professor Emeritus Zimmerman was a longtime speech and theatre professor at Motlow and instrumental in helping create and grow both disciplines.

      “Ideally, participants should have already completed the COMM 2025 – Fundamentals of Communication course or be currently enrolled in the class, but that is not an absolute requirement,” Davenport added.

      Students who are taking/have taken English 1010/1020 can potentially turn a persuasive/argumentative essay they have done in the past into a persuasive speech for this event.

      As a former intercollegiate speech and debate coach/instructor, Davenport has always seen the benefits of students being able to effectively prepare and present presentations to help prepare them for their chosen careers.       

      “This event is an important extra-curricular activity for our students,” he said.

Motlow Writers and Artists to Take Literary Stage for ‘Mosaic 2023-2024 Read-In’

  SMYRNA — Moltow writers and artists will take the literary stage in the HSC Big Room from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. April 11 (Thursday) for the “Mosaic 2023-2024 Read-in.”

Students and others will present their published works from the fall 2023 and spring 2024 issues of Mosaic: A Literary Journal. Admission is free to members of the Motlow State Community College community. Refreshments will be provided.

 

Mosaic’s mission is "to amplify distinct voices in the Motlow community while connecting readers and writers through various multimedia that highlight universal experiences in unique methods of storytelling.” 

The spring 2024 issue of Mosaic features original works by eight poets, six visual artists, three non-fiction writers, and two fiction writers. 

For more information about the event or to request a copy of the spring issue, contact Associate Professor of English Andrea Green at agreen@mscc.edu.

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CALL FOR TALENT: Sixth Annual Motlow Smyrna Talent Show

Motlow student performs at Talent Show

     Attention Students, Faculty and Staff… The annual Motlow Smyrna Talent Show is coming up on April 25, and we need you! 

     TALENT: Consider performing as an actor, comedian, dancer, musician, poet, singer, songwriter, storyteller or visual artist.

     VOLUNTEER: Invest in the Motlow community by helping out. There will be a need for welcomers, organizers, promoters, artists, food servers, and more. (You can earn community service hours for TNPromise and Tennessee Reconnect).

     If you are interested in performing or volunteering, please contact Professor Charles Whiting at cwhiting@mscc.edu.

     FYI… The event will occur from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on April 25 (Thursday). Admission is free, and lunch will be provided. 

     The event is hosted by the Smyrna Entertainment, Arts and Media Club. 

     See you soon!

'Dreams Come True' at Smyrna Elementary School

     SMYRNA — Motlow professors Debbie Stockdale (left) and Charles Whiting (center) gather with students and teachers after a recent marketing presentation at Smyrna Elementary School. More than 120 third graders attended the presentation. Stockdale and Whiting shared insights on how promotion can help dreams come true. 

Let's Dance!

 

     Motlow student Amarah Perkins warms up before performing at the annual Motlow Holiday Traditions show on the Smyrna campus. 

(Photo by Chuck Whiting)

‘WILD WILLY’ Returns to Airways

By Bill Krass

Motlow Buzz Contributing Writer

  MURFREESBORO — In the mid-1960s, thousands of listeners from throughout Hawaii turned to their radios every night to hear one of the top DJ's play their favorite rock tunes and make dedications to those "special people.”  Their host was "Wild Willy,” who was spinning records every night on the most popular station in the state, KORL, while during the day serving in the United States Navy as the Public Information Officer of the 4,000-man Naval Air Station, Barber's Point.

Fast forward 50 years, and "Wild Willy" is back on the air every week… right here in Rutherford County. You most likely know him as Dr. Bill Kraus, who has been an adjunct professor on Motlow State’s Smyrna Campus for over 20 years, teaching primarily Political Science and First-Year Experience.  

Each Thursday from 9 to 10 a.m., you can hear Bill Kraus on WGNS News Radio (AM 1450, FM 100.5, and FM 101.9) in Murfreesboro. He no longer plays the most popular rock ’n’ roll hits of the day, but hosts the WGNS Radio "Roundtable" each week, "visiting" community, academic, governmental and business leaders from throughout Rutherford County.  Many of the "Motlow State Family" have been guests to date, including Motlow State President Michael Torrence; Dr. Pamela Harris, Academic Dean of Humanities and Social Science; Professors Charles Whiting, Dr. Robert Fitzgerald, Dr. Laura Booth, and Campus Coordinator Gary Winton.  A number of Motlow State students have also been on the air since Dr. Kraus started hosting the show three years ago.

You can listen to Dr. Krauss’s “Roundtable” online at https://www.wgnsradio.com/tags/950/live . 

“One of the most interesting ‘visits’ that I’ve had was last summer when I did a remote from the home of former Tennessee Gov. Winfield Dunn, who was 96 years old,” Dr. Krauss said. “Gov. Dunn, who is known by many as the last of the "Southern Gentlemen,” provided an excellent insight into his leading Tennessee between 1971 through 1975, including the era of ‘Watergate.’ He is the longest living governor of the state.”

The professor added that the weekly "Roundtable" is a good way to always stay current on what is going on, especially in the case of local and state events and activities.

"Some people play golf once a week...I play radio." 

African-American Read-In to Occur Virtually All Day Feb. 28

  SMYRNA — A host of students, faculty members, administrators and staff members will celebrate the contributions of Black Americans during the day-long “African-American Read-In” on Feb. 28 (Wednesday). 

According to Event Coordinator and Professor Dr. Phyllis Adams, the event will occur virtually on Zoom from 8:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with spoken and visual presentations lasting up to 15 minutes each. Participants will include students, faculty, staff, administrators, professional artists, writers, journalists, educators, poets, authors, servant-leaders, and community supporters. 

Admission to the event is open to everyone. To attend, click on the following Zoom link: https://mscc.zoom.us/j/89979466412?pwd=WjBHVmVjelZKUytHb2pzWVNvdlBEZz09 

“I believe you will find this event to be informative, entertaining, inspiring and empowering,” Adams said. “Motlow State has hosted this event for some eight years, and I am honored to have had the opportunity to sponsor this event for some six years. Clearly, your presence and participation continue to be paramount to the success of the Read-In.”

Adams, who serves Motlow as Professor of Speech and Theatre, and Culture, Diversity and Inclusion, hosts the event during Black History Month. According to the History Channel, President Gerald Ford officially recognized BHM in 1976, asking Americans to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.” 

The National African American Read-In is a groundbreaking effort to encourage communities to read together, centering African American books and authors. The late Dr. Jerrie Cobb Scott, and active member of NCTE and the Black Caucus, brought this idea to the committee. This event was established in 1990 by the Black Caucus of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) to make literacy a significant part of African American Heritage Month. Together, this event was birthed and has lived and flourished for the last thirty-three years. This initiative has reached more than six million participants around the world. 

“Motlow State has been a proud participant in this endeavor for many years, and we are honored to have your continued support, presence and participation,” the professor added. 

For more information about the “African-American Read-In,” contact Professor Adams at padams@mscc.edu.

Mosaic Journal Submissions Due By March 1

   SMYRNA — Students, faculty and staff have until March 1 (Friday) to submit original literary and visual works for the spring issue of Mosaic.

         The journal includes fiction, poetry and creative non-fiction, as well as visual art and academic essays.

          Mosaic editors are seeking the following:

          + Fiction (up to 1,500 words).

          + Creative non-fiction (up to 1,500 words).

          + Visual Art.

          + Poetry (one to three poems).

          + Academic Essays (up to 3,000 words).

“The journal’s primary goal is to provide a platform to amplify creative voices,” said Associate Professor of English Andrea Green, who serves as co-editor-in-chief. “By featuring distinct methods of storytelling and artistry, Mosaic hopes to highlight the exceptional talents of the Motlow community.”

To learn more or submit an original work of literature or visual art, send an email to Mosaic@mscc.edu. 

Established in 1993, Mosaic: A Literary Journal has been relaunched by the Language Department and Motlow Library. The Fall 2023 issue is available at https://www.canva.com/design/DAFznZt0fqQ/FGd_rTi26mAAZE2pOeTdnA/edit?utm_content=DAFznZt0fqQ&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=sharebutton .

‘Famous Communicator’ Dr. Harriet Kimbro-Hamilton to Speak at Motlow Smyrna on Feb. 27

  SMYRNA -- Author Dr. Harriet Kimbro-Hamilton will bring the history of the Negro Baseball League to life during a special talk from 12:30-1:30 p.m. Feb. 27 (Tuesday) in HSC 331 on the Motlow Smyrna campus.

Hamilton, who is the daughter of late Black baseball legend Henry Kimbro, recently penned the book, “Home Plate: Henry Kimbro and Other Negro Leaguers of Nashville, Tennessee.” The former Tennessee State University professor will honor the memories of 18 Black baseball heroes who called Nashville their home. Students and others can learn about Nashville legends such as James "Junior" Gilliam (Baltimore Elite Giants); Henry Kimbro (Nashville/Baltimore Elite Giants); Bruce Franklin "Buddy" Petway (Leland Giants); and Norman "Turkey" Stearnes (Nashville Elite Giants/Detroit Stars).

The event, which is free and open to everyone, is part of Motlow’s “Famous Communicator Speakers Series.” Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, contact Professor Charles Whiting at cwhiting@mscc.edu. 

"I released my new book just in time for the 100th anniversary of the Negro Baseball League," said Hamilton, who published a book about her father in 2015. "I wanted the other families of those Negro Leaguers to have their loved ones documented and remembered as my father was in my first book. "'Home Plate' is a book that can be passed down through generations, so their legacies are never forgotten." 

Hamilton was thrilled when Major League Baseball announced it was correcting a longtime oversight in the game's history by elevating the Negro Leagues from 1920 through 1948 to major-league status.

According to the History Channel, the league was launched in 1920, with Black baseball enjoying periods of success in the early 1920s and again after the Great Depression. The Nashville White Sox/Nashville Elite Giants, which were members of the Southern Negro League, made history by introducing some of the greatest baseball players of all time. The integration of major league baseball began with Jackie Robinson in 1947. After that, there was a slow but irreversible influx of talent to the majors, with the remaining Negro League teams generally folding by the 1960s. 

"When the announcement from Major League Baseball came, I received so many texts and calls," said Harriet. "I felt like a kid at Christmas who was so excited about the present. What a great present to be given to all of the families of those Negro Leaguers."

Also featured in Harriet's book (and re-classified as Major Leaguers) are the late baseball legends Robert "James" Abernathy, Daniel Black, William "Soo" Bridgeforth, Sidney Bunch, Elliot Coleman, Wesley "Doc" Dennis, Edward Lee "Lefty" Derrick, Edward Martin, Clinton "Butch" McCord, Taylor Smith, Thomas "Tom" Wilson, and Jim Zapp. 

The book features a foreword by Henry Kimbro's great-granddaughter (Harriet's great-niece) Jada Scott, and a chapter titled "My Adventures with Grandpa" that documents the unforgettable experiences of Harriet's son, Patrick Hamilton. A photo in "Home Plate" shows Harriet's great-niece, Brooklyn Scruggs, visiting the street sign of Junior Gilliam Way in front of the Nashville Sounds Baseball Stadium with her dog Blossom. 

The Nashville Sounds donated the book to Metro Nashville Public Schools. 

Dr. Harriet Kimbro-Hamilton served as an associate professor for Tennessee State University in Nashville until her retirement in 2020. During her athletic career, she served as head coach in various sports and athletic director of Fisk University. She also has served as a professor for Stillman College in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The author also chaired the NCAA Women's Basketball Championship Committee and served on the ABA-USA Committee that selected the 1984 USA Olympic Gold Medal Women's Basketball Team. In 2016, she received the Robert Peterson Recognition Award for her book, "Daddy's Scrapbook: Henry Kimbro of the Negro Baseball League, A Daughter's Perspective." She also has received awards from the Women's Sports Foundation; the National Association of Girls and Women in Sports (the Dr. Nell C. Jackson Award); Fisk University (Women of Prominence Award); and the Temple University League for Entrepreneurial Women (Hall of Fame inductee). She was inducted into the Fisk University Sports Hall of Fame in 2017.

"Home Plate," which retails for $12, is available exclusively at www.Amazon.com. For more information, contact Harriet Kimbro-Hamilton at HenryKimbro14@gmail.com. To learn more about Nashville's important role in Negro League baseball, visit www.Facebook.com/HenryKimbro or www.Twitter.com/KimbroNlb. 

Welcome Back Students (Finally)!

SMYRNA — It’s been snowy and rainy at times, but the winter doldrums can’t keep us away. We are finally getting back into the groove for Spring Semester 2024. 

Welcome back students!

Now that classes are meeting on-ground again, it’s time to celebrate. Please drop by the MLA Lobby anytime from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday or Thursday (Jan. 31 or Feb. 1) for our Club and Resource Days. 

The Student Government Association will provide complementary snacks as you roam the room to learn more about Motlow’s student organizations and opportunities. Visit individual tables to meet faculty advisers and sign up for future activities, including field trips, games, movie nights, and even a talent show.

For more information, contact Professor Stacy Dowd at sdowd@mscc.edu. 

Here are a few tips for a successful semester.

* Feeling overwhelmed by stress or hardship? Free counseling services are available to all Motlow students (in-person or Zoom). Contact: counseling@mscc.edu or (931) 393-1960.

* Need help with a paper? The Writing Center team is eager to help. Make an appointment in the MotlowHub.

* The Math Lab is open to all students via Zoom appointment. Visit www.motlow.edu/academics/programs/tutoring and click on Math Lab for contact information.

* Do you need a tutor? Find the link for NetTutor under Tutoring Services at D2L.

Have a great new semester everyone!

Mosaic Literary Journal Spotlights Talents of Motlow Students, Faculty and Staff

  SMYRNA — The literary and visual works of Motlow students, faculty and staff are on colorful display in Mosaic, a journal that includes fiction, poetry and creative non-fiction, as well as visual art and academic essays.

Established in 1993, Mosaic: A Literary Journal has been relaunched by the Language Department and Motlow Library. The Fall 2023 issue is available at https://www.canva.com/design/DAFznZt0fqQ/FGd_rTi26mAAZE2pOeTdnA/edit?utm_content=DAFznZt0fqQ&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=sharebutton .

“The journal’s primary goal is to provide a platform to amplify creative voices,” said Associate Professor of English Andrea Green, who serves as co-editor-in-chief. “By featuring distinct methods of storytelling and artistry, Mosaic hopes to highlight the exceptional talents of the Motlow community.”

A spring issue is already in the works with student submissions encouraged through March 1, 2024. To learn more or submit an original work of literature or visual art, send an email to Mosaic@mscc.edu. 

Motlow Students Invited to Participate in Second Annual Speech Contest

By Robert Davenport
Motlow Buzz Contributing Writer

SMYRNA -- Motlow Students can gain invaluable experience and career-changing recognition this spring by competing in the second annual Debbie Zimmerman Oratorial Contest. 

Emerging, intermediate and advanced student speakers are encouraged to enter the contest. 

The deadline to enter the contest is March 12 (Friday). Videorecorded speeches must be submitted by March 15. The speeches will be evaluated by March 22, with finalists notified they have qualified for the finals. The final round of the competition will occur at Moore County on April 4.

Students can enter the contest by emailing Associate Professor of Speech Robert Davenport at rdavenport@mscc.edu. In that email, they should state their name, email address, and the Motlow campus where they attend. Entrants will be emailed a list of the requirements for speech preparation and video submission.

Davenport is once again coordinating the contest, along with faculty co-advisors (Professor Charles Whiting and Professor Debbie Stockdale) of the SEAM (Smyrna Entertainment, Arts & Media) Club on the Smyrna campus. The event is also sponsored by the Humanities Department at Motlow. 

“I appreciate so much the support we have received from my colleagues who understand how important and rewarding this kind of activity is for our students across all of the campuses,” Davenport said. “We are committed to continuing to offer this opportunity to students for many years to come.”

Motlow debuted the contest last April with four students taking the podium for a series of self-penned persuasive speeches with visual aids. Kirsten Wright, who attended classes on the Sparta campus, won first place to become the first-ever Oratorial Contest champion.

The contest is named after Professor Emeritus Debbie Zimmerman, a longtime speech & theatre professor who was instrumental in building the curriculum at Motlow. She was also one of the judges for last year’s contest, along with two speech communication professors from MTSU. She expressed her appreciation for having the event named in her honor, sharing her hope that the contest would become an annual event.

The second annual Oratorical Contest is open to Motlow students (including dual enrollment students) who have already completed COMM 2025 – Fundamentals of Communication or are currently enrolled in that course.

Students who enter the contest will be asked to prepare and present a 6 to 10-minute persuasive speech on a topic of their choosing. Depending on the number of entrants, there will be a “semifinal” round in which students will submit a videotaped recording of their contest speech, which will be evaluated by a group of speech professors. The top five to 10 speakers from that round will then qualify for a live final round of competition on the Moore County campus and compete for trophies and other prizes.

Davenport emphasized how participation in this activity can be extremely helpful to students from any major or career path. The event will help them improve their speaking and overall communication skills as they prepare for the future. 

“Communication skills are the number one skill employers are looking for when choosing new employees for their companies,” Davenport noted. “Besides that, stronger communication skills can help students be successful in their other courses as they advance toward graduation.”