About Us Mobile Nav Open Mobile Nav Close

Belmont Abbey College

The Catholic College of the South

Abbey Excellence

By Leave a Comment

Belmont Abbey College Welcomes Alums as Faculty for New Graduate Motorsport Management Program

Belmont Abbey College Welcomes Alums as Faculty for New Graduate Motorsport Management Program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Belmont, N.C. (December 3, 2024) – Belmont Abbey College is thrilled to announce the return of two highly accomplished undergraduate alumni who will join the faculty as professors in the newly launched Master of Arts (MA) in Motorsport Management degree program—the only one of its kind in the United States. With their extensive experience and national recognition in the field, these accomplished individuals will bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the program.

The Master of Arts in Motorsport Management program at Belmont Abbey College is designed to equip students with advanced skills and knowledge to excel in the fast-paced and competitive motorsport industry. With the addition of these accomplished alumni as faculty members, students will have the unique opportunity to learn from industry experts who have achieved remarkable success in their careers. Dr. Trey Cunningham, Program Director of the MA in Motorsport Management at Belmont Abbey College, expressed his excitement about the return of these esteemed alumni. He stated, “We are delighted to welcome back our talented graduates who have excelled in the motorsport industry. Their success and dedication will undoubtedly inspire our students and contribute to the growth and development of our Motorsport Management program.” 

One of the returning alumni, Mike Laheta, graduated from Belmont Abbey College with a Bachelor of Arts in Business, specializing in Motorsports. He has since achieved remarkable success in the motorsports industry, holding key positions such as leading partnerships for Front Row Motorsports and the NASCAR Hall of Fame before serving as Managing Director of National Partnership Sales at NASCAR, and, most recently, Senior Vice President and Head of Partnerships at Thrill One Sports and Entertainment. Laheta has earned national recognition for his exceptional contributions to the field. He shared his enthusiasm for joining the faculty, saying, “I am honored to have the opportunity to give back to the institution that provided me with a solid foundation for my career. I look forward to sharing my experiences and helping students navigate the dynamic world of motorsports.”

The second alumnus, Quinn Beekwilder, also graduated from Belmont Abbey College with a Bachelor of Arts in Sports Management and has made significant contributions to the motorsport industry with his experience at Charlotte Motor Speedway, and then has worked as the Coordinator of the Abbey’s Motorsport Management Undergraduate program since 2020. He expressed his excitement for the new MA in Motorsport Management, stating, “Belmont Abbey College holds a special place in my heart, and I am absolutely thrilled about the launch of the Master of Arts in Motorsport Management program, the first of its kind in the United States! We’re equipping the next generation of leaders for this dynamic industry.”

Belmont Abbey College is excited to welcome back Mike Laheta and Quinn Beekwilder as faculty members for the Master of Arts in Motorsport Management program. Their expertise will enrich the student experience and bolster the college’s position as a leader in motorsport education. The program will also expand with more motorsport industry professionals in the future.

Belmont Abbey College is currently accepting applications for the Fall 2025 semester while the Master of Arts in Motorsport Management awaits final approval from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Apply here. For more information about the Master of Arts in Motorsport Management program at Belmont Abbey College, click here. 

Press Inquiry Contact:

Sarah Bolton, Belmont Abbey Collegee, sarahbolton@bac.edu or 704-461-7016.

Download Now. 

By Leave a Comment

Belmont Abbey College Launches New Master of Arts in Motorsport Management Degree

Belmont Abbey College Launches New Master of Arts in Motorsport Management Degree

Belmont, N.C. (November 25, 2024) – Today Belmont Abbey College announces the launch of its groundbreaking online Master of Arts (MA) in Motorsport Management program. This innovative graduate degree is the first of its kind in the United States, solidifying Belmont Abbey College’s position as a leader in motorsports education who pioneered an undergraduate motorsport program in 2007. The college will welcome its inaugural MA in Motorsport Management cohort in the Fall of 2025. 

Recognizing the growing need for specialized education in motorsports, Belmont Abbey College has developed an advanced curriculum that combines high-level business management principles with an in-depth understanding of the motorsports industry. The program will provide students with the technical, interpersonal, and strategic skills necessary for leadership roles in this dynamic field. The MA in Motorsport Management will prepare graduates for diverse careers in marketing, team management, finance, and community relations, while offering critical insights into governance, legal frameworks, and organizational operations within the motorsports world. By offering this innovative online program, Belmont Abbey College extends the reach of motorsports management education beyond the Charlotte area, making it accessible to students nationwide.

“We are thrilled to offer this one-of-a-kind graduate program that combines our passion for education with the excitement of motorsport,” said Dr. Joseph Wysocki, Provost of Belmont Abbey College. “By providing students with specialized knowledge and hands-on experience, we aim to cultivate a new generation of motorsport professionals who will contribute to the growth and success of the industry.” 

Belmont Abbey College’s new MA in Motorsport Management will meet the growing demand for leading professionals in the motorsport industry. As the only graduate program of its kind in the United States, it offers students a competitive advantage in pursuing successful careers in this exciting field. 

According to Dr. Trey Cunningham, Program Director of the MA in Motorsport Management at Belmont Abbey College, “The Master of Arts in Motorsport Management degree is designed to prepare students for a wide range of careers in the motorsports industry, including sponsorship, team management, event coordination, media, and marketing. Our incredible faculty, who bring valuable real-world experience in the field of motorsports, will provide students with the tools they need to succeed in this highly competitive industry.” Belmont Abbey’s location in the heart of motorsports country provides students with unparalleled access to industry professionals and networking opportunities.

Designed for working professionals, the MA in Motorsport Management is affordable, asynchronous, and fully online, allowing students to complete the program in as little as 12 months. Graduates will be well-positioned for roles such as Motorsport Team Manager, Sponsorship Coordinator, Track Operations Manager, Data Analyst, and Risk Management Specialist, among others. For more information about this program, click here. 

Belmont Abbey College is currently accepting applications for the Fall 2025 semester while the Master of Arts in Motorsport Management awaits final approval from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Apply here. 

Press Inquiry Contact:

Sarah Bolton, Belmont Abbey Collegee, sarahbolton@bac.edu or 704-461-7016.

Download Now. 

By Leave a Comment

Belmont Abbey College Announces Selection of Architect for New Performing Arts Center

Belmont Abbey College Announces Selection of Architect for New Performing Arts Center

Belmont, N.C. (Nov. 20, 2024) – Following an extensive research process and significant community input, Belmont Abbey College announces Little Diversified Architectural Consulting (Little) as the architect for its highly anticipated new Visual and Performing Arts Center. In October 2023, the North Carolina General Assembly allocated $9 million in funding for the center as part of its biennial budget. Since then, the Abbey has created a Community Leaders’ Advisory Committee, with more than 40 college and community leaders, that has worked diligently to plan for the performing arts center’s construction.

The college selected Little as the project architect because of the firm’s expertise in designing world-class performing arts spaces, along with their commitment to creating a facility that will serve as a vibrant hub for artistic expression and cultural enrichment. Little has designed numerous notable regional projects including Gaston Day School’s Pamela Kimbrell Warlick Visual & Performing Arts Center, Warlick Family YMCA, Charlotte Catholic High School’s Fine Arts Center, Central Piedmont Community College’s Overcash Academic & Performing Arts Center, Queens University of Charlotte’s Sarah Belk Gambrell Center for Arts and Civic Engagement, and Chapman Cultural Center in Spartanburg, SC.

“We look forward to partnering with Belmont Abbey College and the surrounding region to bring their vision to reality,” says Tom Balke, AIA, Community Studio Principal at Little. “Creating a performance and cultural space that provides unique experiences while reflecting this community’s aspirations is an important driver of the design outcomes.”

Little’s experience, combined with a dedication to honoring the Abbey’s Catholic heritage and Benedictine values through thoughtful architectural design, makes them ideally suited to bring the committee’s vision to life. As the project moves forward, Little will work closely with the college and local community leaders to develop a comprehensive plan for a 1,000-seat theater.

The new performing arts center will allow the college and surrounding area to enjoy theater, visual and performing arts, art exhibitions, and other educational and cultural events in a beautiful, welcoming, first-rate facility. The state-of-the-art venue will feature versatile performance spaces, a theatrical scene workshop, wardrobe area, event space, and exhibition areas — each meticulously crafted to enhance the audience experience and to support a wide range of artistic disciplines.

“We are thrilled to have Little Diversified Architectural Consulting on board for this landmark project,” said Phil Brach, Vice President of College Relations at Belmont Abbey and a representative of the Community Leaders’ Advisory Committee. “Their innovative designs and attention to detail perfectly align with our vision for the Visual and Performing Arts Center. We are confident that they will create a space that not only meets the needs of our community but also becomes a beacon of artistic excellence, known throughout the state.”

To guide the venue’s development, the Community Leaders’ Advisory Committee launched an extensive research phase, which included surveying members of the Advisory Committee and other potential community stakeholders. They also conducted more than 10 tours of other Performing Arts Centers, as well as a comprehensive study of surrounding venues, to ensure the new center would meet community needs and expectations.

Reeves McGlohon, retired superintendent of Gaston County Schools and a member of the advisory committee, remarked, “Belmont Abbey is to be commended for putting together an advisory group to provide input into planning for this project.  They have supported the advisory group and have listened to what we have had to say.  There is no doubt in my mind that the work of the advisory group in conjunction with the Abbey will lead to a final product that will meet the needs of the college and the community at large.” 

As part of the new visual and performing arts center project, the Haid Theatre at Belmont Abbey College will also undergo renovation. While the theater has served the community well, it no longer meets current needs, and feedback from community partners highlighted the importance of preserving the 200-seat theater alongside the development of the new venue.

Debbie Windley, Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations for Belmont Abbey College and a member of the advisory committee shares, “We are thankful for strong community, corporate, and legislative support for this project. Completion of the Visual and Performing Arts Center will be a great complement to the One Gaston 2040 plan that has a focus on the celebration of the cultural offerings that will continue to grow and thrive in Gaston County – making this community a hub for cultural excellence.” 

Donny Hicks, Director of Economic and Community Development for Gaston County, added, “The visual and performing arts center will be a huge asset to us in the recruitment of people and companies and in creating the kind of environment in which people want to live.”

This collaborative approach will ensure that the new center meets the college’s needs as well as the diverse needs and expectations of the surrounding community. Crucial next steps include the selection of a general contractor and site location for the Performing Arts Center. The projected schedule will be developed collaboratively to ensure all project phases are carefully planned and allow for a seamless construction process. By aligning on key milestones and timelines, the project team will remain focused on delivering a state-of-the-art facility that enriches the wider community while meeting the high standards set by the college. If you would like more information or to support this project, please contact Debra Windley at debrawindley@bac.edu or 704-461-6691.

Press Inquiry Contact:

Sarah Bolton, Belmont Abbey Collegee, sarahbolton@bac.edu or 704-461-7016.

Lillian Parker, Little Diversified Architectural Consulting, lillian.parker@littleonline.com or 704-676-3312.

Download Now. 

By Leave a Comment

Belmont Abbey College Announces Abbey Advantage Scholarship for North Carolina Students

Belmont Abbey College Announces Abbey Advantage Scholarship for North Carolina Students

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Belmont, N.C. (November 14, 2024) – In a continued effort to support the educational aspirations of local high school students, Belmont Abbey College is thrilled to announce the launch of its new Abbey Advantage Scholarship Program. This initiative is designed to provide financial assistance and academic opportunities for high-achieving high school seniors from North Carolina who hope to attend college, furthering their academic, personal, and spiritual growth.

Leveraging the students’ state and federal grants first, the college will award an institutional merit award to meet the full cost of tuition of $21,500 for the 2025-2026 academic year. “We are excited to offer this scholarship as a way to support the talented young people in our community,” said Dr. Jesse Dorman, Vice Provost of Enrollment at Belmont Abbey College. “As a private Catholic institution, we believe in fostering academic and spiritual growth that helps prepare our students for meaningful lives post-college. To this end, we are committed to making higher education accessible for those who are dedicated to living out our values of faith, service, and leadership.” The Abbey Advantage Scholarship is available to first time, full-time non athletes pursuing a traditional major of study. Students must have completed the FAFSA and the NC Residency Determination Form for the NC Need Based Grant. Students must be receiving the full Pell Grant and NC Need Based Aid amounts. Eligible candidates must have earned at least a 2.8 high school GPA and reside in the following counties- Gaston, Lincoln, Cleveland, and Mecklenburg. 

In a time when many collegiate institutions are struggling, Belmont Abbey recognizes the importance of supporting local students in their academic pursuits. Dr. Joseph Wysocki, Provost at Belmont Abbey College, believes that these students have an important place at Belmont Abbey. “We know that God has a specific calling for these students’ lives, and we’re filled with hope at what they’ll learn, accomplish and who they will become. The Abbey has a desire to help them respond to this call, and we are committed to making a college education attainable. This includes financial aid opportunities like the Abbey Advantage program, but also guidance from our nationally recognized faculty and mentorship from the greater Abbey community.” For more information on the Abbey Advantage program at Belmont Abbey College, visit our website at www.bac.edu/. 

Students who are eligible for the Abbey Advantage Scholarship Program will be notified after completion of the FAFSA. The deadline to apply for the Fall 2025 semester is July 1, 2025. 

Press Inquiry Contact: Sarah Bolton, sarahbolton@bac.edu or 704-461-7016.

Download Now. 

By Leave a Comment

What can I do with a Master of Arts in Classical and Liberal Education?

Belmont Abbey College’s Master of Arts in Classical and Liberal Education (MACLE) provides essential formation for professionals in Classical K-12 education: whether teachers, administrators, curriculum and resource creators, or homeschooling network leaders.

If your calling lies in classical education, this flexible, affordable online degree program with a 10-12 month completion date offers personal and professional development uniquely capable of transforming your vocation.

  • As a classical K-12 teacher, you will develop the skills and understanding to inspire students with a shared love of the True, the Good, and the Beautiful. By grounding yourself in a pedagogy specifically designed to engage students directly with the riches of the Great Books tradition, you will not only encourage active participation, critical and creative thinking, and thoughtful and genuine communication: you will change students’ lives.
  • As a classical K-12 administrator, you will learn how best to support classroom instructors and their students, cultivating an authentic community oriented toward learning. Fruitful classroom seminars are only possible where a safe, ordered, and healthy community is free to grow and to engage with the Good, so classical education requires men and women like you who address the essential needs of an academic institution with wisdom and prudence.
  • As a resource or curriculum creator, you will provide classical educators at all grade levels and across communities with renewed access to the timeless riches of the Western canon, facilitating profound encounters with the great conversation in which generations have engaged as they seek the True, the Good, and the Beautiful. Curricular support extends this conversation and helps teachers to challenge their students, offer context, and explore further questions, scaffolding the skills by which students will discover ever more fully how to learn and engage.
  • As a leader in a homeschool network, you will bring the depths of the Great Books tradition into the first of all schools, the home, by providing the tools and support that parents and fellow educators need to fulfill the mission they have so generously embraced. By taking such direct and active roles in their children’s schooling and their community as a whole, homeschooling educators model the joyful responsibility of lifelong learning in pursuit of wisdom, and offering leadership in such a community entails a profound contribution to the good of our society and culture.

Belmont Abbey designed its Master of Arts in Classical and Liberal Education in collaboration with the CiRCE Institute, ICLE, and the Veterum Sapientia Institute, all leaders in the classical education movement who are committed to forming men and women like you in the best that liberal arts tradition has to offer. In addition to exploring the Trivium and Quadrivium as foundations of classical education, the MACLE candidate gains critical pedagogical training while engaging questions of faith and reason, poetry and philosophy, civic understanding, and the human condition.

As an educator invested in the mission of classical education, you will have the opportunity to more deeply pursue Truth, Goodness, and Beauty while making the fruits of this journey available to your students and colleagues – ultimately inspiring them in their own journeys and nourishing the active community of seekers that lies at the heart of classical and liberal education.

If you are an educator seeking to grow personally and professionally, consider what an MA in Classical and Liberal Education could mean for your calling. Click here to explore the possibilities.

Also of Interest
 
My Abbey
Useful Links
 





Useful links