Belmont’s Opening Convocation Unveils Living the Dream with SOUL

Greg Jones giving his presidential speech at the opening Convocation, Haley Ramsey

Belmont students have SOUL, but now, “living the dream together” is the focus for the upcoming school year.  

Last year’s opening convocation held on August 21, President Greg Jones introduced the SOUL Framework: seek excellence, offer gratitude, unleash hospitality and live the dream together. This opening convocation, Jones emphasized the “L”: living the dream together. 

“Living the dream together is a way of talking about what it means to focus on the future...getting on our tiptoes and leaning forward,” Jones said.  

Jones then brought student and faculty insight into the conversation, echoing his message. 

“Hope is the anchor to my soul,” founder of the Women’s basketball team Betty Wiseman said.  

Students smiled across the crowd as they saw their friends and notable Belmont alumni on the screen. 

“We live the dream together, and we learn to practice hope. It’s a communal practice,” Jones said.  

Provost David Gregory empowered students to lean into the challenges they may face this semester and find hope in their purpose of serving others. 

“You’ll be invited into experiences designed to help you discover your calling, deepen your skills and serve the world around you. My challenge is for you to say yes to those invitations,” Gregory said.  

Jones also encourages the audience to embrace negativity and strife because through suffering comes perseverance, through perseverance comes character and through character comes hope.  

“The opportunities that God has before us at Belmont University, let’s live the dream together with hope,” Jones said.  

Professors in their regalia stand for a prayer, Haley Ramsey

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Article written by Emily Garver, Photos by Haley Ramsey