Belmont Abbey College Unveils New Website — College Offers Visitors a New Virtual Experience Into Catholic Institution

BELMONT, NC —- Today, the Abbey officially launched a new virtual world – a redesigned website – (BelmontAbbeyCollege.edu) that includes a variety of innovative features and information.

“BelmontAbbeyCollege.edu is now one of education’s premier sites, and it offers the world the opportunity to experience the Benedictine charism of welcoming that completely envelopes this vibrant campus,” says Cisco Adler, vice president for marketing and communications at the Abbey.

The site, developed with a focus on the Benedictine tradition and students – their needs and interests – in mind, now takes advantage of the latest technologies available with a more vibrant design, a video interface, easier navigational links, photo and video galleries, personal messages from the President and academic dean, quick links for visitors, and easier access to news and events.

“As a communications and research tool for prospective college students – both traditional and adult degree – the Internet has completely eclipsed traditional print materials,” says Adler. “We partnered with some of the nation’s leading web developers at 2Advanced Studios to help us communicate our student-focused vision of ‘excellence and virtue’ through a dynamic and visually appealing web interface.”

Adler, who first began work on the website with preliminary research before accepting his position at the Abbey back in December 2004, had also hired a web specialist, Rick Sweeney, to develop some areas of the website.

“Connecting to prospective students and their parents is our primary emphasis and strategy now and in the future,” says Rick Sweeney, who has served as a website consultant, programmer and creative designer for major corporations and privately-owned businesses in his career. “Early on in the project, it was recognized that to deliver a big impact website delivering multimedia content, we would need to ramp and tool up with Macromedia Flash. Using Flash modules throughout the site would give us the best opportunity for delivering that rich experience by using video and audio technology, as well as utilizing its full featured animation treatments with dazzling visual effects.”

The site’s home page prominently features a new area – “My Abbey Experience” – a video interface highlighting current students and their personal experiences at Belmont Abbey College. The interface allows users to “ask” a variety of questions – from student life on campus and the application process, to students’ personal stories and experiences first-hand and advice for prospective students.

“We believe there is no one better to describe this amazing campus than the students, themselves,” says Adler, who is also preparing a cinematic, multimedia piece for the website. “There is one certainty in web development: A site is never finished. Keep watching. This is only the beginning.”


About 2Advanced Studios
Based in Aliso Viejo, California, 2Advanced Studios, LLC has become a world-renowned and award winning new media agency. Founded in 1999, the company has evolved from a single designer’s portfolio to a team of nearly 20 of the world’s finest web, motion, and graphics designers, as well as an unparalleled team of seasoned developers giving its clients a true ‘full-service’ offering. Visit their website at 2advanced.com.

Ranked one of the best liberal arts colleges in the South by U.S. News and World Report, Belmont Abbey College celebrates excellence and virtue steeped in its 128 year Catholic Benedictine heritage. It is home to students from over 34 states and 17 countries and welcomes everyone from any background or tradition committed to this vision of excellence and virtue. The campus consists of the College, the Monastery and the Abbey Basilica, which can be found on its sprawling 650 acres of picturesque landscape.

Just minutes from Charlotte, NC, the nation’s second largest banking center, Belmont Abbey College offers students numerous internship opportunities and career placement.

The College believes in development of the whole person – mind, body and spirit. By offering a wide array of clubs and activities including Division II athletics, theatre, publications, and study abroad, Belmont Abbey College invests in the personal growth of its students.

Founded in 1876, the College celebrates its heritage and is inspired by the Benedictine monastic tradition. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the College and Abbey Basilica greet thousands of visitors each year.

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