Celebrating St. Francis’s Feast Day, the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity, in concert with Franciscans International, present seven streaming songs of Peace. They are available throughout October at the Franciscanized World www.fscc-calledtobe.org.

Several generations of singer-songwriters and genres offer distinct perspectives on peace, from personal relationships to universal concerns, from discernment to deliberate calling. Featured artists and songs include:

Legendary singer-songwriter Eric Andersen’s rare full band of his ‘I Shall Go Unbounded’. According to Sr. Mary Ann Spangers, his song “brings to mind the inner freedom that comes with the peace of knowing oneself respect and acceptance for others and oneself.”

Houston native and soulful singer/songwriter James Hall’s ‘There is an Answer’. Hall reflected there are “A lot of questions in life, but most of my peace is sponsored by the trust that there is an answer.

“Top 40 icon Tommy James’ updated version of ‘Crystal Blue Persuasion’ is my personal favorite of all our hits. Whenever I hear it, I immediately think of that magic summer of 1969 – but more importantly, it was the point in my life when I became a Christian, which is what the song is about.”

Novice Sister Monica Martin suggested, “we can see the goodness around us, trusting God that He can illuminate the darkness. I think, as Franciscans especially, we are called to do the latter.”

About his urgent take on ‘Get Together’, Irish singer – songwriter Paul Brady affirmed, “I always loved the song and was pleased to be asked to sing it on the Bleecker Street compilation. I feel that separation is at the heart of a lot of the problems of mankind and that fear is the main obstacle to closeness between people. Music as a positive and unifying force in the world.”

Kentucky native Daniel Martin Moore is one of the new singer songwriters gently observing life’s subtleties. About ‘The Old Measure’, Rose Pearson, one of the Franciscan Sister’s postulants said, “We are called to look forward and look to Christ for inner healing and peace. In Him we are given the opportunity to breathe a ‘sigh of relief’ and continue our journey with Him.”

“The Annunciation Byzantine Choir’s serenely majestic interpretation of the ‘Waters of Babylon’ is about the captured Israelites in Babylon being tormented by their captors to sing songs of their former homeland. This reflects the present situation of so many refugees in the world today and of others uprooted by the economy to search for work far from the security of home and family,” said Sister Angela Paul.

Established in 1869, the Roman Catholic Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity serve in Catholic health care, education and parish ministries throughout the United States. www.fscc-calledtobe.org The World needs you. God Calls You. We Invite You. Catholic vocations.

CONTACT:
Sr. Julie Ann Sheahan OSF
Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity
Holy Family Convent
2409 S. Alverno Road
Manitowoc, WI 54220
sjulieann@fscc-calledtobe.org
920-682-7728

The World needs you. God Calls You. We Invite You. Catholic vocations.

U.S. Department of Labor seeking short films for Career Video Challenge

Are you a film student? An aspiring filmmaker? Just enjoy making YouTube videos as a hobby? The U.S. Department of Labor wants your help in highlighting the day-to-day work in one of 15 in-demand occupations. The best video in each category will receive a $1,000 cash prize.

Videos will show viewers what it takes to succeed as an energy auditor, licensed practical nurse, pipefitter or one of a dozen other professions. Participants do not need to be employed in a profession to enter a video, but if you know someone who is, here is your chance to showcase them and their job.

Many communication departments allow students access to editing software that could help you get your video noticed. Need more information on the occupations? Ask around. Your school may have programs centered around one or more of the 15 occupations. For more information and to enter the challenge for your shot at $1,000, visit www.dol.gov/videochallenge.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SEPT. 30, 2010

Commitment Focuses on Creating Pathways, Services and Policies for Those with College Credit to Earn Degrees

INDIANAPOLIS – Lumina Foundation for Education today announced a significant new commitment to advancing adult degree attainment through a series of interconnected projects that aim to engage, motivate and help students who previously have gone to college actually earn their degrees. With 37 million adults ages 25-64-more than 20% of the working age population-having attended a college but never earned a degree or credential, these efforts to provide a second chance for these adults could be a big boost to the nation’s goal to dramatically increase college degree attainment and advance the nation’s workforce productivity.

Lumina’s commitment includes support for 19 large-scale projects that will provide leverage to efforts to educate and retrain workers who need up-skilling in order to compete for the jobs that will be created in the next decade, the majority of which will require some form of postsecondary education degree or credential.

Lumina expects these grants, totaling $14.8 million over four years, to reach some 6.6 million adults who have some prior college credits.

“There is growing evidence that adults who have gone to college but not received a degree are looking for a second chance but need the right kind of information and motivation to help them succeed,” says Lumina President/CEO Jamie Merisotis. “This vital work aligns directly with our goal to increase the proportion of Americans with high-quality degrees or credentials to 60 percent by 2025. Given demographic trends and attainment rates among young adults, it is highly unlikely that the nation can meet its growing need for college-educated workers only by focusing on recent high school graduates.”

“The North Star guiding all the administration’s efforts is President Obama’s goal that America should once again have the highest college graduation rate in the world by the end of the decade. We are aligning all our work and resources to that ambitious, but widely-shared goal. We are committed to helping displaced workers and adult learners garner the training and support they need to succeed in the workplace, especially during these trying economic times,” says U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.

According to Lumina’s recent report, A Stronger Nation through Higher Education, “The U.S. risks an unprecedented shortage of college-educated workers in coming years. The National Center for Higher Education Management Systems estimates the need to educate nearly 300,000 more college graduates each year from now through 2025 to meet the growing needs of the workforce.”

The renewed focus on adult learners builds on previous Lumina efforts to increase the success of such students. “We have arrived at this stage of a scale-up strategy by focusing on proven, high-quality strategies to improve adult degree completion,” says Merisotis. “These strategies include data mining to find adults with prior college credits, recruitment campaigns to motivate them to return, advising and financial assistance services, and many other efforts that can help accelerate progress toward the degree.”

Lumina’s efforts for better serving “21st Century Students” involve partnerships at the national, state and local levels that are designed for greatest potential for scale, scope and sustainability, as well as those most likely to have the greatest impact. Examples representing the diversity of this commitment include:
• The Southern Regional Education Board will establish an Adult Learner Portal with information about returning to college and other resources to help individuals decide which programs are most appropriate to their needs. A key benefit will be cost savings to states that will not need to develop adult learner portals given the availability of the national portal.
• The State University of New York (SUNY) will create SUNY WORKS, a system-wide cooperative education program across its 64 campuses in collaboration with business/industry and regional economic councils. Key strategies include working with cohorts of 375 students at five campuses per year to develop/implement credit bearing, paid co-op sites. By 2014, this will be scaled up to 20 community college campuses that will have operational co-op sites, drawing on co-op education assignments from an estimated 300 employers.
• The American Association of Community Colleges’ Plus 50 Initiative will support efforts by 20 geographically dispersed community colleges to increase the number of learners 50 years of age and older with some prior college credits who complete credentials that are valuable in the marketplace.
• Jobs for the Future will advance a supportive state policy framework to increase adult completion rates in occupational-technical credential programs in community colleges in three states.
• Minnesota State Colleges and Universities will create the RAPID Completion Program, which will increase re-enrollment, degree progress and degree completion among former system students who did not earn degrees. The system has identified about 160,000 former students who attended in the last 10 years and already have 15 or more college credits. The program will expand services, particularly for dislocated workers, veterans and other adults who face situational barriers, such as family responsibilities or difficult work schedules, to help the these individuals complete college degrees.

As part of the strategy, the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education will develop a new learning network to support Lumina’s Adult Degree Completion Commitment. It will implement mechanisms for effective national-level networking, communication and dissemination of adult completion efforts (e.g., conferences, policy briefs, lessons learned, and hosted “lab” visits to best-practice locations). The network will serve grantees and others working on adult degree completion strategies.

A list and brief description of all the grantees appears at the end of this release. To view abstracts of the grants, visit www.luminafoundation.org.

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Lumina Foundation for Education is committed to enrolling and graduating more students from college-especially low-income students, students of color, first-generation students and adult learners. Our goal is to increase the percentage of Americans who hold high-quality degrees and credentials to 60 percent by 2025. Lumina pursues this goal in three ways: by identifying and supporting effective practice, through public policy advocacy, and by using our communications and convening power to build public will for change. www.luminafoundation.org

MEDIA CONTACT:
Adam Shapiro
ashapiro@lipmanhearne.com
202-457-8100

Adult Degree Completion Commitment Partners
• American Association of Community Colleges, Washington, DC ($800,000) – Scale up 20 geographically dispersed community college programs to target adults 50 years of age and older for degree/certificate completion tied to workforce needs.

• Board of Control for Southern Regional Education (SREB), Atlanta ($800,000) -Establish a national adult learner portal to provide returning adults with the information, resources and services to assist in completing degrees.

• CEO for Cities, Chicago ($420,000) – Expand the reach, elevate the message and support efforts by urban leaders to move from insight to action on the Talent Dividend Tour (convenes cross-sector groups of urban leaders in 29 cities to discuss strategies for achieving a one percentage point goal in college attainment).

• Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL), Chicago ($1,000,000) – With partners, the American Council on Education and the College Board, will launch a national Virtual Prior Learning Assessment Center to help students accelerate time to degree and expand institutions’ capacity to serve more students seeking assessments of prior learning.

• Goodwill Industries International, Inc., Rockville, Md. ($250,000) – Scale up 20 new Community College/Goodwill partnerships, replicating components of three successful pilot partnerships, to increase college completion and career success for low-income adults.

• Greater Louisville, Inc. Louisville, Ky. ($800,000) – Assist HIRE Education Forum (Higher Income Requires Education) and its regional partners (Business Leaders for Education and Mayor’s Education Roundtable) in the effort to empower 200,000 employees in 19 Kentucky and seven Indiana counties who have earned some college credits to complete a degree.

• Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP), Washington, DC ($1,299,000) – Scale up work begun in pilot project Win-Win to 35 institutions in six states (Louisiana, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Virginia, Wisconsin) to increase associate-degree completion by promoting practices to identify degree “near completers” and remove barriers to degree completion.

• Ivy Tech Foundation, Indianapolis ($784,200) – Ivy Tech Community College’s 28 campuses and several instructional centers will re-enroll former students who left college with at least 45 credits to help them complete associate degrees and go on to pursue baccalaureate programs at the regional campuses of Indiana University.

• Jobs for the Future (JFF), Boston ($800,000) – Enable a network of community colleges in three states (Kentucky, Michigan, North Carolina) to advance policy conditions that will boost credential completion in occupational/technical programs for adults with prior college credits.

• Graduate! Philadelphia, Philadelphia ($800,000) – Expand the Graduate! Model that mobilizes leadership and regional resources to increase the number and proportion of adults with quality college degrees by strengthening current Philadelphia and Connecticut models and replicating them in at least three more regions, including Chicago and Des Moines, Iowa.

• Manufacturing Institute, Washington, DC ($800,000) – Support 12 states (Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Mississippi, Nevada, New York, Tennessee, Wisconsin) in efforts to align educational and career pathways with the National Association of Manufacturers-Endorsed Manufacturing Skills Certification System, with the aim of increasing the number of students who earn a postsecondary credential with value in the workplace.

• Manufacturing Institute, Washington, DC ($650,000) – Support efforts by Indiana to join four states (North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, Washington) that are leading efforts nationally to align educational and career pathways with the National Association of Manufacturers-Endorsed Manufacturing Skills Certification System, with the aim of increasing the number of students who earn a postsecondary credential with value in the workplace.

• Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, St. Paul, Minn. ($800,000) – Create the RAPID Completion Program, which will increase re-enrollment, degree progress and degree completion among prior system students lacking degrees.

• National League of Cities, Washington, DC ($500,000) – Develop and disseminate information on how cities can advance a postsecondary success agenda, and use learning strategies to interconnect leading-edge cities throughout the United States.

• Rutgers University, Center for Woman and Work, New Brunswick, N.J. ($799,700) – Assist efforts by four states (Mississippi, Pennsylvania and two to be determined) to help adults 3-12 credits away from a degree who are in the Workforce Investment Act system (WIA) finish degrees online through the state workforce development program.

• The State University of New York (SUNY), Albany, N.Y. ($800,000) – Create SUNY WORKS, a system wide (64 campuses) cooperative education program in collaboration with business/industry and regional economic development organizations, which aims to increase completion rates for adults with prior college credits but no degrees and prepare adults for employment in high-demand STEM and other high-skill, high demand fields through participation in cooperative education.

• University of Wisconsin System Administration, Madison, Wisc. ($800,000) – Expand opportunities for adults to earn college credit via prior learning assessment, and apply the credits to degrees at UW System institutions.
• West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, Charleston, W.Va. ($798,400) – Create an integrated statewide adult degree completion program (DegreeNow) that includes four components: Board of Governors A.A.S. Adult Degree Completion Program, the Regents Transfer Agreement, the Regents Bachelor of Arts Today, and a student services component.

• Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education, Boulder, Colo. ($1,133,800) – Develop a national learning network to support Lumina’s Adult Degree Completion commitment, to include mechanisms for effective networking, communication and dissemination (e.g., interactive website, meetings/conferences, webinars, policy briefs and reports on lessons learned, repository of higher education policies related to adult learners). The network will serve grantees and others working on adult degree completion strategies.

“How strong is this program’s reputation?” is one of the first questions that prospective students ask when they are deciding where to apply for graduate school. New rankings of doctoral programs at PhDs.org can help answer that question.

PhDs.org’s rankings use data from a new National Research Council (NRC) study that evaluated more than 5,000 US doctoral programs. “The academic community has been waiting eagerly for this data,” says Geoff Davis of PhDs.org, “and we are pleased to offer online resources that use the NRC’s new data to help students pick graduate schools that best fit their unique needs. Programs earn their public reputations in many ways — some of which are more relevant to students than others.

The NRC study evaluates programs on the basis of (1) research activity, (2) student support and outcomes, (3) diversity of the academic environment, and (4) other characteristics such as interdisciplinary activity. Data in the most recent study were compiled from thousands of graduate programs, updating a prior NRC study from 1995.

“Every graduate student is different,” says PhDs.org founder Geoff Davis, a former Dartmouth professor who earned his own Ph.D. in mathematics from New York University. “Some students plan to become professors, while others want to work in industry or government. Some students are qualified for admission to the most competitive programs while others are a better match for strong programs that may not have an international reputation. But what all prospective students need is information — and that is what provide at PhDs.org.”

With PhDs.org’s Graduate School Guide(sm), prospective students can rank graduate programs according to the qualities that matter most to them, such as job placements after graduation, time required to earn a doctorate, or the percentage of women in the program. PhDs.org’s customized rankings use comprehensive data from the U.S. National Science Foundation, the National Center For Education Statistics, and the National Research Council.

The Graduate School Guide(sm) includes detailed information on more than 18,000 programs at nearly 2,000 U.S. universities.

About PhDs.org and the Grad School Guide(sm)

PhDs.org is a comprehensive web resource for graduate students, prospective graduate students, and recent graduates of doctoral programs. Offerings at PhDs.org include the Grad School Guide(sm), job listings for PhDs, and an extensive collection of articles and advice on the graduate school and careers for PhDs.

Dr. Geoff Davis created PhDs.org while a professor of mathematics at Dartmouth College. His current research is focused on graduate education and career options for students entering and emerging from Ph.D. programs. In 2005, Dr. Davis completed the most comprehensive survey to date of scientists in postdoctoral training in the US.

CONTACT:

Geoff Davis, PhD
(415) 823-2542
gdavis@phds.org
www.phds.org

For Immediate Release: September 27, 2010

Contact: Maegan Carberry | maegan@rockthevote.com | 202.615.6065

*Candidates and Issues Trump Party ID
*59% are more cynical than they were two years ago
*Jobs, economy, college costs & healthcare are top concerns

WASHINGTON — A recent Rock the Vote poll revealed young voters are paying attention to the upcoming November election (58%), and are closely attuned to pocketbook issues, including the economy, healthcare, and college affordability. Despite expressing deep concerns about the influence of corporate and special interests on the pace of change, they say they still plan to turn out for the midterms, with 77% overall and two-thirds of those who participated in 2008 saying they plan to vote.*

Of concern to both parties as they head into the midterms: A plurality of this age group (36%) says that it doesn’t matter to them which party is in control of Congress. While the question of partisan control may be less important, addressing major issues like unemployment, the cost and quality of education, the national debt, sexual health and reducing our dependence on foreign oil is vital.

This voting bloc remains confident in its ability to affect change while, at the same time, it struggles to work past doubts about the political process. An overwhelming majority (83%) still says they believe their generation has the power to change our country, yet 59% say they feel more cynical about politics than they did two years ago.

In pursuit of that change, there is a strong desire among young people for current political leaders, including President Obama – who they voted for at 2-to-1 rates in 2008 – to deliver on the promise of change. Favorability ratings indicate that President Obama (56%) and the Democratic Party (46%) still receive the highest marks, with the Republican Party (36%) trailing behind. Sarah Palin (28%) and the Tea Party (26%) receive lower favorability ratings.

In terms of endorsements, President Obama is more of an asset to candidates looking to energize young voters than Sarah Palin and the Tea Party. Half of young people say they are more likely to support a candidate endorsed by President Obama, while only 26% say the same about Sarah Palin (64% less likely) or the Tea Party (54% less likely).

In addition, they were more likely to back a candidate for U.S. Congress who supports investing in new technology to create jobs, seeks to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and will provide leadership on key social issues like immigration, marriage rights and sexual health education.

“Young people still embrace the primary message from the 2008 election — believing that their generation has the ability to make change through voting,” says Rock the Vote President Heather Smith. “This generation relates to candidates more than political parties, and as a result, despite voting for Obama 2-1, they are less concerned with which party will win in 2010 and instead gravitate toward the candidate who speaks most clearly and directly to their interests and concerns.”

Rock the Vote commissioned the first midterm election poll of young adults with the bi-partisan polling team of The Tarrance Group and Anzalone Liszt Research.

Key findings from the survey include:

Party ID
• When asked party affiliation, young voters considered themselves Democrats (35%), Republicans (26%) and Independents (29%), which is down from an 18-point advantage Democrats held over Republicans in 2008.
• Young voters rate the Democratic Party more favorably (46% to 41% unfavorable) than the Republican Party (36% favorable versus 50% unfavorable), but the Democrats advantage is down from a net +40 favorability (65% to 25%) prior to the last midterms in 2006, while the Republicans favorability remains about the same as 2006.
• When asked whether they would prefer Democrats to keep control of Congress or for Republicans to take over, a plurality of 18 to 29 year olds say that they it doesn’t matter to them (36% versus 34% preferring Democrats and 28% preferring Republicans).

Political Climate
• 49% feel the direction of the country is on the wrong track.
• 86% are concerned about the influence of corporations and special interests in our political system.
• 59% feel more cynical about politics than they did in 2008.
• 77% are concerned that the U.S. will suffer another major terrorist attack.

Issues
• 96% are concerned about the level of unemployment in this country.
• 93% are concerned about the national debt.
• 86% are concerned about America’s dependence on foreign oil.
• 69% are concerned that the country is failing to take action on global warming or climate change.
• 74% believe teaching young people about safe sex and birth control would be a better way to reduce teen pregnancy, and 69% support making condoms available in high schools.
• 55% support the legalization of gay marriage.

Candidates
• 89% would be likely to support a candidate who supports increasing investment in renewable energy sources to help reduce our dependence on foreign oil.
• 57% would be likely to support a candidate who voted for the passage of healthcare legislation.
• 86% would be likely to support a candidate who wants to increase government grants to help make college and post-graduate education more affordable.
• 77% would back a candidate who supports expanding safe-sex education in schools.
• 70% would be likely to support a candidate who wants to pull all U.S. troops out of Afghanistan.
• 50% would back a candidate who supports providing illegal immigrants with a path to citizenship.

Pollsters from both parties interpreted the data to be an opportunity to connect with young people.

“This data makes clear that there is real value for Republican candidates to target voters under age 30, “ says conservative pollster Brian Nienaber, Vice President of The Tarrance Group. “These voters have an improving image of the Republican Party. In addition, the top concerns of these voters are the same pocketbook issues that are the focus of nearly every Republican candidate in the country. Thoughtful messaging and appropriate targeting could yield a significant level of support with these voters.”

Says progressive pollster John Anzalone, “In past election cycles we’ve heard about soccer moms and NASCAR dads, but in this cycle Democrats would be wise to target young people. Since moderates and independents are leaning Republican going into the November midterms, Democrats should appeal once again to the young people ages 18 to 29, who have not given up on them since the 2008 election. For all the criticisms that they don’t vote, this does show they are willing to engage when we go out and get them. Candidates who neglect young people are taking a major risk, as they will be the swing group for either party in 2010.”

This year, Rock the Vote is running our most aggressive midterm election campaign in history with the goal of registering 200,000 young people, which will quadruple our 2006 registration levels by focusing primarily on newly-eligible voters and those who have moved since the 2008 election. Through our online voter registration tool, mobile marketing, on-the-ground registration at festivals and college campuses, an online voter information center and voter guides, and get-out-the-vote events, we are reaching out, building on the energy and activism of young adults, and empowering them to make their voices heard.

The full Rock the Vote 2010 Young Voter Poll and analyses from The Tarrance Group and Anzalone Liszt Research are available at www.rockthevote.com.

The survey was designed by both Anzalone Liszt Research and The Tarrance Group and administered by Anzalone Liszt Research using professional interviewers. The survey reached 1,000 young adults (18-29) nationwide. The base sample of 1,000 interviews nationwide included 200 respondents reached on cell phones, 500 respondents reached on landlines, and 300 who completed the survey online. The survey was conducted August 24-30, 2010. Telephone numbers for the survey were drawn using random digit dial (RDD). The data were weighted slightly by region, race, party identification, and phone usage in order to ensure that it more accurately reflects the population. The margin of error for the survey is around +/- 3.7 percentage points, based off of the 800 telephone interviews.

*NOTE: Exit polling data indicates that in 2006, the voter turnout rate among 18-to-29-year-olds increased 3 percentage points more than 2002 levels, going from 22 percent to 25 percent, and breaking a trend in declining electoral participation among young people since 1982. An estimated 10.8 million young people voted, an increase of almost 2 million voters. (Data from CIRCLE.)

###

About Rock the Vote
Rock the Vote engages young people in our democracy and builds their political power by registering, educating and turning them out to vote, by forcing the candidates to campaign to them, and by making politicians pay attention to youth and the issues they care about once in office. For 20 years, we have used music, popular culture, new technologies and old-fashioned grassroots organizing to engage and mobilize young people to participate in every election. By providing them with the information and tools they need since 1990, Rock the Vote has registered more than 5 million young people, including more than 2.5 million in the historic 2008 election. In 2010, Rock the Vote seeks to register 200,000 young voters as part of the largest midterm elections outreach strategy in our organization’s history.

By Manisha Thakor, financial guru and co-author of the books “On My Own Two Feet: A Modern Girl’s Guide to Personal Finance” and “Get Financially Naked: How to Talk Money with Your Honey.”

Let’s face it, returning to school can be a stressful time. Here are four simple tips you can use to take control of your personal finances and have one less thing to worry about during the busy days to come.

1. Make a Monthly Budget
This message is simple, but it is one students often have the hardest time following: Don’t spend more than you make.

Create a monthly budget by listing out all your possible expenses for a month. If you anticipate going out to dinner with friends, add that into your budget as an expense and plan accordingly. The number you come up with should never exceed the funds you have available to spend.

It can be tempting to buy the new gadget or outfit you really want, even if you are not sure you can really afford it after a semester of late night pizza runs, but your life will be much less stressful if you budget and save for big purchases rather than guessing at what you can afford and buying on impulse.

Make a monthly budget and commit to stick to it.

2. Pay Debt Back ASAP
This tip goes along with making a monthly budget. Putting items you can’t actually afford on a credit card is a really, really bad idea. Use a credit card only for items you know you can pay off in full when the bill comes. Do not let a credit card balance build up. If you make just the minimum monthly payment on a “typical” credit card with an interest rate in the mid teens, you will actually end up paying nearly double the purchase price of whatever you bought by the time you add up all the interest. According to a 2009 survey by Sallie Mae, college students graduate with an average of $4,100 in credit card debt on top of student loans. Just say no to credit card debt.

If you are looking for a convenient way to pay your share of the rent or borrow money from your parents, try using a new service called ZashPay. All you need is the person’s e-mail address or phone number to send or receive money. You can access the service at www.ZashPay.com.

3. Bank and Pay Bills Online
By setting up an online banking account, you can view your balance, pay bills in minutes and keep track of where your money is going. Using online banking is simple and safe, and recent research from financial services provider Fiserv shows eighty percent of Gen Y already bank online, a higher percentage than any other generation. Some additional benefits to online banking include:
• Never lose a bill – You won’t have to rely on dorm mail or shared mailboxes; instead, sign up to have paperless bills delivered to your online banking account
• Maintain your credit score – 35% of a consumer’s credit score is based on the ability to make on-time payments. Online banking can give you the reminders to make sure you remember to pay on time and build up your credit score
• Save the Earth – If all US households received and paid electronic bills, we would preserve an estimated 18.5 million trees and eliminate the production of 2.1 million tons of greenhouse gasses
• For more information on online bill pay, visit www.ebillplace.com.

4. Avoid ATM Fees
Many students don’t realize just how much they are spending by using an ATM that is out of their bank’s network. In this scenario you typically get hit by two fees – one from your bank and one from the ATM owner. These charges may be “only” two or three dollars at a time, but going to an ATM out of your network even once a month can really start to add up. This is especially important to keep in mind when taking a weekend trip to follow your school’s football team or visit friends. While many banks are national, it’s not always easy to find an ATM in a new city. And it’s even tougher if you’re traveling internationally. Plan ahead so you can take out money from your bank’s ATM and avoid getting this extra charge. Doing so can save you hundreds in ATM fees a year.

You go to college to prepare for a profession and life-long career, but these four years are also meant to prepare you for the “real world.” And dealing with your own finances, keeping track of your expenses and income, is a part of the big picture. The key to a successful financial future is preparation and awareness. By putting these simple measures in place, you set yourself on the path to financial nirvana.

Contact: Kenny Love
kennylove@podlife.org
(972)330-4083

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AWARD-WINNING PROFESSOR REVEALS “TRICKS” TO OBTAINING HIGH GPAs

Professor Joe Martin, a nationally noted, acclaimed, and award-winning college professor, reveals highly successful study techniques titled “Tricks of the Grade” that have resulted in “B” grades (or higher) for 110,000 students at 450 colleges in each of their courses every semester.

DALLAS, Texas – September 21, 2010 – Professor Joe Martin, a nationally recognized award-winning college professor, has released his patented and highly successful study technique program titled “Tricks of the Grade” that has already helped 110,000 students at 450 colleges consistently obtain a grade of “B” (or higher) in each of their college courses every semester.

Ironically, Professor Martin’s own less than glowing high school academic career included a 2.2 GPA, his failure of both ACT and SAT tests, and a Navy recruiter’s attempt to dissuade him from even considering college.

Frustrated at what appeared to be a limited future with few options, ingenuity driven by desperation inspired Professor Martin to create his own alternative study system that, in turn, enabled him to graduate as Student of the Year with Honors only 3-1/2 years later from his university of over 10,000 students.

The success of Professor Martin’s private study system also resulted in his being selected for “Who’s Who Among American College Students” as well as his becoming the youngest tenure-earning professor in the state of Florida at only 24 years of age.

He has been voted APCA Speaker of the Year, is a radio talk show host, and is a Campus Activities Magazine Lecturer of the Year nominee.  A number of college educational systems have christened his “Tricks of the Grade” study program as the Number One college success program in America.

As a widely recognized public speaker and published author, Professor Martin says, “Take just a few minutes to review my information that will show you how to ace college by significantly improving study time, gaining confidence and, most importantly, obtaining a high GPA, guaranteed!”

To receive more information on Professor Martin’s program instantly, send a request via email to highgrades@podlife.org

- # # # -

**Media Alert – Update**

The Millennium Campus Network announced additional keynote speakers for the Millennium Campus Conference 2010 being held this weekend, September 17 through 19 at Columbia University. Scott Harrison, Founder and President of charity: water, will be the opening keynote speaker on September 18. Jeffrey D. Sachs, Director of The Earth Institute, Quetelet Professor of Sustainable Development, and Professor of Health Policy and Management at Columbia University will also be delivering a keynote address on September 18. The Global Health Keynote will be delivered on September 19 by Deogratias Niyizonkiza, founder of Village Health Works, who will be speaking on the subject of Tracy Kidder’s latest book “Strength in What Remains.” Bobby Bailey, Filmmaker and Co-founder of Invisible Children, will also be speaking throughout the weekend. For additional details please visit www.mcc2010.com.

Original Alert

What: The Millennium Campus Network (MCN) is holding a national student conference, Millennium Campus Conference 2010, demonstrating student commitment to the United Nations Millennium Development Goals to reduce extreme global poverty. This national youth gathering is taking place on the eve of a major United Nations Summit where world leaders will convene to discuss similar goals.

Who: 1,000 college students from around the world and leading advocates including filmmaker Bobby Bailey, Co-founder of Invisible Children, Dr. Bernard Amadei, Founder of Engineers Without Borders USA, and Dr. Ahmed Djoghlaf, Executive Secretary of United Nations Convention on Biodiversity, will gather to discuss student activism and global poverty.

Students will share compelling personal stories of service on campus and overseas, including students’ work in promoting clean water and microfinance in Uganda and India this summer.

Event sponsors include the Better World Campaign; Semester at Sea; the Earth Institute, Columbia University; the Jenzabar Foundation; and the United Nations Foundation. Her majesty Queen Rania of Jordan will also be expressing her support of MCN and student service through a video message being shown at the conference.

When: September 17-19, 2010

Where: Roone Arledge Auditorium, Columbia University, 2920 Broadway, New York, New York

Why: As world leaders gather to discuss the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, students will demonstrate their commitment to these goals and how they are actively working to achieve them. While extreme global poverty can seem overwhelming, students are proving that their generation can be part of the solution to the most pressing crises.

About The Millennium Campus Network
The Millennium Campus Network (MCN) is a national non-profit network of university student organizations working to reduce extreme poverty and achieve the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. The network provides networking, funding, and national campaign opportunities to 37 member organizations on 17 campuses across Boston, Chicago, New York City, and Washington D.C. Dr. Paul Farmer (of Partners in Health), Dr. Jeffrey Sachs, and musician John Legend serve on the network’s Board of Advisors. For more information please visit www.mcc2010.com.

Media Contact:
Lindsey Purington
Millennium Campus Network
909-702-6401
lpurington@mcnpartners.org

Decorative Sports Rugs Infuse Drab Areas with Personal Style and Team Pride

Dalton, Ga. – Sept. 14, 2010 – As millions of college-bound students decorate their new living quarters, they are faced with the reality of on-campus living: small, cramped spaces in various shades of drab and restricting décor rules that stifle creativity and prohibit more permanent expressions such as painting walls, nailing in wall art or moving furniture. To infuse some style and school pride into these otherwise bland spaces, new web retailer GameDay Rugs™ is helping students outfit their digs with decorating tips and free shipping on GameDay Rugs’ high-quality sports-licensed rugs.

The National Retail Federation’s 2010 Back to College Consumer Intentions and Actions survey reports that a majority of college students are hunting online and at discount stores for their dorm necessities, stretching tight budgets by purchasing multi-use items and taking advantage of seasonal discounts. This fall GameDay Rugs™ makes it easier for students to incorporate their favorite team or school as they furnish their home-away-from-home in a variety of creative ways:

• Floor Covering – Football fans can give dorm rooms personality and style with a GameDay Rugs™ Football Field Area Rug in their favorite team design. Made to outlast the competition, the heavy-duty construction of this rug allows for the rough-and-tumble ways of college life.

• Welcome Mat / Door Décor – To create an inviting environment, students can lay out a GameDay Rugs™ entry rug or hang a Football-shaped GameDay Rugs™ on their door to welcome friends to share their team pride.

• Wall Art – A Basketball or Baseball-shaped GameDay Rugs™ can be an easy fix to boring walls. Fans can broadcast their team passion by making this unique wall art the focal point on their dorm rooms’ theme.

Available in 53 top collegiate sports designs and additional high-school motifs, GameDay Rugs™ graphics are woven through to backing for superior performance, luxurious looks and plush feel.

Through October 31, visitors to www.GameDayRugs.com will receive free shipping on quality sports-licensed rugs for loyal fans who take pride in their favorite sports teams. GameDay Rugs™ sports mats and rugs are ideal for fans to display their team spirit at their front door, patio, game room, dorm, office, car, tailgating; anywhere.

“Like our customers, we, too, are die-hard fans of favorite teams and schools,” said Mark Bobo, COO of Engineered Conversion Systems (ECS), parent company of GameDay Rugs™. “We know what our customers want, and we go the extra mile to meet and exceed expectations in terms of quality, durability and value.”

About GameDay Rugs™
A division of Engineered Conversion Systems (ECS), GameDay Rugs™ manufactures high-quality sports-licensed rugs for loyal fans who take pride in their favorite sports teams. Perfect for broadcasting fans’ passion and dedication while at home or tailgating on game day, GameDay Rugs™ are plush, durable, and graphically striking custom woven, decorative rugs for all weather use, indoor or out. As part of a vertically integrated manufacturing company with a modern 70,000 sq. ft. facility in Dalton, Ga., it incorporates the maximum standards in quality control blended with competitive pricing and fast fulfillment. For more information, visit www.gamedayrugs.com, www.facebook.com/GameDayRugs and follow @GameDayRugs.

Colleges and Universities Can Compete to Win an Exclusive On-Campus Film Screening Hosted by Freakonomics Authors Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner

LOS ANGELES (September 13, 2010) – Beginning today, students and faculty alike at colleges and universities can vie to win an exclusive on-campus screening of “Freakonomics,” the highly anticipated film version of the bestselling book about “the hidden side of everything,” hosted by authors Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner, the economist and journalist duo whose provocative and entertaining applications of incentives-based thinking to human behavior have propelled them into internationally bestselling authors.

Participating in the “Freakonomics” Campus Screening Contest is simple—students, faculty and staff at accredited institutions of higher education must visit the film’s official website, www.magpictures.com/freakonomics/. There, participants can click on the button titled “Enter the Campus Screening Contest” after watching the film’s trailer, and enter the requested information, including School, Major and Email Address. The college or university with the most entries submitted prior to Friday, October 8, 2010, will receive the coveted screening of “Freakonomics” with Levitt and Dubner, which will be scheduled at the winning school’s convenience during the fall of 2010.

“The origin of the ‘Freakonomics’ phenomenon is rooted in the curiosity of students and the passion of faculty, particularly in the disciplines of Economics, Sociology, Business, Statistics, and Political Science at colleges and universities around the globe,” explains Chad Troutwine, the Producer of the cinematic adaptation. “This contest offers an opportunity to not only see the film, but to engage in dialogue with the original minds behind ‘Freakonomics’.”

Produced by Green Film Company and distributed by Magnolia Pictures, “Freakonomics” examines human behavior through case studies directed by six of the world’s most respected filmmakers. Alternately sobering and hilarious, but always entertaining, the film examines how incentives drive behavior, from encouraging underachieving kids to learn with cold hard cash to investigating rampant cheating among Sumo wrestlers to exploring the repercussions of baby names to identifying an explanation for why crime rates dramatically dropped in the early 90s. Segments are woven together with context, commentary and insight from “Freakonomics” authors Levitt and Dubner.

For more information about “Freakonomics, which hits theaters on October 1, 2010, and is currently available for download via iTunes at www.itunes.com/freakonomics, or the Campus Screening Contest, visit www.magpictures.com/freakonomics/ or contact Lisa Weiner at 303.433.7020 or lweiner@csg-pr.com.

About “Freakonomics”
What began as an article by Stephen J. Dubner about economist Steven D. Levitt in 2003 became one of the best-selling books of the last decade and is now one of the most compelling films of the year. “Freakonomics” examines human behavior through the lens of statistics and incentives, rather than morals and ethics, illuminating surprising and controversial conclusions. Producer Chad Troutwine and his Green Film Company partners Dan O’Meara and Chris Romano assembled a team of powerhouse directors to tackle this provocative material in a singular cinematic experience. Like its literary counterpart, Freakonomics explores the hidden side of everything, debunking conventional wisdom, and revealing what answers may come if one just asks the right questions.

About Green Film Company
Green Film Company is a New York-based producer of film and television. The company’s first project “By The People: The Election of Barack Obama” was co-produced with Edward Norton’s Class 5 Films, and picked up by HBO Documentary Films, BBC and Sony Pictures Worldwide. The company’s current projects “Freakonomics” and “Gerrymandering” premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and theatrical release is slated for 2010. Green Film Company is backed by private equity financing and is developing film and television projects, both narrative and non-fiction, with some of most respected writers and filmmakers in the business.