Monthly Archives: September 2010

Expert car shopping tips for college students from AutoTrader.com

Media Contacts:
Mark Scott
AutoTrader.com
404-568-7905 (ph)
404-435-2047 (cell)
mark.scott@autotrader.com

Laura Kelly
GolinHarris
212-373-6005 (ph)
516-241-8259 (cell)
lkelly@golinharris.com

Finding the Perfect College Ride

Expert car shopping tips for college students from AutoTrader.com

As the new school year begins, no college student wants to be late for class or left to bum rides off friends, so many are on the hunt for a new vehicle to help them get around this semester and beyond.  For those looking for a new ride, experts from AutoTrader.com, the largest online auto classifieds site, offer the following recommendations on what to look out for when shopping for a new vehicle:

What to look for:
•    Affordability: Most college students are strapped for expendable cash, so finding a good deal is a must. Sites like AutoTrader.com can help any driver find a vehicle to fit his or her lifestyle and budget.
•    New, Used or Certified Pre-Owned: Explore the advantages of new, used and certified pre-owned cars to find the vehicle that has the ideal safety, dependability and other features for the available budget.
•    Warranty:  Available on new, and most used and certified vehicles, a warranty that can be used at dealerships or through independent mechanics will be invaluable when the inevitable maintenance needs occur.
•    Gas mileage: For college students who take long trips back and forth between campus and home, finding a vehicle with reasonable gas mileage is a high priority.  Anything over 30 miles per gallon (mpg) is considered good.
•    Reliability: When purchasing a used car, obtain its CARFAX report to understand the history of the vehicle.  For new cars, research reliability ratings and read reviews from other owners.
•    Cargo space: If the car is going to be used for moving furniture, clothing and other supplies between campus and home, be sure to pick a model that can fit everything.
•    Safety: Features like airbags, anti-lock braking systems and Electronic Stability Control increase a vehicle’s safety.

Top New Car Picks
Have the basics down but still don’t know where to start?  Following are AutoTrader.com‘s top ten picks for college students that combine affordability, style and fuel efficiency, in no particular order:
o    Mazda2 (starting at $13,900)
o    Ford Fiesta (starting at $13,320)
o    Honda Civic Coupe (starting at $15,500)
o    Nissan Versa (starting at $13,500)
o    Chevy Cruze (starting at $16,995)
o    Volvo C30 (starting at $24,600)
o    Mini Cooper (starting at $19,500)
o    Hyundai Accent (starting at $9,970)
o    Kia Forte Koup (starting at $16,595)
o    Chrysler/Fiat 500 (pricing not announced yet)

For more ideas and information, visit the AutoTrader.com Lifestyle Center at www.AutoTrader.com/lifestyle.

#  #  #

$1,000 Prize for Memo to President Obama on Middle East Peace

Friends of the Arc (FOTA)
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release


$1,000 Prize Announced for Memo to President Obama on Middle East Peace

Friends of the Arc (www.friendsofthearc.org) announces a $1,000 prize for the best essay by a college or graduate student, in the form of a policy brief to President Barack Obama, on the topic of the usefulness of RAND Corporation’s Arc concept for the current Middle East negotiations.

Submissions should respond to the following prompt:
With the resumption of direct negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians, many observers doubt that more purely political discussions will finally produce a comprehensive peace settlement; they suggest that some paradigm-changing idea is needed to break the deadlock.

You have been asked to brief President Obama about the Arc project. Prepare a policy brief making the case that the Arc plan is just such a compelling idea, and that with U.S. support, it could help negotiators achieve a breakthrough for peace.

Submissions are due October 8, 2010, at 6 pm ET and should be no more than 1,000 words in length. Before crafting their submissions, participants should view the 30-minute Arc video and other resources at www.friendsofthearc.org. College and graduate students from any country are eligible to apply.

The winner will receive a $1,000 cash prize and will be featured on our website. FOTA reserves the right to post all essays on its website and to send one or more to President Obama.

For all competition details, please visit www.friendsofthearc.org/essaycontest
About Friends of the Arc (FOTA): FOTA is a nonprofit advocacy organization that believes that he Arc, developed by the RAND Corporation and Suisman Urban Design, has the potential to ensure a viable Palestinian state and a Middle East that knows sustainable peace, prosperity, and security.

Contact:
Mr. Art Winter
Phone: +1.847.492.5400
Email: info@friendsofthearc.org
Press release, photos, and videos available at friendsofthearc.org/essaycontest

Sodexo to Students: Cut Food Waste to Curb Climate Change

New campaign calls on college students to think about the environmental impact of food waste

GAITHERSBURG, Md., September 9, 2010 — Today Sodexo expands its commitment to building a better tomorrow for the planet and its people with the launch of “Stop Wasting Food”, a campaign with one simple goal: Winning student support for cutting food waste to curb climate change.

Americans trash 25 percent of all the food they prepare each year, leading to 31 million tons of wasted food piling up in landfills annually. Food waste in landfills produces methane gas, which is at least 21 times more potent than carbon. Methane breaks down the ozone layer and leads to climate change.

“We are so careful to source and serve food for our customers in a sustainable way but if locally-sourced food ends up in a landfill then we’re simply creating another environmental problem,” said Tom Post, Sodexo’s president of campus services. “The good news is that by simply thinking before we eat, we can trash our wasteful habits and dramatically reduce food waste today.”

Sodexo is asking students to take two simple steps. The first is to only take what they plan to eat in all-you-care-to-eat dining halls. The second is to come back for more if they are still hungry.

To learn more, visit www.stopwastingfood.org.

Sodexo initiated a pilot program this fall at eight college campuses across the country to analyze and measure kitchen waste in an effort to better manage it. Colleges participating in the waste-reduction pilot program include Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, California State University of Monterey Bay in Seaside, Calif., Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pa., Linfield College in McMinnville, Ore., Marist College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., Pomona College in Claremont, Calif., University of California at Davis, Calif.,  and University of Wisconsin in River Falls, Wis.  By reducing food waste, Sodexo can save fossil fuels that transport the waste. On Earth Day 2008, Sodexo called on all its college operations to give up trays, a move that reduced waste by 30 percent on average. To date, about 340 Sodexo-served campuses have stopped using trays permanently.

This campaign demonstrates Sodexo’s commitment to work together with clients, suppliers and customers to take measurable sustainable actions today in the areas of environment, health and wellness and community that ensures a better tomorrow. Read more about Sodexo’s Better Tomorrow Plan.
###

About Sodexo

Sodexo in North America

Sodexo, Inc. (www.sodexoUSA.com), leading Quality of Daily Life Solutions company in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, delivers On Site Service Solutions in Corporate, Education, Health Care, Government, and Remote Site segments, as well as Motivation Solutions such as Esteem Pass. Sodexo, Inc., headquartered in Gaithersburg, Md., funds all administrative costs for the Sodexo Foundation (www.SodexoFoundation.org), an independent charitable organization that, since its founding in 1999, has made more than $13 million in grants to fight hunger in America. Visit the corporate blog at www.sodexoUSA.com/blog.

Sodexo, world leader in Quality of Daily Life Solutions

Quality of Life plays an important role in the progress of individuals and the performance of organizations.  Based on this conviction, Sodexo is the strategic partner for companies and institutions that place a premium on performance and well-being, as it has since Pierre Bellon founded the company in 1966. Sharing the same passion for service, Sodexo’s 380,000 employees, in 80 countries design, manage and deliver an unrivaled range of On-site Service Solutions and Motivation Solutions. Sodexo has created a new form of service business that contributes to the economic, social and environmental development of the communities, regions and countries in which it operates and to the fulfillment of its employees.

Sodexo in the World

  • 14.7 billion euro consolidated revenue
  • 380,000 employees
  • 33,900 sites
  • 50 million consumers served daily
  • 80 countries
  • 22nd largest employer worldwide

Sodexo in North America

  • 7.7 billion dollars revenue
  • 120,000 employees
  • 10 million consumers served daily
  • 6,000 clients
  • 700 facilities management sites

Contact
Monica Zimmer
301 987 4461
monica.zimmer@sodexo.com

Scholarship prizes for “Everyday Environmentalists” Video Contest

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 8, 2010

Contact: Thomas Metzger, tmetzger@envasns.org

Video Contest Invites College Students to Film “ Everyday Environmentalists” for Scholarship Money

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - College students have a chance to win up to $3,000 in scholarships by filming or creating animation and uploading short video clips to YouTube that demonstrate the everyday, practical ways that garbage men and women help keep communities healthy and clean, protect the environment and conserve resources in their communities. The contest, which opens on September 9, 2010, is sponsored by the National Solid Wastes Management Association (NSWMA) in Washington, D.C. NSWMA represents the solid waste industry in the U.S., including firms that collect, process, recycle, extract renewable fuel and dispose of municipal solid waste.

Students are asked to upload video or animated clips of five minutes or shorter. In addition to information about eligibility, contest rules and directions for uploading videos, the contest webpage (www.environmentalistseveryday.org/youtube-contest) lists a number of possible themes, one or more of which must be incorporated into the videos. To be considered, video submissions must be uploaded by midnight on October 24.

The top videos/animations will be selected by a panel of judges, including solid waste company officials and environmental leaders, for creativity and adherence to one or more of the listed themes and contest rules. The public will then be invited to vote on the contest website for their favorite video from this select group. Winners will be announced in early December. The creator of the video that receives the most votes from the public will receive a $3,000 cash scholarship. The second and third place winners will receive $2,000 and $1,000 cash scholarships respectively.

“We look forward to the creativity and thoughtfulness that students will demonstrate with their videos. Whether serious or humorous in tone, it will be exciting to observe how they view the role of solid waste management in their communities,” said Bruce J. Parker, president and CEO of the NSWMA.

Parker continued, “Today’s solid waste industry now has a leadership role in responding to the most pressing environmental concerns of the day, such as developing new sources of clean, renewable energy, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and conserving natural resources. I’m proud of the industry that my staff and I represent. We call its employees ‘Environmentalists. Every Day.’ because their core responsibility is protecting public health and the environment every day. I am hopeful that participating students will increase public awareness about the progressive and creative contributions that the solid waste industry brings while addressing today’s and future environmental challenges.”

###

NSWMA – a sub-association of the Environmental Industry Associations – represents for-profit companies in North America that provide solid, hazardous and medical waste collection, recycling and disposal services, and companies that provide professional and consulting services to the waste services industry. NSWMA members conduct business in all 50 states.

MCN Holds National Student Conference to Promote Social Change

The Millennium Campus Network Holds National Student Conference to Promote Social Change as College Students Start New Semester

What: The Millennium Campus Network (MCN) is holding a national student conference 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.

Media Contact:
Carina Ganias, carina.ganias@jenzabar.net, 617-492-9099 ext. 365

Bottled Water on Campus: Good or Bad?

For More Information:
Jane Lazgin
Nestlé Waters North America
(203) 863-0240
jane.lazgin@waters.nestle.com

Greenwich, Conn. (September 7, 2010) — As students, faculty and administration kick-off the new school year, Nestlé Waters North America today addressed questions regarding bottled water’s role as a healthy and responsible beverage option on college and university campuses.

Simply put, people want access to portable, high-quality water and having bottled water on campuses provides a good choice for health and the environment. Purchase bans do not improve water conservation practices, nor do they increase the diversion of plastic beverage containers from landfills. Rather, they succeed only in removing one of the most healthful beverage options.

In an age when American adults consume 450 calories a day from beverages and 67 percent are classified as overweight or obese (Centers for Disease Control), bottled water provides a healthy choice when tap water is not accessible, preferred or convenient.

A ban on bottled water would have the unintended consequence of driving people to consume more unhealthy beverages. For example, the City of Toronto, Canada ultimately decided against a ban on bottled water in schools after test results showed 78 percent of students turned to sweetened beverages rather than drinking nothing or tap water.

While few can argue about the health benefits of “water,” many question the impact of “the bottle.” To better understand the environmental impact of bottled water and other beverage options, Nestlé Waters commissioned a first-of-its-kind, peer-reviewed life cycle assessment (LCA). The full report is available at www.beveragelcafootprint.com.

Key findings include:

•    Water in all its forms is the best beverage option for the environment.
•    Bottled water has the lightest footprint among all packaged beverages and accounts for less than one-tenth of one percent of an average consumer’s overall environmental footprint.
•    Less water and energy is used every time a person chooses bottled water instead of an alternative packaged beverage.

Although plastic water bottles make up less than one percent of the U.S. solid waste stream, too many are ending up in the trash and landfills. As the nation’s leading bottled water producer, Nestlé Waters feels a responsibility to help get those bottles out of the trash and into a recycling bin. Therefore, Nestlé is working with non-profits, legislators and communities to improve recycling rates and access.

Nestlé Waters is also committed to reducing its own environmental footprint. The best way to do so was by reducing plastic content 60 percent in its Eco-Shape™ bottle. This change has reduced carbon emission equivalents by more than 356,000 tons since 2007 — the equivalent of removing 78,000 cars from the road. And, consumers can decrease the climate change impact of consuming an Eco-Shape bottle by 25 percent if they simply recycle it after use.

###

About Nestlé Waters North America

Central to the leadership of Nestlé Waters North America Inc. is its 34-year history and single-focus on producing bottled water products. The company’s dedication to product quality, manufacturing expertise, efficient production, employee development and environmental stewardship, especially in the areas of water use, energy and packaging, has helped Nestlé Waters become the number one bottled water company in the U.S. To reach success, the company follows its credo: Respect for each other, respect for the environment, and respect for the community. To learn more, visit www.nestlewatersnorthamerica.com

STRYKER KICKS OFF NATIONAL COLLEGE RECRUITING PROGRAM

Medical Device Maker Looks to Support Growth, Innovation with Results-Driven Grads

KALAMAZOO, MI, September 2, 2010 –
Stryker Corporation today announced the launch of its U.S. college recruiting program, which spans 18 colleges and 11 states. Bucking national hiring trends, Stryker plans to add employees to its workforce across a wide range of roles and business functions.

“As a global leader in medical technology focused on growth and innovation, Stryker is always on the lookout for results-driven, talented graduates that want to make a difference in the lives of patients around the world,” said Laurie Byrne, director of staffing and talent acquisition, Stryker. “For today’s graduates, our organization is a great place to start because we offer the opportunity to build your own career, based on individual strengths and potential.”

Seeking growth across all its business units, Stryker is a medical device manufacturer that develops and sells medical products ranging from orthopaedic implants to surgical instruments and hospital equipment. The company is currently looking to hire candidates in all of the following disciplines: engineering, quality, research & development, manufacturing, sales, finance, human resources, information technology, operations and marketing.

“At Stryker, we cultivate our employees and provide opportunities for growth and professional development, but we also encourage them to choose their own career paths. There are no pre-defined paths to advancement,” said Byrne. “While individual tenacity and hard work are rewarded, our organization also finds it critical to foster team collaboration and support work/life balance.”

Stryker recruiters will be visiting the following schools at the following dates:

• Southern Methodist University (Texas) on September 1
• Notre Dame (Indiana) on September 8
• University of Texas-Austin on September 8
• Illinois University on September 14-16
• Purdue University (Indiana) on September 14-17
• Southern Methodist University (Texas) on September 15
• University of North Texas on September 15
• University of Southern California Regulatory Science on September 17
• University of Texas-Austin on September 20-22
• Notre Dame (Indiana) on September 21
• University of Southern California Regulatory Science on September 22
• University of Texas-Arlington on September 22
• Stanford University (California) on September 22
• Western Michigan University on September 24
• University of Michigan on September 28-29
• Western Michigan University on September 30
• Washington State University on October 3
• Michigan Technological Institute on October 4
• University of Colorado on October 4
• University of Idaho on October 4
• Washington State University on October 4-6
• Michigan Technological University on October 5-6
• Stanford University (California) on October 5-6
• University of Colorado on October 5-6
• Ohio State University on October 6
• Cal Poly on October 12-13,16
• Hillsdale College (Michigan) on October 13-14
• Western Michigan University on October 13-15

For additional information about careers at Stryker, please visit www.stryker.com/en-us/careers/index.htm.

About Stryker

Stryker is one of the world’s leading medical technology companies and is dedicated to helping healthcare professionals perform their jobs more efficiently while enhancing patient care. The Company provides innovative orthopaedic implants as well as state-of-the-art medical and surgical equipment to help people lead more active and more satisfying lives. For more information about Stryker, please visit www.stryker.com.

Contact:

Dacrie Brooks
dbrooks@kwitco.com
646.233.0629