Monthly Archives: April 2014

Tournament Winners Joe Warren and Rafael Silva Battle For Interim World Title Friday, May 2nd From Revel Casino Hotel

Bellator118Bellator2

Dantas Injury Leads to Interim World Title Fight

Newport Beach, Calif. (April 26, 2014) – Reigning Bellator Bantamweight Champion Eduardo Dantas will be sidelined indefinitely after suffering a head injury in training. Originally scheduled to face Joe Warren on Friday, May 2nd, the Brazilian phenom will be replaced by 21-3 Bellator Bantamweight Tournament winner Rafael Silva, as he battles “The Baddest Man On The Planet” Joe Warren for the Bellator Interim Bantamweight World title live on Spike.

“We take head injuries very seriously, and when we were notified that Eduardo was dealing with a head injury, we immediately flew him from Brazil to California to be examined by some of the leading specialists in the field. We are hopeful Eduardo will be able to resume his career later this year, but in the interim we have two incredible tournament winners ready to challenge for the Bellator World Title.  Two of the best on the planet in Joe Warren and Rafael Silva will fight for the title and when Dantas is able to return, he will challenge the winner for the undisputed Bellator World Title.”

“This is setback for me,” Dantas said. “I’m not feeling right at the moment, but I am a fighter and have been a fighter since my childhood and I promise that I will be back stronger than ever. I want to thank Bjorn and Bellator for taking care of me during this process, for flying me across the world to get top specialists to see me. And, when I am ready to fight, I will show everyone once again why the belt has been wrapped around my waist.”

No stranger to championships fights, Warren looks to capture his second World Title as the former Featherweight Champion looks to dominate the 21-3 Silva. Warren punched his ticket to a title shot with his Season 9 Tournament run that included two dominate finishes, and will be looking to make quick work of Silva.

“It doesn’t matter which Brazilian they throw at me, I’m going to destroy who is ever across the cage from me,” Warren said. “It sucks Dantas got injured as I was focused on destroying him and taking his belt.  But, now I’ll destroy Silva and Dantas can try to come and take my belt.”

Riding a dominant 13 fight win streak stretching over four years, Silva has his sights set on moving his record to 22-3 with the biggest victory of his career when he faces Warren. The Brazilian finisher recently suffered a setback after dealing with a knee injury that required surgery, but now healthy, Silva is looking to take the next step in his career with a World title win over Warren.

“I’m healthy, and I’m ready to fight,” Silva proclaimed. “I know Warren always likes to talk, but this fight isn’t going to be about talking, it’s going to be about who is the better fighter, and everyone is going to see who that is on May 2nd. I’ve always wanted to face Dantas, and now Joe Warren is in my way. I’ll take care of that shortly.”

The full fight card for Bellator 118 is listed below:

MAIN CARD:
Bellator Interim Bantamweight Title Fight: Rafael (21-3) vs. Joe Warren (10-3)
Bellator Welterweight Tournament Semifinals: Andrey Koreshkov (15-1) vs. Sam Oropeza (11-2)
Bantamweight Feature Fight: Marcos Galvao (15-6-1) vs. Thomas Vasquez (7-0)
Bellator Light Heavyweight Opening Round: Liam McGeary (6-0) vs. Mike Mucitelli (6-0)

PRELIMINARY CARD:
Welterweight Feature Fight: Gemiyale Adkins (8-6) vs. Dante Rivera (15-7)
Middleweight Feature Fight: Jesus Martinez (8-5) vs. Ryan Contaldi (7-7)
Middleweight Feature Fight: Tim Woods (6-4) vs. Eugene Fadiora (13-1)
Featherweight Feature Fight: Joe Pingitore (4-1-1) vs. Darrion Caldwell (4-0)
Featherweight Feature Fight: Jay Haas (11-13) vs. Lester Caslow (11-9)
Catchweight Feature Fight (151lbs): Julian Lane (6-3-1) vs. Anthony Morrison (18-10)
Lightweight Feature Fight: Mike Bannon (5-1) vs. Sidney Outlaw (2-0)
Featherweight Feature Fight: Amran Aliyev (3-2) vs. Kevin Roddy (13-15-1)

For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA, follow Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney @BjornRebney and check out Bellator on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BellatorMMA           

About Bellator MMA

Bellator MMA is the world’s largest tournament based Mixed Martial Arts organization. Televised to nearly 500 Million homes worldwide in over 140 countries, Bellator’s majority owner is entertainment giant Viacom.  In the United States, Bellator can be seen on Spike TV, the MMA television leader. With over 175 world-class athletes under contract, Bellator is home to many of the sport’s top mixed martial artists. Bellator’s founder & CEO, Bjorn Rebney, is an experienced fighting sports and entertainment executive with a deep commitment to the purity and integrity of the sport of MMA and its athletes.  Bellator’s core philosophy is that title shots should be earned, not given. This belief gave rise to Bellator’s real sport, tournament-based format, which gives Bellator’s tournaments a true playoff feel that keeps the sport true and distances itself from the subjective side of fighting sports found in organizations that utilize a matchmaking/casting formula.  Bellator MMA is comprised of an executive team that includes top industry professionals in television production, live event orchestration, fighter development/relations, venue procurement, sponsorship creation/development, international licensing, marketing, advertising, publicity and commission relations.  Bellator is based in Newport Beach, California.

About Spike TV:

Spike TV is available in 98.7 million homes and is a division of Viacom Media Networks.  A unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), Viacom Media Networks is one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms.  Spike TV’s Internet address is www.spike.com and for up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs, visit Spike TV’s press site at http://www.spike.com/press.  Follow us on Twitter @spiketvpr for the latest in breaking news updates, behind-the-scenes information and photos.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Anthony Mazzuca 
(949) 222-3400
Anthony@Bellator.com

David Schwarz
(212)767-8639
David.Schwarz@MTVStaff.com

The Coolest Tech Devices for your Graduation Wish List

Intel-Logo

Santa Clara, Calif., April 22, 2014 – Years of hard work have led to this moment. You’re graduating. You have suffered through 8 a.m. classes, drowned in 20-page papers and possibly spent nights frustrated about delays caused by using outdated technology. Graduation marks the end of your college experience, the beginning of the next stage of your life, and an opportunity to de-clutter your digital life and upgrade your technology to set you up for success.

Do you still have that clunky device from freshman year that has your first English essay saved on it, as well as your lengthy music collection and photos of you and your friends from the dorm? Is it slowing you down when you want to be productive, or keeping you from an enjoyable experience when you want to entertained?

A recent Intel survey fielded by TNS revealed that younger Americans (ages 18-34 years old) are the nation’s creative class with a staggering 81 percent wishing they could do more with their devices, including creating art, making music, quickly producing photo and video montages and being able to easily share content from compute device to other screens such as HDTVs.

Graduation marks a time to start fresh. A time to do more with your digital memories.  It’s a great chance to add a technology upgrade to your graduation gift wish list, or use the money you get at your graduation party to purchase a new device that reflects the fast-pace lifestyle that awaits you. Check out the list below for some of the coolest technology devices available today.

Tablets: Tablets offer the opportunity to experience the Web in the palm of your hand. Boasting all-day battery life, Intel-powered tablets offer lightning-fast browsing, super-responsive apps and seamless downloads so you can enjoy entertainment or be productive on the go. You can multitask effortlessly by editing photos, streaming online videos, updating presentations and playing rich immersive games, all on one thin and light device. The Acer Iconia A1-830 and Toshiba Encore 8 are two great tablet options.

2 in 1 Devices: You no longer need to make an “and/or” decision when it comes to deciding what technology to buy next. Intel-powered 2 in 1 devices offer the mobility of a tablet combined with the power of laptop in one sleek device. Simply detach, flip or slide a 2 in 1 device to go from work to play. You can run full versions of the most advanced photo and video editing software, use popular programs that help get tasks done, enjoy favorite media applications, sync MP3 devices and playlists, and more. Looking for the latest models? Check out the Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 11S and ASUS Transformer Book T100.

Portable All-in-One PCs: If your old desktop computer just won’t cut it after graduation, upgrade to a portable all-in-one PC like the HP ENVY Rove20 or Dell XPS 18. Combining the performance of a full PC with tablet-like capabilities, and offering a clutter-free and touch-responsive design, Intel-powered portable all-in-one PCs are perfect for getting work done and are also the ultimate entertainment and social hub for game nights and sharing photos and videos.

To learn more about the latest technology devices perfect for the next chapter of your life, visit intel.com.

About Intel

Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) is a world leader in computing innovation. The company designs and builds the essential technologies that serve as the foundation for the world’s computing devices. Additional information about Intel is available at newsroom.intel.com and blogs.intel.com.

CONTACT:
Jessica L. Hansen
480-552-1759
jessica.l.hansen@intel.com

Net Impact Announces Launch of Student Sustainability Consulting Toolkits

Net-Impact-Logo

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 18, 2014

Net Impact releases sustainability consulting toolkits to help students make a tangible impact with real-world businesses and organizations

San Francisco, CA (April 18, 2014) – Net Impact, the premiere global nonprofit that inspires a new generation of leaders to put their values to work for a more sustainable future, has released a free green energy survey toolkit. This new resource allows students to make a tangible impact in their communities by consulting with local organizations on their sustainability measures. The green energy survey toolkit offers step-by-step instructions that teach students how to conduct a one to three hour green energy audit and then make recommendations for change, offering students valuable sustainability consulting experience and a valuable skills-based learning opportunity.

Net Impact, in partnership with Green Impact Campaign, has stated a nationwide goal of 100 energy surveys completed, identifying 1 million kWh of energy savings over the next two months. The project is designed to be easily accessible to students who care about sustainability in business.

“Small businesses in the U.S. currently account for roughly $60 billion dollars in energy costs and are responsible for half a billion metric tons of carbon emissions every year,” said Daniel Hill, co-founder of Green Impact Campaign and creator of the toolkit. “The average small business has the potential to cut their energy consumption by 15-20% through simple, low-cost energy-efficiency upgrades. However, most of them don’t know where to begin.”

“For many of our student members, sustainability engagements in school can lead to a lifelong impact career,” says Net Impact CEO, Liz Maw. “Once students see how much of an impact they can make by applying their business skills to social and environmental causes, many of them seek out ways to spend more of their working hours on these issues.”

The green energy survey toolkit is available for a free download at http://www.netimpact.org/energysurvey.

About Net Impact
Net Impact is the leading nonprofit that inspires a new generation to work within and beyond business to tackle the world’s toughest social and environmental problems. We support student and professional leaders to act locally through our vibrant chapter network and connect globally online and through our flagship conference. By doing so, we show the world that it’s possible to make a positive net impact that will transform our lives, our organizations, and the world. Learn more at netimpact.org .

Media Contact

Laura Diez
Projects for Good Program Associate, Net Impact
ldiez@netimpact.org

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Bellator 117 Full Card Finalized at Iowa’s Mid-America Center on Friday April 18th

BellatorBellator Logo

Bellator 117 Full Card Finalized at Iowa’s Mid-America Center on

Friday April 18th 

Douglas Lima Faces Rick Hawn for the Welterweight Title

and the Bellator Lightweight Semifinals 

Newport Beach, Calif. (March 27, 2014) – Douglas Lima and Rick Hawn will headline a packed night of fights from Iowa’s Mid-American Center on April 18th as the two clash in a Bellator Welterweight Title fight live on Spike TV.  The event will also feature the Bellator Lightweight Semifinals with Brazilian knockout artist Patricky Pitbull facing Derek Campos and the undefeated Derek Anderson will fight polish phenom Marcin Held, along with a full card of local talent.

The event will broadcast live at 9 p.m. EST/ 8 p.m. CST on Spike TV. The preliminary card will be streamed live and free on Spike.com beginning at 7 p.m. EST/ 6 p.m. CST. Tickets for the event are on sale now and can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com, Bellator.com or by visiting the Mid-American Center Box Office.

Kicking off the Spike.com portion of the night will be a battle of Iowa natives as Joe Vedepo faces Ben Crowder.  Both known for finishing fights quickly, Vedepo has won 12 of his 14 professional victories by KO or submission, but will have to hold off Crowder who has grabbed his last four wins by first round submission.

At 28-0 Julio Cesar Neves is making his Bellator debut against Josh Arocho. Known for his knockout power, Neves has won 17 victories by knockout with 11 coming in the first round and is looking for a KO in his fight against Arocho.

With only one professional loss, Jordan Parsons will fight Tim Bazer in a lightweight battle. Parsons enters the cage on a two-fight win streak and will need to get past Bazer who has recorded nine victories by submission.

After making his Bellator debut in September, Larue Burley returns to the Bellator cage to face Cliff Wright Jr. With all eight of his professional victorious coming by submission, Wright will look to his ground game to take down Burley who holds an undefeated professional record.

Looking to make his mark in the Bellator cage, Matt Uhde will fight Houston Alexander on April 18th. With 25 professional fights under his belt, Alexander has 10 wins by KO and will rely on his powerful punching to stop Uhde.

Returning to the cage after nearly two years, Martin Brown will meet Jared Downing under the bright lights.  No stranger to the Bellator cage, Downing is ready to put his skills to the test against Brown who has won three of his previous four fights.

Combining for 78 professional fights, Victor Moreno will fight Anthony Smith in a middleweight battle. No stranger to MMA, Moreno has 27 wins by KO or submission and is ready to put on an explosive and exciting fight in front of his home state crowd.

MAIN CARD:
Welterweight World Title Fight: Douglas “The Phenom” Lima (25-5) vs. Rick “Gengis” Hawn (18-2)
Bellator Lightweight Semifinal: Patricky Pitbull (12-5) vs. Derek Campos (14-3)
Bellator Lightweight Semifinal: Derek Anderson (11-0) vs. Marcin Held (17-3)
Welterweight Feature Fight: Karl Amoussou (16-6) vs. TBA

PRELIMINARY CARD:
Lightweight Feature Fight: Jordan Parsons (9-1) vs. Tim Bazer (14-15)
Featherweight Feature Fight: Josh Arocho (13-12) Julio Cesar Neves (28-0)
Middleweight Feature Fight: Victor Morena (32-18) vs. Anthony Smith (17-11)
Middleweight Feature Fight: Ben Crowder (10-11) vs. Joe Vedepo (14-8)
Lightweight Feature Fight: Larue Burley (3-0) vs. Cliff Wright Jr. (8-5)
Lightweight Feature Fight: Martin Trey Brown (6-2) vs. Jared Downing (9-4)
Light Heavyweight Feature Fight: Matt Uhde (3-4) vs. Houston Alexander (15-10)

For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA, follow Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney @BjornRebney and check out Bellator on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BellatorMMA           

About Bellator MMA

Bellator MMA is the world’s largest tournament based Mixed Martial Arts organization. Televised to nearly 500 Million homes worldwide in over 140 countries, Bellator’s majority owner is entertainment giant Viacom.  In the United States, Bellator can be seen on Spike TV, the MMA television leader. With over 175 world-class athletes under contract, Bellator is home to many of the sport’s top mixed martial artists. Bellator’s founder & CEO, Bjorn Rebney, is an experienced fighting sports and entertainment executive with a deep commitment to the purity and integrity of the sport of MMA and its athletes.  Bellator’s core philosophy is that title shots should be earned, not given. This belief gave rise to Bellator’s real sport, tournament-based format, which gives Bellator’s tournaments a true playoff feel that keeps the sport true and distances itself from the subjective side of fighting sports found in organizations that utilize a matchmaking/casting formula.  Bellator MMA is comprised of an executive team that includes top industry professionals in television production, live event orchestration, fighter development/relations, venue procurement, sponsorship creation/development, international licensing, marketing, advertising, publicity and commission relations.  Bellator is based in Newport Beach, California.

About Spike TV:

Spike TV is available in 98.7 million homes and is a division of Viacom Media Networks.  A unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), Viacom Media Networks is one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms.  Spike TV’s Internet address is www.spike.com and for up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs, visit Spike TV’s press site at http://www.spike.com/press.  Follow us on Twitter @spiketvpr for the latest in breaking news updates, behind-the-scenes information and photos.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Anthony Mazzuca 
(949) 222-3400
Anthony@Bellator.com
David Schwarz
(212)767-8639
David.Schwarz@MTVStaff.com

The ItaliaRail Study Abroad in Italy Scholarship program for the Fall 2014 semester is accepting applications now.

The ItaliaRail Study Abroad in Italy Scholarship program for the Fall 2014 semester is accepting applications now.

Somerville, MA April 15, 2014

ItaliaRail, the experts on train travel to, from and around Italy, has launched its scholarship program for the Fall 2014 semester. Students who have been accepted to a study abroad program in Italy can apply for the $1,000 award now at www.italiarail.com/scholarship.

Interested students should have a GPA of 3.0 or higher at a recognized US university or college and currently be receiving financial aid, plus possess an overall dedication and enthusiasm for studying abroad in Italy. Applications can be found at www.italiarail.com/scholarship and will be accepted through May 31, 2014. Winners will be announced mid-July.

Last semester ItaliaRail awarded two undergraduate students $1,000 each. Victoria Immel, from Chapman University in Southern California, and Mary Hartwick, of Siena College in Loudonville, New York, were the appreciative awardees. “The scholarship has helped me greatly . I have already had the opportunity to travel to most of Tuscany on day trips.  I have also been to Rome.  The scholarship has allowed me to relax about the money aspect of traveling, and just enjoy this wonderful opportunity. I am also planning a trip to Pompeii and Capri, as well as  a trip to Northern Italy when my family comes to visit.  Many of these trips would not be possible had it not been for your very generous award,”  said Mary Hartwick from her Siena Italian Studies program in Siena , Italy.

The Boston-area based company awards two scholarships each semester  to university/college undergraduate students who intend to study abroad in Italy.“We are proud to provide support to outstanding students who have demonstrated a great deal of dedication and enthusiasm toward spending a semester in Italy. Studying in this historic country, immersed in its rich culture, is sure to enhance their overall academic experience,” said Mike Fuller, President and CEO of ItaliaRail.

The scholarship program is ongoing . Application details for the Spring 2015 semester will be released closer to the date.

About ItaliaRail:
ItaliaRail are the experts on Italy train tickets and passes. In cooperation with Trenitalia, Italy’s only national railway, ItaliaRail provides a direct connection to Trenitalia’s reservation system allowing rail travelers access to the most routes at the best prices. Travelers are able to book in multiple currencies and knowledgeable customer service agents are available to answer questions and give advice on train travel throughout Italy. ItaliaRail was launched in 2005 and is a division of International Rail, LLC.

Media Contact:
Mary Ekelund
mary@interrail.com
(617) 519-5660

STUDENTS OF THE WORLD, SILK AND PIVOT TV LAUNCH DOCUMENTARY CHALLENGE

“The Bloom Film Challenge” Kicks Off April 25; Open to All U.S. College Students

April 14, 2014 – San Francisco – Students of the World, a nonprofit organization that supports a diverse national network of university students and emerging filmmakers who produce media to inspire social change, today announced the Bloom Film Challenge in collaboration with Pivot TV and Silk. University students across the country are invited to enter the challenge where they will have ten days to produce, shoot and edit a two-minute documentary-style short film. The challenge will kick-off when a secret prompt for the films is revealed Friday, April 25.

“The spirit of this competition is to help aspiring filmmakers bloom,” said Students of the World Founder Courtney Spence. “We’re excited to partner with Silk and Pivot TV to support students’ creativity and encourage them to follow their passions.”

Participating students will compete for $3,500 in cash prizes and a chance to see their films air on Pivot, a new TV channel from Participant Media that reaches 45 million homes nationwide. Awards will also be given out in various categories, such as best editing, best cinematography and best soundtrack.

“Students of the World is founded on the idea that Millennials have the creative energy and talent to help the global community in new and meaningful ways,” said Spence. “The Bloom Film Challenge is a great opportunity for these young change makers to show off the power of their visual storytelling skills.”

“Pivot strives to provide a platform that reflects the diverse viewpoints, identities and creative expressions of our audience,” said Kent Rees, EVP of Marketing, Scheduling, and Operations at Pivot. “The Bloom Film challenge is a great opportunity to support Students of the World and showcase the work of students and emerging filmmakers committed to positive social change.”

The film challenge will run Friday, April 25, through Saturday, May 3. Films will be evaluated by a select panel of judges, with the finalist announced Thursday, May 8. The top five finalists will then go head-to-head in a final round of editing and two winners will be chosen for the chance to have their films air on Pivot TV.

Applications are now open. For more info about the film challenge, visit bloomfilmchallenge.com.

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About Students of the World

Students of the World (SOW) was founded in 2000 by Courtney Spence while she was an undergraduate at Duke University. The nonprofit network of university students and emerging filmmakers produces original media content to highlight cause-driven organizations and programs. SOW now has 15 campus chapters and has created media projects for more than 50 causes in 27 countries. SOW is currently focusing its efforts on amplifying causes in communities across the U.S. To learn more, visit www.studentsoftheworld.org.

About Silk

Silk, the company sponsoring the Bloom Film Challenge, is passionate about fostering creativity, encouraging growth and sharing stories of Millennials living their lives in full bloom. Silk has sought to make the world a better place from the start, by creating products that taste better for consumers and are better for the planet.

About Pivot TV

Pivot (Pivot.tv), which launched nationally August 1 is a television network from Participant Media serving passionate Millennials (18-34) with a diverse slate of talent and a mix of original series, acquired programming, films and documentaries. Pivot focuses on entertainment that sparks conversation, inspires change and illuminates issues through engaging content and, through its website TakePart.com, connects audiences to a wealth of content and customizable actions. Pivot is available via traditional Pay TV subscription and integrating a Live and on demand streaming option via its interactive, downloadable Pivot APP. Follow Pivot on Twitter at @pivot_tv and on Facebook at facebook.com/pivottelevision.

For more information on The Bloom Film Challenge, please contact David Cirilli at dave@ddcstrategies.com or 646.727.0063

LEMELSON-MIT ANNOUNCES NATIONAL COLLEGIATE STUDENT PRIZE COMPETITION WINNERS

$50,000 Awarded to Undergraduate and Graduate Student Inventors

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (April 9, 2014) – The Lemelson-MIT Program today announced winners of the Lemelson-MIT National Collegiate Student Prize Competition (NCSPC), a nationwide search for the most inventive undergraduate and graduate students. The Lemelson-MIT Program awarded $50,000 in prizes, with winning undergraduate teams receiving $10,000 in two categories and graduate student winners receiving $15,000 in two categories. The winners of this year’s competition were selected from a diverse and highly competitive applicant pool of students spanning 26 Universities across the country.

“The national expansion of the Lemelson-MIT National Collegiate Student Prize Competition revealed world-changing ideas from inventive and entrepreneurial students across the country,” said Joshua Schuler, executive director of the Lemelson-MIT Program. “This competition celebrates students who are translating research discoveries into ground breaking inventions, and fostering creative and inventive thinking among youth. This year’s winners are at the forefront of technological invention in healthcare and consumer products.”

2014 Prize Winners & Categories

The “Cure it!” Lemelson-MIT Student Prize
“Cure it!” rewards students working on technology-based inventions that can improve healthcare.

  • David Sengeh, MIT, $15,000 Lemelson-MIT “Cure it!” Graduate Winner: David Sengeh is designing the next-generation of wearable, mechanical interfaces that improve comfort and mobility for amputees. His approach, which uses quantitative and human data, merges magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and 3D printing resulting in customized prosthetic interfaces that reduce socket pressure on the human body. These prototypes have been tested by veterans and other patients, including amputees from the Boston Marathon bombings.
  • Tyler Ovington (Team lead), Clemson University, $10,000 Lemelson-MIT “Cure it!” Undergraduate Team Winner: The Clemson Bioengineering team is developing GlucoSense, a low-cost glucometer and strip system for diabetics in resource-poor settings. The test strips are printed using a standard inkjet printer, allowing for local manufacturing and reduced prices. GlucoSense has the potential to improve quality of life and lower disease complication rates in large patient populations where standard monitoring systems are difficult to obtain. Additional team members include Alex Devon and Kayla Gainey. The team was mentored by Dr. Delphine Dean and Dr. John DesJardins and financially supported by Clemson’s Creative Inquiry Program.

The “Use it!” Lemelson-MIT Student Prize
“Use it!” rewards students working on technology-based inventions that can improve consumer devices and tools.

  • Ben Peters, MIT, $15,000 Lemelson-MIT “Use it!” Graduate Winner: Ben Peters has invented critical technology that enables the production of a new breed of machine tool: a high resolution, reconfigurable molding surface. Similar to a desktop pin-impression toy, Ben’s reconfigurable molding surface combines the high production rate of injection molding with the custom reconfigurability of a 3D printer. This “digital mold” has a technological potential to be a fast and flexible industrial fabrication tool used in commercial manufacturing, prototyping and the emerging market of do-it-yourself personalized fabrication.
  • Christopher Haid (Team lead), MIT, $10,000 Lemelson-MIT “Use it!” Undergraduate Team Winner: The MIT team is creating a 3D printer designed for the classroom. The automated, easy-to-use cloud interface and remote monitoring capabilities allow teachers and high school students to print continuously from any device. The team’s invention, commercialized by their company NVBots, gives students the ability to turn their virtual designs into physical objects. Additional team members include Mateo Pena Doll, AJ Perez and Forrest Pieper.

Applicants were evaluated by screening committees with expertise in the inventive categories as well as a national judging panel of industry leaders – who also selects the annual $500,000 Lemelson-MIT Prize winner – from a variety of inventive disciplines. Screeners and judges assessed candidates on breadth and depth of inventiveness and creativity; potential for societal benefit and economic commercial success; and experience and ability to serve as a role-model for youth.

The competition, supported by The Lemelson Foundation, builds on the legacy of the Lemelson-MIT Collegiate Student Prize, which has served as a springboard for collegiate inventors for twenty years.

“We congratulate all of the Student Prize winners for their brilliance and practical approaches to advancements in each of their fields,” said Dorothy Lemelson, chair of the Lemelson Foundation. “My husband, Jerry, would have been thrilled that the competition has a national reach, so that more young inventors can be inspired and encouraged.”

Students interested in applying for the 2015 Lemelson-MIT National Collegiate Student Prize Competition may find more information here.

The Lemelson-MIT Program is seeking partners with interest in sponsoring the “Cure it!” and “Use it!” categories, in addition to supporting the execution and scaling of the National Collegiate Student Prize Competition into new categories.

ABOUT THE LEMELSON-MIT PROGRAM
Celebrating invention, inspiring youth
The Lemelson-MIT Program celebrates outstanding inventors and inspires young people to pursue creative lives and careers through invention.

Jerome H. Lemelson, one of U.S. history’s most prolific inventors, and his wife Dorothy founded the Lemelson-MIT Program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1994. It is funded by The Lemelson Foundation and administered by the School of Engineering at MIT, an institution with a strong ongoing commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for K-12 STEM education.

ABOUT THE LEMELSON FOUNDATION
The Lemelson Foundation uses the power of invention to improve lives, by inspiring and enabling the next generation of inventors and invention based enterprises to promote economic growth in the US and social and economic progress for the poor in developing countries. Established by prolific US inventor Jerome Lemelson and his wife Dorothy in 1992, to date the Foundation has provided or committed more than $175 million in grants and PRIs in support of its mission. For more information, visit http://lemelson.org.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION
Molly Owen
Cone Communications
(617) 939-8445
mowen@conecomm.com

Stephanie Martinovich
Lemelson-MIT Program
(617) 258-0632
smartino@mit.edu

Jerusalem to Host Set for Israel’s First-Ever International Film Course Designed for University Students

International Film Course

(JERUSALEM- April 6, 2014 ) The Jerusalem Film Workshop (www.thejfw.com) will welcome university students from across North America and the world for the opening of its inaugural class for the summer 2014 beginning on July 6th. The Workshop will be to be taught by leading figures within the Israeli film industry, will cater to aspiring film students from around the world. The program, the first high-level film education course of its type to be based in Israel, is an initiative of Gal Greenspan, Roi Kurland and Kate Rosenberg of Green Productions (www.greenproductions.co.il)

As a result of a collaboration with Onward Israel http://www.onwardisrael.com/category/jerusalem-film-workshop, and United King Films the program is being offered at significantly discounted rates.

“Israel in general and Jerusalem in particular offer the types of settings that are truly ideal for storytelling and filmmaking,” Greenspan says. “Our concept is to introduce students to the country while providing them with the tools and education to express themselves through the medium of film.”

the Workshop is divided into four individual courses; a month course which offers instruction on both documentary and fiction filmmaking techniques; two “mini courses” of two weeks each which allow students to choose between doco and fiction courses and the main six-week track. All courses will combine both instructional lessons with travel around the country. Participants will be provided with access to state of the art cameras and filmmaking equipment.

According to Greenspan, the Workshop is intended for all levels of aspiring filmmakers. “The goal of this program is not only to give students the tools to become better artists, but to learn how to use a unique setting like Jerusalem to tell dramatic stories.”
Israel has been the set for some classic films and scenes in cinematic history and major studios continue to seek out the Jewish State as a movie-making destination. The Workshop is being coordinated in cooperation with The Jerusalem Film and Television Fund, the Maaleh School of Television, Film and the Arts in Jerusalem and the Jerusalem Cinematheque. Upon completion of the Workshop, students will partake in the renowned Jerusalem International Film Festival, highly regarded as one of the city’s most popular cultural events.

Among the names selected to be instructors for the course are Oscar nominated movie-makers and several figures who have been instrumental in bringing Israeli filmmaking into the international marketplace. Students will be instructed on the variety of technical aspects of filmmaking, while producing individual projects that will become permanent features on their professional resumes.

“Jerusalem is known as a city of dialogue, opportunity and challenge and is literally an environment where at every corner there is an iconic spot that just demands to be captured by camera,” Greenspan says. “To become a truly experienced and accomplished filmmaker, this is an ideal location.”

Media Contact
Jeremy Wimpfheimer
Lone Star Communications
(917) 795-8369
jeremy@lonestar.co.il

Heavyweight Tournament Semifinals Set at Bellator 116 From Southern California’s Pechanga Resort on Friday, April 11th

Bellator-ImageBellator Logo

Welterweight Semifinal Featured; Matyushenko and Beltran Return

Newport Beach, Calif. (March 20, 2014) – Bellator MMA is bringing The Toughest Tournament In Sports back to Southern California as Pechanga Resort & Casino hosts the heavyweight tournament semifinals Friday, April 11th live on Spike TV. The night will also feature a welterweight tournament semifinal as Nathan Coy battles Adam McDonough, along with a light heavyweight showdown between Vladimir Matyushenko and Joey Beltran.

Bellator 116 will be broadcast live from Pechanga Resort & Casino beginning at 6 p.m. PST on Spike TV.  The preliminary card will be streamed live and free exclusively on Spike.com starting at 4 p.m. Tickets for the event are on sale now and can be purchased by visiting Pechanga.com, Bellator.com, or by calling the Pechanga Box Office at 877-711-2946 or visiting between noon and 8 p.m. daily.

The Spike.com preliminary card will be feature a number of Bellator fan favorites, including a bantamweight fight feature between “Baby” Joe Taimanglo taking on California native Rob Emerson. Taimanglo will be making his Bellator Bantamweight debut on April 11th, and is ready for the challenges that the veteran Emerson will deliver.

Bellator welterweights collide when former Bellator tournament finalist Ron Keslar meets Karo Parisyan. Keslar made his way to the tournament finals with wins over Sergio Melo Jr. and War Machine before suffering a loss to eventual Bellator Welterweight Tournament winner Rick Hawn. Parisyan also finds himself in similar standing after losing to Hawn at Bellator 95. Both welterweights have their sights set on getting back into the win column, and fireworks should be expected on April 11th.

Bellator fan favorite Joe Pacheco returns to the Bellator cage in a middleweight affair against the undefeated Brandon Halsey. Both fighters are at the doorstep for the next Bellator Middleweight Tournament, and a win for either could propel their career to the next level.

Known as one of the best light heavyweight prospects in the game, Brazilian knockout artist Philipe Lins will make his Bellator debut on April 11th against Travis Clark. All eyes will be on Lins as the Nova Uniao product looks to prove why he is considered one of the best up and coming fighters in the world.

Featherweights collide as Brandon Bender meets Southern California native meets Mario Navarro, while welterweights square off as Ricky Rainey faces Andy Murad.

The full card for Bellator 116:

MAIN CARD:
Bellator Heavyweight Tournament Semifinal: Lavar Johnson (18-8) vs. Blagoi Ivanov (10-0)
Bellator Heavyweight Tournament Semifinal: Mighty Mo (6-2) vs. Alexander Volkov (19-4)
Bellator Welterweight Tournament Semifinal: Nathan Coy (14-4) vs. Adam McDonough (10-0)
Light Heavyweight Feature Fight: Joey Beltran (14-10) vs. Vladimir Matyushenko (27-7)

PRELIMINARY CARD:
Bantamweight Feature Fight: Joe Taimanglo (19-5-1) vs. Rob Emerson (15-10)
Welterweight Feature Fight: Ron Keslar (11-5) vs. Karo Parisyan (22-10)
Middleweight Feature Fight: Joe Pacheco (7-1) vs. Brandon Halsey (5-0)
Light Heavyweight Feature Fight: Philipe Lins (7-1) vs. Travis Clark (7-2)
Featherweight Feature Fight: Brandon Bender (11-1) vs. Mario Navarro (4-3)
Welterweight Feature Fight: Ricky Rainey (6-2) vs. Andy Murad (6-1)
Middleweight Feature Fight: Dave Vitkay (13-12-1) vs. Keith Berry (15-12)

Light Heavyweight Feature Fight: Carlos Eduardo (11-2) vs. Virgil Zwicker (12-3)

For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA, follow Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney @BjornRebney and check out Bellator on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BellatorMMA           

About Bellator MMA

Bellator MMA is the world’s largest tournament based Mixed Martial Arts organization. Televised to nearly 500 Million homes worldwide in over 140 countries, Bellator’s majority owner is entertainment giant Viacom.  In the United States, Bellator can be seen on Spike TV, the MMA television leader. With over 175 world-class athletes under contract, Bellator is home to many of the sport’s top mixed martial artists. Bellator’s founder & CEO, Bjorn Rebney, is an experienced fighting sports and entertainment executive with a deep commitment to the purity and integrity of the sport of MMA and its athletes.  Bellator’s core philosophy is that title shots should be earned, not given. This belief gave rise to Bellator’s real sport, tournament-based format, which gives Bellator’s tournaments a true playoff feel that keeps the sport true and distances itself from the subjective side of fighting sports found in organizations that utilize a matchmaking/casting formula.  Bellator MMA is comprised of an executive team that includes top industry professionals in television production, live event orchestration, fighter development/relations, venue procurement, sponsorship creation/development, international licensing, marketing, advertising, publicity and commission relations.  Bellator is based in Newport Beach, California.

About Spike TV:

Spike TV is available in 98.7 million homes and is a division of Viacom Media Networks.  A unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), Viacom Media Networks is one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms.  Spike TV’s Internet address is www.spike.com and for up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs, visit Spike TV’s press site at http://www.spike.com/press.  Follow us on Twitter @spiketvpr for the latest in breaking news updates, behind-the-scenes information and photos.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:                                                     

Anthony Mazzuca             
(949) 222-3400
Anthony@Bellator.com

David Schwarz
(212)767-8639
David.Schwarz@MTVStaff.com

Building Tomorrow Launches #giveusyourtomorrow Challenge

Building-Tomorrow

BUILDING TOMORROW LAUNCHES #GIVEUSYOURTOMORROW
TO HELP FUND THE CONSTRUCTION OF SCHOOLS IN EAST AFRICA

Humorous Social Challenge Campaign Asks Millennials to “Give Us Your Tomorrow” to Help Children in Need of a Better Tomorrow

Indianapolis, IN (April 8, 2014) – Building Tomorrow (BT) today announced the launch of a new social media campaign, which uses humor to generate awareness and funds to help the organization construct self-sustained, village-run primary schools in rural Uganda.

The campaign invites people to challenge their social following on facebook, twitter and Instagram to post a humorous picture or video of themselves during the month of April (National Humor Month) using the hash tag #giveusyourtomorrow.  The “challenger” is encouraged to challenge four or more of their friends and to make a $2 minimum donation for each person that accepts the challenge.  Participants can select from three challenges:

  • Share a photo that bares their best “bedhead”
    • Ad copy:  “Some charities ask for a lot of money.  We just want you to sacrifice your vanity.”
  • Post an embarrassing photo of themselves from their adolescence
    • Ad copy:  “The haircut that did nothing for you can do a lot for an East African kid”
  • Share a video of themselves singing their heart out
    • Ad copy:  “You’ll never make the top 40 here.  But you’ll make a lot of fans in Uganda.”

The campaign will also feature video by illustrator Brian Rae and animator Pablo Declan; with music from English folk/rock band Noah and the Whale and campaign promotional content produced with ABOVE AVERAGE COMEDY NETWORK.

The campaign was developed based on insights learned during proprietary research conducted for BT by Young & Laramore, which involved 250 men and women ages 18-24.  These millennials are doers and therefore looking to be engaged versus being told.  They also have a strong desire to give what they have (even if it is a small amount) to organizations they see as making a difference and align with their values.  Although, they routinely feel duped into giving under the premise of a small amount per month only to have to pay it all at once.

“The campaign was designed not to guilt people to donate, but to engage those who want to make a difference,” said George Srour, Founder and Chief Dreamer, Building Tomorrow.  “We also recognize that people want to give, but may not be able to make large single donations.  Each BT primary school costs approximately $70,000, so every 8,750 people that make an $8 donation will help to fund one new school for 315 children in need.”

The organization has the support of the Clinton Global Initiative and proudly hosted President Bill Clinton and his daughter Chelsea at the Building Tomorrow primary school of Gita back in 2012.  While there, they visited teachers and students in classrooms, watched dances by the school choir and greeted hundreds of community members gathered at the academy.  Archbishop Desmond Tutu also serves as Honorary Chair of the organization.

During the March 2014 Global Education and Skills Forum, in Dubai, President Clinton noted, “I actually have been in one of those schools in the last three years and two of the teachers I saw teaching children I would have been thrilled to have as my own daughter’s teachers.”

How Building Tomorrow Works
Founded in 2006, the social-profit organization is aiming to enroll 15,000 primary-level students annually in 60 BT primary schools throughout East Africa by 2016.  The organization chose to start with Uganda because more than 50 percent of the population is under the age of 15.  Shockingly, only 1.4 percent of all charitable donations are earmarked for education, even though 776 million people worldwide are illiterate.  Building Tomorrow works with government and local leaders to identify communities in rural Uganda with little or no access to a primary school and a strong commitment to education.  With the goal of engaging and empowering communities, the organization offers to fund building materials and skilled labor in return for a donation of three acres of land, 15,000 hours of labor and a community’s promise to support the school long-term.

“Infrastructure drives change and ownership strengthens communities,” said Srour.  “We’re asking you to consider giving us your tomorrow, so these children can have a better tomorrow.  We envision a world where every child with a desire to learn has a safe, permanent, local and supportive environment in which to do so.”

Over the last five years, supporters of BT, including a college and university network of over 25 chapters nationwide, have invested more than $1.5 million in Uganda to seed 20 BT primary schools, 14 of which are currently operational.  The remaining six primary schools are under construction and planning.  Beyond graduation rates, success is also measured by new connections within the community and in an increased sense of self-worth among students.

Consumers can donate via the Building Tomorrow website and follow the organization on facebook and twitter @BldgTomorrow.  The new campaign was developed by Young & Laramore Advertising, in Indianapolis, Indiana.

About Building Tomorrow
Building Tomorrow (BT) is an international social-profit organization empowering young people to invest their resources, time & talents in providing students in East Africa with access to an education. Over the last five years, supporters of BT, including a college network of over 25 chapters nationwide, have invested more than $1.5 million to seed 20 BT primary schools, 14 of which are currently operational. The remaining six primary schools are under construction and planning.  For more information, visit www.buildingtomorrow.org

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Media Contact
Aaron Brost
Ro-Bro Marketing & PR
312.576.5315
aaron@ro-bro.com