William “Bill” Bowerman, professor of wildlife ecology and toxicology at the University of Maryland, College Park, has been selected by The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi—the nation’s oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines—as the inaugural recipient of the Phi Kappa Phi Mary Todd Sabbatical Award.

The $50,000 Sabbatical Award, named for former Society Executive Director, Dr. Mary Todd, honors one faculty member to support a sabbatical year or similar reassignments of duties. Bowerman will use the funds from the award to conduct research on the effect of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and its transmission to domestic poultry flocks.

Bowerman intends on conducting research both locally and nationally, in hopes of creating new collaborations across five continents and bringing together some of the largest and longest data sets on populations of sea eagles. “I had a big dream for my sabbatical, this award will make it a reality,” said Bowerman.

The selection process for a Sabbatical Award is based on applicant letter addressing the significance of the proposed research or other scholarly project and the relevance of the proposed activity in contributing to Phi Kappa Phi’s mission of recognizing and promoting academic excellence in all fields of higher education and engaging the community of scholars in service to others.

“It is with great pleasure that we recognize Bill with Phi Kappa Phi’s inaugural Sabbatical Award. This new Phi Kappa Phi award was designed to recognize our faculty scholars and dedicated volunteers who demonstrate the Love of Learning throughout their career. We look forward to witnessing the continued impact of William’s extraordinary research and service activities well into the future,” said Society Executive Director and CEO Dr. Bradley R. Newcomer.

The Sabbatical Award is one of the newest additions to the Society’s robust portfolio of award and grant programs, which gives $1.3 million each year to outstanding students and members through graduate and dissertation fellowships, funding for post-baccalaureate development, and grants for local, national and international literacy initiatives. Phi Kappa Phi is proud to offer an award exclusively for undergraduates and this program is a welcome addition to the Society’s portfolio.

To learn more about the Society’s award programs, visit www.phikappaphi.org/awards. The application process for the 2024 Sabbatical Award will open in August 2024.

About Phi Kappa Phi
Founded in 1897, Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines. Phi Kappa Phi inducts approximately 25,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni annually. The Society has chapters on more than 325 select colleges and universities in the United States, its territories and the Philippines. Membership is by invitation only to the top 10 percent of seniors and graduate students and 7.5 percent of juniors. Faculty, professional staff and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction also qualify. The Society’s mission is “To recognize and promote academic excellence in all fields of higher education and engage the community of scholars in service to others.” For more information, visit www.PhiKappaPhi.org.

Media Contact
Alyssa Papa
Director of Communications
apapa@phikappaphi.org
(225) 923-7777

Holiday break is nearly upon us. This year, college students aren’t the only ones traveling home in large numbers. According to a recent survey, almost half of Americans are planning some kind of holiday travel, including older adults and others who may have stayed at home due to health concerns for the past few years.[1]

With more people gathering with loved ones and passing through high-contact spaces – like train stations and airports – it also means your exposure to respiratory illnesses will be greater in the coming weeks. This year, we’ve already experienced a major late summer spike in COVID-19 activity nationwide.[2] National flu activity is also steadily increasing, with a 50% rise in cases during the past week.[3]

Getting your flu shot and the updated COVID-19 vaccine is the best way to keep you and your loved ones safe this holiday season. However, many young people have not received these recommended vaccinations. In October, less than 10% of individuals who received their flu shot at Walgreens were Gen Z. The rates are even lower for COVID-19 vaccines.

“While students are excited to head home for the holidays, it’s important to remember that respiratory illnesses are in circulation. These viruses can be particularly dangerous for family members who are older or have pre-existing health conditions,” says Michael Pedro, PharmD, Walgreens Pharmacist. “As you pack up your things to go home, avoid bringing flu and COVID-19 with you. I encourage everyone to get their recommended vaccines as soon as possible before you travel or gather, to allow time for immunity to fully develop and increase your protection. I also recommend COVID-19 and flu testing, because knowing for sure can help keep your family healthy this holiday season. Pharmacists are highly trained healthcare providers and are here to answer any questions you may have about vaccines, testing or other steps you can take to reduce the spread of respiratory illnesses.”

4 reasons to get vaccinated this holiday season.

If you haven’t gotten the flu or COVID-19 vaccine, it’s not too late. Here are four reasons to put vaccination on your to-do list before you travel or gather with family and friends for the holidays.

1. You’re protecting your at-risk loved ones. Getting vaccinated reduces the chances that you’ll spread respiratory illnesses to people who are at high risk of developing severe complications as they return to traveling and seeing their loved ones this year.

2. You’re expanding your protection during peak respiratory illness season. While respiratory illness season is unpredictable, cases tend to peak during and after the holiday season, which is why the CDC recommends getting vaccinated around this time of year. No one wants to get sick during finals or right at the start of a new semester. Getting the flu and COVID-19 vaccines now will provide you with the best protection against potential surges when everyone heads back to school.

3. It’s easy when you come to Walgreens. With locations within 5 miles of approximately 78% of all Americans, including many near college campuses, Walgreens makes it simple for students to get all the vaccines they need ahead of the holidays. You can easily schedule an appointment online or using the Walgreens app, and you can book multiple immunizations during the same visit. Walgreens offers flexible openings, including nights, weekends and walk-ins when available.

4. It may be at no cost to you. COVID-19 vaccines are often covered by your insurance or government assistance programs, such as the CDC’s Bridge Access Program. The flu shot is covered by most insurance plans with a $0 copay, although provider networks may vary.

Walgreens: Your partner in health

Walgreens is your one-stop resource for all your vaccination, testing and treatment needs as you head home for the holidays. Stay prepared by stocking up on at-home tests and medicine cabinet essentials when you come in for your vaccination appointment or via 24-hour same-day delivery. If you begin experiencing sniffles or other respiratory symptoms over the holidays, call or visit a local Walgreens. Your pharmacist can discuss in-store or virtual care treatment options and advise you on the best next steps to get back on your feet and keep those around you safe.

To schedule your vaccination appointment today or learn more, visit Walgreens.com/ScheduleVaccine.

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[1] Deloitte. 2023 Deloitte Holiday Travel Survey. https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/industry/retail-distribution/holiday-travel-survey.html

[2] Walgreens. 2023 Walgreens COVID-19 Index. https://www.walgreens.com/healthcare-solutions/covid-19-index

[3] Walgreens. 2023 Walgreens Flu Index. https://news.walgreens.com/press-center/flu-index/

Int’l Spiritual Teacher and GRAMMY Rocker Empower Inner Support with

New Spoken Word Music Album

Available Now On All Music Listening Platforms

 “… an extraordinary piece of spoken word poetry. The objective is clear: it is necessary to keep connected to your own paths no matter how distracting other possibilities are.” –RIVAL ONLINE

“Gleaming waves of delicious harmonic surfaces travel above as Zaheer’s soothing, hypnotic voice imbues the spoken-word lyrics with beckoning warmth…” –CelebMix 

“… ‘unusual,’ nurturing album…” – Ella Cobb –DAILY CAMERA

“…  an incredible and almost unprecedented collaboration between healer and teacher…” –GALORE

“Discover inner peace and mental clarity…” –OmTimes

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

(Boulder, CO, November 20, 2023) – For college students, heading home for Thanksgiving and winter break may not feel so merry, especially with the increasing rise in anxiety and depression from world events. After thousands of client hours helping many Gen Zers navigate their lives during Covid, Diana Zaheer, a spiritual teacher with over 30 years of experience, joined forces with musician and producer, Lincoln Parish, best known for his work as the lead guitarist of the alternative rock band Cage the Elephant, to create Over the Counter Meditations (The Orchard, Nov 2, 2023) a spoken word LP with a metaphysical purpose for positive transformation and reliable support during pivotal moments in people’s mental health journeys.

“I want people to have a variety of support tools as they navigate difficult moments in their daily lives,” says Zaheer, a Boulder resident who grew up in a family of healers in the San Francisco Bay Area, spending 15 years in an inner work school, and gaining wisdom from master teachers across the globe while living overseas in Asia and the Middle East for 12 years. “Feelings of hopelessness, sleep problems and lack of energy really can be helped when we have inner support. The spoken word album is a response to that need. Lincoln designed soundscapes and music – across many different genres – that move my short concentrated teachings in ways we did not even imagine.”

“I created musical emotion through a cinematic landscape,” says Parish, now a thriving music producer at his Nashville Talk Box Rodeo studio. “And it was exciting to allow Diana’s unusually soothing and compelling voice to stay in the forefront.” Parish originally co-founded Cage the Elephant with lead singer Matt Shultz and his brother, rhythm guitarist Brad Shultz, in 2006. Since moving on from the band he has worked with a variety of artists, including Lilly Hiatt, Rivers And Rust, Alicia Blue, and more. “This project broke the confines of writing typical pop songs, and it was therapeutic for me.”

Generation Z, also known as the most anxious generation, will benefit from the positive and creative approach Over the Counter Meditations brings to access support, as music is known to activate the limbic system triggering emotion in listeners.

In addition to the album, Diana has created many inner support tools including music videos (there will be 10 music videos for this album), relaxing meditations and her website’s private and free virtual healing rooms, which can also be accessed as playlists on her YouTube channel. She will soon be publishing a book about healing.

Please take a few minutes to enjoy this gift of Diana’s BREATHING MEDITATION and come back to yourself.

As well:

• Here is the link for people to listen to Over The Counter Meditations on all music platforms.
• You can also check out the single, “Your Side of the Street.”
• Watch the music videos on Diana’s YouTube channel.
• Visit her website.
• Media is welcome to listen on the private link.

If you’d like to chat with Diana and Lincoln, please contact laurie@lauriegraff.com. There is availability for interviews, reviews, roundups, broadcast, podcast, radio etc.

ABOUT DIANA ZAHEER

(Photo by Pop Portraits, Miss Emma Cole)

ABOUT LINCOLN PARISH 

(Photo by Tammie Valer Official)

CONTACT:
Laurie Graff
laurie@lauriegraff.com
917.572.4273

Law school competition judges include DC Council Chairman Phil Mendelson, Councilmember Christina Henderson, Councilmember Brooke Pinto, and Councilmember Zachary Parker

November 15th, 2023 Washington, D.C. – Registration opens today for the inaugural Richard K. Gilbert Policy Advocacy Competition, a law school competition designed to encourage law students to pursue careers in legislative advocacy. The competition, hosted by DC Justice Lab, is an opportunity for students to build their legal skills in the policy realm, including legal analysis and reasoning, legal research, and written and oral communication. Judges have been selected for their expertise in policy advocacy and include DC Council Chairman Phil Mendelson, Councilmember Christina Henderson, Councilmember Brooke Pinto, and Councilmember Zachary Parker.

“I am pleased to join the DC Justice Lab by supporting this important opportunity for students to flex their advocacy muscles,” said Chairman Mendelson. “This competition will ensure we have more policy-focused advocates working with District lawmakers in the fight for justice, and a diverse and inclusive system.”

In its inaugural year, the competition will be open to students from any law school. Eight teams representing eight law schools will respond to the competition problem with proposed legislation and a fact sheet explaining their proposal. Mock legislative hearings will test teams’ oral advocacy on behalf of their bills. Teams will be scored by judges on their written work and oral advocacy, advancing through rounds tournament-style. The competition will conclude with an awards presentation and reception where the winning team will receive a $5,000 prize.

“We are excited to offer an experiential learning opportunity focused on lawmaking and legislative drafting. Students learn a lot from reading case law in their classes, but it’s crucial to recognize the power of change beyond the courtroom.” said Patrice Sulton, founder and executive director of DC Justice Lab. “This is an opportunity to teach aspiring candidates, Hill staffers, and movement lawyers how to craft solutions to our most pressing community challenges.”

The event honors Richard K. Gilbert, a champion of legal justice who believed that lawyers must not only help individual clients, but also help society at large by changing laws for the better. Rich was an adjunct professor at American University’s Washington College of Law, a forceful advocate for criminal justice reform, and a mentor to DC Justice Lab’s founding executive director. The Gilbert Policy Advocacy Competition honors Rich’s passion and his mentorship of younger lawyers to become change agents.

To register for the Richard K. Gilbert Policy Advocacy Competition visit https://dcjusticelab.org/policy-advocacy-competition

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ABOUT DC JUSTICE LAB
DC Justice Lab is a team of law and policy experts researching, organizing, and advocating for large-scale changes to the District of Columbia’s criminal legal system. We develop smarter safety solutions that are evidence-driven, community-rooted, and racially just. We aim to fully transform the District’s approach to public safety and make it a national leader in justice reform.

Media Contact:
Vasuki Wilson
vasuki@risepublic.com
202.294.2342

The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi will install its 360th chapter at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut, on Nov. 3. Founded in 1897 at the University of Maine, Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest and most selective all-discipline collegiate honor society recognizing academic excellence.

The installation of the Sacred Heart chapter comes after a thorough petitioning process, site visit and approval from the Society’s board of directors. To be eligible, an institution must be a regionally accredited four-year college or university with an established reputation of excellence and an expressed commitment to upholding the values of the Society.

“Congratulations to the dedicated individuals supporting the Sacred Heart University chapter of Phi Kappa Phi. Your commitment to academic excellence, leadership, and community engagement performed globally exemplifies our values. May your chapter support your institution’s commitment to educating the whole person while preparing students to lead and serve in the world today,” said Society Executive Director and CEO Dr. Bradley R. Newcomer.

Officers elected by the chartering group to serve the newly installed chapter include President Dr. Christina Gunther, President-elect Dr. Molly Paguaga, Secretary Guljana Torikai, Treasurer Chris Lieby, and Awards Officer Chris Mavrides and Volunteer and Service Learning Officer Anne Johnson.

Phi Kappa Phi was founded when Marcus L. Urann had a desire to create a different kind of honor society—one that recognized excellence in all academic disciplines. Today, the Society has chapters on more than 325 select campuses in the United States, its territories and the Philippines and inducts approximately 25,000 new members each year. Membership is by invitation only to the top 7.5 percent of juniors and the top 10 percent of seniors and graduate students, along with faculty, professional staff and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction.

About Phi Kappa Phi
Founded in 1897 at the University of Maine, Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines. The Society’s mission is “To recognize and promote academic excellence in all fields of higher education and to engage the community of scholars in service to others.” Since its founding, more than 1.5 million members have been initiated. Some of the organization’s more notable members include former President Jimmy Carter, NASA astronaut Wendy Lawrence, novelist John Grisham and YouTube cofounder Chad Hurley. Each year, Phi Kappa Phi awards $1.3 million to qualifying students and members through graduate fellowships, undergraduate study abroad grants, member and chapter awards, and grants for local and national literacy initiatives. For more information about Phi Kappa Phi, visit www.PhiKappaPhi.org.

Media Contact
Alyssa Papa
Director of Communications
apapa@phikappaphi.org
(225) 923-7777