FLORHAM PARK, NEW JERSEY, USA — January 23, 2014 — U.S. students pursuing a degree in engineering are urged to apply to the 2014 ASCO Numatics Industrial Automation Engineering Scholarship program, sponsored by ASCO Numatics, the world’s leading manufacturer of comprehensive fluid automation, flow control, and pneumatics solutions.

ASCO Numatics will award two $5,000 scholarships to U.S. engineering students, provide $1,000 grants to their college’s engineering departments, and host the students at “The Amazing Packaging Race” at PACK EXPO International in Chicago in November.

The application period begins on January 23, 2014. The deadline to apply is March 31, 2014. Details and forms are available at: www.asconumatics.com/scholarship.

“The ASCO Numatics Scholarship program provides talented U.S. students with the financial support they need to pursue their education, enhance their skills, and position them for a successful career in engineering,” said Robert W. Kemple, Jr., executive vice president, sales and marketing – Americas, ASCO Numatics.

“Over the past 7 years, ASCO Numatics has awarded $60,000 in scholarships to 12 students based on their potential for leadership and for making a significant contribution to the industrial automation engineering profession. In addition, we have provided another $12,000 in grants to 10 U.S. schools of engineering,” he noted.

William (Daniel) Whitten, of Tulsa, Okla., a recipient of a 2013 scholarship and now a senior at Texas A&M University in College Station, said, “The ASCO Numatics scholarship provided a valuable source of funding that is helping me pay for my education and pursue opportunities I might not have otherwise been able to afford. Winning the award also encouraged me to continue seeking excellence in the engineering discipline through leadership and innovation. In addition, traveling to Las Vegas and attending the Pack Expo gave me an extremely memorable and unique perspective on the automation industry.”

Meghan Borz, of Buena, N.J., a recipient of a 2013 scholarship, said, “The generous scholarship from ASCO Numatics helped me pay for my tuition and receive my degree in mechanical engineering from Rowan University (Glassboro, N.J.). I have been able to focus more time on my coursework, athletics, applying to graduate schools, and applying for future career opportunities because I did not have the financial stress I had in previous semesters. The scholarship has enabled me to pursue my academic and career aspirations.”

The ASCO Numatics scholarship is merit-based and will be awarded on the candidate’s potential for leadership and for making a significant contribution to the industrial automation engineering profession, particularly as it relates to the application of fluid control and fluid power technologies. A panel of ASCO Numatics executives and independent judges will select the finalists.

Applicants must be enrolled full-time in an undergraduate or graduate program in an instrumentation, systems, electrical, mechanical, or automation engineering discipline at an accredited U.S. educational institution for the 2014/2015 academic year. Candidates must also maintain at least a 3.2 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale, and be a U.S. citizen or legal U.S. resident. The deadline to apply is March 31, 2014. Details and forms are available at www.asconumatics.com/scholarship.

ASCO Numatics will award the scholarships at “The Amazing Packaging Race” at PACK EXPO International, to take place in Chicago from November 2-5, 2014. The race, sponsored by ASCO Numatics, is a fun and educational event that pits teams of packaging students, from programs around the country, against each other in a race to gather points by completing tasks at specific PACK EXPO booths.

About ASCO Numatics
ASCO Numatics, a division of Emerson, offers comprehensive fluid automation solutions, including fluid control and fluid power products, for a wide range of industry-focused applications. The ASCO Numatics product line in North America consists of more than 50,000 valves, an extensive selection of air preparation equipment, and a full line of actuation products. ASCO products include solenoid pilot valves, angle body piston valves, linear indicators, redundant control systems, and pressure sensors. The Numatics line covers valve manifolds, cylinders, grippers, filters, regulators, and lubricators. For more information about ASCO Numatics products, visit www.asconumatics.com.

About Emerson
Emerson www.Emerson.com is a global leader in bringing technology and engineering together to provide innovative solutions for customers in industrial, commercial, and consumer markets around the world. The company is comprised of five business segments: Process Management, Industrial Automation, Network Power, Climate Technologies, and Commercial & Residential Solutions. Sales in fiscal 2013 were $24.7 billion. Emerson Industrial Automation www.EmersonIndustrial.com, a business of Emerson, provides automation and power generation technologies and services to a wide range of industries. With its global capabilities and deep industry expertise, Emerson Industrial Automation is a trusted partner for products and solutions that increase machine performance, efficiency, reliability, and availability. Its industry-leading brands include Appleton®, ASCO®, Branson®, Browning®, Control Techniques, Kop-Flex®, Leroy-Somer®, McGill®, Morse®, Numatics& reg;, O-Z/Gedney, Rollway®, SealMaster®, and System Plast™.

Note to Editors – Press contacts:
* Don Goncalves, 781-793-9380, dgoncalves@tizinc.com
* Kristen Walker, ASCO Numatics, 973-966-2372, kristen.walker@emerson.com

McLean, Va. (Jan. 16, 2014) – Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) is proud to announce the launch of an ambitious new program aimed at providing students with food allergies a safer college experience by helping colleges and universities develop uniform policies to effectively manage food allergy, a potentially life-threatening disease.

The FARE College Food Allergy Program will address all aspects of college life with food allergies including dining services, resident life and social well-being, health services, disability accommodations and emergency services. FARE has partnered with several leading experts for the program, including the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA), the National Association of College & University Food Services (NACUFS), food allergy experts, college and university representatives, and industry representatives.

“Food allergy is a serious and growing public health issue, and colleges are beginning to realize the importance of ensuring their students with food allergies are safe and included in all aspects of campus life,” said John L. Lehr, chief executive officer of FARE. “We are proud to be working with NFCA, NACUFS and experts and colleges from around the country to develop comprehensive guidelines for managing food allergies in the college setting and resources to help schools implement these guidelines so they can better serve students managing this life-threatening disease.”

In 2014, the FARE College Food Allergy Program will focus on convening experts and stakeholders to create comprehensive guidelines and develop resources such as trainings for dining services and resident advisors, educational materials for existing and prospective students and their families, and guides for creating campus social groups. FARE will also be securing university partners to implement the recommendations as part of a pilot phase.

“Working with FARE and NACUFS to address the needs of special diets students is a top priority that our organizations share,” said Beckee Moreland, Director of Gluten-Free Industry Initiatives for NFCA. “Together we are committed to ensuring that our children will be able to choose a college on the merits of the academic program instead of whether or not they will be safe in the dining hall.”

The Program kicks off today with its first College Summit, which is being held at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va. and will focus on dining services. The summit, which is being held in conjunction with Premier REACH, will welcome representatives from 30 colleges and universities, in addition to the Program’s partners and experts. Additional colleges and universities are expected to participate in future meetings. Schools with representatives at this first summit include:

• California State University, Long Beach (Long Beach, Calif.)
• Colorado State University (Fort Collins, Colo.)
• Dartmouth College (Hanover, N.H.)
• Davidson College (Davidson, N.C.)
• Duke University (Durham, N.C.)
• Ferrum College (Ferrum, Va.)
• Georgia Southern University (Statesboro, Ga.)
• Hendrix College (Conway, Ark.)
• Lynchburg College (Lynchburg, Va.)
• North Carolina State University (Raleigh, N.C.)
• Princeton University (Princeton, N.J.)
• San Diego State University (San Diego, Calif.)
• Shepherd University (Shepherdstown, W.Va.)
• Stanford University (Stanford, Calif.)
• University of Akron (Akron, Ohio)
• University of Colorado Boulder (Boulder, Colo.)
• University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (Colorado Springs, Colo.)
• University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (Champaign, Ill.)
• University of Kansas (Lawrence, Kan.)
• University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)
• University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, Mich.)
• University of Missouri (Columbia, Mo.)
• University of Northern Colorado (Greeley, Colo.)
• University of Richmond (Richmond, Va.)
• Valparaiso University (Valparaiso, Ind.)
• Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Blacksburg, Va.)
• Washington and Lee University (Lexington, Va.)
• Williams College (Williamstown, Mass.)
• Yale University (New Haven, Conn.)

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, between 1997 and 2011, the number of children in the U.S. under age 18 with food allergies increased by 50 percent. This dramatic increase illustrates the need for widespread adoption of college food allergy management policies.

For more information about the FARE College Food Allergy Program, visit www.foodallergy.org/collegeprogram.

ABOUT FARE
Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) works on behalf of the 15 million Americans with food allergies, including all those at risk for life-threatening anaphylaxis. This potentially deadly disease affects 1 in every 13 children in the U.S. – or roughly two in every classroom. Formed in 2012 as a result of a merger between the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network and the Food Allergy Initiative, FARE’s mission is to ensure the safety and inclusion of individuals with food allergies while relentlessly seeking a cure. We do this by providing evidence-based education and resources, undertaking advocacy at all levels of government, increasing awareness of food allergy as a serious public health issue and investing in world-class research that advances treatment and understanding of food allergies. For more information, please visit www.foodallergy.org and find us on Twitter (@FoodAllergy), Facebook, YouTube and Pinterest.

ABOUT NFCA
The National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that drives diagnoses of celiac disease and other gluten-related disorders and improves quality of life for those on a lifelong gluten-free diet. NFCA owns and operates GREAT Kitchens TM, a web-based gluten-free training program for foodservice professionals. Learn more at www.CeliacCentral.org/GREAT.

MEDIA CONTACT
Nancy Gregory
571-209-0288
ngregory@foodallergy.org

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Created by a student developer, Slader’s app empowers students around the world to help each other 

New York, NY – December 10, 2013 – Slader just launched their new free mobile app to help high school and college students solve their homework problems. Slader’s app is available on the App Store and also the Slader website: www.slader.com/app. Thousands of students who have downloaded the new mobile app are extremely positive in their reviews.

For example, a Slader user who goes by Imtoolazytodohomework said in their review of Slader on the Apple Store: “I first found their website because I needed help with math homework. When I found it, I thought it was a lifesaver and now there is an app for it! Great quality and very helpful. You must download this!”

Slader is the online platform and network for homework help for students by students, and to date has helped over 5 million high school and early college students in more than 200 countries. Slader believes in empowering students to take charge of their own educational experience and so far has given students the insights to solve more than two million problems from 90 percent of the top high school textbooks.

Slader gives students free step-by-step explanations to homework problems and helps them to connect with other students around the world to figure out these problems. Unlike any other homework help site, all of the homework answers on Slader are provided by students themselves and don’t require students to solve problems not related to homework assignments. On both Slader’s site and mobile app, students can browse textbooks to find those assigned to classes they are taking; view solutions to problems in their books; comment on solutions to provide explanation to other students; and rate solutions based on their accuracy. Slader also has a built-in reward system where students can make money for contributing their input to the homework problems on the site.

Slader’s Mobile App Features and Benefits
Slader’s new mobile app includes several features that help students complete their homework, connect directly with other students to solve problems and make money – all from their smartphones.

•Make money on Slader: Students can earn Slader “Gold,” a virtual currency that students offer to peers as a reward for solving specific homework problems and can be exchanged for real currency.
•Solve real homework problems: Through the mobile app, if a student wants a homework problem solved, they can offer Gold, take a picture of their problem and post it to Slader for another student to solve. Students can also take a picture of the homework answer they’ve solved, upload it to Slader.com and they’re then rewarded with Gold.
•Interact directly with peers: Regardless of geographic location, students can browse through textbooks and exchange explanations and answers with each other.

The Wiz Kid Who Developed Slader’s App
Slader’s new app functionality was built by a student app developer, Sam Giddins, while he was a senior at Scarsdale Senior High School in Scarsdale, NY. Giddins was searching for an internship when he realized that Slader, a website he and his peers used prolifically, was also based in New York City. Throughout the development process, Giddins guided direction of app development towards the mindset of a high schoolers and how the student demographic wants to interact with Slader.

Slader’s co-founders, Kyle Gerrity and Scott Kolb, met while they were in high school and came up with the idea for founding Slader as a result of their own experiences struggling with homework.

“Homework is too often used as a take-home test where students find themselves struggling in isolation. Slader breaks down that barrier and allows students to leverage their peers for help and be members of an academic community,” said Kyle Gerrity, co-founder of Slader.

“With the right tools and positive reinforcement, most students welcome the opportunity to master concepts,” said Scott Kolb, co-founder of Slader. “We designed our mobile app to help students learn and succeed quickly and easily. After they download the app, all students have to do is turn to their phone to access the same rich information that’s available on the web. Slader is a natural extension of the social environment that students are already interacting with via web and mobile.”

About Slader
Slader is for students, by students. The company’s mission is to help students learn, connect and succeed by providing an online platform and student network for homework collaboration. Unlike other academic platforms, Slader offers content that is entirely user-generated, free and built for the social environment that students already rely on to connect with each other. Slader has helped millions of students in 200+ countries overcome frustration with their nightly homework, and has empowered student contributors to solve more than 2 million problems from 90 percent of the top high school textbooks. Slader’s vision is to provide every student with open access to the academic resources that empower their success. Founded in 2010 by Kyle Gerrity and Scott Kolb, Slader is a privately funded company, based in New York City. www.slader.com

Media Contact
Margo Mendez-Penate
margo@sparkpr.com
646-291-6055

Five expert business and legal insights help college students form and finance businesses

MENLO PARK, CA – Founders Workbench, a free online legal and business resource for entrepreneurs from leading national law firm Goodwin Procter, today released the Founders Workbench High Five for Startups. The checklist provides essential tips to help college entrepreneurs navigate the legal and organizational challenges of starting and running a business.

“Undergraduate entrepreneurship is on the rise, but undergraduate students often don’t have the same access to capital and advisory resources as career entrepreneurs,” said David Van Horne, Goodwin Procter partner and Founders Workbench contributor. “We created the High Five for Startups to help student entrepreneurs save time and money, and overcome some of the initial challenges often faced by first time founders.”

Founders Workbench High Five for Startups

1) Choose the Appropriate Legal Structure – Corporation or LLC? One of the first and most important steps in creating a company is choosing a legal structure that best suits the long-term needs of the business and its owners.

2) Use Trusted Legal Documents – While they may appear to save time and money, random legal documents found on the Internet may not be accurate, complete or appropriate. Identify a trusted source for legal documents when starting a business.

3) Protect Your Intellectual Property – With this year’s changes to the intellectual property laws, entrepreneurs need to move faster than ever to protect their key intellectual property. When launching a business, founders should research common intellectual property problems, patents and trade secrets, and trademarks.

4) Understand Financing Options – This year’s dramatic additions to crowdfunding laws have created new options for financing a business. Before rushing into a Kickstarter campaign or deciding to pursue angel funding, take the time to understand the startup financing options available.

5) Brush Up on Startup Jargon – Even before you start a business, it’s never too soon to research and absorb the key terms and jargon regularly used by investors and legal counsel. Founders Workbench Deal Dictionary app is an ideal primer on key deal terminology.

About Founders Workbench

Founders Workbench is a free online resource that helps entrepreneurs navigate the legal and organizational challenges faced by startups and emerging companies. Originally launched in 2010 with free legal documents for C-Corporation formation, the site has been redesigned and enhanced with Document Driver, a comprehensive set of legal documents for establishing Limited Liability Companies (LLCs), and two new web apps: Capital Calculator, which allows founders to instantly calculate dilution and liquidity under different financing and exit scenarios, and Deal Dictionary, which introduces founders to the often obscure legal and financial terms used by venture capitalists and angel investors. For more information, visit www.foundersworkbench.com.

Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/FoundersWkbench

Media Contact
Alex Parks
gp@daviesmurphy.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Museum to Offer College Credit and Summer Study Abroad in New Orleans and France

NEW ORLEANS (December 2, 2013) –The National WWII Museum, in partnership with Nicholls State University, is offering high school and college students the unique opportunity to gain hands-on leadership and decision-making skills based on those exhibited by the great leaders of WWII.

Normandy Academy is a unique summer study abroad program that challenges students with the same impactful decisions as generals, officers and soldiers during the historic D-Day invasions. The ten-day, leadership-themed program starts in the exhibits, archives and warehouses of The National WWII Museum in New Orleans and ends in the historic American Cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach, Normandy. In between, students will visit battle sites, interact with French citizens and tour monuments and museums.

“This summer marks the 70th anniversary of D-Day, and the men who fought in Normandy are leaving us,” said National WWII Museum Senior Director of History and Research, Dr. Keith Huxen. “For students interested in history, this is an opportunity of a lifetime and never to be repeated.”

The National WWII Museum also offers students a summer learning experience in New Orleans. The Student Leadership Academy – Summer Residential Program takes students through the history of WWII with the aim of exploring leadership lessons from one of the most important periods in world history. This six-night, seven-day program immerses students in the Museum’s wealth of exhibits, artifacts, images and documents with structured Leadership Lesson Debates along the way. Students will experience what it was like to be a member of a five-man crew inside a Sherman Tank, inspect the flight logs of a bomber pilot and handle the gear of an infantryman in WWII.

Not only will students have the unique opportunity to study WWII history at one of the world’s top-rated museums and meet some of the men and women who experienced the war firsthand, they will also venture out to historic sites in the community, including the Chalmette National Battlefield and NASA Michoud Assembly Facility, the former site of the plant that produced the Higgins Boats used in the war.

Upon completion of these programs, students will leave with a deeper understanding of US history and knowledge of the skills exhibited by some of our nation’s most distinguished leaders.

Students who participate in Normandy Academy and Student Leadership Academy are eligible to receive three credit hours after a rigorous online course administered by the Museum and the history department of Nicholls State University, an accredited regional university located in Thibodaux, Louisiana. For more information, call (877) 813-3329 x 514 or visit www.ww2museumtours.org.

The National WWII Museum tells the story of the American experience in the war that changed the world – why it was fought, how it was won, and what it means today.  Founded in 2000, the Museum  celebrates the courage and sacrifice of the men and women who served on the battlefront and the Home Front. For more information, call 877-813-3329 or 504-528-1944 or visit www.nationalww2museum.org. Follow us on Twitter at WWIImuseum or visit our Facebook page.

Media Contact:
Rachel Haney
Public Relations Manager
504-528-1944 x 408
504-920-9569 mobile
rachel.haney@nationalww2museum.org

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ItaliaRail, the experts on train travel to, from and around Italy, is launching its first scholarship program to give more students the opportunity to study abroad in Italy. With a mission to help students who may not be financially able to realize their dream of studying in Italy, the company has established monetary awards for two eligible students per semester.

“As a company that specializes in train travel in Italy, we are the perfect conduit to offer more students the chance to study and live in this modern yet venerable country. Whether you are studying the Italian language, art, history or business, studying abroad in Italy enhances the overall educational experience, and ItaliaRail is proud to support students in this endeavour,” said Michael Fuller, President and CEO of ItaliaRail.

The Boston-area based company is awarding two scholarships in the amount of $1,000 each to university/college undergraduate students who intend to study abroad in Italy. The scholarships will be for the Winter/Spring 2013/2014 semester and the 2014 Fall semester. Applications for Winter/Spring semester must be submitted between November 13, 2013 and January 5, 2014. Interested students can go to http://www.italiarail.com/scholarship to apply and find out more information.

The awardees for the Winter/Spring semester will be announced in early January. Application submission dates for the Fall semester will also be announced at this time.

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

Avon’s Digital-First Imprint Encourages Graduate and Undergraduate Writing Students to Submit Romance Manuscripts for Chance to Win One-on-One Editorial Consultation.
All Submissions will be Considered for Publication by Avon Impulse!

NEW YORK, NY, November 21, 2013 –September marks the end of summer and a return to academia—and for many university students, it’s also a return the equally grueling and rewarding routine of creative writing classes. Avon Books and Avon Impulse, imprints of HarperCollins Publishers, recognizes the raw talent and passion for the craft that many students bring to their work, and it is for this reason that they have chosen to work with HarperCollins’ Academic Marketing division to launch an initiative seeking emerging young stars of Romance.

Graduate and undergraduate students are invited to submit up to three chapters (or 50 pages), a detailed synopsis (no more than five pages) of the romance novel. Entrants should also include a brief paragraph on what their follow-up book would be to the Avon Impulse Editors. For more information and contest guidelines, http://collegewriters.avonromance.com.

What are Avon’s editors looking for? Amanda Bergeron, the lead editor for the Avon Impulse digital-first publishing imprint, says, “First and foremost, we always want a fresh voice and an ability to create real-to-life characters. Beyond that, we are looking for writers who have an understanding of what’s working in the current market. And if you can make us laugh, cry, or go absolutely weak-kneed, that certainly doesn’t hurt. Know your strengths when you write – and trust in a great editor to make your manuscript even stronger!”

Avon is actively acquiring the following types of novels:
• New Adult romance
• Romantic suspense
• Super sexy contemporaries
• Trilogies — and beyond.
• Serialized erotic romance

What types of submissions will get students noticed? Bergeron notes, “Fabulously sexy heroes who let nothing get in the way of getting what they want – the heroine of course – and giving her everything she needs,” are top-of-bell curve for Avon editorial. Emphasis is also on heroines who are unafraid to take chances in life… and in love. “World-building” is key – writers are asked to choose the setting, just make sure it’s utterly romantic! Readers should be able to immerse themselves in the wonderful world that an author creates. “Series Wanted!” Bergeron asserts that readers always cry out for more when authors give them characters to believe in … so, in outlines, aspiring authors are asked to give Avon’s editors an idea of more stories to come in the same vein. And finally – for anyone who has discovered the super-dramatic, addictive joy of New Adult, editors are looking for dark spectacles that e xplore the many twists and turns of true love.

Contest guidelines can be found at http://collegewriters.avonromance.com. But, sky’s the limit, since there are no specific call outs for this opportunity; as long as it’s romance, it qualifies! This call for submissions is aimed directly at students.

Deadlines:
All submissions should be digitally sent by 5 pm on April 1, 2014, via email to avonromancecollege@gmail.com. All submissions must be submitted from a college email address. All submissions will be reviewed and considered for publication through Avon Impulse, the publisher’s digital-first arm—winners will be announced on May 15, 2014.

ABOUT HARPERCOLLINS PUBLISHERS
HarperCollins Publishers, one of the largest English-language publishers in the world, is a subsidiary of NewsCorp (NASDAQ: NWS, NWSA; ASX: NNC, NNCLV). Headquartered in New York, HarperCollins has publishing groups around the world in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and India. HarperCollins is a broad-based publisher with strengths in literary and commercial fiction, business books, children’s books, cookbooks, narrative nonfiction, mystery, romance, reference, pop culture, design, health, wellness, and religious and spiritual books. With nearly 200 years of history, HarperCollins has published some of the world’s foremost authors, including winners of the Nobel Prize, the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Award, the Newbery Medal, and the Caldecott Medal. HarperCollins is consistently at the forefront of innovation, using digital technology to create unique reading experiences and expand the reach of its authors. You can visit HarperCollins Publishers online at: http://www.harpercollins.com.

MEDIA CONTACTS
Pamela Jaffee, Avon Publicity: Pam.Jaffee@harpercollins.com / 212.207.7495
Jessie Edwards, Avon Publicity: Jessie.Edwards@harpercollins.com / 212.207.7188
Caroline Perny, Avon Publicity: Caroline.Perny@harpercollins.com / 212.207.7531

# # #

Today, NARAL Pro-Choice America announced the winners of the “Choice Out Loud” short story contest. The contest asked young people between the ages of 18 and 30 to write a story that reflected the complexity of unplanned pregnancies in America today. Approximately 300 stories were submitted from across the country.

“I would like to thank all of the contest participants who took the time to write thoughtful and creative stories about choice,” said Ilyse Hogue, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America. “We were overwhelmed by the power and the depth of these stories submitted by young people from across the country. The number of stories submitted for our first national essay contest exceed our expectations. This has been a wonderful opportunity to provide a new platform to talk about the complex situations of individuals facing an unintended pregnancy. We look forward to replicating its success in the future. ”

The winners of the contest were:

-Grand Prize awarded to Morgan M., whose story walks through a woman’s internal thought process as she decides to have an abortion.
-First Place Prize awarded to Madeline G., whose story revisits a candid discussion about abortion between mother and daughter.
-People’s Choice Prize awarded to Kai N., whose story features a transgender man’s experience with an unplanned pregnancy.

All three of the winning stories can be read on the Choice Out Loud website: http://www.choiceoutloud.org/writing-contest/.

The stories were evaluated by a panel of judges selected for their insights into the unique perspective of young Americans. The judges reviewed the stories on relevance to the contest prompt, creativity and overall quality.

About the judges:

Laci Green runs Sex+ , a sex-positive education project consisting of a biweekly video series, a weekly live show, daily blogging, university lectures, and a peer education network. Learn more at http://www.youtube.com/lacigreen.

Maureen Johnson is a New York Times bestselling author whose novels  include The Name of the Star, Suite Scarlett, Scarlett Fever, Girl At Sea, The Key To The Golden Firebird, and 13 Little Blue Envelopes. Learn more at http://www.maureenjohnsonbooks.com.

Rinku Sen is the president and executive director of Race Forward: The Center for Racial Justice Innovation and the publisher of Colorlines.com. Learn more at http://colorlines.com.

To speak with a NARAL Pro-Choice America spokesperson, please contact Sarah La Due at 415-890-1020 or SLaDue@ProChoiceAmerica.org.

Media Contact
Sarah La Due
SLaDue@ProChoiceAmerica.org
415-890-1020

November 19, 2013 – SetMeUp, a social discovery app, announces that in its initial release it achieved over 3 million searchable profiles. Unlike hook-up apps like Tinder where you’re connecting to complete strangers, with SetMeUp you find dates through friend introductions. The app utilizes friend-of-friend connections to help individuals meet new singles and enrich their first date experiences.

SetMeUp creates an ecosystem where people can meet as they normally would offline, through their mutual friends. By leveraging Facebook, which people already trust and feel comfortable using, SetMeUp enables people to find and easily connect with their friends of friends. Users are able to connect to people who they are more likely to trust because everyone falls within the same social circles.

This is particularly appealing to the college market since they can avoid the stigma of telling their friends they met someone online. The application is designed so no one knows who is using the app other than those people successfully connecting with each other, maintaining full privacy for the user. College students and post-college graduates simply install the app on Facebook, select friends, and then search through those friend’s friends sorted by compatibility.

“The goal is to get away from traditional online dating models and use social platforms that are integral to our everyday lives,” says SetMeUp co-founder and Harvard Business School grad, Abhishek Jain. In addition to launching the app, SetMeUp is also excited to announce the creation of an internship program for college students interested in entrepreneurship and marketing. “Launching any product, especially one as innovative as SetMeUp, is an amazing learning experience for everyone involved,” says Jain. Students interested in applying for this internship opportunity can e-mail their resume to apply@setmeupinc.com.

College students at the University of Georgia love the application. Morgan Leaf, an undergraduate student at UGA, is tired of using hook-up apps where guys are sleazy. “I like SetMeUp because guys realize they’re accountable to our mutual friends.” says Leaf. “I wouldn’t date any other way.” A senior at Boston University, Estela Del Mar, feels the same way, adding, “On other dating apps, you don’t get any quality connections. With SetMeUp, I get connected through my friends so I can trust the people I meet.”

About SetMeUp
SetMeUp is a social discovery application, available on web and mobile devices, that helps you meet a new romantic interest through mutual friends on Facebook. To get a better understanding of the product, you can access SetMeUp on your web browser at www.setmeupapp.com. Mobile is expected to be released within the month.

Media Contact
Ty Hill
678-316-4082
tyhill@setmeupinc.com

Phil Southerland, global diabetes advocate and founder of the world’s first all-diabetes professional cycling team, is launching the Team Type 1 Foundation today, on World Diabetes Day. Pursuing a mission of education, empowerment and global access to medicine for everyone affected by diabetes, the Foundation will address disparities in diabetes care around the world through collaborative strategies that engage governments, health organizations, healthcare providers, diabetes educators and people with diabetes.

The Foundation’s first U.S. initiative is a scholarship program for collegiate athletes with type 1 diabetes who compete in an NCAA sport. In 2014, the program will award up to seven scholarships of $5,000 each to help student athletes and their families offset the cost of diabetes care, which can average an additional $300-$500 per month. Scholarship recipients will also be integrated into the Foundation’s educational platform as future diabetes ambassadors.

“The Team Type 1 Foundation exists because everyone with diabetes deserves the right to lead a healthy and productive life,” said Southerland. “In developing countries, that means changing healthcare policy to ensure everyone has access to the medicine and tools they need to survive and thrive. In the U.S it means providing empowerment and inspiration to people with diabetes while also supporting student athletes who absorb the added financial burden of managing diabetes while going through college. Sport is an incredible platform for inspiration and we are very excited to help young athletes pursue their dreams.”

Southerland is the Foundation’s President and Founder, while Dr. Biljana Southerland will serve as Program Director of Medical and Governmental Affairs. Dr. Southerland is a former advisor to the Macedonian Ministry of Health and the architect of Macedonia’s National Diabetes Program, one of the most progressive diabetes care policies in the world.

“More than 371 million people worldwide have diabetes and many are needlessly suffering from preventable complications or even death, simply because they do not have access to the medication or tools necessary to manage their condition,” said Dr. Southerland. “The Team Type 1 Foundation is dedicated to changing these statistics.”

Based in part on the success of the Macedonian program — which fully covers the cost of insulin and glucose testing supplies for everyone in the country living with diabetes — the Team Type 1 Foundation will largely focus on helping developing countries around the world scale the Macedonian model to establish sustainable diabetes care policy.

Starting in Rwanda, a country where seven out of eight people with diabetes die before they are even diagnosed, the Foundation is working with government and healthcare officials to build a long-term solution. This year, the Foundation is donating 1 million test strips and 900 blood glucose monitors, effectively providing a one-year supply for the entire Rwandan population of individuals with type 1 diabetes.

For more information on the Team Type 1 Foundation scholarship guidelines and applications, go to www.teamtype1.org/scholarships

About Team Type 1 Foundation
The Team Type 1 Foundation is a nonprofit organization pursuing a mission of education, empowerment and equal access to medicine for everyone affected by diabetes. Collaborating with governments, healthcare professionals, diabetes experts and individuals living with diabetes around the world, the Team Type 1 Foundation is bridging the gap to access and education through sustainable and economically viable solutions. For more information, go to www.teamtype1.org.

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