Online registration is now open, tournament runs April 9-11; Former UK star Immanuel Quickley to defend title

LEXINGTON, KY (March 31, 2021) – Global esports organization Gen.G and the University of Kentucky today announced details for the return of its popular Hoops at Home NBA 2K tournament which will take place April 9-11. The tournament will provide the opportunity for players to participate in a distinctive NBA 2K basketball experience on twitch.tv/universityofky, connecting and unifying the community.

Former UK basketball star and current New York Knicks guard, Immanuel Quickley, will play in the finals to defend his title. The event will be hosted by Jeff Eisenband and Erin Ashley Simon throughout the broadcast.

“I’m really excited to be a part of Big Blue Nation’s Hoops at Home tournament for the second year in a row and defend my title,” said Quickley. “Esports is a great way to bring together our community and have fun connecting with other UK fans around the country. I’m looking forward to seeing who is going to challenge me for the Hoops at Home crown.”

Building on UK’s rich basketball tradition, a bracket of 64 members of the UK community will compete for the championship by going to go.uky.edu/hoops, now accepting submission. This year the winner of Hoops At Home will also win a $1,000 grand prize. Fans must be at least 13 years old and have a PlayStation 4 and the NBA 2K21 game. Fans will find out on April 7 during the Selection Show, if they were selected based on all skill levels and online connectivity that will comprise the four brackets of 16 members.

“This year’s tournament is going to be action packed and will be a great way to keep that Wildcat energy going as we hope this virtual event helps showcase the endless possibilities in and around the UK community as it relates to esports,” said Julien Benichou, Director of Partnership Activations at Gen.G. “Last year’s tournament brought so much spectacle and engagement and as the esports space continues to grow, we look forward to not only this year’s tournament but the natural evolution of our continued partnership with UK and bringing world-class ideas and activations to campus and the community.”

“We remain committed to the health, safety, and well-being of our entire community and part of that commitment is providing unique virtual opportunities to help students remain connected from afar,” said Heath Price, Associate CIO at University of Kentucky. “We can’t wait to see all the action this year and are excited to connect with our students, our community and everyone in Big Blue Nation.”

The Round of 64 and 32 on April 9, Round of 16 and Round of 8 on April 10 and the Round of Four and Championship on April 11 and the final “boss battle” with Immanuel Quickley on April 19. All games will begin at 5 pm ET. Fans are encouraged to use #HoopsatHome, #BetterTogetherUKY, #UKxGenG, #HoopsatHome and #NBA2K_UK on their social media channels to connect.

Gen.G and the University of Kentucky continue to bring best-in-class esports activations to the community and remain committed to building the next generation of esports leaders around the country. The two have partnered together since 2019 bringing together engaging virtual events, activations, and initiatives over the last two years including the UK Esports Invitational on March 12-14 which featured 10 athletic rivals competing in League of Legends, VALORANT and Rocket League, as well as the “Give Health for Kentucky Kids” charity program.

About Gen.G
Established in 2017, Gen.G is the leading esports organization connecting the United States and Asia. Ranked no. 6 in the Forbes list of the “World’s Most Valuable Esports Companies,” Gen.G is the only major organization that owns and operates top teams in the world’s leading esports markets — China, South Korea and the United States. Its unique portfolio of teams, winners of seven global championships to date, includes the Seoul Dynasty franchise of the Overwatch League; 2014 and 2017 League of Legends world champion team in South Korea; the world’s top all-female Fortnite team, based in Los Angeles; and the NBA 2K League’s historic expansion franchise in Shanghai.

United under #TigerNation, Gen.G’s core mission is to help fans and athletes use the power of gaming and esports to get ahead in and beyond the competition. The company has quickly become a commercial and thought leader, building a global, inclusive and cross-cultural future for sports entertainment. Its widely acclaimed initiatives include: #TeamBumble, the leading team platform for the empowerment of women in gaming; and Gen.G Elite Esports Academy, the world’s first fully-integrated academic esports program. Gen.G’s teams, content creators and corporate staff work out of their offices in Los Angeles, Seoul and Shanghai. More information about Gen.G esports and its teams can be found at this link.

About the University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky is increasingly the first choice for students, faculty and staff to pursue their passions and their professional goals. In the last two years, Forbes has named UK among the best employers for diversity, and INSIGHT into Diversity recognized us as a Diversity Champion four years running. UK is ranked among the top 30 campuses in the nation for LGBTQ* inclusion and safety. UK has been judged a “Great College to Work for” three years in a row, and UK is among only 22 universities in the country on Forbes’ list of “America’s Best Employers.” We are ranked among the top 10 percent of public institutions for research expenditures — a tangible symbol of our breadth and depth as a university focused on discovery that changes lives and communities. And our patients know and appreciate the fact that UK HealthCare has been named the state’s top hospital for five straight years. Accolades and honors are great. But they are more important for what they represent: the idea that creating a community of belonging and commitment to excellence is how we honor our mission to be not simply the University of Kentucky, but the University for Kentucky.

Media Contact:
Gen.G:
GenG@DKCnews.com

# # #

The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines, has announced an expansion of its Fellowship program from a total distribution of $615,000 to $649,000 beginning in 2021. The additional funding will allow the Society to support 62 fellowships for outstanding students entering their first year of graduate or professional study and increase the Society’s robust awards program to distribute more than $1 million each year to outstanding members.

Established in 1932, the Fellowship Program annually provides funding to first-year graduate students who are pursuing post-baccalaureate degrees across all academic disciplines. Endorsed by their local chapter, Phi Kappa Phi Fellows go on to study at some of the nation’s top graduate schools.

“Phi Kappa Phi is well known for the awards it makes available to active members and students on campuses where we have a chapter,” Society Executive Director Dr. Mary Todd said. “Since the first fellowship was awarded in 1932, our portfolio of awards has grown exponentially in number and funding, all made possible by the generosity of our donors. That’s why we’ve adopted the phrase ‘Awards are what we do.’ It’s a joy to enable the love of learning to expand through the support provided to our community of scholars.”

Beginning this year, Phi Kappa Phi will award four additional fellowships at $8,500 each. These newly endowed Bond Fellowships named for Victoria and L.D. Bond will support two top-scoring nominees in the arts, music and/or literature and two top-scoring nominees in the fields of mathematics or information technology.

The selection process for a fellowship is based on the applicant’s evidence of graduate potential, undergraduate academic achievement, service and leadership experience, letters of recommendation, personal statement of educational perspective and career goals and acceptance in an approved graduate or professional program.

Phi Kappa Phi Fellowships are part of the Society’s robust awards program which distribute more than $1 million each year to outstanding members through study abroad grants, graduate and dissertation fellowships, funding for postbaccalaureate development, member and chapter awards, and grants for local, national and international literacy initiatives.

The application process for the 2021 Fellowship Program is currently open and will close on April 15. Each active Phi Kappa Phi chapter may submit one candidate from among its local applicants to compete Society-wide for a fellowship.

To learn more about the fellowships and other Society awards, please visit www.phikappaphi.org/awards.

###

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 30,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni annually. The Society has chapters on more than 325 select colleges and universities in the United States 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 Perez
Communications Director
aperez@phikappaphi.org
(225) 923-7777

Guests Jeff Eisenband and Ashley Kang kick off series March 16 showcasing journalism

Evanston (March 16, 2021) – Global esports organization Gen.G and Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications will share programs starting this month highlighting the growing role of journalism in esports and other arenas.

The series, “Choose Your Own Adventure,” will launch on March 16, with “Choose Your Own Adventure: Breaking Into the Industry” Guests Sports/Esports Broadcaster and Medill alum Jeff Eisenband (BSJ15) and League of Legends journalist Ashley Kang will be interviewed by a Medill student to explore the value of having an online persona. The series will air on Medill’s IGTV https://www.instagram.com/medillschool/channel/.

Other “Choose Your Own Adventure” topics will be “Working Sources Through Digital Media” on April 13, “Broadcast Journalism: Shoutcasters & Sports Casters” on May 11 and “Gaming’s Convergence with Fashion: It’s for the Culture” on June 15. Each program will feature a journalist who will be interviewed by a Medill student.

“We are proud to collaborate with Medill and showcase the importance of journalism in emerging digital industries such as gaming,” said Gen.G CEO Chris Park. “Together we aim to reach new audiences through our digital content series and highlight the adventures Medill alumni and journalists experience on their route to success.”

“Today’s media landscape means journalists are covering expanding industries like esports more and more,” said Medill Dean Charles Whitaker. “As Medill celebrates its 100th year of educating journalism students, we’re excited to share with prospective students more about all the new opportunities available to them.”

Gen.G also works with the University of Kentucky, Eastern Michigan University and University of Pennsylvania to activate esports and gaming programs connecting students and alumni.

About Gen.G
Established in 2017, Gen.G is the leading esports organization connecting the United States and Asia. Ranked no. 6 in the Forbes list of the “World’s Most Valuable Esports Companies,” Gen.G is the only major organization that owns and operates top teams in the world’s leading esports markets — China, South Korea and the United States. Its unique portfolio of teams, winners of seven global championships to date, includes the Seoul Dynasty franchise of the Overwatch League; 2014 and 2017 League of Legends world champion team in South Korea; the world’s top all-female Fortnite team, based in Los Angeles; and the NBA 2K League’s historic expansion franchise in Shanghai.

United under #TigerNation, Gen.G’s core mission is to help fans and athletes use the power of gaming and esports to get ahead in and beyond the competition. The company has quickly become a commercial and thought leader, building a global, inclusive and cross-cultural future for sports entertainment. Its widely acclaimed initiatives include: #TeamBumble, the leading team platform for the empowerment of women in gaming; and Gen.G Elite Esports Academy, the world’s first fully-integrated academic esports program. Gen.G’s teams, content creators and corporate staff work out of their offices in Los Angeles, Seoul and Shanghai. More information about Gen.G esports and its teams can be found at this link.

About Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications
The Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications was founded on Feb. 8, 1921 with nine undergraduate students. Today, Medill provides instruction on five campuses around the world and has more than 18,000 alumni who are leaders in journalism, media, marketing, communications and more.

Media Contact:
Gen.G:
GenG@DKCnews.com

# # #

Multi-faceted Educator/Entrepreneur/Musician

David Parker – “a Classical Liberal” – Finds Common Ground with

Progressives on Identifying Strategies & Distinctions

For Every Individual to Move from Financial Challenge to Prosperity

Bart Lee
Late Adjunct Professor of Law & Economics
Golden Gate University

(SAN FRANCISCO, CA – March 16, 2021) After a challenging and disruptive year, millions of Americans – indeed, people worldwide – are desperately searching for the wisdom and insight that can help them rise above the financial problems facing every sector of business and every individual. Fortunately, entrepreneur and lifelong educator David Parker is now sharing the perspective and principles on which he has built a successful career as an entrepreneur and investor in “INCOME AND WEALTH: David Parker Essays – Volume One” (Waterside Productions – February 16, 2021). The lessons that Parker shares with readers in this thought-provoking, transformational work encapsulate the author’s 40-year study of economic history and principles.

When he began his teaching career, Parker broke with conventional wisdom. He chose a different path from the majority of his colleagues in the educational field.  Rather than place his faith and his future in the teachers’ union or the government, Parker’s intellectual curiosity drove him to explore why government intervention in any aspect of our lives – from education to healthcare – is doomed to failure, and how individual action, regardless of annual income, can lead to the accumulation of wealth. While some might label his political views, especially his disdain for government intervention, “conservative,” Parker calls himself a “classical liberal” – adamant that citizens should not be forced to support programs inconsistent with free market economics. The result of Parker’s scholarly inquiry into the proper role of government in our lives — Income and Wealth — is the result of 30 years of study and 30,000 hours of annotated reading of the world’s foremost experts on the subject of political economy including Aristotle, Adam Smith, F.A. Hayek and Ayn Rand.

Known for his “unconventional wisdom,” Parker shares common ground with many individuals currently identified as “Progressives,” in his belief that virtually everyone – even those earning minimum-wage income – have the opportunity to create wealth.  “Most people in this country don’t realize they are living way beyond their means,” Parker says. The prescription he advocates for wealth creation may not be easy – but it is certainly effective. He urges all young people, regardless their earning power, to invest half their annual income. “Even those not especially creative or brilliant,” he says, “will generate significant income from their investments within ten years.”

A Sampling of David Parker’s Views

As the author shares in Income and Wealth, individual responsibility and initiative are essential keys to achieving financial success – and, in fact, is the only sustainable path to this goal. As readers will discover, Parker not only presents a compelling case for the benefits of free market economics, and he also shares principles and insights that can be used as the building blocks for a step-by-step plan for financial prosperity.

As “a classical liberal,” Parker believes our government should be based on a foundation of social, political and economic freedom.  “Freedom in these three areas is fundamentally interconnected,” Parker says. “The degree to which you restrict one – for example, constraining economic freedom through a policy such as rent control – inevitably results in an equal constraint on the other two areas.” Further, he says it is important to remember that this nation was built on simple, fundamental principles. The U.S. Constitution, for example, is written on a single page. Our government’s tendency to overcomplicate issues and interfere in the free market has been a disaster – as we have seen.”

In addition, he notes, America’s business community has no lack of ingenuity when it comes to circumventing government policy and law – regardless of the political party pushing for such regulation. This fact, Parker believes, underscores the preeminence of free market forces, as business naturally seeks to be free of government constraint.  To support his position, he notes that in any field or program, “when government is involved, it costs more – two or three times what it would cost if left to free market solutions.”  If healthcare was a typical ‘market commodity,’ Parker says, “consumers would bargain for the best price, just as they bargain for everything else, and sky-high health care costs would come down to realistic levels.”

Government intervention in our nation’s education system has produced similarly disastrous results, Parker says – and, again, shares common ground with Progressives in calling for action to correct this crisis.  In an interesting twist that might surprise his fellow conservative thinkers, Parker sides with Progressive politicians including Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, in calling America’s student debt situation a full-scale crisis. As was frequently mentioned during recent Presidential debates, student debt is a huge pressure on millions of young people just entering the workforce. Parker notes that due to government subsidy of our nation’s colleges, administrators at those institutions have lost any ability to budget properly and bring prices back down to earth.

After reading this important new book, readers will have no doubt that “income” and “wealth” are entirely different things, and that any limits upon the first actually has no bearing upon one’s ability to achieve the second.

Additional Praise for “Income and Wealth”

“A fascinating, hard hitting treatise on the dynamic between money, society, and basic human nature. It’s a timely read in these highly polarized times, an unemotional and data-based explanation – which has indelibly changed my opinion of the way things work.”

Ahmad Mohazab, RA, NCARB, LEED AP
TECTA Associates

“Sure to draw ire from both sides of the political and economic spectrum, Parker seamlessly threads a practical theory of wealth and income through history, micro-, macro-, and development economics. A completely fresh take on the modern economy, weaving elements of Ayn Rand’s laissez-faire Objectivism with University of Chicago Neoclassical models and brought down to earth by Parker’s 40+ years teaching inner-city schools.”

Michael Seitz – Co-founding owner
Barebottle Brewing Company, San Francisco

About Author David Parker

David Parker began his career in education at the age of 24 and served students of San Francisco’s inner-city public elementary schools for 40 years as a music teacher, followed by 10 years as a volunteer. While pursuing his career in education, Parker also became a very successful real estate investor. It was success in business that focused his writing, teaching and career as a professional musician. Parker’s career as a musician is similarly impressive. He spent 20 years as member of the Berkeley Symphony Orchestra and 15 years as leader of the Dave Parker Sextet, which has headlined at San Francisco’s Fillmore Jazz Festival.

As Income and Wealth approached publication, Parker was already hard at work on his next book.  His thoughtful essays have been featured in The Economist, The Financial Times and several prestigious law journals. In addition to being an author, entrepreneur and investor, David Parker is also a proud father and grandfather.  In his later years, his mother Gertrud Parker – who passed away earlier this year at the age of 96 – served as a powerful inspiration, with her international acclaim an artist as well as a civic leader in San Francisco.

To learn more about David Parker, including his essays and music, visit:
https://davidparkeressays.com/ and https://daveparkersextet.com/

To coordinate media coverage, contact:
Dea Shandera-Hunter – 747 239-1715 – deashandera@yahoo.com
Tom Martin – Tom Martin Media, LLC – 203-297-2137 – Tom@TomMartinMedia.com

(March 4, 2021) – Teaching English Online Is A Viable Option For New College Graduates Looking To Make Extra Income. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the online teaching industry and demand for qualified online ESL teachers is proving to be a viable option for new graduates. TEFL certified teachers are being recruited to meet the increased demand of student needs.

History has shown that teaching is one of the most recession-proof jobs in the United States. But even beyond its economic value, teaching is one of the most rewarding careers a person can have. Particularly at a time when students need more support than ever to help meet their learning goals.

The pandemic may have disrupted the education sector but it has also provided an opportunity for new graduates in the education industry to adapt and pivot in the remote learning environment. This is a great time for new graduates entering the workforce to earn income and gain valuable work experience by completing an online TEFL certification and applying to work as a ESL teacher.

Teach Away, a mission-driven education company, has seen teacher training enrollments soar 3x since the pandemic began.

ESL teachers help English language learners whose first language isn’t English to reach English fluency as their second language. As a flexible online job, graduates have the opportunity to work as many or as few hours as they want to fit into their schedules. The freedom allows ESL teachers to customize their hours while meeting their personal and family life needs.

It’s an opportunity to work from home, take advantage of the existing technology in the house and make supplementary income. All that is required is a stable internet connection, a laptop, a built-in or external webcam, a headset and a quiet, well-lit space to teach English lessons.

Teach Away is partnered with some of the best North American educational institutions to qualify College graduates to teach English online and overseas, once it is safe to do so. The 120-hour TEFL course is easy to complete right at home and provides an internationally recognized qualification.

Caitlyn Causey, a certified ESL teacher and recent TEFL graduate, spoke on a recent Good Morning America segment, Pandemic career pivots that may help you and your bank account, about the benefits of completing the TEFL certification. “It is a great way to supplement my income,” she said, allowing her to take care of her family during unprecedented times.

Upon completion of the program, graduates can easily search and apply to jobs using Teach Away’s online job portal. Detailed information sessions, ebooks and webinars about the TEFL certification process will also be provided for College career centres upon request (through the media contact below).

For more information about the TEFL certification offered visit: www.teachaway.com/courses/online-tefl-certification.

About Teach Away
Founded in 2003, Teach Away has been on an epic journey to solve the global teacher shortage with amazing teachers.

From our beginnings as an international teacher recruitment startup to today, we’ve stayed true to our vision of a world where every student experiences the power of a great teacher.

Teach Away is currently a global leader in international teacher recruitment and certification. We are home to the largest online community of international educators worldwide.

We believe in one critical factor to student success–the power of a great teacher. And we believe that technology is important to solving the global teacher shortage and connecting students to great teachers.

###

TEACH AWAY Media Department
Paula Swirla
Email: paula@teachaway.com

Partnership with National Non-Profit Notes for Notes Helps Even More Undiscovered Young Talent Get Chance to Make Their Mark in Music Industry; Applications Open March 1^st

AGD President Nathan Dohse Available as Guest Speaker/Lecturer on “Balancing Art & Industry,” “The 5 Pillars of Artist Development” and “Marketing: One Goal, Capture Your Community”

NASHVILLE, TN – AGD Entertainment, an entertainment company at the forefront of innovation for career development in the ever-changing music  industry, is thrilled to launch the first-ever Zero to 60 (ZT60) Scholarship program designed for the developing 16-20 year-old artist. Applications will be open March 1 to April 5, 2021 at https://agdentertainment.com/scholarship. One recipient will receive a full ride to cover their nine-month experience with the ZT60 program; two to three partial ZT60 scholarships will also be offered.

A partnership with national non-profit Notes for Notes will help get the word out to underserved students across the country about the ZT60 scholarship that provides the funding and guidance needed to help artists thrive in the music industry. Notes for Notes is a national non-profit that provides youth with free access to music instruments, instruction and recording studio environments in Boys & Girls Clubs nationwide, so that music may become a profoundly positive influence in their lives.

Zero to 60 by AGD is a day-to-day management service that provides strategy development for recording artists. ZT60 Artist Coaches are trained to move and guide musicians at a steady pace and provide the foundation for an artist’s success in the industry. Artist Coaches understand a ZT60 musician intends to release music and become a confident performer. ZT60 is designed to work with the artist’s personality and develop their brand in line with these goals. Services are available to all artists at any level of career development.

The ZT60 scholarship tagline is “Imagination Into Action,” and encompasses the motivated artist – the aspiring musician who dreams big and invests in themselves. The full scholarship recipient will work with a personal coach on an individualized nine-month campaign to release their album project. Along the way, they’ll benefit from full access to AGD’s team who will help create the visual assets for the release and receive a professional mix/ master on their project. Additionally, two partial scholarship recipients will participate in AGD’s ZT60 program over the nine months, and these artists will work with their personal coach to release their project and hone their skills as a performer.

“We believe that motivated artists should have the opportunity to succeed,” said Nathan Dohse, President of AGD Entertainment and Author of the Zero To 60 Program.  “Finances should not be the main cause preventing success as an artist. AGD prides ourselves in being the most affordable solution for artists needing guidance to properly execute a creative project release. Still, we recognize that some talented artists might not be able to participate in the ZT60 community and program services due to financial constraints.”

“The ZT60 Scholarship Program is something we’ve envisioned since we started AGD, and we’re so glad to make this happen now,” added Timothy Dohse, Vice President and Co-Founder AGD Entertainment.  “We are very excited to elevate some incredible talent and look forward to the impact this will have within our community and the greater music industry.”

This is the inaugural year of the “Zero to 60” Scholarship Program, which will be announced annually in conjunction with AGD Entertainment’s “Zero To 60 Awards Show,” hosted every Spring live in Music City. The “Zero To 60 Awards Show” allows the ZT60 artist community to be showcased to all AGD Entertainment friends and partners, and is an integral part of how the company elevates its artists as they grow into their full potential.

ABOUT AGD ENTERTAINMENT
Another Great Day Entertainment Co. (AGD) was founded in 2014 by brothers Nathan and Timothy Dohse. The primary focus of the company has been artist development and entertainment management services;  label and publishing services will begin in 2021. AGD serves to educate and inspire our clients with our knowledgeable team of industry professionals and through community collaboration. AGD cultivates a fun environment with an emphasis on respect, creativity, and relationships.

AGD provides the necessary steps and connections for an artist of any popularity or tenure to advance in their career. Furthermore, we facilitate the training and growth opportunities for music industry professionals as artist coaches and day to day managers in order to identify team members with the ability and desire to eventually operate as effective artist managers. http://agdentertainment.com.

ABOUT NOTES FOR NOTES
Notes for Notes® is a non-profit organization founded in 2006 which builds, equips, and staffs after-school recording studios packed with guitars, drums, keys/synths, DJ gear, digital music stations, and full recording studios offering youth completely FREE access to explore, create, and record music. We currently have 23 studios in Boys & Girls Clubs and after-school sites in Austin, Santa Barbara, Nashville, LA, Brooklyn, the Bronx, San Francisco, Detroit, Cleveland, Memphis, St. Paul, Washington DC, Chicago, Denver, Las Vegas and coming soon to Milwaukee and Greensboro, NC with our first in-school partnership. We believe music is elemental in helping youth discover their identity and that “Producing Tomorrow’s Musicians”® is as much about personal growth as it is artistic excellence.

The pandemic has forced most of our studios to temporarily close and while some have reopened with limited capacity it has left many of our youth stuck at home, a lot in less ideal situations, without the resources to express themselves through music. To meet these needs and expand our reach we developed N4N Digital, our new digital arm focused on our core programming, producing original music, as well as education on the skills and careers involved but all remotely.  N4N Digital also provides crucial opportunities for connection during these times of isolation as well as allowing new youth, artists and industry professionals to get involved who might previously not have been able to due to proximity to a studio.

# # #

FOR INTERVIEWS AND MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Laura Charlton (formerly Johnson)
laurajohnsonpr@yahoo.com
(760) 450-7749 cell

Annual scholarship program is open to students pursuing a culinary education

New York, NY (February 18, 2021) – COVID-19 continues to challenge the resiliency of many industries, especially the food industry, and culinary schools and students have had to adapt to an unconventional academic landscape. In ongoing support of aspiring and established culinary professionals, the James Beard Foundation announced this week the launch of its 2021-2022 Scholarship Program which will award nearly $321,000.

In the past 30 years, the program has not only grown in visibility and financial scope, but in the array of subjects its recipients have embraced. As of 2020, the Foundation has awarded over $8.5 million in financial aid to over 2,000 recipients.

While award amounts range from $2,000 – $11,000 and eligibility requirements vary by opportunity, in general applicants must be enrolled or planning to enroll in a culinary program at a licensed or accredited culinary school, hospitality institution, college, or university in fall 2021. International students may qualify for many of the scholarships and are encouraged to apply. This year also marks the return of the Foundation’s National Scholars Scholarship, which offers up to 12 awards of $20,000 each per designated region.

“We’re proud to support the next generation of culinary talent through our scholarships, tuition waivers, and grants again this year,” said Clare Reichenbach, chief executive officer of the James Beard Foundation. “As we work to build back a stronger, more equitable, and more resilient restaurant industry, providing funding for education and career advancement opportunities for those who need it most is more important than ever.”

The scholarship program is administered by International Scholarship and Tuition Services, Inc. (ISTS), an independent company that specializes in managing sponsored educational assistance programs. ISTS hosts the online application process, selects and disburses awards to recipients. For more information about the program and to begin the application process, visit jamesbeard.org/scholarships. The deadline to apply is April 1, 2021.

###

About The James Beard Foundation

The James Beard Foundation promotes good food for good™. For more than 30 years, the James Beard Foundation has highlighted the centrality of food culture in our daily lives. Through the variety of industry programs that educate and empower leaders in our community, the Foundation has asserted the power of food to drive behavior, culture, and policy change. The organization is committed to giving chefs a voice and the tools they need to make the world more sustainable, equitable, and delicious for everyone. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the James Beard Foundation launched the Open for Good campaign to ensure that independent restaurants not only survive, but that the industry is able to rebuild stronger than before. For more information, subscribe to the digital newsletter Beard Bites and follow @beardfoundation on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.

The James Beard Foundation is a national not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization based in New York City.

To reach the James Beard Foundation for press inquiries, please contact:
Alex Lue | Alexandra.lue@magrinopr.com
John Roth | john.roth@magrinopr.com
Magrino

As a freshman at Marquette, Cassie Laibly was shocked by what she saw when she traveled to Panama with Global Brigades.

“Hundreds of patients lined up to see the doctors and dentists we shadowed; no running water and many locals sick from a parasite in the water they were drinking,” the Biomedical Sciences major recalled. ”But not a single person complained. They were all so welcoming and such grateful people.”

Five months later, Laibly found herself back in that same Panamanian village. This time, her shock turned to awe. The children she previously met greeted her, not with hellos, but with big smiles and the chorus to the song Laibly had taught them about proper dental care.

“They had been brushing and were so proud to show me their smiles and what they had learned,” she said. “That’s why I got involved with Global Brigades. We don’t just give people the proverbial fish or teach them how to catch it. Global Brigades empowers communities by showing them how to make rods and build boats so they can fish long after we’ve left.”

Global Brigades is the largest student-funded humanitarian organization in the world and Laibly is one of 83,000-plus students who’ve participated in Global Brigades over the nonprofit’s 15-year history.

“Most study some form of health care, engineering or business specialty area,” said Dr. Shital Vora, Global Brigades CEO and Co-Founder, who helped create the nonprofit as an undergraduate Physical Therapy student in 2003. “But we’ve had participants from almost every major, from colleges of all sizes, and even high schools and middle schools.”

Vora and her leadership team recently made an organization-saving pivot to virtual programming in the face of COVID-19. Now, Zoom – instead of airplanes – whisks students to Latin America, West Africa and Greece in real time. The program – called TeleBrigades – continues to bring hope to residents of resource-limited communities, while providing students with hands-on leadership and career-building skills via virtual experiential learning.

“And the best part,” Vora said. “Students are immersed in these communities and make a true impact for people living in poverty while never leaving their laptop, classroom or dorm.”

Laibly, who’s participated in multiple in-country Brigades, as well as a TeleBrigade, found both empowering. “The experiences were different, but I found both life changing,” the future health-care provider said. “In the TeleBrigade, we received a longer-lens view of Global Brigades’ entire holistic approach. In-country, I witnessed first-hand how a community can be empowered to action in multiple aspects of their lives by uniting with others to reach common goals.”

Since Global Brigades’ pivot to virtual learning in May, 152 schools have enrolled in TeleBrigades with more than 1,700 college students participating. In its decade-and-a-half history, Global Brigades’ student participants have raised more than $100 million in aid, which has provided 1.5 million patients with medical and dental treatment, established 106 community banks that provided more than 12,000 loans to local businesses and communities. Global Brigades has also installed 56 water systems, bringing clean, drinkable water to more than 32,000 people.

To get involved in the Global Brigades chapter on your campus or to create your own, visit https://www.globalbrigades.org/chapters or click here.

Marquette University Biomedical Sciences Major Cassie Laibly assists a community member while in Panama with Global Brigades.

About Global Brigades
Dedicated to community-led sustainability by igniting the largest student-funded social responsibility movement on the planet, Global Brigades empowers under-resourced communities in Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama to resolve their health and economic disparities through multi-year projects. In-country staff members are the driving force behind program development, brigade coordination, community follow-up and impact measurement. In its 15-year history, Global Brigades has recruited 83,000-plus student participants, who’ve fundraised over $100 million in aid and participated in Medical Brigades, Water Brigades and Business Brigades, which support community-owned banks and provide business consulting and investment capital to microenterprises.

Media Contact
Madison Kane
Global Brigades National College PR Intern
(312) 768-9888
madison.kane@globalbrigades.org

New annual scholarship program focuses on historically underrepresented students pursuing STEAM education

Edmonton, Alberta (February 2, 2021) – To empower the next generation of industry leaders and provide people in historically underrepresented groups with financial aid, global design firm Stantec has launched the Stantec Equity & Diversity Scholarship Fund. With the first round of applications due in March 2021, the program is a joint effort organized both the organization’s Community Engagement and Diversity & Inclusion programs.

Through the program, Stantec will award $200,000 in global scholarships for the annual academic year as well as 10 paid internships to students.

The Equity & Diversity Scholarship is part of Stantec’s broader commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion within the company and an example of their community engagement initiatives aimed at breaking through barriers.

“Stantec is dedicating scholarship resources to help unlock academic brilliance sitting in the minds of underrepresented communities. We see these scholarships as serving an important part in our broad and critical strategy to achieve racial equality. This equality is a target that is right; it is a target to which we must be dedicated to in order to achieve it in our lifetime,” said Adam Carnegie, Stantec Urban Planner and Senior Associate in the firm’s Community Development practice. “Stantec is committed to providing diverse and inclusive scholarships to help give all the communities we serve, and our firm, the benefit of these sharp minds.”

To be eligible for this award, applicants must be enrolled in a college, university or post-secondary institution in the 2021-22 academic year in pursuit of a bachelor’s degree; pursue a science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) major; and belong to a historically underrepresented population/group such as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color), members of the LGBTQ2+ community, people with disabilities, veterans, and/or first-generation college students.

To empower employees and their families worldwide, the company also offers a dependent of employee scholarship program open to students enrolled in a college, university or post-secondary institution as a second year/sophomore or above. Both scholarship programs are administered by International Scholarship and Tuition Services, Inc. (ISTS), an independent company that specializes in managing sponsored educational assistance programs. For each, ISTS hosts the online application processes in English and French Canadian, responds to applicant inquiries, selects recipients and disburses awards.

For more information about the Stantec Equity & Diversity Scholarship and to begin the application process, visit stantec.com/equityanddiversityscholarship. The deadline to apply is March 15, 2021.

###

About Stantec
Communities are fundamental. Whether around the corner or across the globe, they provide a foundation, a sense of place and of belonging. That’s why at Stantec, we always design with community in mind. We care about the communities we serve—because they’re our communities too. This allows us to assess what’s needed and connect our expertise, to appreciate nuances and envision what’s never been considered, to bring together diverse perspectives so we can collaborate toward a shared success. We’re designers, engineers, scientists, and project managers, innovating together at the intersection of community, creativity, and client relationships. Balancing these priorities results in projects that advance the quality of life in communities across the globe.

Stantec trades on the TSX and the NYSE under the symbol STN.

Media Contact
Danny Craig
Stantec Media Relations
Ph: 949-923-6085
danny.craig@stantec.com

● Project Proposals Must be Received by March 15, 2021.
● The competition is open to graduate-level students who are enrolled full-time with a US-based university or college.
● Institution affiliated to the Winning Entry will Receive $10,000 to Further Advance their Efforts.

Jupiter, FL – January 26, 2021 –– VoLo Foundation, a non-profit organization with a mission to accelerate change and global impact by supporting science-based climate solutions, has opened the registration period for its VoLo VISTA Award competition. The VISTA Award is VoLo Foundation’s award recognition for graduate students who display exemplary leadership in parallel with the five VISTA principles for climate solutions within the state of Florida. The winning individual or team will receive a $10,000 award, made out to the university or college with whom they are affiliated to further develop the project. All project proposals must be received by March 15^th, 2021.  To access the VoLo VISTA Award application, please click HERE or visit www.volofoundation.org/climate-correction/.

The competition is open to graduate-level students who are enrolled full-time with a U.S.-based university or college. All projects must address a climate solution applicable to the state of Florida. Finalists will be invited to present their ideas at the Virtual Climate Correction^TM conference, which will take place April 23^rd, 2021, where VoLo Foundation’s Founders will determine the project that best drives positive change in Florida climate solutions.

“At VoLo Foundation, we are committed to keeping an open conversation about climate change on all fronts, including the new generations,” said Thais Lopez Vogel, co-founder and trustee of VoLo Foundation. “This award competition seeks to assist young leaders in sharing their voice and climate solutions throughout our community. We invite students who are determined to implement and achieve aggressive improvement in Florida’s climate goals to participate.”

Eligibility for 2021 VoLo VISTA Award

VoLo VISTA Award recognizes students determined to implement and achieve aggressive improvement in Florida’s climate goals. Our award seeks to assist young leaders in sharing their voice and climate solutions throughout the community. Applicants of the VoLo VISTA Award program must complete the application questions and meet the following requirements:

● Applicants must be a graduate student enrolled at a U.S.-based university or college. No student may apply for the award during their final year of study unless current team members will be able to continue the project’s work at the institution for the remainder of the 2021-2022 academic year.
● The project must address a climate solution applicable to the state of Florida. 
● The project must validate an achieved data result. I.e., X amount of GHG reduction is achieved with the implementation of this project at Y location for the period of Z years.
● All project proposals must be received by March 15^th, 2021. Finalists will be notified of their acceptance into Climate Correction. NOTE: In order to receive the VoLo VISTA award, finalists must be present during the Virtual Climate Correction Conference. 

The 2019 VoLo VISTA Award winners were Marbelys Garriga, from Florida International University, for her Hybridizing Florida’s Coastline with Mangrove Ecological Infrastructure, and Sarah Swiersz and Mohsina Mahmood, from University of Central Florida, for their project Food Waste Recovery System.

For more information, please follow @VoLoFoundation across Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube, and join the conversation using #VoLoFoundation and #ClimateCorrection.

About Climate Correction^TM
VoLo Foundation’s Climate Correction is a conference and expo dedicated to sharing and collaborating on climate change solutions. Climate Correction’s mission is to educate the public with data about climate change and to empower individuals to make strides toward a renewable and more sustainable future. Climate Correction brings together leading industry experts, researchers, academic faculties, students and the general public in a common goal of sharing ideas, cutting-edge research and innovation, and solutions to accelerate positive global change. The free event will be held virtually on April 23^rd, 2021. For more information visit floridaclimateweek.org/climate-correction-conference

About VoLo Foundation
VoLo Foundation is a non-profit organization founded in 2014 with a mission to accelerate change and global impact by supporting science-based climate solutions, enhancing education, and improving health. VoLo Foundation believes that developing and sharing knowledge through facts and data accelerates positive global change. Through original research and analysis, and in collaboration with philanthropic and academic partners, VoLo aims to enrich the lives of individuals, strengthen communities, and educate future generations. The organization tracks its progress using a variety of qualitative and quantitative approaches, and it supports programs that generate measurable, meaningful, and sustainable results.

###

Media Contact:
Danixa Lopez
Santa Cruz Communications
305-467-5592
danixa@santacruzpr.com