Three college brands join forces to offer Fraternities & Sororities $250,000 in cash and prizes

SAN FRANCISCO – Three collegiate brands, QUAD, JusCollege and The Social Life have formed a partnership to launch a Greek Championship contest for students across the nation, set to begin on April 2 and run through May 31. Pre-registration has already begun in the search for the “most epic” Greek chapters in the nation, offering over $250,000 in prizes.

“Greeks are super influencers on campus and are well respected by other students,” says Andrew Citores, CEO of JusCollege, “The Greek Championships will celebrate the Greeks and provide them with unique opportunities to interact with brands that understand them.”

Prizes include: A trip to EDC Las Vegas for 25 chapter members; a total of $25,000 cash to plan a chapter formal; a party bus available for an entire semester; several additional surprises that will be announced at the start of the competition through the Greek Championship website.

To compete, Greek chapters must complete the pre-entry form by the April 1 deadline. Voting will run through the free college group messaging app, QUAD, and will not discriminate against chapters based on the number of active members. To earn points, Greek chapters must use QUAD daily, chatting in Topics, creating events and completing weekly missions. For each consecutive day that a group uses QUAD, the group points will multiply.

To earn the most points, chapters will need high participation percentages. “We have created an algorithm that makes it fair game for a group of 20 compared to a group for 350 people,” says Matthew Murphy, CEO of QUAD, “It’s based off percentages, so you will want the most people in your group to actively participate.”

The competition has received a number of pre-entry forms thus far and is expecting a competitive growth in the coming weeks.

About the brands:
Quad is the first large group messaging app that lets up to 500 people communicate, plan and get things done without the inbox clutter of email group lists. Quad is quickly catching on as the go-to-messaging app for college groups and clubs, and is used at over 4,250 of the 4,500 colleges in the nation. Designed by Appsurdity to mobilize college groups, clubs and Greek organizations, Quad is available for Apple and Android devices. Appsurdity is headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area. For more information, visit www.quadapp.com or www.appsurdity.com.

JusCollege is the easiest way for students to plan, organize and book awesome travel and entertainment experiences. Founded in 2010, JusCollege has grown to more than 100,000 customers at 100 campuses throughout the U.S. with a laser focus on serving customers and a highly-principled approach to business.

TheSocialLife specializes in producing custom apparel for Greek Life. TSL serves fraternities and sororities across the nation, providing them with Greek gear for all Greek events.

# # #

MEDIA CONTACT:
Matthew Murphy
Appsurdity
(650) 762-8877
matt@appsurdity.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
February 19, 2014

ADDRESSING STUDENT DEBT CRISIS, NEW WEB TOOL HELPS STUDENTS BETTER PLAN THEIR FINANCIAL FUTURES 

The Council of Graduate Schools and TIAA-CREF Collaborate to Deliver GradSense Website   to Help Students Make Informed Financial Decisions about Their Education and Careers

Washington, D.C. – The Council of Graduate Schools (CGS), a nonprofit organization devoted to graduate education and research, today launched GradSense, a novel online tool designed to help students plan financially for their education and future careers.

With student debt at historically high levels, students have a limited number of resources for assessing the investment they will be making in an advanced degree. To fill this knowledge gap, CGS collaborated with leading financial services provider TIAA-CREF to design and develop GradSense, which features a Debt to Salary calculator, among other tools.

In developing GradSense, CGS researchers brought together two important pieces of information for the first time –federal data on education debt and federal data on median salaries for specific occupations. While this information is available, it is not easily accessible. Students must sift through these datasets using separate databases, which obscures the relationship between investing in a specific degree to pursue a desired profession. To help students make more informed career decisions, GradSense combines these two pieces of information in a simple-to-use tool, providing students with one screen of data that allows them to more accurately align their choice of degree and field of study with their desired career.

Using GradSense, students enter their degree type, desired field of study and preferred career. The student is then shown the median debt of students pursuing their specific degree, along with the starting, median and expert salary levels expected in their desired career. Together, these two informative data sets can help students better understand the impact of their chosen degree on future earnings.

GradSense is part of the Enhancing Student Financial Education project, an initiative of CGS in collaboration with TIAA-CREF.  The program has awarded grants to 15 colleges and universities across the country to develop innovative financial literacy programs that teach students about successful strategies for borrowing, lending and managing personal finances. Lessons and data from each of the 15 university programs and many of the 19 affiliate universities will inform the development of new financial education resources for students nationwide.

“The best practices developed through this program – and the GradSense tool – can help prepare our nation’s students for lifelong financial well-being,” said Laura Levine, president and CEO of Jump$tart Coalition. “I applaud the commitment of CGS, TIAA-CREF and the participating universities.”

The GradSense website also includes a compound interest calculator that shows students the long-term impact of common spending decisions, advice for repaying student loans, guidance on transitioning from graduate school to a career and tips for evaluating and negotiating job offers.

“GradSense provides students with crucial financial information that was never easily accessible or available before,” said Debra W. Stewart, president of CGS. “This clear, customized tool empowers students to make more informed decisions about their educational and career pathways.”

“We are extremely proud of our collaboration with the Council of Graduate Schools, and especially pleased to see tangible results and useful tools already emerging from this program,” said Roger W. Ferguson, president and CEO of TIAA-CREF. “This underscores the combined strengths the business and education sectors bring to bear on addressing the student loan debt issue, and when working together, the valuable impact we can have on the financial futures of our nation’s students.”

In addition to the GradSense website, the tool will also be featured on the websites of universities participating in the Enhancing Student Financial Education program, as well as the websites of other CGS member schools. To use GradSense, visit: www.gradsense.org.

Contacts:
Julia Kent, CGS: (202) 223-3791 / jkent@cgs.nche.edu
John McCool, TIAA-CREF: (888) 200-4062 / media@tiaa-cref.org

###

About GradSense
GradSense is a unique online education platform that provides students with important financial information about the value of pursuing an advanced degree. Based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the National Science Foundation and the National Center for Education Statistics, GradSense was researched, designed and developed by CGS in collaboration with TIAA-CREF. Along with median debt and income data, the GradSense website also provides students with loan repayment advice, spending tips, and career guidance. For more information and updates about GradSense, like it on Facebook and follow it on Twitter: @GradSense.

About CGS
The Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) is an organization of over 500 institutions of higher education in the United States and Canada engaged in graduate education, research, and the preparation of candidates for advanced degrees. Among U.S. institutions, CGS members award 92% of the doctoral degrees and 78% of the master’s degrees.* The organization’s mission is to improve and advance graduate education, which it accomplishes through advocacy in the federal policy arena, research, and the development and dissemination of best practices.

*Based on data from the 2012 CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees

About TIAA-CREF
TIAA-CREF (www.tiaa-cref.org) is a national financial services organization with $564 billion in assets under management (as of 12/31/13) and is the leading provider of retirement services in the academic, research, medical and cultural fields.

TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC and Teachers Personal Investors Services, Inc., members FINRA, distribute securities products.

C15005

~Argo Tea provides unique and nutritious on-the-go options for college students as Millennials challenge traditional cafeteria dining~

Chicago, IL – February 12, 2014 –Today’s Millennials offer an interesting challenge to colleges. They want diversity and authenticity and wear their social conscience on their sleeves. Argo Tea, the largest tea-café chain in the world, has learned that when it comes to food, Millennials are health conscious−demanding natural and fresh−and yet prone to fits of decadence, all the while expecting convenience. Recognizing the college experience triggers changing food and beverage preferences among people ages 18-24* and the eating habits formed influence healthy food choices later in life, Argo Tea is quickly becoming a student favorite at colleges and universities across the country as the tea café’s menu reflects what students want.

“At Argo Tea, we deliver all-natural, real ingredients and smart calories,” said founder and CEO of Argo Tea, Arsen Avakian. “We provide students with great-tasting options that will fuel their bodies and minds with ingredients that will keep them healthy and happy.”

From unique signature beverages like Green Tea Ginger Twist to White Tea Acai Squeeze, Argo Tea sources the best ingredients from around the world to create drinks that taste good and are good for you. Students also benefit from Argo Tea’s wide selection of raw, vegan, and gluten-free foods that are baked and prepared in-store daily.

Argo Tea already has ten college campus area cafés with more scheduled to open in the near future. Current campus locations include New York University, Northeastern University, Saint Louis University, Grand Valley State University, University of North Carolina at Asheville, and Buffalo State, which opened just last week.

“The Buffalo State community is excited about the opening of the new Argo Tea Café in the Butler Library,” said Timothy Ecklund, associate vice president, student affairs at Buffalo State. “This initiative will put the campus in line with the new trend in tea as a preferred beverage by college students and also bring Argo’s new healthy food offerings to the campus.”

Argo Tea now operates 32 cafés in the U.S. and internationally, with more than 15 locations scheduled to open in the next 12 months. Customers can also find Argo Tea’s most popular beverages in ready-to-drink bottles at more than 10,000 retailers across the country, including Walgreens and Whole Foods.

About Argo Tea
Argo Tea, Inc. is a Chicago-based food and beverage company responsible for creating custom tea experiences. We focus on six key pillars: CommuniTEA, DiversiTEA, SustainabiliTEA, ChariTEA, QualiTEA and CreativiTEA. We are passionate about bringing teas directly from growers around the world, and blending them into unique and delicious signature beverages and teas. We are committed to sustainability by working with the best local and global tea, coffee, and food artisans, and by contributing back to our communities to promote a healthy lifestyle and the conservation of natural resources. We are dedicated to delivering consistent quality, combining all-natural, real ingredients and sharing a genuine customer experience “one customer and one cup at a time.” Founded in 2003 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, we now have retail partners across the world, and coming soon to a location near you. Our products are available for distribution in more than 10,000 premier retailers, including foodservice, retail, and hospitality companies in the U.S. and internationally. Learn more at www.argotea.com.

Media Contact:
Rory Swikle
Ogilvy Public Relations
rory.swikle@ogilvy.com
312-397-6021

*The Hartman Group; Outlook on the Millennial Consumer study 2011

Private health insurance exchange lets students shop, compare and purchase plans. Universities can launch integrated exchange to provide students with choices and guidance.

ROSEMONT, Ill. – February 3, 2014 – Flexible Benefit Service Corporation (Flex) today announced that the InsureXSolutions® private health insurance exchange is helping college students in Illinois, Texas, Oklahoma, Montana and New Mexico find coverage before the Affordable Care Act (ACA) penalties go into effect on April 1. The web-based insurance marketplace is available to individual students and their families, as well as universities and colleges that want to provide their students with an online platform where they can shop, compare and enroll in health plans.

According to the ACA, students can remain on their parent’s health coverage until age 26, but many students will not have this option. A 2012 study by the National Student Clearinghouse found that more than one third of students are 25 years of age or older and 54% of students age 25 to 29 study full-time, making it unlikely that they will receive insurance coverage from an employer.

Like families and working individuals, students will have to pay ACA penalties if they do not obtain health coverage by March 31, 2014. Any individual or family that fails to get insurance will have to pay $95 per adult and $47.50 per child or 1 percent of income—whichever is greater. This fee will climb to $695 per adult and $347.50 per child or 2.5 percent of family income in 2016.

“Students entering 2014 without health insurance face a lot of uncertainty,” said John DiVito, President of Flex. “It’s been reported that some universities have discontinued student health plans that are not ACA-compliant or have raised prices. In many cases, college health plans and ‘catastrophic’ coverage plans simply do not provide adequate coverage for students. Instead of feeling trapped, we believe students should have choices and resources, and that’s what we provide through InsureXSolutions.”

InsureXSolutions offers students a wealth of resources for finding affordable coverage. The InsureXSolutions Plan Finder takes into account annual doctor visits, prescription medications, budget considerations and other factors to recommend personalized plans. Users can then refine their selection by insurance company, monthly premium, deductible, coinsurance, HSA eligibility and plan type, or they can select plans and compare them side by side in a simple and informative interface.

The private exchange also features educational resources like shopgetcovered.com, the exchangebuzz health care blog, Health Law 101 and other materials that can help students navigate the complexities of the ACA and insurance. Students can even call InsureXSolutions to speak directly with a licensed insurance professional.

Rather than offering a single college health plan or referring students to government marketplaces, universities can also launch their own private exchange with InsureXSolutions. The integrated student insurance exchange allows educational institutions to connect students with a wide range of choices without incurring high costs or administrative burdens. InsureXSolutions features a large variety of plans from leading providers of health and dental insurance.

Today, the number of uninsured students in the United States is unclear. A 2013 report by the Commonwealth Fund, however, found that nearly one third of young adults who graduated from or left college were uninsured or lost their health insurance.

“Not all students are ‘invincible,’” said DiVito. “Some have chronic health issues, some have families to care for and many participate in athletics. Avoiding penalties is important, but helping students find plans that fit their lifestyle and personal needs is our highest priority.”

To learn more about InsureXSolutions, visit www.insurexsolutions.com

# # #

About Flexible Benefit Service Corporation 
Flexible Benefit Service Corporation (Flex) is a leader in the health insurance and benefits administration marketplace. Since 1988, Flex has continuously offered cost-effective health care solutions for producers, employers, employees and individuals. Through their consumer-driven strategies, tax-advantaged programs and insurance offerings, Flex serves as a full service general agency and benefits administrator. The comprehensive Flex product portfolio includes flexible spending accounts (FSAs), health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs), health savings accounts (HSAs), transit/parking reimbursement accounts (TRAs), COBRA administration and more. Flex also blends its in-house expertise from both divisions to offer a private insurance exchange showcasing integrated resources and innovative technology. Flex is an accredited business with the Better Business Bureau and maintains an A+ rating. Learn more at www.flexiblebenefit.com.

Media Contact
Nick Severino, Director of Marketing
Flexible Benefit Service Corporation (Flex)
888-353-9178 | nseverino@flexiblebenefit.com

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

###

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

###

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