$50,000 Awarded to Undergraduate and Graduate Student Inventors

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

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

2014 Prize Winners & Categories

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Welterweight Semifinal Featured; Matyushenko and Beltran Return

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The full card for Bellator 116:

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

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

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

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

About Bellator MMA

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

About Spike TV:

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

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:                                                     

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Despite Anxiety About Debt and Employment, Survey Shows Teenagers Look to Wisdom of Parents and the Promise of College

Kansas City, Mo., — (April 8, 2014) — As America’s next generation looks ahead to adulthood, it is doing so with conflicted optimism, according to a recent national survey¹ conducted by H&R Block Dollars & Sense, a program designed to increase the financial fitness of American teens. The survey looked at the mind-set and behavior of young adults, ages 13-17, and found that eight of every 10 teenagers are worried about finding a good job and more than half are concerned about being worse off financially than their parents, who 75 percent say are their most important source of financial information. A whopping 78 percent are anxious about potential student loan debt, yet 97 percent still plan on attending college.

“Today’s economic realities are bringing about real financial pressure and stress at a younger age,” said H&R Block Chief Marketing Officer Kathy Collins. “Our survey shows 57 percent of teens use their own money on purchases, yet they often lack fundamental money management skills. The good news is, the research clearly illustrates a desire to learn, to grow and to become financially savvy – and parents play a huge part in that.”

Mom and Dad Know Best
In an era of being constantly “plugged in” and with advice coming from all directions and channels, 75 percent of teens still say their parents are their most important source of financial information. In fact, 62 percent of teens view their parents as good money management role models; only 4 percent say that they are bad examples. Additionally, almost half (47 percent) turn to their teachers for money knowledge.

“From navigating potential college scholarships to balancing a budget, finances can be complex and challenging at any age,” said Collins. “We created Dollars & Sense in part as a guide and a resource, not just for teens, but for parents and educators charged with having these often difficult conversations and imparting lessons. Together, we can help give young people the understanding needed to manage their personal finances.”

College: The High-Priced Ticket to a Well-Paying Job?
Despite the rising cost of college tuition and lack of jobs available within the marketplace, nearly all (97 percent) of survey respondents still plan on attending college, viewing it as a necessary step for future employment. In fact, 86 percent of teens believe it is more important than ever to choose a major that leads to a well-paying job. But, a vast majority of teens – 78 percent – worry about borrowing too much in student loans, fearing crippling debt after leaving college. Indeed, debt at graduation increased an average of 6 percent each year between 2008-2012, rising to an average of $27,000 per borrower.²

Accordingly, tuition and other expenses – now averaging $22,866 for an in-state four-year public institution³ – have become paramount in the college selection process, especially among older teens: 42 percent of 17-year-olds say cost is the primary determining factor. Former benchmarks such as an institution’s ranking and prestige (21 percent), its geography (16 percent), or status as family alma mater (1 percent) have become increasingly marginalized.

The Promise of a Better Tomorrow?
Median household income, as reported by the U.S. Census Bureau, fell for the fifth straight year in 2012. The current level of $51,017 is far below the $55,500 when the recession began and is the lowest mark, adjusted for inflation, since 1995 – before all but today’s oldest teenagers were even born⁴. Perhaps not surprisingly, 58 percent of teens now believe they will be less financially sound than their parents.

Taxes: The Great Unknown
Taxes remain a duty for adulthood, as teens are either disengaged or uninformed – only three of every 100 have filled out an income tax form, while 26 percent feel the forms are too complex. Survey results also revealed teens’ skeptical side, as 58 percent believe that most members of Congress do not pay income tax. Additionally, half feel that wealthy people cheat on their taxes, while 38 percent believe taxes are too high.

H&R Block Dollars & Sense
Funded by H&R Block Inc. (NYSE: HRB), the world’s largest consumer tax services provider, H&R Block Dollars & Sense provides educators and students with personal finance curriculum and resources to increase financial literacy among teens. Since 2009, H&R Block Dollars & Sense has donated more than $4 million in grants and scholarships. For more information, visit www.hrblockdollarsandsense.org.

H&R Block
H&R Block, Inc. (NYSE: HRB) is the world’s largest consumer tax services provider. More than 625 million tax returns have been prepared worldwide by and through H&R Block since 1955. In fiscal 2013, H&R Block had annual revenues of $2.9 billion with 25.4 million tax returns prepared worldwide. Tax return preparation services are provided in company-owned and franchise retail tax offices by over 80,000 professional tax preparers and associates worldwide, and through H&R Block digital products. H&R Block Bank provides affordable banking products and services. For more information, visit the H&R Block Newsroom.

1Survey results were obtained through online interviews among a representative sample of 1,003 teens ages 13-17. Interviews took place February 19-25, 2014. The survey was conducted by The Futures Company on behalf of H&R Block Dollars & Sense.

2“Student Debt and the Class of 2012,” a report issued by The Project on Student Debt (an initiative of the Institute for College Access & Success)

3COLLEGEdata, a member of the National Association for College Admission Counseling

4U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, 1968 to 2013 Annual Social and Economic Supplements

###

Media Contact
Matt Hodson
Carmichael Lynch Spong
(612) 375-8534
matt.hodson@clynch.com

Minakov vs. Kongo Clash In Heavyweight World Title Fight Live On Spike Friday, April 4^th From Reno Events Center

Newport Beach, Cailf. (January 17, 2014) – At 13-0 and the undefeated Bellator Heavyweight World Champion, Russian knockout connoisseur Vitaly Minakov is ready to extend his reign as “The New Emperor” and defend his world title against Cheick Kongo live on Spike TV Friday, April 4^th from Nevada’s Reno Events Center. The fight will headline Bellator 115.

The event will broadcast live starting at 9 p.m. EST/ 8 p.m. CT on Spike TV.  The preliminary card will be streamed live and free exclusively on Spike.com starting at 6 p.m. CT. Tickets for the event are on sale now and can be purchased by visiting TicketMaster.com, Bellator.com and the Reno Events Center Box Office.

Only 28, Minakov took the MMA world by storm in 2013, winning the Bellator Heavyweight Tournament, then capturing gold with a devastating finish over former Bellator Champion Alexander Volkov. The four-time Sambo World Champion is currently riding a seven fight knockout streak, and will look to continue that trend on April 4^th when he meets Cheick Kongo inside the Bellator cage.

“I am now the Bellator Heavyweight World Champion, and that isn’t going to change,” Minakov said. “It doesn’t matter who is in my way, they are getting finished. Kongo has been around for a long time and is a great challenger, but the belt is staying with me. I’m not giving my belt to anybody. This is my belt.”

For Kongo, hype has never been something to faze the French born heavyweight. Over his impressive 13 year career, Kongo has fought, and defeated some of the biggest names in MMA and won’t get caught up in records or pedigree. But as Kongo prepares for a battle tested Minakov, the thought of having a belt wrapped around his waist has certainly entered his mind.

“Being a Champion is something I’ve wanted for a while,” Kongo said. “It’s not about having it now, or fighting for right now. It’s about when I’m old and retired from the sport, I can always look at that belt on my wall, and know that is why I put in all the hours and made the sacrifices I did. It means a lot to me, and it’s something I want to collect on April 4^th.”

“For as long as this lasts, it will be awesome,” said Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney “I’ve been a huge Minakov fan since the day we signed him and a huge Kongo fan for almost ten years.  This is a title fight I’ve had circled on my calendar since Minakov won the belt in November. This will be an electrifying night on Spike and an explosive way for us to kick off our first event ever in Reno.”

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

About Bellator MMA

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

About Spike TV:

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

About mun2

mun2 is the leading Hispanic cable network for young millennial adults 18-34.  From reality to music, on-air to digital, mun2 creates original content that resonates across a multi-screen platform.  Young, vibrant and unabashedly Latino, mun2 has a distribution to over 38 million households. The network is part of Telemundo Media, a division of NBCUniversal.

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

Evanston, Ill., April 1, 2014 – Along with their university partners, online course platforms Coursera and edX are offering 100+ great courses this spring. UniversitySpot.com, which provides easy access to thousands of the best online higher-education resources for students, counselors, teachers, parents and lifetime learners, is pleased to present a refreshingly simple list of the most current course offerings for the spring. Quickly scan through course titles from top U.S. and global universities to find the ones best suited to your interests.

Some of the most popular offerings that have recently started and those starting soon include:

• An Introduction to Interactive Programming in Python (Rice University) – Starting March 24
• Justice (Harvard) – Starting April 8
• The Chemistry of Life (Kyoto University) – Starting April 10
• Competitive Strategy (Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München) – Starting April 11
• Introduction to Bioethics (Georgetown University) – Starting April 15
• Better Leader, Richer Life (University of Pennsylvania) – Starting April 20
• Maps and the Geospatial Revolution (Penn State University ) – Starting April 30
• Sabermetrics 101: Introduction to Baseball Analytics (Boston University) – Starting May 8
• History of Rock, Part One (University of Rochester) – Starting May 9
• Software Defined Networking (Georgia Institute of Technology) – Starting May 26

Check out the full list of courses as well as enrollment dates at UniversitySpot.com.

About UniversitySpot.com
Published by StartSpot Mediaworks, Inc., UniversitySpot.com is the newest addition to the StartSpot Network, a collection of award-winning information portals designed to make finding the best topical information on the Internet a quick, easy and enjoyable experience. Current sites in the StartSpot Network include LibrarySpot.com , HomeworkSpot.com, GovSpot.com and more. Headquartered in Evanston, Ill., StartSpot Mediaworks strives to create exemplary, high-utility best of Web resources that engage, enlighten and inspire. For more information, visit http://www.universityspot.com

Contact:
UniversitySpot.com
Jennifer Borders, Managing Editor
(847) 868-2175
jennifer.borders@startspot.com

Johnson & Johnson is celebrating individuals who go above and beyond in caring for others and giving them a chance to win a trip to the final match of the 2014 FIFA World Cup™ in Brazil. Through the Champions of Care program, Johnson & Johnson will shine a spotlight on the people who dedicate their time and energy to helping people through recognizable acts of care, inspiring others to be more selfless.

So tell us, who inspires you? Has your life been changed by someone’s caring act or have you helped to make a change in someone else’s life? Do your caring acts inspire others to care?

How to Participate:
1. Nominate: Send us a story about yourself, or someone you know, that is a Champion of Care at www.careinspirescare.com before April 4
2. Finalist Voting: Fans will vote on the top 6 most inspiring stories between May 5-25
3. Winner announcement: 1 winner will be selected to go to the Final Match of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™.

Visit www.careinspirescare.com to review the official rules and to find out how to nominate your Champions of Care! Then, share your Champions’ stories with us by using @jnjcares, #inspirecare and #jnj.

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Media Contact
Emily Favret
Matter, Inc.
(240) 818-2098
emily.favret@matter-inc.com

Hometown Favorite Rad Martinez Returns In Featherweight Action

Newport Beach, Calif. (March 4, 2014) – A “Storm” is coming to Salt Lake as the always dangerous Alexander Shlemenko will put his Middleweight World Title and twelve-fight win streak on the line against Tournament winner Brennan Ward live on Spike TV Friday, March 28^th from Utah’s Maverik Center at Bellator 114. The Bellator Featherweight Tournament continues with Desmond Green fighting Will Martinez and Daniel Weichel facing Matte Bessette in the semifinal rounds. The night will also feature the Bellator return of fan favorite and Utah’s own Rad Martinez, who fights Edson Berto in a featherweight battle.

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

Former NCAA wrestling champion and All-American Bubba Jenkins will kick off the Spike.com portion of the night in a fight against Sean Powers. As one of the top MMA prospects in the sport, Jenkins has a 6-1 professional record and will rely on his strong wrestling to get past Powers on March 21^st.

Utah’s own Rad Martinez returns to the Bellator cage to face Edson Berto. After being introduced to the world on ESPN’s “Outside The Lines” for his incredibly moving story of being the primary caretaker for his seriously injured father was told, Martinez made his mark in Bellator, compiling a 4-1 record. Now 35, Martinez is aware that time isn’t on his side, and has decided this fight will be the last in his impressive career.

No stranger to the Bellator cage, Travis Marx will face Isaac De Jesus in a featherweight bout. De Jesus will fight one of his toughest opponents yet in Marx, who was has fought in 26 professional fights and was a Season 9 Bantamweight Tournament Finalist.

Known for ending fights quickly, Season 9 Welterweight Tournament Finalist Ron Keslar will fight Jordan Smith. Keslar has five victories by first round finish and is anxious to get back in the cage to end his fight with Smith as fast as possible.

After making his Bellator debut in November, Linton Vassell returns to the Bellator cage to face Trevor Carlson. With only one professional loss, Carlson will put his skills to the test against Vassell who is riding a seven-fight win streak with four wins by first round finish.

At 13-6 Justin Wilcox will face Jason Fischer in a lightweight battle. After making it to the Season 9 Featherweight Finals in his first run through the Toughest Tournament In Sports, Wilcox is ready for a battle with Fischer, who has grabbed all three of his Bellator victories by submission.

Both stepping under the bright lights of Bellator for the first time, Mike Arrant will face Aaron Wilkinson. Known for his strong submission tactics, Wilkinson will look to his ground game to hold off Arrant who has won his previous seven fights and recorded 10 victories by first round finish.

England’s own Gavin Sterritt will round out the preliminary card in a fight against Mike Estus. Entering the cage on a five-fight win streak, Sterritt plans on maintaining his undefeated Bellator record and is ready to put on an exciting fight for the Maverik Center fans.

The full fight card is listed below.

MAIN CARD:
Bellator Middleweight World Title Fight: Brennan Ward (9-1) vs. Alexander Shlemenko (49-7)
Bellator Featherweight Tournament Semifinal: Desmond Green (10-2) vs. Will Martinez (9-2-1)
Bellator Featherweight Tournament Semifinal: Daniel Weichel (32-8) vs. Matt Bessette (13-4)
Bellator Middleweight Tournament Semifinal: Kendall Grove (19-13) vs. Brett Cooper (19-9)

PRELIMINARY CARD:
Featherweight Feature Fight: Rad Martinez (14-3) vs. Edson Berto (17-11-1)
Lightweight Feature Fight: Justin Wilcox (13-6) vs. Jason Fischer (6-2)
Welterweight Feature Fight: Ron Keslar (11-5) vs. Jordan Smith (18-5-1)
Light Heavyweight Feature Fight: Linton Vassell (12-3) vs. Trevor Carlson (7-1)
Welterweight Feature Fight: Gavin Sterritt (5-1) vs. Mike Estus (5-1)
Welterweight Feature Fight: Aaron Wilkinson (11-6) vs. Mike Arrant (13-8)
Lightweight Feature Fight: Bubba Jenkins (6-1) vs. Sean Powers (8-4)

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

About Bellator MMA

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

About Spike TV:

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

About mun2

mun2 is the leading Hispanic cable network for young millennial adults 18-34.  From reality to music, on-air to digital, mun2 creates original content that resonates across a multi-screen platform.  Young, vibrant and unabashedly Latino, mun2 has a distribution to over 38 million households. The network is part of Telemundo Media, a division of NBCUniversal.

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

College students headed to law school this fall have the opportunity to reduce the financial burden of pursuing their law degree thanks to the support of the Minority Corporate Counsel Association (MCCA).

The LMJ Scholarship Program, sponsored by the MCCA, was established to nurture the academic and professional careers of outstanding law students and advance the diversity pipeline to the legal profession.

“The legal pipeline for minority students has become increasingly constricted. MCCA’s scholarship program is the centerpiece of our effort to address this issue,” said Joseph K. West, MCCA’s President & CEO.

For the 2014-2015 academic year, the LMJ Scholarship Program will award 15 scholarships of $10,000 to students entering their first year of law school. To be eligible for this scholarship, students must:

• Have an interest in corporate law and diversity
• Have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.2
• Be accepted into an ABA-accredited U.S. law school for a full-time Juris Doctorate Program on or before the application deadline (to start in Fall 2014)

The program is currently open and accepting online application submissions until this year’s deadline on May 29, 2014. LMJ Scholarship Program recipients are selected based on academic achievement, community involvement, financial need and essay responses. Recipients who maintain good academic standing may be eligible for additional scholarship monies for up to two additional years.

LMJ Scholarships are funded by national law firms and corporations – such as Microsoft and Nationwide – who also support LMJ Scholarship recipients through mentoring, clerkships and career training. Since its inception a decade ago, the LMJ Scholarship Program has helped more than 130 students pursue a law degree with financial assistance totaling over $2.4 million dollars.

As a first-generation college student and law student, I am so grateful to the Minority Corporate Counsel Association. I continue to be inspired by MCCA’s commitment to philanthropy and service and hope to give back in the future.
2013 LMJ Scholarship Recipient

The MCCA has partnered with International Scholarship and Tuition Services, Inc. (ISTS) for the administration of the LMJ Scholarship Program. In addition to application setup and design, ISTS manages the processing of applications, disbursement of awards and support to applicants. ISTS offers LMJ Scholarship Program applicants and recommenders the ability to complete the entire application process online. For more information on this program and instructions about the online application process, please visit www.mcca.com.

About Minority Corporate Counsel Association, Inc. (MCCA)
MCCA was founded in 1997 to advance the hiring, retention and promotion of diverse attorneys in legal departments and the law firms that serve them. MCCA accomplishes its mission through publishing, research and training, pipeline initiatives and networking. MCCA’s work has been recognized with awards from the National Minority Business Council, Inc., the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the National LGBT Bar, and the Association of Corporate Counsel. MCCA is headquartered in Washington, D.C. For more information, go to mcca.com.

About International Scholarship and Tuition Services, Inc. (ISTS)
Founded in 1985, International Scholarship and Tuition Services, Inc. provides comprehensive scholarship, grant and tuition program management. ISTS is a 100% women-owned company, focused on offering cutting-edge technology and sustainable solutions to corporations, foundations, associations, unions and other scholarship-granting organizations worldwide. For more information about ISTS, visit applyISTS.com.