Next spring, 3.3 million students will graduate from high schools in the United States. But according to new research data, many of these students don’t have the resources and information they need to make the jump from high school to college.
Today, the Ad Council, Viacom and Get Schooled launched a new series of public service announcements (PSAs) to encourage students to seek out the information they need to apply to and succeed at college. The new PSAs urge teens nationwide to visit GetSchooled.com to access the free college preparation tools, information and activities to help guide them through the application and financial aid process.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7648051-ad-council-college-access/
Today, GENYOUth announced the launch of Fuel Up to Play 60 en español, an evolution of its national flagship program. The program encourages Spanish-speaking communities nationwide to live healthier lifestyles through good nutrition and physical activity. Fuel Up to Play 60 launched a redesigned website (FuelUpToPlay60.com) that provides Spanish-language content and materials, extending the reach and access of the program to students, teachers and families across the country. Several organizations have supported the effort, including the PepsiCo Foundation, which has provided a previously announced grant of $550,000 to develop Spanish-language materials and resources. In addition the PepsiCo Foundation will provide another $100,000 for mini-grants for health and wellness activities and programming within Los Angeles Unified School District and Miami-Dade County Public Schools.
Fuel Up to Play 60, a program founded by the National Football League (NFL) and National Dairy Council (NDC), is designed to engage and empower youth to take action for their own health by implementing long-term, positive nutrition and physical activity changes for themselves, their schools and their communities. Studies show that physical fitness may benefit brain health and academic performance, suggesting active kids may do better. However, only 1 in 3 kids are active every day, potentially leaving many at a disadvantage inside and outside of the classroom.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7646551-fuel-up-to-play-60/
Children with physical disabilities are twice as likely to be bullied, impacting their educational, physical and emotional development.* In support of National Bullying Prevention Month this October, Shriners Hospitals for Children® and award-winning actor, model and philanthropist, RJ Mitte, are once again partnering to encourage the public to help #CutTheBull.
Teens and adults alike are encouraged to visit CutTheBull.org and see how they can help create a more positive, accepting environment for kids living with disabilities. There, Shriners Hospitals will announce “RJ's Heroes”, honoring individuals who have helped reduce bullying in their communities. Supporters can also share their anti-bullying stories and purchase #CutTheBull t-shirts, with proceeds going to Shriners Hospitals for Children to provide life-changing care to kids.
Born with cerebral palsy, Mitte was bullied as a child and knows firsthand the effects it can have. The doctors and staff at Shriners Hospitals for Children helped Mitte overcome many of the physical effects of cerebral palsy, which made him stronger and able to succeed despite the bullying. Now a successful actor and model, Mitte wants to help other kids with disabilities who may be experiencing the same thing.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7559151-shriners-hospital-cut-the-bull/
Varsity Brands, the recognized leader in team athletic gear, the driving force in cheerleading and dance, and the most trusted name in celebrating student milestones, today announced Vista Murrieta High School, from Murrieta, Calif. as the winner of its America’s Most Spirited High School Contest. The announcement today coincides with National School Spirit Day, which was recognized by Congress last year.
“Our students feel connected to Vista Murrieta and have an engrained sense of school pride,” said Mick Wager, Principal of Vista Murrieta, “The family atmosphere and sense of community is apparent and genuine.”
High schools across the country were invited to enter the contest, which called for each school to submit a 90-second video, a 500-word essay, two letters of recommendation and several photos demonstrating its school spirit. High schools from 33 states were represented in the contest. Vista Murrieta’s video submission won based on a nationwide vote and included footage from games, pep rallies, and student activities that epitomize a robust school spirit environment that seeks to include all students. Vista Murrieta estimates that 85% of their students are involved in at least one activity, club or sport, and their video was a true testament to the power of school spirit and its effects on high school students.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7636151-varsity-brands-vista-murrieta-award/
Globally renowned tennis champion and Supergoop! Co-Owner Maria Sharapova alongside Supergoop! Founder & CEO Holly Thaggard, are proud to announce the launch of Project Black Dot, a new education and activism platform with the singular mission to end the epidemic of skin cancer and improve skin health in America. Maria is the face and champion of this multidimensional platform that focuses on providing consumers with suncare education and activations year round, not just during the traditional “sun” months.
The Project Black Dot platform, which will unveil multiple initiatives throughout the coming year, will kick off today with “Project 1: Permission,” calling attention to current regulations on sunscreen in schools. This initiative will put the power into the hands of parents and schools by providing a simple, sunscreen permission slip which gives children the ability to use and apply sunscreen at school with the goal of obtaining 100,000 signed sunscreen permission slips.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7633051-supergoop-project-black-dot/
XQ Institute is launching XQ: The Super School Project, a challenge to reimagine and design the next American high school. Harnessing the best of American ingenuity in cities and towns across the country, XQ aims to help spark a movement to rethink the American high school—an institution that was designed to meet the needs of the Industrial Revolution and hasn’t changed in more than a century.
“Our nation is radically different than it was 100 years ago. Nearly every aspect of our daily lives—from how we communicate to how we work and play—has changed dramatically,” said Laurene Powell Jobs, Chair of the board of XQ Institute. “But our high schools have stayed frozen in time. Together, we have an opportunity to help fuel a movement for students, to inspire great high schools, and even to rethink school itself. Our passion at XQ is to help educators everywhere foster students who are curious, engaged, and creative—armed with the new literacies, knowledge, and skills needed to thrive,” she added. “To do that, we must use our collective imagination.”
From the Model T to the Tesla and the switchboard to the smart phone—everything has changed except for how we prepare our kids for the future. XQ: The Super School Project is a rallying call to America to change the outdated model that has failed to prepare our students for the demands of the global economy, and an open call to every community to rethink high school for today and tomorrow. XQ Institute will provide a fund of $50 million to support at least five selected schools over the next five years. It will also partner with them to provide expert support and guidance to turn their ideas into real Super Schools that can inspire the country.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7611851-xq-institute-super-school-project/
Vitamin Bee, LLC today announced a new collaboration with the Bayer Bee Care Program through its “Vitamin Bee®” character to help promote the Feed a Bee initiative, bee advocacy and healthy nutrition awareness for children.
Created by veteran director and animator Geoffrey Kater, Vitamin Bee is the central character in a nutrition education program that encourages kids to eat nutritious foods and empowers them to make healthy lifestyle choices. Their approach is to teach children and have fun while doing it, with the help of a dynamic animated character, as well as an entire curriculum that entertains and educates through the use of videos, quizzes, activity sheets, games and hands-on lessons.
“Vitamin Bee is a great role model that teaches kids about the value of the honey bee to our planet, our food supply and our daily lives,” said Geoffrey Kater, creator of Vitamin Bee. “We hope that getting kids to appreciate the role of the honey bee at an early age will encourage them to be great bee advocates for their entire lives. Vitamin Bee speaks a language that kids understand and uses humor to teach them these important lessons. I think we’ve created a great thing here and I’m so happy to be working with the Feed a Bee program and to be part of the Bayer Bee Care Center to help educate schools, kids and families alike.”
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7452952-bayer-vitamin-bee-feed-a-bee/
To help kick off National Emergency Preparedness month, Primrose Schools is teaming up with national partner Save the Children on a nine-week series aimed at equipping families with tools so they can better prepare for the unexpected. The interactive program features engaging resources, activities and videos on Primrose Schools’ 360 Parenting blog that ultimately lead parents through a simple, step-by-step process to create their own family emergency plans.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7437952-primrose-save-the-children-preparedness/
Pilot Corporation of America (Pilot Pen) is encouraging parents and students to help erase bullying this school year through their ‘Erase Bullying for Good’ campaign. This campaign was developed in partnership with STOMP Out Bullying, the leading bullying prevention organization in the U.S. The ‘Erase Bullying for Good’ campaign is funded with proceeds from sales of Pilot’s FriXion Clicker erasable gel ink pen, a revolutionary kind of erasable pen that enables students to enjoy mistake-free writing. A total of $125,000 will be donated to STOMP Out Bullying for the educational and support programs they offer parents, students and educators designed to transform and prevent negative bullying behaviors in U.S. schools.
Bullying has become a real problem in U.S. schools and Pilot Pen wanted to help be part of the solution. “There are a lot of parents that work at Pilot, and we are well aware of the challenges facing kids today. We wanted to help address the issue of bullying at a national level by supporting STOMP Out Bullying. They are the ideal resource & partner, with their educational programs and confidential help chat line for teens,” said Ariann Langsam, Director of Marketing at Pilot Corporation of America.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7564451-pilot-pen-erase-bullying/
The Verizon Innovative App Challenge - the no-coding-skills-needed contest that gives middle and high school students a chance to bring their problem-solving app ideas to life - is back! In its fourth year, the App Challenge calls students to gather teams, dream up ideas, and create concepts for mobile apps that could solve problems in their schools and communities.
For the first time, the App Challenge will be open to teams representing non-profit organizations in addition to schools, and even more students will earn free tablets and cash awards for the groups they represent. The deadline for submission is Nov. 24, and the winners will be named in January 2016.
Bill Nye, the Science Guy, is helping Verizon to encourage students nationwide to submit their ideas and to organize their teams now.
Created by the Verizon Foundation in partnership with the Technology Student Association, the App Challenge offers hands-on, experiential learning to ultimately help students envision brighter futures for themselves that they may never have imagined, as business owners, app inventors and professional coders.
To view the multimedia release visit:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7593951-verizon-innovative-app-challenge/
Being a professional financial planner requires more than just being good with numbers. Today’s advisors must develop skills that can help them build personal ties with clients, understand their needs and create a strategy to help families pursue their goals.
Eager to produce “job ready” graduates, many universities and colleges are teaching the real world skills young advisors need in the workplace. And to help more schools take their programs to the next level, TD Ameritrade Institutional1 has awarded its third annual Next Gen Financial Planning Grants: a $50,000 grant to the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas, to expand an existing financial planning degree program, and $25,000 to Temple University in Philadelphia to foster development of a new program.
To view the multimedia news release visit
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7559051-td-ameritrade-scholarship-winners/
Jason Rogers, 12, a 7th grade student at Bondurant Middle School in Frankfort, likes sports and plays football, basketball, baseball and soccer. He also likes math and, if he doesn’t get to play professional sports when he grows up, he wants to be an engineer.
Jason is one of 700 minority boys from middle schools in four states who are spending several weeks this summer gaining hands-on learning experiences with advanced technology through a first-of-its-kind program designed to inspire minority males to explore education and career opportunities in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields.
To view the multimedia news release visit
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7578951-verizon-stem-minority-boys-hbcu-programs/