The ICKEE Stikeez® invasion is here! The squishy, squeezy, sticky, collectible figures known as ICKEE Stikeez from Zing® Toys are now available at select specialty toy stores nationwide.
The first collection of ICKEE Stikeez (#IckeeStikeez) has 24 whimsical, wacky and hilariously disgusting characters. Each of the characters sit on a suction cup that enables the ICKEEZ to stick to any flat surface, such as lockers, lunchboxes, windows and cell phones. When pulled-off, the ICKEEZ make a cool, loud “pop”! Characters come in PODZ that are reminiscent of vending machine capsules, which also have built-in play. Kids can connect them to create various structures and environments for their ICKEE Stikeez characters.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/52105-ickee-stickeez-zing-toys-innovation-play-holiday-collectible-suction-cup
As part of an ongoing effort to help inspire high school students who do not think that college is in their future, the College Board today announced the launch of YouCanGo!, an interactive web experience designed specifically to engage those students for whom college seems out of reach. YouCanGo! offers a variety of simple and interactive tools that aim to inspire students to think of college as an option that is available to them.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/52249-college-board-launches-youcango-resource-for-students-considering-college
A deadly killer stalks a small Kentucky town. Three women and three men, are caught in his web. Some of them may be closer than they realize. Love, lust, desire and danger surround them. Even if they make it out alive, none of them will be the same. Learn about this book here, http://bit.ly/qhH11g and its author here, http://www.shilohwalker.com/ Romantic Suspense
Metcalf Institute for Marine & Environmental Reporting presented The Grantham Prize for Excellence in Reporting on the Environment to James Astill of The Economist at the 2011 Grantham Prize Awards Ceremony. Astill received US$75,000 for “The World’s Lungs: Forests, and How to Save Them,” a commanding 8-part special report on the state of global forests and the rising threats they face from human exploitation and climate change.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/grantham/51097/
We teach children how to cross a street and what to eat. We warn them not to talk to strangers. Pella Windows and Doors is asking parents and caregivers to also add fire and window safety to the key lessons they pass on to children.
October is Fire Prevention Month. Take time to develop and discuss your home fire safety escape plan, and at the same time, talk to your family about window safety and how to help prevent accidental falls in the home.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/52417-pella-windows-and-doors-fire-prevention-month-safety-tips
With the kick-off of pro football season and September marking National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, the American Urological Association (AUA) Foundation and the National Football League (NFL) have teamed up for a third year to educate men about prostate health and encourage them to join the “Know Your Stats” campaign. With the support of an increasing number of NFL greats and prostate cancer survivors, the national campaign is focused on turning awareness into action by encouraging men to know their risks and get tested.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/51874-aua-foundation-nfl-mike-haynes-know-your-stats-prostate-cancer-awareness
Kaplan University nursing alum Debra Eppley was already working in the nursing field when she started her RN-to-Bachelor of Science in Nursing completion program (RN-to-BSN program). Kaplan University’s flexibility and support offered her the opportunity to complete her degree online while continuing to work. Once she completed her Bachelor of Science Nursing online, she was able to make a career move that not only increased her salary, but also her level of job satisfaction.
Kaplan University makes taking online nursing classes a streamlined process. Every day nurses choose Kaplan University for their online master’s degree programs. The distance learning curriculum makes a nursing degree obtainable for working professionals. Nursing as a career is a rewarding occupation that could allow for a wide range of employment opportunities beyond the hospital doors.* The Kaplan University School of Nursing offers online nursing degrees such as an the RN-to- BSN completion program, the RN-to-MSN option, and nurse practitioner certificate programs† to help get you where you want to be. Nursing programs at Kaplan University, including the MSN programs online, are designed for nurses that are already in the field. It’s this unique approach that sets Kaplan University apart.
*Kaplan University's programs are designed to prepare graduates to pursue employment in their field of study, or in related fields. However, the University does not guarantee that graduates will be placed in any particular job, eligible for job advancement opportunities, or employed at all. Additional training or certification may be required.
† At this time, the nurse practitioner certificates are available only in the following states: California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, and Vermont.
“I got out of high school and started working. I had a family very young. About the time I was 28 I decided I needed to go to school. I went and got my associate’s degree in nursing at that time. I had worked in labor and delivery, and that’s my niche. I like it–I like babies, I like seeing families with their babies. Then I thought, I love floor nursing but there was something else I wanted to do.
We are in Coshocton, Ohio, which is very near to the heart of Amish country. I just needed to step out and do something else for myself. What I thought I would like to do required a bachelor’s degree and so I started looking down that road. I had kind of shopped around on the net looking for every last online class. You’re looking at price, you’re looking at length, you’re looking at what kind of clinical requirements are there–especially for me in nursing. I just started weeding and narrowing it down and I kept coming back to Kaplan University because it seemed to fit what I wanted to do at that time.
I enrolled to start my bachelor’s degree. There were times when I thought I was going to quit–family life is too much, work is too much, school is too much. I thought, no wasn’t an option. But of course that thought of having that extra two year degree bumps that salary up immensely. I was also thinking, ‘I’m going to have four kids I have to put through college, because now I’m encouraging them to go to college so I need to find a way to help them pay for that, too.
Financially going back to school was a huge plus. This January the head of OB at the time decided to leave her position, and it was open. They posted the job and I debated long and hard because I thought, ‘It’s too soon,’ ‘I can’t be there yet,’ and after much coaxing from a few of my coworkers, my husband, and my mother, I went ahead and I applied for the job and they hired me.
I started the end of March; I am now the OB coordinator, so I manage the whole OB department. It’s just a huge feeling of pride. My Kaplan [University] experience was fantastic. They just want to see you succeed and they want to help you get there. You have a job, you have a
Kaplan University master’s degree graduate Onica Browne obtained her Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a focus on international business. In her case, this Kaplan University online program offered a unique learning experience to collaborate with students in other countries, enriching the learning process.
Kaplan University offers online degree programs including an MBA distance learning program designed to foster thought leadership, innovation, and corporate social responsibility on a global scale. Upon completion of the MBA program students could have the opportunity to pursue several career paths.* An MBA is one of the most sought after university degrees online as it can be applied in almost any realm of the business world and is often of interest to students looking to advance in their field.
Kaplan University’s online MBA program is designed for the working student. Our classes are flexible and the courses are designed to be closely related to what students will encounter in their career. More employers seek the knowledge and discipline that is relevant to completing graduate school. An MBA degree could help create value in an employer’s eyes and set you apart in today’s competitive business environment. We strive to set ourselves apart by continually developing and enhancing our curriculum to help prepare our students to succeed in their careers.
* Kaplan University's programs are designed to prepare graduates to pursue employment in their field of study, or in related fields. However, the University does not guarantee that graduates will be placed in any particular job, eligible for job advancement opportunities, or employed at all. Additional training or certification may be required.
“I had my undergraduate degree in international business for just about seven years and I have always wanted to get my master’s degree. When I looked at other universities and selected Kaplan [University] for my master’s degree, Kaplan [University] gave you the most ‘bang for your buck.’ I met professors that were actually in the industries that they taught. This was not purely an academic setting. Everything that we do in international business is all about relating to other people and everything we do at Kaplan [University] is about how you relate to other people and how that relation allows you to do better.
I met people who were from China, who were from Japan, who were from the Middle East; I met a gentleman who was a program developer for Microsoft based in Shanghai. I had one of my classmates in Iraq at the time and we would collaborate on different projects while she was in Iraq and I was in the United States.
That’s the beauty of Kaplan [University]. We share and we learn from each other and then you can go back to work the next day and apply the same information that you learned in class. I work for the US Small Business Administration. Because I have my Master’s Degree from Kaplan [University] I actually was able to obtain the job that I have right now where I’m helping small businesses. Without my master’s degree from Kaplan [University] I would not have even been considered for the position so my degree is allowing me to touch people outside of me and allowing them to touch people outside of them so it’s almost like paying it forward.”
Carol Platt was caught in the middle of the economic downturn with no backup plan. Searching for a stable job in an unstable economy proved to be difficult without a college degree. Her work history and past successes were overlooked. It had always been a dream of hers to complete her degree; after a failed first attempt, she was unsure of her ability to follow through. She began researching online education options and felt that Kaplan University stood out; she decided to complete her college degree online. Carol enrolled in Kaplan University’s School of Business and Management and earned her bachelor’s degree online, focusing on business with an emphasis in human resources.
The adult continuing education program at Kaplan University is designed for working professionals who seek to further their career or, like Carol, want to earn their university degree online.* Students can complete assignments on a schedule that fits their lives. It’s this type of flexibility that helps prepare Kaplan University online students for success. Even if you already have an established career, it’s never too late to consider online business school to further your knowledge and update your skills. Increase your marketability with one of Kaplan University’s online bachelor degree programs without taking time off of work to attend class.
* Kaplan University's programs are designed to prepare graduates to pursue employment in their field of study, or in related fields. However, the University does not guarantee that graduates will be placed in any particular job, eligible for job advancement opportunities, or employed at all. Additional training or certification may be required.
“I grew up in Graham, North Carolina. My parents both worked for the textile mills, both had fourth grade educations and my mom always wanted me to get an education. When I graduated from high school it was my dream to go to college. I failed the first class of my life which was my chemistry class. I was just overwhelmed so I left after about a year and half, got a job and kept trying to go back to school. For me it was personally devastating. It really bothered me. I felt like I was failing. I had one shot and I blew it.
When Jenna left for boarding school I couldn’t even open the door and go in the room and I was almost 52. All of that coincided with the downturn of the market. I had almost $6 million dollars in contracts waiting to close and they all fell through—every single one of them. I thought, ‘now what? I don’t have a degree, there are no jobs.’ It doesn’t matter what I had done or how much success I had, the requirements are to have a degree. Not only that, I had to walk back in the door competing with people half my age and many of them had MBAs.
It was just a matter of figuring out how to do it—so that’s when I started to check into what were the institutions, what was the cost, how were they respected. Kaplan [University] had a degree in business with a specialty in human resources. As I started narrowing the options down, it made it into about the final three. I took those three finalists to my traditional education friends and I said, ‘I want to know what the most respected online degree would be if someone was coming into your office looking for a job.’
The IT Dean, the Computer Science Dean, felt like Kaplan [University] had the best online delivery program that was out there. The Academic Dean’s advice was that this is a respected degree that you’re not going to have people questioning whether you were competent when you came out. Everything that you take there will be accepted if you go on to a master’s [program] anywhere so that was a very good recommendation. When I sat down at graduation, 31 years later, and I’m looking up at the podium and it says, ‘Kaplan University: a Different School of Thought’ that was probably more me because I do think a little differently. I’m willing to work on things that innovate and I think that’s more of an opportunity for me and many students like me.~N
At Kaplan University, our main focus in developing our online MBA programs is career development. We believe the time and effort that is required to obtain a master’s degree online should be apparent the first day the student begins their new career. Earning an MBA could be a step in the right direction towards a fulfilling and satisfying career.*
Kaplan University’s Master of Business Administration online offers students the tools to understand the relevant knowledge and proficiencies, and to apply what they have learned in class at work. Our unique distance learning MBA program is designed to accommodate students that work full time. You can attend class virtually anywhere you have an Internet connection, and the coursework material is available to you at any time. Students can pursue their goals and complete their MBA online for a brighter future.
Kaplan University strives to put our students first. We have our fingers on the pulse of what is going on in the business world and integrate that knowledge into our courses. At Kaplan University, we are proud to offer our students resources to help them succeed in their pursuit of continuing education. Our instructors care about their students and are available to answer questions or offer support.
* Kaplan University's programs are designed to prepare graduates to pursue employment in their field of study, or in related fields. However, the University does not guarantee that graduates will be placed in any particular job, eligible for job advancement opportunities, or employed at all. Additional training or certification may be required.
“We’re very proud of our MBA program. The MBA Program enables students to develop a portfolio of practical, resume building experiences while they’re still in school. What they can do with that is really demonstrate that they know what business is about and they know how to manage and lead projects.
I think one of the things that we’ve worked very diligently toward is to build a curriculum that provides students with real world experience so that they’re able to that the skills that they’re earning in the classroom, learning in the classroom and carry those immediately into the workforce.
The one thing that I would have to say that Kaplan [University] afforded me that other programs I looked at did not afford me is the practical use of every course and I can take it right from the classroom right to my work every single day.
We have specializations in marketing, management, finance, entrepreneurship which is very popular, international business.
An emphasis in International Business with all of its aspects from Human Resources to International Finance, International Projects, and International Marketing; that is something that I think will help me greatly especially in the consulting field.
What they’re able to say with the MBA is that they’ve got areas of expertise in Finance and Economics and Accounting and that they’ve got the skill set that goes beyond what somebody with a bachelor’s degree would have.
All of a sudden my supervisor is realizing that I’m being underutilized, so now I have more responsibilities that are more challenging.
The challenge is there for sure, but it’s the tools like the Writing Center, the Math Center- the things that make a student be able to succeed.
You will find help and assistance from the beginning. Your academic advisor, the financial advisor, and every step you will always have somebody that will be there right by your side.
I’ve had many students contact me years after they’ve completed their degree and say it was because of having earned my MBA I’m now working in a different capacity; working in a leadership role, working as a VP, working as a CEO at a small corporation. Or many students go off and start their own business because they got the confidence of the skills that they’ve gained.
If you want your MBA, I can just tell you- Kaplan [University] is your first choice, it is. The structure of th
An information technology degree from Kaplan University could be the first step towards a potential information technology career.* Earning an IT degree online can seem like a daunting task, but Kaplan University faculty and staff are available to students through email, instant messaging, and phone calls as well as weekly online seminars.
Kaplan University students who have completed their online information technology degrees have gone on to work at major corporations including Microsoft and Ticketmaster. The IT degree program offered by Kaplan University presents students with real-world scenarios and offers the support to learn in an interactive environment. Constant communication and extensive resources positions Kaplan University among the top online universities.
Completing a university degree online allows the student to continue working full time while being able to take classes that fit into their busy schedules. Even in a difficult economy, a degree from Kaplan University is an investment in your future. Technological advances are not slowing down and those who can manage information technology and all that an IT degree encompasses could have a relevant career ahead of them.
* Kaplan University's programs are designed to prepare graduates to pursue employment in their field of study, or in related fields. However, the University does not guarantee that graduates will be placed in any particular job, eligible for job advancement opportunities, or employed at all. Additional training or certification may be required.
“The Information Systems and Technology programs at Kaplan [University] are very real-world and very relevant. Kaplan [University] teaches its students skills that are really necessary in today’s work place. One of the things we do for an incoming student at Kaplan [University] is we provide them very early on with some diagnostic testing that helps them identify not only their academic strengths and opportunities for learning, but also helps them identify their areas of interest and their strengths outside of the academic setting. From the first day the student virtually steps on to the campus they’re empowered to be successful.
Every day our faculty talk with students and help them think about how they can accomplish what they need to accomplish in order to be successful at school. They want to make sure that the students are comfortable in their environment and students will tell you that they can get a hold of anybody just about any time.
All of the faculty members have instant messaging and email capabilities and they have office hours where you can contact them or you can email them and they’ll always get back to you.
I have well over 300 students on my messenger list so there’s still a lot of that personalization and we try to get in there and really help the students succeed.
The support I got from my teachers and advisors was tremendous. They were caring and they seemed like they were really interested in what was going on.
We’re very serious about our work so that our students are learning and growing and when they graduate they’re prepared for what they’re doing. In the classroom we’re relaxed and we talk to each other.
I was very surprised; I actually met a lot of wonderful people online and I’ve made lifelong friends with them.
We have a seminar every week online where you meet with the instructor and all the students; it’s like a chat room. It involves an audio feature so they can hear the instructor speak. It allows for much more interactive questioning and dialogue so the student gets much more out of the seminar experience. We want to connect talent to success, to career and job success.
Now, with my education, I’ll be able to make better money which means better opportunities for my kids, my family and a better quality of life. The quality of education that I received at Kaplan University was superb. It was far beyond anything I could have imagined.
One of my former students has al
A degree in nursing from Kaplan University addresses the challenges and scenarios real nurses work through on a daily basis. Kaplan University’s Master of Science in Nursing (MSN program) is based on relevant material to help ensure our students are prepared for their careers. Our online nursing degrees are based on flexible coursework; students enrolled in the Kaplan University School of Nursing program are already nurses and there is no easier way to cater to the ever-changing schedule of a nurse than attending university online.
We offer our students the courses to help develop their career through program offerings such as an RN-to-MSN option and nurse practitioner certificates.* Nurses don’t just work in hospitals. At Kaplan University, we understand the different capacities in which nurses work and have developed our nursing school online to accommodate all capacities of nursing.
We see our nurses follow through with their training in programs that help students progress from their RN to an MSN program online. After years of hard work, our nurses look back at their time spent with Kaplan University and know it was a key element in getting them where they wanted to be.
* At this time, the nurse practitioner certificates are available only in the following states: California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, and Vermont.
“It’s important to Kaplan [University] to make sure that the students have the skill set and the abilities to function well in the world of nursing. We want our graduates to be considered the employees of choice so if they’re in a position or applying for a position, when the employer looks, ‘Oh you graduated from Kaplan [University].’ They know there is a certain currency and a certain relevance to the information and the knowledge they’ve gained. All of our online students are already nurses so they’re out there working in a variety of fields all over the country. We ask our nurses, we ask our students that are in our bachelor’s and our master’s program, what do they think? What’s important to them?
We try to think outside the box. Not all nurses work in the hospital. Nurses in the community, nurses in informatics, nurses in education—because when you find something that you’re passionate about, that’s when you’ve learned.
Their method of teaching was phenomenal. It was so phenomenal that when I went to take the boards I knew I passed the board. Why? Kaplan [University] taught me how.
What makes the Kaplan [University] School of Nursing so unique is the ability to offer the beginning nurse Vocational Nursing diplomas, Practical Nursing diplomas, and then to be able to be with them all throughout their career as they advance and progress with additional diplomas, certificate and degree programs to meet every need.
We give them opportunities to build their own professional portfolio throughout the nursing program we encourage the students to hold on to the things that they did well and to refine their skills. All of that are things that are absolutely embedded in the curriculum because we’re all about students’ success. Our students are challenged; they are working adults, they have families, and they have responsibilities, perhaps for children or older relatives. The personal touch is when the students know that the faculty care about them, that the advisors care about them and that people follow up.
I initially went with Kaplan [University] because I had a lot of returned calls from them and a lot of encouragement. Being that it was an online school I was nervous about, “What if I need help?” “What if I have a question?” All of the instructors that I had said call me if you have a question, email me if you have a question; I really needed that extra little push to get me started.
Our students feel like they really develop a personal relationship with the faculty. We see that when they graduate they’re always interested, if they
