San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) April 30, 2012

Two leading early childhood specialists with in-depth expertise in Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and assistive technology (AT) will discuss the commonalities of these solutions and how districts can implement them quickly during a free webinar titled “Universal Design for Learning and Assistive Technology: What Do They Have in Common?”

Hosted by PresenceLearning (http://www.presencelearning.com), the leading provider of live online speech therapy services to K-12 students, the webinar will take place on Friday, May 18th at 1:00 pm ET. To register for the webinar, visit http://pages.presencelearning.com/spedahead2

Authors and educators Kathleen C. Sadao, Ed.D. of the Sacramento County Office of Education and Nancy B. Robinson, Ph.D., CCC-SLP of San Francisco State University will address concerns of special education directors, early childhood interventionists and other administrators related to the implementation, uses and benefits of UDL and AT. By attending the webinar, participants will learn the basics of UDL implementation and how to incorporate AT tools from the initial phases of classroom design. In addition, presenters will discuss how to apply the AT toolkit concept to specific school and classroom needs, provide examples of how AT tools can provide access to the general education curriculum for students, and help attendees understand the roles of the special educator in promoting the application of AT toolkits for curriculum support.

This webinar is the second in a series of free webinars sponsored by PresenceLearning, the leading provider of live online speech therapy. The webinar series, entitled “SPED Ahead: New Realities, New Choices – A Forum for School Leaders,” brings together thought leaders who are re-thinking the way special education services are delivered.

To learn more about PresenceLearning, visit http://www.presencelearning.com.

About Kathleen C. Sadao, Ed.D.

Kathleen Curry Sadao, Ed.D., is a program specialist with the Supporting Early Education Delivery Systems (SEEDS) Project, in the Sacramento County Office of Education. Her work includes developing training materials for the field and facilitating a state-level assistive technology work group creating web-based AT training products. Dr. Sadao has been in the field of early childhood special education for more than 25 years. She has traveled the Pacific Islands providing training and technical assistance to newly developed ECSE programs as a Head Start Technical Assistance consultant and later a National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center coordinator. Currently Dr. Sadao and her SEEDS Workgroup on Early Education Technology (SWEET) team have been field-testing AT training modules around the state of California.

About Nancy B. Robinson, Ph.D., CCC-SLP

Dr. Robinson completed her master’s degree in speech and hearing sciences at Portland State University and Ph.D. in special education at the University of Washington. Her areas of teaching, clinical practice, and research include augmentative and alternative communication (AAC); early intervention; collaborative team development; family support; and interagency systems development in remote rural areas, particularly in the Pacific Islands. In 2007, she received the CSHA District 1 Outstanding Achievement Award for her clinical service, teaching in communicative sciences and disorders, research and publication, administrative service, and service to CSHA. Dr. Robinson co-directs a four-year federal grant with Dr. Gloria Soto to support specialized graduate study in AAC, Project CLLASS.

About PresenceLearning

PresenceLearning (http://www.presencelearning.com) is the leading provider of live online speech therapy services (also known as telepractice) for K-12 students. The company offers school districts web-based access to a growing, nationwide network of nearly 200 highly qualified speech language pathologists (SLPs) via live videoconferencing using the latest in evidence-based practice. PresenceLearning delivers large cost savings while improving student outcomes. PresenceLearning is an ASHA-approved continuing education provider for SLPs and a U.S. Department of Education grant-winner, dedicated to bringing the highest clinical standards to telepractice.

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, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

New York, NY (PRWEB) May 17, 2012

Kenneth R. Feinberg, one of the nation’s leading experts in mediation and alternative dispute resolution, will address the graduates at New York Law School’s 120th Commencement on Monday, May 21, 2012, at Radio City Music Hall at 11 a.m. Feinberg, who served as Special Master of the Federal September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001, will also receive an honorary Doctor of Laws degree.

The School will graduate xx students: 520 candidates for the Juris Doctor (J.D.), 41 candidates for the Master of Laws (LL.M.), and 1 candidates for the Master of Arts (M.A.) in Mental Disability Law Studies.

The President’s Medal of Honor will be awarded to two recipients: the Honorable Roger J. Miner ’56 (posthumously) and James F. Simon, Martin Professor of Law Emeritus and Dean Emeritus of New York Law School. The award is given to the Law School’s most outstanding and accomplished alumni and its most generous benefactors, and acknowledges those who have made the most significant contributions to the history of the Law School by their exemplary professional lives and their generosity.

About the Commencement Speaker

Kenneth R. Feinberg is the Founder and Managing Partner of Feinberg Rozen, LLP. He has been a Court-Appointed Special Settlement Master, mediator, and arbitrator in thousands of disputes. Feinberg was designated by the Obama Administration and British Petroleum (BP) to serve as Administrator, Gulf Coast Claims Facility in 2010. He was appointed by the Secretary of the Treasury in 2009 to serve as the Special Master for TARP Executive Compensation, responsible for determining annual compensation packages for senior corporate officials at companies that received the most taxpayer financial assistance. Feinberg was appointed by the Attorney General of the United States to serve as the Special Master of the Federal September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001. In this role he developed and promulgated the regulations governing the administration of the fund and administered all aspects of the program. He was also the Fund Administrator responsible for the design, implementation, and administration of the claims process for the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund following the tragic shootings at Virginia Tech. Feinberg received his B.A. cum laude from the University of Massachusetts in 1967 and his J.D. from New York University School of Law in 1970, where he was Articles Editor of the Law Review. He was a law clerk for Chief Judge Stanley H. Fuld, New York State Court of Appeals from 1970 to 1972; Assistant United States Attorney, Southern District of New York from 1972 to 1975; Special Counsel, United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary from 1975 to 1980; Administrative Assistant to Senator Edward M. Kennedy from 1977 to 1979; Partner at Kaye, Scholer, Fierman, Hays & Handler from 1980 to 1993; and founded The Feinberg Group, LLP in 1993. In 2004, Feinberg was named “Lawyer of the Year” by The National Law Journal, and has been named repeatedly as one of “The 100 Most Influential Lawyers in America” by The National Law Journal. He is the author of numerous articles and essays on mediation, mass torts, and other matters, as well as What Is Life Worth? The Unprecedented Effort to Compensate the Victims of 9/11 (Public Affairs 2005).

About the President’s Medal of Honor Recipients

Hon. Roger J. Miner ’56 (1934-2012), Trustee Emeritus and Former Adjunct Professor of Law at New York Law School, was a widely respected senior judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. His name twice appeared on presidential short-lists for possible nomination to the United States Supreme Court. In 1976, at the age of 41, Judge Miner became one of the youngest justices of the New York State Supreme Court; he served there until 1981, when President Ronald Reagan appointed him to the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York. In 1985, President Reagan appointed Judge Miner to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, where he served for nearly three decades. Judge Miner graduated cum laude from New York Law School in 1956 and served as the first Managing Editor of the Law Review. He was admitted to practice in New York and in the United States Court of Military Appeals. He served on active military duty from 1956 to 1959, and later with the Army Reserve, obtaining the rank of captain in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps. Judge Miner was awarded the Commendation Ribbon with Medal Pendant for his work on the revision of the Manual for Courts-Martial. He was admitted to the Bar of the Republic of Korea in 1958, a rare honor for an American. Judge Miner received an honorary LL.D. from New York Law School in 1989; he subsequently received honorary LL.D. degrees from both Albany Law School and Syracuse University.

James F. Simon, Martin Professor of Law Emeritus and Dean Emeritus of New York Law School, is a nationally recognized scholar of constitutional law and award-winning author of eight books on American history, law, and politics. He served as Dean of New York Law School from 1983 to 1992. Among the School’s many achievements during that time are: the gathering of the largest, most productive faculty since the institution’s founding; the introduction of numerous academic initiatives; the increasing diversity and quality of the student body; and the expansion and improvement of facilities. A former contributing editor and correspondent for TIME magazine, Dean Simon is the author of seven major works on the modern Supreme Court and its justices, including What Kind of Nation: Thomas Jefferson, John Marshall, and the Epic Struggle to Create a United States. His books have won the American Bar Association’s Silver Gavel Award and twice been named New York Times Notable Books. His most recent book, FDR and Chief Justice Hughes: The President, the Supreme Court, and the Epic Battle Over the New Deal, has been praised by historian Jean Edward Smith as a “marvelously written, meticulously researched study.” Dean Simon, a graduate of Yale College and the Yale Law School, served as a Ford Foundation Fellow in India, a Harvard Fellow in Law and the Humanities, and as Visiting Lecturer in American Studies at Yale University. He joined the faculty of New York Law School in 1975, and has taught courses in Constitutional Law, Legal Journalism, and the Modern Supreme Court. A former trustee of NYLS, he received an honorary LL.D. degree from the School in 1992 and was named Martin Professor of Law in 1993.

About New York Law School

Founded in 1891, New York Law School is an independent law school located in lower Manhattan near the city’s centers of law, government, and finance. New York Law School’s renowned faculty of prolific scholars has built the School’s strength in such areas as constitutional law, civil and human rights, labor and employment law, media and information law, tax law, real estate and urban legal studies, international law, financial services and regulation, and a number of interdisciplinary fields. The School is noted for its nine academic centers: Center on Business Law & Policy, Center on Financial Services Law, Center for International Law, Center for New York City Law, Center for Professional Values and Practice, Center for Real Estate Studies, Diane Abbey Law Center for Children and Families, Institute for Information Law & Policy, and Justice Action Center. New York Law School has more than 13,000 graduates and currently enrolls some 1,350 full-time students and 400 part-time students in its J.D. program and its four advanced degree programs in financial services law, real estate, tax, and mental disability law studies. http://www.nyls.edu

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, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

(PRWEB) May 15, 2012

IOC ACTIVITIES

PRESIDENT

On 7 May at the Kremlin, in Moscow (Russian Federation), IOC President Jacques Rogge attended the investiture ceremony of Vladimir Putin as President of the Russian Federation. The President was accompanied by IOC members Jean-Claude Killy, Chairman of the Coordination Commission for the Sochi Games, and René Fasel, a member of the same Commission.

Back in Lausanne, President Rogge met the following people this week: Mamadou Diagna Ndiaye, President of the NOC of Senegal, and IOC members Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah and Ung Chang.

On 10 May, President Rogge attended the Olympic flame-lighting ceremony for the Games in London, in front of the Temple of Hera at Olympia (Greece). Also present at this ceremony were IOC members Lambis V. Nikolaou, Denis Oswald, Craig Reedie, Alex Gilady, Gunilla Lindberg, Carlos Arthur Nuzman and José Perurena; IOC honorary member King Constantine; the President of the Hellenic Olympic Committee, Spyros Capralos; and the Chairman of the Organising Committee for the 2012 Games, Sebastian Coe.

MEMBERS

Joseph S. Blatter has been awarded with the Republic of Algeria’s National Order of Merit, which was presented to him by the Minister of Youth and Sport, Hachemi Djiar, on behalf of the President of the Republic, Abdelaziz Bouteflika.

Philip Craven received the “Lifetime Achievement” award at the 2012 Sport Industry Awards held in London (Great Britain). This prize was presented to him in recognition of his important contribution and commitment to British sport.

COMMISSIONS

On 7 May in Vidy, the International Relations Commission held a meeting. The International Olympic Truce Foundation also held its annual meeting.

The following day, President Rogge greeted the members of the Sport and Environment Commission.

MISCELLANEOUS

On 8 May, IOC and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) signed an extension to their agreement, under the terms of which the IOC will continue to provide support to the IPC and the Paralympic Games through to 2020. The present agreement, which is in force until 2016, has thus been extended to cover the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang and the 2020 Games of the Olympiad.

This summer, a special philately exhibition presented by the IOC at the British Library will give life to the history and symbolism of the Olympic Games and to personal anecdotes concerning the Games. “Olympex 2012: Olympic Collections” is an exhibition which will include stamps, postcards, letters, programmes and plans, shining a unique spotlight on past and present Olympic Games.

INTERNATIONAL SPORTS FEDERATIONS

SUMMER IFS

In a recent press release, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) announced that 478 athletes representing 64 IAAF member federations – a record – will participate, on 12 and 13 May 2012, in the World Race Walking Cup in Saransk (Russian Federation).

At its meeting last weekend in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Central Board took several decisions. It this awarded the organisation of the 2013 edition of the Men’s Under-19s World Championships to the Czech Republic (27 June-7 July), while the women’s 2013 edition will take place in Lithuania (19-28 July).

The last Olympic qualification boxing tournament for the 2012 Games started on 5 May in Rio de Janeiro. A total of 177 of the best boxers from 33 countries on the American continent are competing until 12 May to obtain a place among the 38 remaining for participation in the Games in London. This tournament will take place in Maracanazinho, which will host boxing at the Games in 2016.

The official draw for the men’s and women’s Olympic water polo teams has taken place at the London Aquatic Centre. This draw was conducted by, among others, the Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA) Executive Bureau: President Julio César Maglione, Honorary Secretary Paolo Barelli, Honorary Treasurer Pipat Paniangvait and Executive Director Cornel Marculescu.

The 2nd FINA World Aquatics Convention will be held in Moscow from 29 October to 1 November 2012. Its theme will be “Aquatics for all: Developing and Performing for Excellence”.

The 52nd Modern Pentathlon World Championships, which will be held from 7 to 13 May in Rome (Italy), will also be a qualification event for the Games in London. More than 200 pentathletes will participate. The top three athletes who have not already qualified will all obtain direct qualification for London.

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) has launched a Spanish version of its website dedicated to the Olympic tennis tournament, which will be held at the Wimbledon All England Club from 28 July to 5 August 2012. See http://www.itftennis.com/olimpiadas. This website will be supported by Spanish social media initiatives on Twitter (@tenisolimpico) and Facebook (tenisolimpicoitf).

NATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEES

In the framework of the upcoming Games in London, the Albanian NOC organised, in April, various activities on the theme of “Sport and the Olympic values” in two towns in the north of the country, Kukes and Peshkopi. A great number of people from both towns got involved, in collaboration with the regional Olympic Committees. Some 700 children from six schools in Kukes took part, while in Peshkopi the main activity took place in the Palace of Sport, where 2,000 spectators watched almost 500 children perform.

The Australian Olympic team’s uniform for the Opening Ceremony has recently been revealed. Seven top athletes took to the catwalk during Sydney Fashion Week. This is the first time in Australia’s Olympic history that this uniform has been revealed before the Games by the Australian NOC. The models-for-a-day were: Olympic gold medal-winning swimmer Libby Trickett, basketball players Adam Gibson and Lauren Jackson, rower Sarah Tait and kayakers Naomi Flood, Murray Stewart and Kynan Maley.

The NOC of Cameroon has launched an Advanced Sports Management Course (ASMC) for heads of national sports federations and administration managers of sports associations and clubs. Running for six months (May to September 2012), this course will start on 15 May at the NOC headquarters.

We have just learnt that, on 25 April, the NOC of Guatemala celebrated its 65th anniversary. This ceremony was presided over by the NOC Executive Board and NOC President Sergio Arnoldo Camargo Muralles, in the presence of the members of the Central American and Caribbean Sports Organisation (CACSO) Board. Numerous awards were presented on this occasion: to NOC staff members, coaches and former presidents of sports associations and federations. As for the NOC’s Olympic Order, it was awarded to two former NOC Presidents, Fernando Beltranena and Alejandro Giamattei.

ORGANISING COMMITTEES FOR THE OLYMPIC GAMES

LONDON 2012

On 5 May, the London Olympic Stadium was officially inaugurated. Nine-year-old Niamh Clarke-Willis, from Hackney in east London, was lucky enough to be chosen to declare open the newly built venue, alongside the London Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) Chairman, Sebastian Coe. Clarke-Willis and Coe pushed the button that released balloons into the sky in front of the 40,000 spectators attending this opening, which consisted of laser shows and performances by former Spice Girl Mel C, rapper Chipmunk and comedian Jack Whitehall.

OLYMPIC MUSEUM

The Olympic Museum has become the first Swiss partner of the Google Art Project and is exhibiting over 100 of its items on the http://www.googleartproject.com website. It is thus offering to art enthusiasts and Olympic Games fans from throughout the world a virtual visit retracing more than a century of the history of the modern Games.

For more information, please contact the IOC Media Relations Team.

###

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, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

Toyota Avalon Parts

Chicago,IL (PRWEB) May 13, 2012

Toyota has long had the reputation of stability and reliability, and with even a cursory review of individual makes and models, it’s not hard to see why. The Toyota Avalon, the flagship sedan of Toyota in the United States, prides itself on being known for dependability, comfort, and extra rear leg room. Ranked #2 in U.S. News and World Report’s “Affordable Large Cars” category, the Toyota Avalon is a safe, consistent, and steadfast bet.

TLS Auto Recycling works to keep its customers satisfied with their Avalons by offering parts from models reaching back to the mid-1990s. A specialist in auto dismantling and recycling, TLS Auto Recycling boasts an impressive array of automobile parts for the Toyota Avalon. TLS is here to ensure that each and every Avalon keeps running smoothly for years to come.

About TLS Auto Recycling:

With a staff boasting a combined experience of over 70 years in the dismantling and recycling industry, TLS Auto Recycling is at the forefront of the northern California auto recycling business. Specializing in auto parts for the Toyota, Lexus, or Scion driver, TLS Auto Recycling is renowned for its high rate of client satisfaction and customer-oriented business philosophy. A leader in the green industry and in environmentally friendly business practices, TLS uses only clean and undamaged parts that undergo rigorous in-house testing.

©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

Aurora, Ontario (PRWEB) May 11, 2012

http://www.habachat.com, a local social network connecting consumers, businesses, government and not-for-profits all on a local town level launches in Aurora, Ontario, Canada May 14th, 2012. Leveraging the power of social media, this innovative community will connect all local community members to become the premier online destination for shopping, recommending/ referring and connecting consumers to local experts and businesses.

Habachat is a modern day virtual “town square” where residents can connect with each other and with local associations, businesses, schools, churches, and charities. They can look up referrals for kids’ activities on the weekend, find a last minute special at the local pub, and order tickets for the local charities’ event. On the other hand, restaurants, shops, and businesses can be in touch with their consumers easily getting information to them regarding new products, sales, or events. Finding a painless dentist or reputable car dealership just became simple.

With already over 300 local businesses and not-for-profits on board as well as 30 local social media facilitators trained to educate, engage and inform local businesses on how to drive revenue, referral and customer recommendations using social media. “The success and launch of the local Aurora habachat initiative has exceeded our expectations.” stated CEO Debbie McGrath. Although officially launching in Aurora, this platform will quickly go global creating thousands of career opportunities for socially influential people worldwide and create jobs locally in each community.

habachat, a new venture for serial entrepreneur Debbie McGrath, it is not her first venture in social media. She is also the CEO of HR.com, the largest social network for Human Resource professionals with over 200,000 members from 197 different countries. HR.com has been operational since 1999, and launched their social collaborative platform in 2005. They currently employ about 45 people in Aurora, Ontario. In the last 9 months, HR.com has hired 18 local social media facilitators to help grow the HR.com business. In addition, they have just received an Ontario New Media grant to help HR.com further expand their platform and jobs in the local market, which in turn will significantly help grow habachat.

“Aurora is delighted high tech/new media jobs will be coming to Aurora and that Aurora will be the prototype community to launch this innovative service.” states Mayor Geoffrey Dawe. Creating local jobs and improving local communication and education in the community is one of the top priorities for the Town of Aurora. A presentation was given to the town as part of the community outreach to show the value for Associations, Businesses and Charities in connecting with local consumers by communicating news, information, events and offerings to residents of Aurora.

Official launch for habachat will be Monday, May 14th, 2012 3:00 – 6:00 pm at habachat global headquarters, 124 Wellington Street East in Aurora, Ontario. Mayor Geoffrey Dawe will be there to officially cut the ribbon on the next Global Social Media Platform. All local businesses, socially influential consumers, and not-for-profits are invited to attend and learn how this can help them grow their personal brand as well as their local businesses. Registration assistance on location.

The platform is free to use for all local residents and is powered by the residents of local towns. Members of the community are encouraged to add local stories and events, rate and refer local businesses as well as redeem special offers and coupons from local merchants. An informed community is an educated community.

About habachat.com

habachat is every town’s social network. It’s an online, real time, interactive gathering place that connects people, government, and business in a local market. habachat is a site driven for the community and run by the community. Local residents can share and be informed. Businesses can increase two-way communication with consumers and showcase products, specials and events. Social media technology allows this tight-knit, informed community. An informed community is an educated community.

About The Town of Aurora

Aurora is a fast growing centre with a population base of over 55,000, just 30 minutes north of the City of Toronto, Ontario, Canada in the heart of Ontario’s economic engine, the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Offering urban amenities and a small town lifestyle, Aurora has a diverse economy, well-educated and skilled workforce, excellent transportation connections and a highly-evolved technological infrastructure.

For more information contact:

Debbie McGrath, Chief Instigator, habachat

1-877-988-4888

dmcgrath(at)habachat(dot)com

http://www.habachat.com

This press release was distributed through PR Web by Human Resources Marketer (HR Marketer: http://www.HRmarketer.com) on behalf of the company listed above.

©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

ORCA Development

Monterey, CA (PRWEB) May 09, 2012

Pacific Metrics Corporation (http://www.pacificmetrics.com), a leading provider of education technology solutions, has been selected as the contractor to develop a web-based item authoring and item pool application (IAIP) for the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (Smarter Balanced). Funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Smarter Balanced is a group of 27 states with over 20 million students that are working together to develop and implement an assessment system aligned to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) by the 2014–2015 school year.

Pacific Metrics brings many years of technical expertise building and deploying statewide item authoring applications to deliver this innovative web-based system. It will support a broad range of constituents dispersed across the Smarter Balanced states. Utilizing Pacific Metrics’ ORCA™ Development environment, the IAIP system will be customized to satisfy the functional and system requirements under the Federal Race to the Top (RTTT) initiative. ORCA Development is an item management platform that allows for scalable online assessment content editing and management and is provided through an intuitive, user-friendly, web-based interface.

The Smarter Balanced IAIP system will allow test developers to construct content that is aligned to the CCSS and to provide a versatile, flexible, and secure means of developing, managing, and exporting test content to the test delivery platform. The application supports the development and storage of a variety of item types, including constructed-response and technology-enabled items and provides management and reporting tools required to support the consortium’s needs.

“We share Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium’s enthusiasm and vision for a comprehensive, dynamic item authoring and item pool system that will support member states,” says Stella Gibbs, Pacific Metrics’ Executive Vice President. “Pacific Metrics has years of technical expertise with assessment software and brings dedication, a high level of service, and quality deliverables to ensure the success of this initiative.”

For more information about Pacific Metrics or any of their assessment solutions, email info(at)pacificmetrics(dot)com or call (831) 646-6400.

About Pacific Metrics

Pacific Metrics Corporation creates lasting improvements to the assessment and learning environment through the thoughtful use of technology. Headquartered in Monterey, California, Pacific Metrics provides specialized psychometric software and sophisticated online systems to state departments of education and to organizations that develop, administer, and score large-scale assessments. The company has achieved recognition for its technical work and for being a leading force in the development of innovative, customized, web-based systems. For more information, visit http://www.pacificmetrics.com.

©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

Boston, MA (PRWEB) May 07, 2012

Abroad101, the world’s first and largest study abroad review website, has partnered with INTO China and Forum-Nexus study abroad programs to offer $ 17,000 worth of scholarships for summer 2012 and 2013. High demand for study abroad scholarships and the desire to support the 100,000 Strong Initiative prompts this collaborative giveaway.

INTO China, a Chinese language program provider is offering five, $ 1,000 scholarships to study at a top Chinese University in Summer 2012. This giveaway coincides with the Obama Administration’s 100,000 Strong Initiative, promoting the ability for American students to study in China. The deadline for submissions is May 15, 2012 and students can apply on the Abroad101 website.

Christian Eberhardt, the Regional Recruitment Coordinator for North America says “INTO China is thrilled to have partnered with Abroad101, sharing their fantastic review platform and extensive reach to students and universities all over North America. Now more than ever is the time to let students know about the opportunities and benefits from studying in China. Our summer Mandarin immersion program is the perfect segway for students wishing to experience the language, culture and world of work within the next global superpower. We highly value our collaboration with Abroad101.”

Forum-Nexus, a summer, traveling program provider is offering six, $ 2,000 scholarships for their multi-city program which visits 12 European cities over seven weeks. Scholarships are valid for Summer 2012 and Summer 2013 programs. Students can apply for the Summer 2012 program through May 15, 2012 and for the Summer 2013 program through June 15th, 2012.

Dr. Hugo Hervitz, Founder and Executive Director of Forum-Nexus, says, “Our program provides a unique study abroad experience since world-class professors travel with students from around the world to 12 amazing European cities in 7 weeks, offering enlightening classes while visiting leading companies and international organizations”.

Michael Stone, President and Co-Founder of Abroad101, feels strongly about the scholarship offerings and alliance with these providers. “Creating more opportunities for study abroad is a catalyst for developing informed, global citizens” says Stone. “We could not achieve this mission without the coalitions we have formed with providers like INTO China and Forum-Nexus”.

Abroad101 is embracing the viral marketing prowess of Facebook to collect applications, expanding their reach globally. Once students submit their application response online, they are able to share their entry with friends and accumulate “likes” via Facebook. One of the goals of these scholarships is to increase awareness in international education and have people genuinely interested in applicants’ study abroad opportunities. The winner will be chosen based on a combination of the quality of their response, as well as how much buzz they can create around their scholarship campaign through Likes and Tweets.

About Abroad101:

Abroad101 is the world’s first, largest, and fastest growing study abroad review website. Founded in 2007 by Tufts, Harvard, and MIT graduates, Abroad101’s mission is to promote global citizenship by fostering the most meaningful study abroad experience for all students through technology innovation in international education. Abroad101 empowers universities with its free market-leading online evaluation tool and provides an advertising and student recruitment platform to global program providers. Abroad101 is a 2010 winner of the MassChallenge Global startup competition. To learn more, visit http://www.studyabroad101.com.

Contact: Mike Stone, President, Abroad101

+1 617 401 8848

Mike(at)abroad101(dot)com

About INTO China:

A division of INTO University Partnerships, INTO China offers all-inclusive courses combining Chinese language tuition with a program of excursions, cultural experiences, and master classes taught by leading business professionals. Locations include Beijing, Tianjin and Dalian China.

About Forum-Nexus:

With 22 years of experience, Forum-Nexus Study Abroad specializes in intensive multi-country traveling summer programs, taught in English, for both undergraduate and graduate students. The programs are offered in some of the most engaging and dynamic cities in Europe. Students greatly improve their global awareness, cultural intelligence, and International IQ as they learn from their professors, the surroundings, and the companies and organizations they visit. They share their European experience with top students from all over the world: 40% of the Forum-Nexus students come from countries outside the U.S., including Mexico, Egypt, Brazil, India, Canada, China and the UK.

Attachments

©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

Narconon Arrowhead Executive Director welcomes international staff to graduation

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) May 05, 2012

Narconon International hosted its 2012 Narconon Executive Directors Conference held in Tulsa, OK, April 27th – April 29th. Executive Directors and senior staff from Narconon centers and groups around the world gathered to participate in a full schedule of training, planning and celebration of unprecedented expansion. 

Guests of the International conference, some of whom have worked in the network for up to 40 years, arrived from centers in the Eastern and Western United States, United Kingdom, Nepal, Russia, Sweden, Italy, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico and South Africa.

The first day’s schedule was highlighted with a trip to Narconon Arrowhead, the international training center of the Narconon network. The visit consisted of a tour of the center and attending its weekly graduation with over 200 students who are studying the Narconon program. There was not a dry eye left in the room as students spoke of their successes and life changing wins.

The Narconon program is comprised of eight parts and students graduate from each one. The first course is a drug-free withdrawal followed by the Narconon New Life Detoxification program which removes harmful drug and other toxins stored in body tissue which process helps reduce persistent drug cravings. Life skills courses follow that help the student improve his confront and communication and develop his ability to discover why he turned to drugs in the first place. Three out of four Narconon graduates go on to live productive drug free live.

Awards to the various levels of Narconon centers and groups who achieved the most expansion last year were awarded Saturday evening by Narconon International President Clark Carr. First Place Winners included: Narconon Freedom Center in Michigan for Residential Centers, Narconon of Georgia for Outpatient Centers, and Europe Drug Prevention for Drug Education.

“We are proud of our Narconon drug rehab and drug prevention centers and the substantial worldwide network expansion this year. It is a rewarding career to provide effective drug education programs to help keep our young people off drugs or to provide rehab programs to help addicts truly free themselves from alcohol and other drugs,” says Carr.

The Narconon drug rehabilitation and education program was founded in 1966 by heroin addict William Benitez. It uses drug-free rehabilitation and social education methodology based on research by American author and humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard. For these last four decades, Narconon staffs have dedicated themselves to eliminating drug abuse and drug addiction through drug prevention, education and rehabilitation. The Narconon drug rehabilitation program routinely results in drug-free lives, the majority of its graduates going on to live stable, productive, drug-free lives. These Narconon graduates, whether drug-free for ten, twenty or even 45 years, demonstrate that recovery is really possible. If you know someone struggling with alcohol addiction or drug abuse, or are looking for a career in substance abuse, visit http://www.narconon.org or call 877-237-3307.

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James Schramko – Internet Business Expert

Sydney, Australia (PRWEB) May 03, 2012

James Schramko is pleased to announce that as of the writing of this release 254 members have joined FastWebFormula.com, the newest Internet Business Forum on the web. With 1173 posts contributed so far, it is kicking off to a very successful start. The main thrust of the exclusive community is to serve as a venue for placing all of the online business expert’s sought-after information products and focusing his energy on grooming students into success stories, effectively applying a hub strategy. “Most importantly, you can ask as many questions as you like inside the community and I, with the other members, will answer them for you. This is the core of my paid coaching community,” shares Schramko.

Leading the list of training products available to FastWebFormula.com members are videos of the 3 live FastWebFormula events, each of which has earned very enthusiastic reviews from those who attended. One participant remarked, “The content from these events is unbelievable. Implementing just some ideas from these 3 days worth of nuggets, is bound to set you on the path to running a successful business online. So many business models to choose from, so little time BUT that is what leverage teaches you all about. Awesome!” This is just one portion of the goods offered by FastWebFormula’s Internet coaching community.

Besides the veritable wealth of training materials that can be accessed through FastWebFormula.com, members can also benefit from the group itself. “Being part of a community speeds up your learning process and provides you the support you need to get results much faster than going it alone,” Schramko explains, guaranteeing: “If you have ever been a part of an internet forum, then this place will impress you with its content and the quality of its members.”

Considering the successes Schramko has reaped through his multiple online business ventures, it’s in other online entrepreneurs’ favor to be coached by an established expert in the field. The following is a brief survey of the online marketing magnate’s accomplishments: “After learning traditional small, medium and large business, I started marketing online since 2005, generated several million dollars worth of profit, and have now mastered many aspects of business and Internet business including affiliate marketing, service provision such as website development and SEO services, local business marketing, mastermind coaching and high level consulting, information product creation and sales workshops and webinars, forum marketing, and traffic techniques.” He has also met many brilliant, global business leaders who shared their high level concepts with him.

There’s nothing in FastWebFormula.com that will show anybody how to get rich very fast without exerting any effort, which only lends authenticity and credibility to the offer. “You will have to put in hours of hard work even with the right strategy probably for many years. I can help you with great information but you will get the results you deserve. Nobody is going to magically transfer money into your account unless you create value for others and put in the energy required,” asserts Schramko.

The Internet marketing forum certainly started out strong and is consistently gaining momentum. Those who want to take part can visit the website. Registration is ongoing.

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New Rochelle, NY (PRWEB) April 30, 2012

(MissionNewswire) Salesian Missions responds to a new report on “Children and Armed Conflict in Colombia” from Watchlist, a network of international non-governmental organizations that researches and disseminates information with the aim to protect children in war zones. The report was released in April 2012.

“Children should not have to face the perils of war. But in many countries around the globe, children—both boys and girls—are recruited by force to fight ongoing battles in their homelands,” says Father Mark Hyde, director of Salesian Missions. “They are subjected to sexual violence, psychological and physical harm and even death. In Colombia and many other countries, Salesians have developed programs to assist these children.”

These programs are in alignment with the recommendations outlined in the Watchlist report.

The report noted that, “More than half of an estimated 3.9 to 5.3 million internally displaced people in Colombia are under 18, rendering them even more vulnerable to the threats that caused them to flee their homes in the first place.” Children in Colombia have been subjected to forced recruitment as child soldiers, sexual violence and rape, physical harm and death. Furthermore, they have been denied humanitarian assistance.

Education is at risk in Colombia. According to the report, schools have been used for military purposes. The national armed forces have occupied school buildings or camped nearby. Instead of being a refuge and a place for learning, schools have been utilized as a method of recruitment. In response, guerrilla groups have planted land mines around the schools without recording their locations, preventing children from attending school altogether.

Teachers are under attack as well. The report detailed that according to the teacher’s union in Colombia, “between 1991 and 2011, 871 teachers were killed, about 3,000 threatened, 1,070 forcibly displaced, and 60 reported missing.”

“Without education, youth cannot advance their lives and break the cycle of poverty, adds Fr. Mark. “They end up on the streets even more vulnerable to forced recruitment and physical harm.”

The report goes beyond just identifying the severity of the problems facing children in Colombia. It also provides a series of recommendations to governments, NGOs and donors to help support youth and alleviate their suffering.

For nonprofit organizations like Salesian Missions—that have a long standing investment in humanitarian work in Colombia—the report suggests they should offer pyscho-social assistance and income-generating activities for children formerly associated with armed groups. They also recommend providing survivors of sexual violence, particularly in rural areas, adequate psycho-social, medical and legal care and support.

The report also suggests that programs should offer flexible schooling to allow children from rural areas, poor backgrounds, and those who were internally displaced an opportunity to continue to attend school by adapting the times and curriculum to meet their needs.

The report’s recommendations are work the Salesians know all too well.

“The Salesians have been working with youth in Colombia for more than 40 years,” says Father Mark Hyde. “We have built schools in places that previously lacked access to education – like the remote village of Condoto. We provide services to homeless children at Don Bosco City in Medellin as well as focus on critical psycho-social and educational services to displaced youth in refugee camps across the country.”

Don Bosco City in Medellin is one of the oldest and largest programs for street children in Latin America. Beginning in 1965, Don Bosco City has served 83,000 boys and girls. It began in 1965 with 125 children, and today serves more than 1,500 children, youth and families per year. The program serves both boys and girls and goes beyond traditional homeless shelters by providing a three-stage program, culminating in vocational training.

“Through this model of education and rehabilitation, youth are able to learn the skills needed to support themselves and break the cycle of poverty,” says Fr. Hyde.

In Bogota, an internationally-recognized program helps street children overcome challenges – from where to find a nutritious meal to how to pursue an education and find a job. Through the Children of the Street program from the Salesians Youth Service Foundation, instructors who were once street children themselves provide the support and stability needed for at-risk children and youth to rebuild their lives.

With Salesian efforts that focus on providing educational opportunities to children and youth, students in refugee camps learn valuable job skills which will not only provide income, but also reduce the likelihood they will be recruited as child soldiers. More than 70 percent of graduating students are placed in jobs through Salesian Missions partnerships with community organizations and private sector companies.

“No matter the program or population of youth we serve in Colombia, our aim is always to provide market-driven technical vocational training, preventive and curative health treatment, and counseling services,” explained Fr. Hyde. “Our goal is to help alleviate current traumas and provide a foundation of supports and education that will assist youth in years to come and enable them to provide for themselves and their communities.”

ABOUT SALESIAN MISSIONS

Salesian Missions is headquartered in New Rochelle, NY, and is part of the Don Bosco Network—a worldwide federation of Salesian NGOs. The mission of the U.S.-based nonprofit Catholic organization is to raise funds for international programs that serve youth and families in poor communities around the globe. The Salesian missionaries are made up of priests, brothers and sisters, as well as laypeople—all dedicated to caring for poor children throughout the world in more than 130 countries and helping young people become self-sufficient by learning a trade that will help them gain employment. To date, more than 3 million youth have received services funded by Salesian Missions. These services and programs are provided to children regardless of race or religion. For more information, go to http://www.SalesianMissions.org or http://www.MissionNewswire.org.

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