Local comedians compete in second annual scholarship fundraiser

Paul D'Angelo worked as a prosecutor, then as a criminal defense attorney before taking the stage full time as a comedian.

But this Saturday at North Shore's Last Comic Standing, D'Angelo will be the closest he has ever come to serving as a judge.

Nine comedians will take turns onstage at the Salem/Beverly Elks Club while D'Angelo, local radio personality Kevin "Mugs" McGonagle, and Beverly police Chief John LeLacheur vote on their routines.

"I'll be looking to evaluate them on their stage presence, the quality of their writing, how original they are, and their presentation," D'Angelo said.

In addition to judging the event, D'Angelo will provide a closing act that draws on decades of experience headlining at major clubs and performing on television.

"I moved to LA and lived there for six years and after that never looked back," he said. 

This is the second year that North Shore's Last Comic Standing, which raises money for scholarships administered by the Beverly/Salem Elks, has been held. The event will feature several raffles, in addition to the entertainment. 

"We have last year's winner, Kaman Raye, a Beverly resident," said Mark Wood, who organizes the event. "He's also a member of the Elks, and the audience loved him."

Wood works as an audiovisual technician at the Peabody Essex Museum and also has experience in radio, in addition to reviewing local theater and music online. He and his wife, Nicole, worked together to produce the event, and they are both members of the Elks. 

Wood said he put out a casting call on Facebook for this year's lineup, and got 35 responses before narrowing those acts down.

While he included a few entry-level comedians in last year's event, which raised $1,700, everyone in this year's group has experience.

The competitors include Joe Kozlowsky, Detroit native Carrie Ross, former ironworker Robert Glancy, and Beverly's Will Martin, who performs all over Boston.

Swampscott's Joe Medoff, who has appeared at the Gotham Comedy Club and Comix at Foxwoods, will also compete, along with Chris Timoney, who has been entertaining in New England for seven years.

Other members of the lineup include "Deadair" Dennis Maler, who worked in radio for 17 years, and Brett Johnson, who recently appeared at the Crossroads Comedy Festival in Indianapolis.

Lynn native and Peabody High School graduate Denise Morin, who has performed at The Comedy Studio, Boston Comedy Chicks and Improv Boston, will be making her first appearance in a competition at Saturday's event.

"Last year we had 10 comics, and we cut it down one, because it went on too long," Wood said. "We're also cutting down the first round from five to three minutes."

To get the audience members more involved in this year's event, their votes will help determine the outcome of the contest.

"Whoever gets the most Twitter votes will get five bonus opints, and that could help them come from third to first place," Wood said.  

When D'Angelo was starting out, he appeared in his own share of comedy competitions, including the 1989 Johnny Walker Comedy Contest.

"It was a national contest, and all the finalists went to LA, to the Improv," he said. 

The experience and exposure for young comedians is invaluable, D'Angelo said, and he is planning to offer feedback to the contestants.

"The thing is, with contests, you've got to do the best you can and not worry about it," he said. "Often the judging is subjective."

IF YOU GO

What: North Shore's Last Comic Standing

When: Saturday, Nov. 12, 7 p.m.; doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Where: Beverly/Salem Elks Lodge, 39 Bow St., Beverly

Tickets: $15, available at the lodge, at Chrispy's Liquors, 335 Rantoul St., or online at NSLastComic.Weebly.com.

Information: For ages 18 and older. A full cash bar is available. The lodge is not handicapped-accessible. To learn more about the scholarship, visit www.elks.org/lodges/home.cfm?LodgeNumber=1309.

Source: Local comedians compete in second annual scholarship fundraiser

School, sports medicine community team up for Brooke Parker scholarship bracelet fundraiser

Lubbock Sports Medicine has teamed up with the West Texas Sports Medicine Society and Post High School to sell bracelets to fund a scholarship in honor of a Lubbock Cooper ISD athletic trainer who died in a crash Monday evening in Lubbock.

Mendy Wyatt, clinical outreach coordinator with Lubbock Sports Medicine, said the idea for the bracelets was developed on Tuesday, a day after Brooke Parker's death, as a way to pay tribute to the trainer who touched many lives through her work.

"She's just a great young lady and, of course, this is a very huge tragedy in the athletic training community," she said.

Lubbock police said Parker, 25, died in a two-vehicle crash Monday night on Marsha Sharp Freeway near University Avenue after her vehicle was struck by a white Cadillac sedan driven by 36-year-old Louis Marquez.

Marquez and Parker were pronounced dead at the scene.

Officials say Marquez was traveling eastbound in westbound lanes when he struck Parker, who was traveling westbound. The crash remains under investigation, as police said it is still unclear why Marquez was driving in the wrong direction.

Parker, Wyatt said, was on her way home from work.

Wyatt said the news of Parker's death was felt throughout the school and sports medicine community, as they are a tight-knit group.

Describing Parker as "loved by a lot of people," she spoke about the community wanting to give back.

With the Brooke Parker Scholarship Fund in beginning stages, she said all donations and proceeds from the sale of $5 bracelets will go toward the cause.

The bracelets read "Brooke Parker Cooper Strong" and are black with red lettering.

Losing her, she said, has brought the community together in search for ways to help out.

The bracelets will be a reminder of Parker and allow the community to help a student in pursuit of their athletic and academic goals.

"We're just friends and colleagues that just wanted to help out and do whatever we could for her, because she would always do whatever she could for everybody else," said Wyatt.

Those interested in purchasing a bracelet can print out order forms from the Lubbock Sports Medicine and West Texas Sports Medicine Facebook pages or email Wyatt directly at Mwyattatc@gmail.com.

Wyatt said donations will also be accepted through the same method.

lucinda.holt@lubbockonline.com

(806)766-8722

On Twitter @AJ_LucindaLHolt

Source: School, sports medicine community team up for Brooke Parker scholarship bracelet fundraiser

LEAP Annual Scholarship Essay Contest

Clarksville, TN – The LEAP Annual 7 Points Scholarship Essay Contest is open to Clarksville Montgomery County School System and Fort Campbell High School seniors. Each year, the theme highlights one of our 7 principles of Leadership, Enlightenment, Achievement, Perseverance, Outreach, Responsibility, and Growth.

The LEAP Organization recognizes the importance of encouraging youth to be productive and responsible citizens, and is honored to provide resources to assist youth in their quest to pursue higher learning opportunities.

For the past 7 years, LEAP has awarded scholarships to well deserving students. This year we will be awarding one $1,000 scholarship to first place and one $500.00 scholarship to second place.

This year's theme is Responsibility and essays must address the following questions. Do you consider yourself to be a responsible person? Why? In what ways?

What responsibilities do you believe you personally have for: 1) yourself, 2) your family, 3) your community, 4) the world? What does being responsible have to do with the quality of your character?

Describe something you've done that was really irresponsible. How did you feel afterward? What did you learn from it? Describe what this society might be like if nobody was accountable for their actions, if nobody kept their commitments. What are the benefits of being a responsible person? How do you benefit from the responsibility of others?

To be eligible for consideration, essays must meet the following guidelines:

Essay must address the 2016 – 7 Points Theme

Essay must be 350 – 750 words, typed and double spaced. Must be a senior to apply

Include Name, School, and Contact # in top right corner of each page.

Deadline to submit essay is January 31st, 2016.

Entries may be submitted either via email toinfo@leaporg.net, fax to 931.274.0929, or mail/deliver to 1860 Wilma Rudolph Boulevard Clarksville, TN 37040.

Winners will be required to read their essays at our annual Dining with the Stars Gala on March 4th, 2017 at the Riverview Inn between 6:00pm and 9:00pm.

For additional info call 931.614.0440 or visit www.leaporg.net/scholarships

About Richard Garrett

City Councilman Richard "Reason" Garrett has gained extensive business knowledge and negotiating skills as the Executive Director of the LEAP Organization.  LEAP Org provides youth development services.  As a licensed realtor for Keller Williams Realty, he is known for his tenacity, perseverance, honesty, and fairness.  A proud APSU alum, Richard graduated with Honors with a Bachelors in Public Management.

Richard is a former active duty Marine, father of 4, and a husband with strong ties to the community. He is a graduate of Leadership Clarksville and a member of Clarksville Rotary, Clarksville Area Ministerial Association, Chamber of Commerce, Clarksville Association of Realtors Public Relations & Charity Relations Committees, and Clarksville Community Partners Group.

For more information on Richard visit www.reason4clarksville.com. He can be contacted directly at 931-378-0500 or via email richard@reason4clarksville.com

Web Site: http://leaporg.net/Email: reason@leaporg.net

Sections EducationTopics Clarksville TN, College, Dining with the Stars Gala, Essay Contest, leap, LEAP 7 Points Quest Scholarship Essay Contes, leap organization, LEAP.org, responsibility, Riverview Inn, scholarships, Wilma Rudolph Boulevard

Source: LEAP Annual Scholarship Essay Contest

Community Foundation Posts Scholarship Opportunities Online

The Shasta Regional Community Foundation is pleased to announce their online scholarship application platform is now open and available on their website at www.shastarcf.org. The online application allows for students to apply for a host of scholarships from all participating organizations.  "Our goal is to make the process more efficient for the students and increase their access to funds available for college," states program associate, Miriam Leal.

 Students are invited to click on "Apply for a Scholarship", create an account, and begin searching and applying for scholarships for which they are eligible. Scholarship descriptions and their deadlines can be accessed through the Community Foundation website at www.shastarcf.org/scholarships . They include:

Andy Peek Livestock Scholarship, Balma Family Scholarship, California Retired Teachers Association Div#16 Scholarship, Christine Begley Scholarship, Don and Debbie Bankson Scholarship, Donna Borlaug Citizenship Scholarship, FWF '62 Scholarship, Glen Hawk Sr. Memorial Scholarship, Ivy B. Horr Medical Education Loan, Jim Cusick Memorial Scholarship, Kelly Moravec Academic Encouragement Scholarship, Ken Putnam Choral Music Scholarship, Key Club Scholarship, Kohn Family Scholarship, Matt Solus Memorial Scholarship, Robert McGregor Memorial and Sally Garcia Memorial Scholarships of the Mt. Shasta Athletic Boosters Club Scholarship Fund, Shasta Natural Science Scholarship, Top of the State Jr. Golf Scholarship, Tri Counties Bank Scholarship.

 All applications must be submitted online by Wednesday, March 8th, 2017 unless otherwise noted on the application.

 For further information, contact: Miriam Leal, Program Associate by phone at 530-244-1219, or via email at miriam@shastarcf.org

Source: Community Foundation Posts Scholarship Opportunities Online

Cybersecurity students at NKU get new scholarship

Community Recorder 7:41 p.m. EST November 6, 2016

NKU cybersecurity students Nathan Long, Nicholas Mester and Allyson Frame (center) are the inaugural recipients of the U.S. Bank Cybersecurity Scholarship. Bank Chief Information Security Officer Jason Witty is in back row, third from left, and NKU President Geoffrey S. Mearns is on the far right.(Photo: Thanks to Amanda Nageleisen)

A new partnership between Northern Kentucky University and U.S. Bank will expand access to NKU's nationally known cybersecurity program and help create the next generation of "good guys" tasked with staying one step ahead of hackers.

NKU and U.S. Bank recently announced the creation of the U.S. Bank Cybersecurity Scholarship. The award will benefit high-achieving cybersecurity students in NKU's College of Informatics.

"At U.S. Bank, we want to be our customer's most trusted choice," said Jason Witty, U.S. Bank executive vice president and chief information security officer. "One way we earn that trust is by providing the highest level security for our customer's data which is why investing in cybersecurity is so important to us. We are excited to partner with NKU, supporting the future of cybersecurity professionals. These young men and women will help protect us from what's next in cybersecurity attacks."

Inaugural recipients of the scholarship are Allyson Frame, a sophomore computer information technology major; Nathan Long, a sophomore computer information technology major; and Nicholas Mester, a senior computer information technology major.

Frame, Long, and Mester are members of NKU's Cyber Defense Team, which competes with other university teams across the nation in both offensive and defensive security skills.

"Every day, our students learn how to not only be on the front lines of cybersecurity, but also to stay one step ahead of hackers who wish to do harm to institutions and to individuals," said NKU President Geoffrey S. Mearns. "We are thankful that U.S. Bank has made this investment in our students to ultimately help create a world in which we are all safer online."

In January 2015, NKU became the first university in Greater Cincinnati to be designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance/Cyber Defense (CAE IA/CD) by the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security.

The designation identifies NKU's cybersecurity program as a top-tier program in the nation and makes NKU eligible for special research grants and scholarships. NKU's Center for Information Security is housed in the College of Informatics; initiatives include the Cyber Defense Team as well as an annual Cybersecurity Symposium held each October since 2008.

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Source: Cybersecurity students at NKU get new scholarship

Community Foundation's annual report 'generational'

The Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County's Annual Report to the Community Thursday afternoon was a generational affair.

The address, given by Community Foundation CEO Tina Peterson in Shreve Hall on the Ivy Tech Community College-Bloomington campus, began with a brief statement from 8-year-old Derick Willis, a beneficiary of charitable giving that helped create the foundation's Early Childhood Education initiative five years ago.

"Hi, my name is Derick. Welcome to the annual report and thank you for investing in me," the Summit Elementary student said, followed by applause from a room filled with corporate and private donors, nonprofit workers and foundation board members.

Peterson said the theme of the year's report was "generations."

"In fact, one generation supporting the next generation through their deeds, through their gifts and through their engagement," she said.

Peterson spoke about the Early Childhood Education program and how charitable giving has allowed the foundation to establish seven new preschool classrooms, affecting 120 children each year.

The organization has also been able to support other existing nonprofits and various preschools throughout the county. A total of 656 children a year have benefited from the foundation's giving.

"That, however, only represents 31 percent of the children that are entering kindergarten every year," Peterson said. "So we still have some work ahead of us."

The foundation has invested about $1 million in the program in the past five years.

The two Lilly Scholars will be announced later this year.

"We wanted to bring them here before the final two are selected. We think it's pretty important that we recognize all of them," Peterson said, also imploring each of the finalists to return to the area after receiving their education and continue to contribute to the community. "I think we forget to tell you that sometimes, but we really like you and we'd love for you to come back here."

Peterson then shifted to reporting about the foundation's grant-giving in the most recent fiscal year, which ended June 30.

Overall, Peterson reported, the Community Foundation has 215 unique funds, which have granted more than $24 million since 1990. In that time, 402 nonprofit agencies have been supported by foundation grants.

Eleven grants were awarded this past year, with an average grant size of $27,835.

For FY16, the most recent fiscal year, the foundation received 592 gifts totaling $1.6 million, of which $1.2 million is endowed, meaning the foundation will be able to continue handing out grants for years using interest from that initial gift. The foundation created 13 new funds and achieved 100 percent board member gifting.

The Community Foundation was also tasked by the Lilly Endowment to raise $1 million to receive a $1 million match.

Peterson was happy to report that through 540 gifts from individuals and 105 from businesses over 18 months, the foundation was able to exceed its goal and improve its coffers by $2.1 million after the match. That means $98,000 new dollars are available for community grants every year, forever.

For more information on the Community Foundation, visit www.cfbmc.org.

Source: Community Foundation's annual report 'generational'

Lennox receives WIU Centennial Honors Scholarship

MACOMB -- Erie High School senior Arrianne Lennox has been selected for Western Illinois University's Centennial Honors Scholarship of $10,000 per year to academically high-achieving students.

High school students with an ACT score of 30 or higher and a grade point average of 3.0 or higher are eligible for the scholarship.

"I selected Western because it was affordable, close to home, and offered me a wide array of choices," Ms. Lennox said. She plans to major in music business and, while at WIU, explore opportunities in band ensembles and dance.

At Erie, Ms. Lennox is involved in National Honor Society, choir, show choir and dance team.

For more information about the Centennial Honors Scholarship, contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at 309-298-3100 or email admissions@wiu.edu. Additional scholarship opportunities are online at wiu.edu/scholarship

Source: Lennox receives WIU Centennial Honors Scholarship