Danville woman wins $10,000 GoFundMe scholarship

Danville native Mayia Vranas was recently awarded a $10,000 scholarship from crowd-funding website company GoFundMe to go toward her college expenses while working to earn a bachelor's degree in physics from the University of California at Berkeley.

One of 10 college students to receive the GoFundMe scholarships last month, Vranas was lauded by the company for her strong achievements in the classroom while managing Tourette syndrome and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) since the third grade.

"I am extremely honored and grateful to have been chosen by GoFundMe to receive their scholarship out of so many people that entered with such heartfelt stories," Vranas said in an email interview. "Their generosity will help me reach my ultimate goal of becoming a researcher in physics, while also managing my disabilities and mental health."

To qualify for the scholarship, each student created a GoFundMe campaign to share their personal stories of overcoming obstacles while pursuing their education, how they've demonstrated character and what receiving the award would mean to them.

According to her scholarship campaign page, Vranas "always had to find ways to mentally challenge herself, to reduce the major anxiety that was provoked from being under-stimulated, while at the same time not overdoing it, as getting too tired, excited or stressed exacerbated her 50-plus motor and vocal tics."

In announcing the scholarship winners, GoFundMe CEO Rob Solomon said, "We're proud and excited to help these remarkable, determined students achieve their educational dreams. All of us here have been touched by the stories shared by the scholarship winners, and we can't wait to see how they'll continue to give back to their communities."

A 2015 graduate of Monte Vista High School, Vranas began studying physics at UC Berkeley in fall 2015 and now serves as co-vice president of the Society for Physics Students. She is on track to complete her bachelor's degree by the end of 2019, and she plans to then pursue her childhood dream of earning a Ph.D.

The award from GoFundMe, the world's largest social fundraising platform, marks Vranas' second five-figure scholarship from a company's contest.

While a senior at Monte Vista in April 2015, Vranas was awarded a $36,000 scholarship from Connecticut-based green technology firm Proton OnSite.

Source: Danville woman wins $10,000 GoFundMe scholarship

Scholarship focused on teacher shortage opens for applications

INDIANAPOLIS — Applications are now being accepted for a new college scholarship designed to encourage top high school students to stay and teach in Indiana.

The Next Generation Hoosier Educators Scholarship provides up to $7,500 each year of college for students who commit to teaching in Indiana for five years after earning their degrees.

In April Gov. Mike Pence ceremonially signs legislation establishing a new scholarship for top high school students who commit to teaching in Indiana for five years. The Next Generation Hoosier Educators Scholarship fund will provide up to $7,500 a year. Photo provided by the governor's office.

In April Gov. Mike Pence ceremonially signed legislation establishing a new scholarship for top high school students who commit to teaching in Indiana for five years. The Next Generation Hoosier Educators Scholarship fund will provide up to $7,500 a year. Photo provided by the governor's office.

The scholarship, approved by the General Assembly earlier this year, received bipartisan support. During the legislative session, House Speaker Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis, described the scholarship as an effort to address a recent drop in the number of college graduates earning teacher licenses.

"We strongly believe that the most important factor in a child's education is a great teacher in the classroom," Bosma said in a statement. "This scholarship encourages our best and brightest to enter the teaching profession, which will strengthen Indiana's talent pipeline and improve the overall quality of education in our state."

Interested students must be nominated by a teacher or school administrator and submit an application by Dec. 31. To qualify students must either graduate in the top 20 percent of their class or receive a score in the top 20th percentile on their SAT or ACT exam.

Students currently enrolled in college are also eligible, but priority will be given to high school students.

After receiving the scholarship, students must maintain a grade point average of 3.0 or higher and complete at least 30 credit hours per year. A single recipient cannot receive more than $30,000 total.

In the first year of the scholarship, up to 200 students will be selected to receive the funding based on academic achievement, teacher nomination and an interview process. Finalists will be selected by Jan. 31, 2017. Students awarded the scholarship will be notified by April 15, 2017.

Source: Scholarship focused on teacher shortage opens for applications

Razorback linebacker among 12 finalists for 'Academic Heisman'

IRVING, Texas — BYU quarterback Taysom Hill and Western Michigan quarterback Zach Terrell are among 12 finalists for the William V. Campbell Trophy, which honors the top scholar-athlete in college football.

The other finalists announced Tuesday by the National Football Foundation for the academic Heisman are:

— Brooks Ellis, linebacker, Arkansas

— Chris Beaschler, linebacker, Dayton

— Tim Crawley, wide receiver, San Jose State

— DeVon Edwards, safety, Duke

— Carter Hanson, linebacker, Saint John's (Minn.)

— Ryan Janvion, safety, Wake Forest

— Zay Jones, wide receiver, East Carolina

— Cooper Rush, quarterback, Central Michigan

— Karter Schult, defensive lineman, Northern Iowa

— Tyler Sullivan, quarterback, Delta State

Each finalist receives an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship. The winner will be announced Dec. 6 at the National Football Foundation's Hall of Fame banquet in New York.

The winner will receive an additional $7,000 in scholarship money and the Campbell Trophy.

Hill missed most of the last two seasons for BYU with serious injuries. He is pursuing an MBA and is the only player in school history with 4,000 yards passing and 2,000 receiving in a career.

Terrell is also pursuing an MBA while leading No. 17 Western Michigan to its first ranking in the AP Top 25 in school history.

Source: Razorback linebacker among 12 finalists for 'Academic Heisman'

MSU College of Human Medicine names Mazzuchi scholarship recipients

Published 10/31 2016 11:55AM

Updated 10/31 2016 11:55AM

Image courtesy MGN Online/Copyright 2016 Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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MARQUETTE, Mich. – Four medical students have been awarded the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine UP Campus Mazzuchi Scholarship.

Students Dustin Collins, Angelea Heider, Ashley Parent and Chris Steele were each awarded tuition reduction scholarships. The recipients were selected for their commitment to practicing medicine in the Upper Peninsula after residency training, interest in specializing in emergency medicine, family medicine, internal medicine, general surgery, hospitalist medicine, obstetrics/gynecology, pediatrics or psychiatry; and need for financial assistance.

The scholarship fund, which began providing financial assistance in 1983, was renamed the Mazzuchi Scholarship in 2006 to honor Dr. Dan Mazzuchi. The retired physician and former Michigan State University College of Human Medicine Upper Peninsula campus CEO and community assistant dean was instrumental in developing the U.P. community campus, one of the college's seven campuses in Michigan. He also helped launch the Marquette Family Medicine Residency Program and served as chief of staff at Marquette General Hospital.

Dustin Collins, a native of Gilbert, Arizona, received his bachelor's degree in political science from Northern Michigan University. While attending NMU, he played varsity hockey for the Wildcats and went on to play professional hockey for 4 years. Dustin returned to NMU to pursue post baccalaureate courses while working as a phlebotomist, being assistant coach for MSHS high school hockey team and volunteering as the strength and conditioning coach for the NMU hockey team. He volunteered for Lake Superior Hospice and Camp STAR which helped affirm his passion for helping others and choosing a career in medicine.

A native of Chassell Michigan, Angelea Heider received her bachelor's degree from Michigan Tech. There she worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant, CNA, on the inpatient unit of UP Health System-Portage, at Portage Pointe, and at the Omega House. She did research involving aerospace medicine and human performance during her undergraduate years which was published in the journal of Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance. Angelea chose medicine based on her love of science and helping others. She looks forward to helping people in rural, underserved areas and forming lifelong relationships with her patients.

Ashley Parent grew up in Marquette, Michigan, and attended Northern Michigan University. She received a bachelor of science in biology-human physiology. Prior to medical school, Ashley was working toward her M.S. from NMU with the Upper Michigan Brain Tumor Center, something she hopes to complete during her time in Marquette. She also worked in a breast cancer research lab at MSU. Ashley looks forward to learning and applying her knowledge and skills to the care of others.

Chris Steele is a native of Three Lakes, Michigan. He studied biology and chemistry at Northern Michigan University and performed bench research, both for NMU professors and for the Upper Michigan Brain Tumor Center. He volunteered for the Superior Alliance for Independent Living organization by getting folks dealing with varying forms of disability out fishing and cross country skiing. Chris hopes to continue to participate in research while working to positively impact people's lives through medicine.

About Michigan State University College of Human Medicine Upper Peninsula Region Campus

The MSU College of Human Medicine Upper Peninsula Region Campus works in conjunction with the UP Health System-Marquette to coordinate the training of family medicine residents and Michigan State University College of Human Medicine medical students. Since its inception in 1974, 266 medical students and 186 resident physicians have graduated from the two programs. Currently, approximately 30 percent of the MSU College of Human Medicine Upper Peninsula Region Campus physicians are practicing in the U.P. in every primary care and additional specialties of medicine.

Copyright 2016 Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Source: MSU College of Human Medicine names Mazzuchi scholarship recipients

Call for Papers! Race, Gender and Law: A Tribute to the Scholarship of Sherene Razack

Canadian Journal of Women and the Law/Revue Femmes et Droit is available online at: http://bit.ly/cjwlcfp

 

The Canadian Journal of Women and Law (CJWL) seeks submissions for a special issue 30(2) to be published in December 2018 on Race, Gender and Law: A tribute to the scholarship of Sherene Razack (guest edited by Gada Mahrouse, Carmela Murdocca, and Leslie Thielen-Wilson). The deadline for submitting articles for this special issue is September 1, 2017. 

 Dr. Sherene Razack is one of Canada's leading critical race feminist theorists. She is especially known for developing an analytic that shows: 1. how racial violence is often legally and socially authorized and is integral to the making of states; and 2. how racial violence is gendered and sexualized. This special issue is in celebration of the 20th anniversary of her ground-breaking book Looking White People in the Eye (now in its fourth edition) and her important and on-going contributions to the interdisciplinary field of critical race feminisms and socio-legal studies. We invite articles in English and French from academics, legal scholars, educators, and activists, working in the areas of gender, race, and law. We are interested in receiving articles that are explicitly informed by Razack's methodology or any other important aspect of her work.

Submissions should be no more than 35 pages (10,000 words) and should conform to the Style Guide available on our website: http://bit.ly/cjwlsubmit.  Please send articles in word format indicating it is for the special issue on "Race, Gender and the Law." to: cjwl-rfd@uottawa.ca

Appel à contributions

La race, le genre et le droit : commémoration des travaux de Sherene Razack

La Revue femmes et droit sollicite des textes pour un numéro spécial 30(2), à paraître en décembre 2018, sur la race, le genre et le droit : commémoration des travaux de Sherene Razack (rédaction assurée par les rédactrices invitées Gada Mahrouse, Leslie Thielen-Wilson et Carmela Murdocca,). Les articles pour ce numéro spécial doivent être soumis d'ici le 1er septembre 2017 au plus tard. La professeure Sherene Razack est une des théoriciennes féministes critiques de la race les plus influentes au Canada. Elle est particulièrement reconnue pour avoir élaboré une analyse qui montre : 1. comment la violence raciale est fréquemment autorisée sur les plans juridique et social et fait partie intégrante de la composition des États ; et 2. comment la violence raciale est sexospécifique et sexualisée. Ce numéro spécial commémore le vingtième anniversaire de son livre révolutionnaire Looking White People in the Eye (qui en est à présent à sa quat rième édition) et ses contributions majeures et continues au champ interdisciplinaire des féminismes critiques de la race et des études sociojuridiques. Nous sommes à la recherche d'articles en anglais et en français rédigés par des professeurs et chercheurs en droit, des juristes, des éducateurs et des activistes qui travaillent dans les domaines du genre, de la race et du droit. Nous sommes intéressés à recevoir des articles explicitement influencés par la méthodologie de S. Razack ou par tout autre aspect important de ses travaux.

Les articles soumis ne doivent pas dépasser 35 pages (10 000 mots) et doivent se conformer au Guide Stylistique, disponible sur notre site Web à : http://bit.ly/cjwlsubmit. Prière de faire parvenir vos textes/articles à « Edition spéciale sur la race, le genre et le droit » en format Word à : cjwl-rfd@uottawa.ca.

Source: Call for Papers! Race, Gender and Law: A Tribute to the Scholarship of Sherene Razack

Overseas scholarship scheme for Minorities last date 15th Nov

Hyderabad: Dept. of Minorities Welfare, Telangana issued notification yesterday inviting applications from the candidates aspiring to study abroad. Eligible candidates may register their applications online at website http://telanganaepass.cgg.gov.in/. The last date of online registration is up to 5 p.m. on 15th November. For further details, the candidates may visit the above website.

–Siasat News

Source: Overseas scholarship scheme for Minorities last date 15th Nov

Palo Alto superintendent recommends 'no' on weighted grades this year

McGee explained this short-term recommendation in a letter sent to all district parents on Friday. For the few schools that won't accept an official letter, the district will "provide additional documentation and/or aggressive advocacy on behalf of the student," he wrote.

Long term, he proposed that the district convene an advisory committee to make recommendations to him, and he in turn would make a recommendation to the board before the start of the next school year.

Currently, both Palo Alto and Gunn high school only report unweighted GPAs on transcripts, and counselors from both schools inform students of their weighted average during meetings. Gunn counselors, however, report seniors' weighted GPAs in a section of the Common Application for college admissions, while Paly's do not. Both schools have historically sent letters or contacted schools directly on behalf of students who need their weighted GPA to qualify for a scholarship, staff has said.

McGee also recommended revising the district's focus goals — significant, overarching goals adopted each year that drive the board and district's work — at a January board retreat to "replace items in the work plan with this matter, which has become an important topic and is clearly a priority for the community and the board," he wrote.

The school board will vote on McGee's proposals at its meeting Tuesday evening.

McGee's stance on weighted GPAs is aligned with that of both high schools' principals, their school counselors and psychologists and the majority of teachers and staff. They have said that the potential negatives of reporting weighted GPAs — breeding an unhealthy focus on grades rather than a love of learning, discouraging students from taking non-AP or non-honors courses, and changing a historical practice to handle exceptions rather than the norm — outweigh the positives. They have also noted that colleges and universities have their own processes for reviewing GPAs and take into account the fact that reporting practices vary at many high schools.

Some Paly and Gunn students and parents, however, strongly disagree. More than 20 students and parents, primarily from Gunn, turned out to the Oct. 18 board meeting to urge the board to adopt a new practice — reporting weighted GPAs on official transcripts — to recognize students' hard work in advanced courses and to not deprive them of the choice to report weighted GPAs. While the debate over weighted grades was brought to the full board's attention by a Paly senior who wants her school to report the higher average so she can qualify for a large merit-based scholarship, it has struck a chord with others who perceive their very acceptance to college as at risk.

This week, Gunn parents started an online petition to gather support for their position. As of Friday afternoon, just over 300 people had signed it.

"We thank the board for continuing to look for ways to improve our children's education; but this measure has unintended negative consequences, that perhaps, have not been well thought through," the petition reads.

"This is not a source of stress for our children," the petition continues. "In fact, removal of wGPA will add stress to our children because they will have to stress significantly more over maintaining an A, and preserving their GPA. Most likely the students will opt for the less challenging, non-AP class just to preserve their GPA."

McGee has committed to having a uniform practice at both high schools, but only after a committee thoroughly studies the issue with deep input from students, parents, alumni and others, he wrote in his recommendation to the board.

"We understand and empathize with students', parents' and teachers' concerns about admissions and scholarship decisions as well as their concerns about students' health and well-being and therefore want to give any decision regarding long-term practices the diligent attention and depth of thought necessary," he wrote.

Related video: Reporter Elena Kadvany discusses the weighted-grade issue on this week's "Behind the Headlines" webcast, posted here.

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Source: Palo Alto superintendent recommends 'no' on weighted grades this year