Congratulations Graduates

‘Ladies and gentlemen, please move your tassel from the right to the left - you are now high school graduates.’ 

These words were uttered by several Simon Youth Academy Administrators and Principal’s as mid-year graduations commenced recently. Nearly 200 students from seven academies earned their diploma and now begin a new chapter of their life. Each youth who donned the traditional cap and gown have unique stories and reasons for attending the academy, but all of them persevered. 

Simon Youth Clark Pleasant Academy - 9

Simon Youth Academy at Old Cockrill - 62

Simon Youth Academy at Opry Mills - 22

Simon Youth Academy at Hickory Hollow Mall - 37

Simon Youth Dr. Paul L. Kelley Volunteer Academy at Knoxville Center - 39

Simon Youth Academy at Metrocenter Mall - 30

Every 29 seconds in this country a student drops out of school, which is why SYF is so proud to add all of these graduates to the list of nearly 10,000 who have earned their diploma with assistance from SYF.  

Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education.”

SYF is humbled to share this moment with brave young people who chose to turn the obstacles in their lives into opportunities for something better. Their character has been tested and they are now stronger to face any challenge. Keep all of these fine young men and women in your thoughts as they begin a new, exciting journey in 2013. As we enter our 15th year, get ready to graduate our 10,000th student, and award scholarships eclipsing the $10 million mark, help us continue the effort by making a year-end gift today. 

Scholarships for Master programmes in Development Studies, 2013-14, Antwerp, Belgium

IOB Master's Programmes in Development Studies 2013-2014 

The Institute of Development Policy and Management (IOB) is part of the University of Antwerp (Belgium) located in the very heart of Europe. It has several decades of experience in organising international education programmes in the field of development studies.

IOB currently offers three one-year master's programmes in Development Studies:

Master of Globalisation and Development

Master of Governance and Development

Master of Development Evaluation and Management

Various scholarships available 
Every year, the Institute is home to some 100 students of more than thirty different nationalities and from diverse academic and professional backgrounds. This creates an extraordinary multicultural and multidisciplinary learning environment. With backgrounds in economics, politics and other social sciences, IOB staff bring a multidisciplinary perspective to their teaching, research and policy advisory work. 

For more information on our master's programmes, please visit our website at: http://www.ua.ac.be/iob/education 

For complete details and application procedures, CLICK HERE 

NB: Download PDF attached document/brochure. 

SOURCE: CLICK HERE 

MAKULILO SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION 
CALIFORNIA, USA

Chevening Scholarship for TANZANIANS for 2013/2014 in UK Universities

CHEVENING IN TANZANIA

We are now accepting applications for 2013/14 Chevening in Tanzania, click here for further details on how to apply. 

Chevening Scholarships in Tanzania aim to attract talented professionals who have been identified as potential future leaders, decision makers and opinion formers. We accept from a wide range of subject areas, however, we particularly welcome applications in the following fields: 

*Oil and gas 

*Law fields, including human rights and international law Corporate governance / tackling corruption 

*Media 

*Politics 

Chevening Scholarships not only offer financial support to study for a Master’s degree at the UK’s leading universities, but the opportunity to become part of an influential and highly regarded global network. Do you have the potential to be a future leader and a desire to study in the UK? If you would like to enhance your leadership skills and become part of the growing Chevening network, please look at our information on how to apply. 

Application timetable 

We are now accepting applications for 2013/14 Chevening in Tanzania. The closing date for applications is 2 January 2013. 

Before applying 

*Read the guidance for 2013/14 applicants and our general information about applying for a Chevening Scholarship. 

*ENGLISH LANGUAGE TESTS: In view of difficulties reported by candidates in securing English language tests in some countries, it has been agreed to provide a limited dispensation over the requirements for English language tests. Applicants are welcome to submit before obtaining a language test score, but will still need to arrange tests before proceeding to interview stage. You should apply in the normal manner, and will be contacted by the Secretariat regarding the outcome and next steps in due course. Candidates able to take such tests are encouraged to do so at the earliest opportunity, however. 

*Applicants who have been awarded a Bachelor’s degree or higher in one of the following countries are exempt from submitting an English Language test: Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, New Zealand, Singapore, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, the UK, and the United States of America.

How to apply 

Further details on how to apply for a Chevening Scholarship are available on the apply page. 

CBA-Chevening Scholarships 

CBA-Chevening Scholarships are offered in Tanzania. Further information on applying is available on our central partnerships page. 

African Fellowship Trust-Chevening Scholarships 

African Fellowship Trust/Chevening Scholarships are offered in Tanzania. Further information on applying is available on our central partnerships page. 

For Eligibility, Guidance for Applicants, Application Form etc, visit http://www.chevening.org/apply/

SOURCE: http://www.chevening.org/tanzania/ 

MAKULILO SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION 

CALIFORNIA, USA

PhD Certificate Program in Network Science - Central European University, Budapest, Hungary

Central European University is an English-language, graduate university located in Budapest, Hungary. An international university with students from some 100 countries and faculty from more than 40, CEU offers small, seminar-style courses and a student/faculty ratio of 7:1. CEU is accredited in the United States and Hungary.

The PhD Certificate Program in Network Science is a new program that provides tools to un­der­stand the principles governing social, political, economic, and environmental networks. Students get to work with some of the most prominent network scientists in the world, exploring terabyte-sized datasets capturing mobile phone calls between millions of individuals, financial transactions between banks and companies, energy delivery systems, memberships in the directorial boards of companies, and affiliations in political parties. Candidates with an interest in network science and its applications to political science, economics, and environmental sciences and policy can apply via the respective departments’ . Upon completion of the doctoral program, students will also receive a PhD Certificate in network science. 

The program focuses on the following problem areas: 

 * Political science: business-political networks, social movements, social influences in voter behavior 

 * Economics: world system networks and development, embeddedness of multinational corporations, network effects and externalities 

 * Environmental science: resilience in energy grids, food webs and economic competition 

SCHOLARSHIPS AND FELLOWSHIPS 

CEU is committed to attracting talented students and scholars from around the world. The University provides a variety of scholarships and research grants for which applicants from any country are eligible to apply. 

 * CEU Doctoral Fellowships cover full tuition, health insurance, and a generous stipend for housing and living expenses. More than 90 percent of PhD students receive the full doctoral fellowship from CEU, while others are supported by external organizations providing funding. 

 * Direct Student Loans and Canada Student Loans are available for eligible U.S. and Canadian students. 

 * External Scholarships and Financial Program administered through CEU include Erasmus Mundus scholarships, Erasmus research grants, and other private and public fellowships and scholarships. 

CAREER PATHS: Network scientists are employed in academia, government, and business. Applied network scientists work at Internet and social media companies, where they improve users’ online experience. They also serve as consultants developing business infrastructure and specialize in risk mitigation for major financial institutions. 

 Application Deadline : 24 January 2013 

SOURCE: http://cns.ceu.hu/news/2012-12-13/call-for-applications-20132014 

2013-2014 AU Emerging Global Leader Undergraduate Scholarship in USA

Description 

Fully-funded Scholarship open to international students at American University, USA. The AU Emerging Global Leader Scholarship promotes educational access and opportunity while enhancing international diversity. Bringing together the best of AU — academic excellence, leadership development, and global engagement — the AU Emerging Global Leader achieves, inspires, and serves with vision. The AU EGL is dedicated to positive civic and social change, and to returning home to improve under-resourced, underserved communities in his/her home country. 

Worth of Scholarship

The scholarship provides full tuition, fees, room and board for one first-year (freshman) high-achieving international student who will need a visa to study in the United States (preference will be for those who need an F-1 or J-1 student visa). 

It is renewable for a total of four years of undergraduate study, based on continued satisfactory academic performance. U.S. citizens, U.S. permanent residents or dual citizens of the U.S. and another country, are not eligible to apply. 

Eligibility 

To be considered for the scholarship, candidates must be secondary school students (not university students) applying as first-year (freshman) students for the fall (August) 2013 semester 

Students must apply Regular Decision only and must submit the AU EGLS application, the Common Application and AU Supplement, and all supporting documents by January 15, 2013 

Preference will be given to international students who have overcome various obstacles and challenges as well as those from diverse and under-represented global and socioeconomic backgrounds.

The most competitive applicants should have: 

A minimum 3.8 GPA equivalent (or in the top 10 percent of graduating class) for 9th-12th grades 

A demonstrated commitment to service and advancing the needs of people in their home country 

Excellent oral and written communication skills in English, with a minimum 90 TOEFL iBT (with no subscore lower than 20) or 6.5 IELTS (with no subscore lower than 6.0) 

Demonstrated leadership, volunteerism and community service 

How to Apply 

You are required to submit your application through the online common system. See link below. 

https://www.commonapp.org/Application/RegisterApplicant.aspx

Deadline: 

January 15, 2013. All application materials must be submitted by this date. If you have any questions about applying, please contact intadm@american.edu. 

For information, and to apply, click here 

For a link to submit your application online, here 

SOURCE: CLICK HERE 

 MAKULILO SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION 

CALIFORNIA, USA

2013 Harambe Fletcher Scholarships for African Students at Tufts University, USA

Eligibility:-Born in Africa and current passport holders of an African country -Exhibited entrepreneurial leadership in their field of interest -Two or more years of work experience -Hold a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent -Candidates must arrange to have official university transcripts, letters of recommendation and standardized test scores arrive at The Fletcher School by the appropriate application deadline.

How to Apply: By Online 

Subjects: Eligible Programs Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy (MALD) 
A two-year, highly flexible, interdisciplinary, professional degree in international affairs 

Master of International Business (MIB) 
A two-year hybrid international business/ international affairs degree program

Level: Master 

Provider: Harambe Entrepreneur Alliance 

For Which Country: USA 

For Whom: International (Africa) 

Description: The Harambe Fletcher Scholarship is a full-tuition award for young African entrepreneurial leaders wishing to pursue a master program at The Fletcher School at Tufts University, starting in September 2013. The scholarship recipient will be announced at the Harambe Bretton Woods Symposium VI, April 5–8, 2013. 

Scholarship Benefits:-Full-tuition to attend a master program at the Fletcher School at Tufts University starting in September 2013-Invitation to the Harambe Bretton Woods Symposium -Recognition as an Associate of the Harambe Entrepreneur Alliance with all the benefits and privileges thereof 

Please note that the scholarship is limited to tuition fees. The recipient is responsible for all living expenses.

Deadline: December 30, 2012

SOURCE: http://www.healliance.org/Harambe_Fletcher_Scholarship.pdf

MAKULILO SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION

CALIFORNIA, USA

What does it all mean?

As the holiday season ramps up, the meaning of it all is sometimes lost in the hustle and bustle. The calendar is packed full of parties, get-togethers and family gatherings. At times it can get very stressful to budget your time and keep your checking account balanced. All you need for some perspective is to attend a Simon Youth Academy graduation and meet the graduates, as well as the administrators and teachers charged with changing their futures. The stories of perseverance and fortitude bring everything back into perspective. 

Thursday evening a group of nine students received their diploma from the Simon Youth Clark Pleasant Academy. Each one had a different reason for attending, but all had the common goal of completing their high school education.

A special congratulations goes out to the newest class of graduates from Simon Youth Clark Pleasant Academy:

Ravinder Kaur

Auston McKinney

Laci Hall

Dustin Smock

Veronica Stone

Gina Hestand

Jared Birge

Chelsey Kent

Kilee Schoolcraft

Considering by the time you finish reading this article 15 more youth will decide to quit school, it is paramount we solve the issue of dropping out. The Simon Youth Academies throughout the United States offer a unique opportunity to complete the requirements for graduation at one’s own pace. Partnering with school districts, each of the 23 academies in 13 states help at-risk youth grow and become successful.

It’s not only the plethora of presents given and received, it’s about the intangible gifts like education which will last a lifetime. In the words of Nelson Mandela, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” These students will no doubt make a difference. 

We need your help to reach even more of these at-risk students so they can realize their dream of graduation. Please consider a tax-deductible year-end gift so we can continue our mission of igniting hope and allow more youth to start here and go anywhere. 

http://bit.ly/SYFdonate

Today is the Day!

All the work, effort and determination culminates today for a group of students at Simon Youth Clark Pleasant Academy. They will walk across the stage and receive their diploma. These at-risk youth took their challenges, stared them in the face, and said ‘you can’t stop me.’

At Simon Youth Foundation, and its academies across the United States, extensive efforts are made to ignite hope in students. Today more names will be added to the list of successful individuals. Every 29 seconds in this country a student drops out of school, but SYF can proudly say this month that more than 150 youth will earn their diploma at seven of the 23 academies.

Martin Luther King, Jr. said that “Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.”

We are humbled to share this moment with brave young people who chose to turn the obstacles in their lives into opportunities for something better. Their character has been tested and they are now stronger because of their perseverance.

Today graduates, with high school diploma in hand, now have the opportunity to continue education at a two or four year institution, and earn as much as $350,000 more in their lifetime. SYF’s work is made possible by the strong support of the mall management team at Greenwood Park Mall and of the Clark-Pleasant Community Schools Corporation.

SYF has a vision for all of the students who enroll at Simon Youth Academies. It is Start here. Go Anywhere. This means that today is not a finish line. It is the start of something better. The work in the classroom has been completed, now the sky is the limit.

If you would like to attend the graduation tonight at 6:00 p.m., media or general public, please contact:

Thomas McAninch
Manager, Communications
317.640.2391
tmcaninch@simon.com

The Simon Youth Clark Pleasant Academy is located at:

129 U.S. Hwy 31, Whiteland, Indiana 46184

Academy Junior Selected for Massachusetts Governor Council

Hayley Patz (pictured third row, far right in pink) a junior at
Simon Youth Peabody Learning Academy at Northshore Mall,
Peabody, MA.

Governor Deval Patrick swore in new members to the Governor’s statewide Youth Council on Friday, including Peabody resident Hayley Patz. The 28 members, representing all 14 counties in Massachusetts, are the third Youth Council class and will serve for two years.

Governor Patrick established the Council by an executive order in April 2008 to encourage young people to become civically engaged in their local communities and help tackle the state's biggest challenges, including education reform, youth violence and anti-bullying, by assuming leadership roles.

“The progress Youth Council members have made over the past several years is remarkable, and I am confident that this amazing group of young people will carry on that tradition and leave the Commonwealth stronger for the next generation,” said Governor Patrick.

Members were selected by an application review committee for their excellence in leadership and their outstanding potential to create change in their communities. Members range from ages 14-20.

"One of my students, Hayley Patz  was interested in applying to be on this council," said Simon Youth Peabody Learning Academy at Northshore Mall Administrator Seith Bedard. "I agreed to become her sponsor and completed all of the paperwork. It was a rigorous process and the Governor received hundreds of applications. We found out last month that Hayley (a junior at the Academy) was selected to the council. We're all so proud of her."

The Youth Council will hold formal bi-monthly sessions and will advise the Governor as representatives of Massachusetts youth. In addition to their bi-monthly meetings, Youth Council members gather independently to share what they see in their communities and talk about how state government can partner with local communities to create solutions.

The first two classes of the Youth Council worked with the Administration to advocate for the passage of several important policy issues, including the Governor’s 2010 anti-bullying legislation.

The Need to Succeed

As a young student I was asked, “what do you want to be when you grow-up?” Countless ideas filled my head – an astronaut, teacher, athlete, artist – all with the idea that I could go anywhere and do anything. With unemployment and homelessness hitting highs not seen since the Great Depression, children today have been asked to grow up quicker. Many have few, if any, positive role models. Many are being forced to start making adult decisions earlier than preceding generations. Our political leaders have spent an inordinate amount of time arguing how our public school dollars are best used with only marginal results. This turmoil has trickled down to our kids. It has made high school expendable in some students’ eyes because the need to make money and help provide for the family has taken over. This sad reality is why we work hard every day at the Simon Youth Foundation.  

Alarming statistics further depict an urgent need for alternatives.

• In America’s high schools, 7,000 students drop out every day totaling 1.2 Million annually – equal to the same number of jobs lost in the U.S. during 2008.
  
• Over the course of a lifetime, each high school dropout costs the nation approximately $350,000 in lost earnings, taxes and productivity.
  
• Taking the above statistics, today the United States lost $2.5 Million because these high school students decided to quit.

Igniting hope is paramount to navigating through these tough times. At Simon Youth Academies throughout the United States we are turning around the lives of at-risk youth. We partner with school districts and public school educators to help end the cycle of self-destruction. The resiliency and fire I see from our graduates is nothing short of remarkable when taking into account their individual stories of struggle.

One such example is a student named Abby. She currently attends the Simon Youth Clark Pleasant Academy in Whiteland, Indiana. In the traditional high school setting, she was hanging out with the wrong crowd making poor decisions. She quickly fell behind her classmates in all areas of studies and her ability to graduate was fading. A school counselor suggested to her that she go to the Simon Youth Academy.

“I didn’t know what I wanted to do and school wasn’t clicking until I got to the Academy. I haven’t missed a day of school because of how engaging the teachers are and the pace of studies. I can go faster in subjects I’m strong in and slow down to get help in the others. Without this academy, graduation wasn’t a thought in my head. Even when I started people didn’t think I could do it and I’m proving everyone wrong.”

It’s at-risk youth like Abby who simply needed a chance to succeed. She’s not only going to graduate, she’s moving on to higher education where she plans to become a nurse. Boasting a 90% graduation rate, the Simon Youth Foundation offers this alternative to help high schools change the course of students whose challenges require extra attention.

This coming year, SYF will celebrate our 15th year and our 10,000th graduate. That is 10,000 lives changed through earning a high school diploma. At Simon Youth Foundation, we are proving these types of partnerships work, and we are serving as a national model. As a public charity, along with local school district partners and private entities, especially Simon Property Group and the NBA’s Indiana Pacers, we established a successful nationwide network of alternative schools for at-risk high school students that since 1998 has helped students earn a high school diploma.

SYF’s mission is for youth to start here and go anywhere. As I travel to each of our 23 academies in 13 states, I see this first hand. Our students no longer check off what they can’t do - they write down goals they want and can achieve.  It’s a new day filled with hopes and dreams for the future – all sparked by believing in the movement. What a fitting way to celebrate National Education Week.

In the words of William Butler Yeats, “Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” We at Simon Youth Foundation work to be the ignition of the inferno within. Students start here and go anywhere.

SYF Names New Manager of Communications

Simon Youth Foundation is proud to announce Thomas McAninch as the new Manager of Communications. He will be responsible for the Foundation’s efforts in developing and executing communication, marketing and public relations. McAninch’s focus on helping guide youth to live a principled life has been a staple since a young age. 

“I am humbled to have the opportunity to join such an amazing foundation,” said McAninch. “They have a dedicated team with unparalleled passion for igniting hope in youth. I relish the chance to tell the unique and remarkable story of SYF.”    

A graduate of Arizona State University (Tempe, AZ), Tom earned a degree in Broadcasting & Mass Communications. Since a young age, McAninch has been heavily involved in the non-profit community. He has fundraised and ran marathons with Team in Training (Leukemia & Lymphoma Society), St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and Angelwish. He has served on boards for the Fraternity Communications Association, Hoosier Devils (Arizona State University Indiana Alumni Association), and the Indiana Chapter of Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. His career began at Tri-State News radio as a news director and led to becoming a Capitol Press Corps Reporter with Arizona News Radio. He joined Indianapolis based Tau Kappa Epsilon International Fraternity in 2005 as a Communications Coordinator. He was subsequently promoted to Director of Communication & Public Relations earning more than 30 awards during his tenure.

 “We are proud to have Thomas McAninch join our SYF team,” said Dr. J. Michael Durnil, SYF President & CEO. “His work in the non-profit community, both volunteer and career, will bring a great perspective in raising our organization’s profile to the next level.”

SYF Student Leaders Making a Difference

Former Super Bowl winning Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy once said, “It's about the journey-mine and yours-and the lives we can touch, the legacy we can leave, and the world we can change for the better.”

At Simon Youth Academies across the United States, our teachers and administrators are instilling principles that will last a lifetime. One of these is volunteerism. Four students at Simon Youth Clark Pleasant Academy recently wrote and presented a grant proposal to the Youth Philanthropy Council of Johnson County. One of the volunteer activities they want to use the money – Stockings for Seniors.

Abby Van Landingham (Senior), Angie Sigman (Junior), Jacob Holzer (Senior) and C.J. Dixon (Junior) are the Students in Action Leaders for the 2012-2013 school year. The Stockings for Seniors project is an effort to show appreciation for those who may be forgotten around the holidays. Gifts are always nice to receive, but these students are more concerned with showing men and women in nursing homes a little attention during the joyous season.

In addition to this project, Abby, Angie, Jacob and C.J. have been participating in the Jefferson Awards Students in Action organization. It is a program focusing on volunteerism and getting others to learn to be philanthropic.  Last year they came in second place for their outstanding work and calculated more than 2,000 hours in giving back to the community. Earlier this month, these students attended a lunch and learn for leadership and team building. There were about 150 students there from schools in the central Indiana area.

This is just one example of thousands seen at the Simon Youth Academies across the nation. It’s great to showcase a group of individuals who are beginning to make their mark on society. In the same way they were given a second chance to succeed, they are paying it forward. It’s a lesson everyone can take away.

Eric Chamberlain Selected as SYF Major Gifts Officer

Simon Youth Foundation is proud to announce Eric Chamberlain as the new Major Gifts Officer. He will be responsible for the Foundation’s efforts in developing and executing external individual and corporate gifts. He is very excited to get to work.

“As someone who believes deeply that all people, regardless of their life circumstances, should have the opportunity to obtain the lifelong emotional, intellectual, and economic benefits of high-school and higher education, I am delighted and honored to be joining the team of like-minded professionals at SYF who ignite hope each and every day,” said Chamberlain.

A graduate of Lycoming College (Williamsport, PA), Eric earned the distinction of Certified Association Executive (CAE) from the American Society of Association Executives in 2008. Chamberlain is also heavily involved in the Indianapolis non-profit community. He is a mentor with the Starfish Initiative enhancing college access and readiness for disadvantaged high school students, a board member of the Exodus Refugee Immigration Services assisting those fleeing religious or political persecution with the process of rebuilding their lives, and a board member with Play Ball Indiana to develop life skills of inner city youth through the game of baseball. He has worked at Tau Kappa Epsilon International Fraternity as a Regional Director, WFYI Public Broadcasting as a Community Ambassador and, most recently, as the Associate Executive Director of Volunteer Services for Delta-Upsilon International Fraternity. 

“We are proud to add Eric Chamberlain to our SYF team,” said Dr. J. Michael Durnil, SYF President & CEO. “He brings great passion and expertise to advance the pursuit of positioning Simon Youth Foundation as a national leader in non-traditional education and student retention.”