Dallas Fort Worth Nonprofit Business Journal

Category: Education

  • NCTC’s ACE program to unveil new Mobile Go Center

    Adult and Continuing Education, the noncredit division of North Central Texas College, welcomes the public to the unveiling of the new Mobile Go Center. The NCTC ACE Mobile Go Center Launch will take place 1-6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 20, in front of the NCTC Administration Building (100 Building) in Gainesville.

    “The Mobile Go Center provides ACE the ability to deliver on-site trainings for our area businesses and communities where training space is not otherwise available,” stated Jessica Carlile, dean of Adult and Continuing Education.

    Moreover, the NCTC ACE Mobile Go Center reduces the dependency on third-party vendors, while also providing companies in North Texas alternatives for training their employees. Not limited to location, the Mobile Go Center takes higher education on the road, providing training, teaching and learning wherever needed.

    Carlile has high expectations and goals for the Mobile Go Center.

    “ACE is committed to providing training to area businesses and their employees, as well as to the communities within our service areas.” Carlile stated. “The Mobile Go Center allows us to better serve them by offering providing a hands-on classroom environment and allows trainers to teach and simulate in the same capacity.”

    The the launch party will feature a tailgate theme with food, beverages and more information about the technology trailer and courses offered through ACE and NCTC. For information, contact Angel Fitzpatrick at 940- 668-7731, ext. 4911, or afitzpatrick@nctc.edu.

  • Plano’s Faith Lutheran School celebrates Veterans Day

    Faculty, staff and students at Plano’s Faith Lutheran School gathered on Friday, Nov. 10, with military veterans, special guests and others for a special Veterans Day recognition program.

    “This event was a way for us to show our respect for our country and to express our thanks to veterans who have given so much so that we may enjoy many freedoms,” said Faith Lutheran School Headmaster the Rev. Stephen W. Kieser of Wylie.

    The event featured appearances by Plano Mayor Pro Tem Rick Grady and Plano Council Member Tom Harrison, representatives from the East Fork – Trinity Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution and a variety of community veterans from all branches of the military.

  • Richardson Classical Academy partners with iFly to promote STEM education

    Seventh- and eighth- grade students at Richardson Classical Academy, a ResponsiveEd school, took to the air Nov. 8 at the iFly Dallas facility in Frisco. About 20 students experienced simulated skydiving and learned about science and math skills in honor of National STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) Day.

    “Our priority at Richardson Classical Academy is to cultivate a lifelong love of learning and virtuous character,” stated Ashley Cooper, campus director at Richardson Classical Academy, in a press release.“This STEM program will help us create a rich learning environment for our students, while supplying them with the foundations of a classical education within a modern, innovative setting.”

    In addition to flight time for each participant, students had the opportunity to test how different objects -such as water and tennis balls – behaved in the wind tunnel.

    ResponsiveEd is a nonprofit corporation that operates more than 70 tuition-free public schools throughout Texas and Arkansas, including Premier High Schools, ResponsiveEd Classical Academies, Founders Classical Academies, Quest Academies, iSchool High, and iSchool Virtual Academy.

  • ‘Sesame Street’ actress is the featured speaker at One Childhood One Chance luncheon

    A limited number of tickets remain available for Educational First Steps’ fifth annual One Childhood One Chance luncheon, featuring actress Sonia Manzano, “Maria,” from the popular children’s show “Sesame Street.” The luncheon is 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 17,  at Omni Dallas Hotel, 555 S. Lamar St., Dallas.

    Van Sheets, EFS’ new executive director, also will attend the luncheon. He begins work Nov. 27.

    Dallas-based EFS’ mission is to improve the availability of quality early childhood education for economically disadvantaged children,

    Luncheon co-chairs are sisters Merry Munson Wyatt, Kathryn Munson Beach and Meg Munson McGonigle. Honorary co-chairs are David Jr., Charles and John Munson, cousins of the co-chairs. The sisters made these announcements at the newly opened Veronica Beard boutique at Highland Park Village on Sept. 13, and supporters and board members attended.

    “We invite you to support this luncheon that helps raise critical funds to help bring quality early education to 6,000 at-risk children,” Beach said. “It’s definitely a family affair for us as it was founded by our great uncle, David Munson Sr., on his belief that every child, regardless of their economic circumstances or their zip code, deserves and needs a quality education.”

    Manzano, inspired, educated and delighted children and families on “Sesame Street” for more than 30 years. Named among the “25 Greatest Latino Role Models Ever” by Latina Magazine, she broke ground as one of the first Hispanic characters on national television.

    Her latest book, “Becoming Maria: Love and Chaos in the South Bronx,” is Manzano’s tale of perseverance and courage in overcoming countless obstacles to become one of the most influential Latinas in television.

    “Sonia will inspire us as a community committed to supporting common sense, real-life solutions for narrowing the disparities among us in early childhood chances,” Beach said.

    Thanks to the funds raised in part from the luncheon, EFS partners with 93 day care centers in at-risk neighborhoods, carrying out a results-driven program for becoming nationally accredited preschools, at no cost to the centers, teachers or parents. These centers progress to become nationally accredited early education centers and anchors in their neighborhoods, while also preparing more children for school and life success.

    EFS, which started in South Dallas, has grown to serve Tarrant, Denton, Johnson, Collin and Grayson counties, collaborating across 22 school districts.

    For tickets, contact Judy Schecter at JSchecter@educationalfirststeps.org or 214-824-7940. A table for ten starts at $2,000, and a ticket is $175. More information can be found at http://educationalfirststeps.org/.

  • WGU Texas announces $50,000 in scholarships for veterans, military service members and their families

    To honor all those who have served our country, nonprofit, online university WGU Texas is offering up to $50,000 in scholarships for veterans, active-duty military, reservists and military family members who want to earn bachelor’s or master’s degrees in high-demand fields including IT, business, K-12 education, and health professions, including nursing. WGU Texas is accepting applications through Jan. 31, for the WGU Salute to Veterans Scholarship.

    Each scholarship is valued at up to $2,500 — $650 per six-month term for up to four terms and is part of $500,000 in scholarships offered to new students throughout the country through WGU Texas’ parent university, Western Governors University, a press release stated.

    More than 16 percent of WGU Texas’ students are active-duty military personnel, veterans or dependent family members of military personnel. That’s more than 1,500 students and another 737 graduates.

    “WGU Texas has a long history of giving back and showing our appreciation to veterans,” stated WGU Texas Chancellor Steven Johnson, in a press release. “We’re continuing that tradition by supporting the academic and career goals of veterans, active-duty service members and their families, and helping them obtain the quality education they deserve and need to succeed in their careers.”

    All WGU programs are competency-based, providing the flexibility veterans and their families need. Designed to meet the needs of adult learners, competency-based education allows students to take advantage of their knowledge and real-world experience to move quickly through material they already know so they can focus on what they still need to learn. WGU faculty members work one-on-one with students as mentors, offering guidance, support and individualized instruction. Competency-based learning makes it possible for students to accelerate their programs, saving both time and money.

    Scholarship are open to new students who have been officially admitted to WGU and are a U.S. military veteran, active-duty or retired military, reservist, military spouse or children. While multiple scholarships will be awarded, this is a competitive program; scholarships will be awarded based on a candidate’s academic record, readiness for online study, and current competency, as well as other considerations.

     

  • NSA, NSF grants help Denton’s UNT fight security breaches and improve cybersecurity workforce

    Grants totaling more than $1.4 million from the National Security Agency and the National Science Foundation are adding to the University of North Texas’ effort to improve cybersecurity education and fight cybercrime in the United States.

    The National Security Agency recently awarded a nearly $250,000 grant to UNT to create a cybersecurity career roadmap to help government entities, businesses and professional organizations connect current and future cybersecurity professionals with the trainings they need for their careers.

    The grant coincides with ongoing research for the National Science Foundation Scholarship for Service  program, which awarded $1.19 million to UNT faculty – including Dan J. Kim, a professor of Information Technology and Decision Sciences – and doctoral researchers to study security threats, data breaches and other crimes, a press release stated. The program funds the doctoral students’ educations, and those students agree to work for a federal, state, local or tribal government organization in a position related to cybersecurity following graduation.

    Earlier this year, according to UNT’s press release and other press reports, Equifax disclosed a massive breach that exposed names, social security numbers and other sensitive data for an estimated 143 million Americans. Hacks like that will cost more than $7 million this year in the U.S. alone, according to estimates. And globally, cybercrime hit the economy with a $450 billion price tag last year. Certifications offer IT workers a chance to keep up.

    But there is a problem with these trainings, Kim stated.

    “The number and varieties of cybersecurity-related certifications are overwhelming,” he stated.

    His research falls under the Cybersecurity National Action Plan, a long-term federal effort to enhance cybersecurity awareness and protections.

    “This causes confusion among laypersons, IT professionals seeking to strengthen their technical qualifications and employers concerned what certifications their employees should be equipped with,” Kim stated.

    That’s where the career roadmap would come into play: it would help cybersecurity professionals and employers determine which trainings and certifications would best protect their organizations from the next cyberattack.

  • Premier High School opens 35th Texas campus in Arlington

    Premier High School of Arlington, a ResponsiveEd charter school, opened earlier this year and celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Nov. 1 at 551 Ryan Plaza Drive. Texas Sen. Konni Burton, R-Colleyville, along with the Arlington Chamber of Commerce congratulated Campus Director Jennice Perez on the success of of her school that has already enrolled nearly 80 students.

    “We’re proud to bring a credit-recovery, early graduation charter school to Arlington and we’re excited to see such interest from the community as our enrollment continues to grow,” stated Perez in a press release. “Traditional high-schools aren’t for everyone and we know that some parents and students will prefer our individualized approach and low-stress environment.”

    It’s the newest campus to become part of the ResponsiveEd system of charter schools. The school brings the total number of Premier High Schools in Texas to 35. With the motto “Don’t Wait. Graduate.”the Premier High School model aims to help students recover high school credits and work toward early graduation. For more information or to enroll your student, visit www.DontWaitGraduate.com.

    ResponsiveEd is a nonprofit corporation that operates more than 70 tuition-free public schools throughout Texas and Arkansas, including Premier High Schools, ResponsiveEd Classical Academies, Founders Classical Academies, Quest Academies, iSchool High and iSchool Virtual Academy.

  • UNT receives its largest gift bequest

    The University of North Texas recently announced it will receive the largest bequest in its history from the estate of Paul R. Voertman, the former owner of Denton’s iconic Voertman’s Bookstore and a local patron of art and music. Voertman died June 21 at the age of 88.

    The gift, projected to be at least $10 million, is designated to the colleges of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, Music and Visual Arts and Design, a press release stated. The funds will primarily support scholarships and fellowships, as well as research and creative activities such as the Opera Production Fund.

    More than 40 percent of the bequest will be eligible to receive matching funds from the Texas Research Incentive Program, potentially leveraging an additional $4 million to benefit research initiatives, including graduate student support.

    “This gift will have a tremendous impact on UNT, our students and their opportunities for research and creative exploration today and for future generations to come,” President Neal Smatresk stated in the release. “Denton was Paul’s home, and he was a community-minded business owner who gave back to UNT and this community in so many meaningful ways.”

    Voertman and Richard Ardoin, his partner of 48 years, were extremely generous to UNT during their lifetimes. Ardoin, who died in 2002, made a significant estate gift to UNT that includes a charitable trust. With Voertman’s bequest, the couple’s combined giving to UNT totals more than $15 million, making them UNT’s top donors.

     

  • Terrell’s Southwestern Christian College named winner of first Ford HBCU Drive2Greatness National Contest

    Culminating eight weeks of a nationwide competition where students, alumni and supporters of historically black colleges and universities cast votes for their favorite school, Southwestern Christian College in Terrell has been named grand prize winner of the first Ford HBCU Drive2Greatness program.

     In addition to yearlong bragging rights, the college will receive Ford’s Ultimate Homecoming Takeover experience, valued at $150,000, on its campus in 2018. To help celebrate this historic victory, actors Jasmine Guy and Kadeem Hardison of “A Different World” will visit the campus on Saturday to take part in a community-wide celebration.

    Three runner-up schools will receive funding to support programming geared toward science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics initiatives. First place and $50,000 will be awarded to Concordia College Alabama in Selma, Ala. Second-place winner Stillman College in Tuscaloosa, Ala., will receive $25,000. Located in Houston, Southern University will be awarded $15,000 as the third-place winner.

    “Congratulations to Southwestern Christian College on its historic victory in the inaugural Ford HBCU Drive2Greatness contest!” stated Jennifer Edwards, Ford multicultural communications manager, in a press release.”With broad participation across our HBCU campuses, the Drive2Greatness campaign represents more than a contest, serving as an important forum to spotlight Ford’s legacy commitment and support of this vital higher education community.”

    The 2017 Ford HBCU Drive2Greatness national program kicked off Labor Day weekend at the Tom Joyner Family Reunion in Orlando, Fla., where Florida A&M University was awarded $10,000 to support its STEAM initiatives. The program encouraged students, alumni and supporters to earn points for their favorite school through online voting, including via social media platforms using a Ford-dedicated hashtag for each school.

    The program was also supported through a partnership with national morning show hosts Tom Joyner and Rickey Smiley – two longtime historically black colleges and universities advocates who are committed to helping African-American students go further in their studies and careers.

    To illustrate what awaits the grand prize winner, Ford showcased a preview of the Ultimate Homecoming Takeover with a weeklong series of activities that included a fashion show, DJ battle, empowerment expo, a lunch and learning mentoring session, student and alumni ride-and-drives, a tailgate party and other activities on the campuses of Morehouse College and Spelman College in Atlanta last month.

  • Springer Elementary’s PTA hosts successful Glow Dance-a-Thon in Rockwall

    Springer Elementary School’s PTA recently hosted a Glow Dance-a-Thon fundraiser.  The entire campus celebrated by dancing to a DJ in the cafeteria and glowed in the dark.

    Melissa Tyner’s fifth-grade class was the winner in giving donations to this event. The exact amounts raised by Tyner’s class and the entire school were not disclosed to the media.

    Springer is part of Rockwall Independent School District.