The latest about the Pearson Foundation and the ideas, people, and partners that inform our work

Scribbles to Novels

2013-05-22T11:11:00.001-07:00

The Pearson Foundation was honored again to be a part of Jumpstart's annual Scribbles to Novels event in Hillsborough, California last week. It was a moving celebration that brought together distinguished guest, including Greg Johnson and Tom Brokaw.

Scribbles to Novels celebrates the importance of literature in children’s lives and spotlight’s Jumpstart's essential work towards ensuring every child in America enters kindergarten prepared to succeed. Last week’s event followed similar celebrations in recent weeks in Boston, New York City and Washington D.C., all of which the Pearson Foundation was honored to support.

As a national sponsor of Jumpstart for the past decade and a founding partner of Jumpstart’s Read for the Record® campaign, it is always great to see Jumpstart supported in their crucial work.

Congratulations Jumpstart!

Spring College Enrollment Drops

2013-05-17T08:47:00.005-07:00

The first-ever National Spring Term Enrollment Report released this week by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center revealed that close to 450,000 fewer students enrolled in college this spring compared to a year ago.

Sponsored by the Pearson Foundation, the Research Center’s Spring 2013 Current Term Enrollment Estimates is the first time that national estimates for spring enrollment have been available to the educational community. The spring findings are consistent with the trend found in the Research Center’s fall report, which showed that fall 2012 enrollment declined by over 360,000 students from 2011.

The National Student Clearinghouse Research Center is the first and only organization to provide the education community with real-time indicators of enrollment trends for a current term overall. The ability to monitor postsecondary enrollment trends is critical in determining the nation’s progress in meeting its education goals. It is important for state, federal, and institutional policymakers to understand and project enrollment patterns in order to make decisions about financial aid and resource allocation.

To read the full report, please click here.

Meet Lorena Gonzalez, One of the Pearson Prize Fellows

2013-05-16T12:04:00.000-07:00

Here’s a person to know—Lorena Gonzalez, one of the 20 National Fellows who received the 2012 Pearson Prize for Higher Education.

The Pearson Prize is a student leadership award that recognizes and provides support to exemplary college students who are distinguishing themselves by leading public service efforts in their local communities.

In an effort to celebrate ways is which these students exemplify giving back to their local communities we are showcasing them throughout the year.

Lorena Gonzalez attends the University of California, San Diego in pursuit of a bachelor’s degree in cognitive science. She is a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and has served in the Student Council. As founder and chapter coordinator of a local youth group in the underserved community, she initiated and developed volunteer opportunities for young people ages 13 through 19. She has reached out to middle school and high school students to complete their community service hours for graduation, inspired young people to go to college, and become a peer adviser. Lorena has also received numerous awards and has been honored by community leaders for her continued commitment and for opening the doors for youth to get involved in volunteering and make it a lifelong commitment.

Here’s an excerpt from Lorena:

During my freshman year in high school, I had always wanted to be in leadership… In fact, I wanted to serve the community, but could not gain appointment to the city’s Youth Advisory Commission because I live just outside the city limits. With perseverance I searched online for more leadership opportunities. Then, one day I found the Los Angeles Youth Council (LAYC) and I joined right away. Joining the LAYC was the most important thing I have ever done in my life. Through LAYC, I developed leadership skills, and helped develop volunteer opportunities for young people in my community.

In my community three years ago, there were no volunteer opportunities for students like me. I did not only see the needs to help the youth in my community, but I also saw a lot of potential that youth can do to make the community a better place to live in. With great potential, enthusiasm, persistence, and strong leadership skills in hand, I founded my own community service group in June 2009. It is a student-run non-profit chapter for young people between the ages of 13-19 who need to complete service hours for high school graduation, want to meet new friends or simply just want to get involved in the community. It started with five members and to this date there are forty members and going strong…

As the Chapter Coordinator, I presided over all LAYC chapter meetings, served as a spokesperson for the chapter at designated civic, community and public events, organized and developed projects, and prepare agendas for all meetings and oversee the progress of committees and projects undertaken by the chapter. These projects include Soup Kitchen, Food/Toy Drives, Cook-a-Meal at Los Angeles Ronald McDonald House Charities, participated in the American Cancer Society Relay for Life, Annual Neighborhood Clean-up, monthly park clean-up, Annual Three Kings Procession & Children’s Fair, Annual 5K Walk Childhood Obesity Awareness, and Annual E-waste & Bulky collection for proper disposal…

My mission is to inspire other young people to get involved in volunteering. I wanted to share with them that how giving of yourself for the benefit of others can make you successful and that you add value to your own life by adding value to the lives of others. Thus, the challenges I overcame reflects on who I am today and if I think about it now it was all worth it that I didn’t stop searching for other alternatives on how to get involved in my community. I am glad I took the initiative to start a chapter in my community and the only sad part now is that I will not be a member of the Multi-Taskers Los Angeles Youth Council Chapter anymore after I turn 20. However, founding the Chapter was my greatest accomplishments because I was able to reach out to middle and high school students. Starting this Chapter may have given a positive impact on other young people and my community, but had the biggest impact on me. Through this Chapter, I opened the doors for the youth to get involved in volunteering and making a lifelong commitment.

To learn more about the Pearson Prize go to http://www.pearsonfoundation.org/great-learning/programs/pearson-prize.html.

Pearson Foundation and OECD Release Two New Documentary Films

2013-05-10T10:29:00.005-07:00

More great films highlighting great educational systems:

Two new documentary films have been completed in the “Strong Performers and Successful Reformers in Education” video series developed by the Pearson Foundation in partnership with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

New films on the Netherlands and Flanders, Belgium have been added to the collection of videos on Finland, Ontario-Canada, Poland, Shanghai-China, Brazil, Germany, Japan, Korea, Portugal, and Singapore.

The “Strong Performers and Successful Reformers in Education” video series documents the policies and programs being utilized by education leaders around the world to improve student achievement. The school systems featured were chosen for their strong performance in the OECD’s Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). Each story of educational innovation presents concrete solutions that have helped high-quality education system teach the skills its students need to succeed in an increasingly global, interconnected economy.

To view these informative videos please go to www.pearsonfoundation.org/OECD.

Five Things I’ve Learned Celebrates National Teacher Day

2013-05-07T14:46:00.003-07:00

Thank a teacher today!

This week is National Teacher Appreciation Week—a time to thank the nation’s teachers for all they do. To celebrate on Five Things I’ve Learned we are spotlighting some of the countries best and brightest—go to www.thefivethings.org to read inspiring lessons from award-winning teachers.

On Five Things I’ve Learned, Melanie Park, Indiana Teacher of the Year, writes, “As a teacher, you relate, motivate, and differentiate, but you must also remember to celebrate.”

Please remember to celebrate a teacher today!

Mind’s Eye for Math

2013-05-03T12:45:00.004-07:00

There’s an interesting article on LEARNING STARTS about the value of visual representations for supporting math learners.

Matthew Peterson of the MIND Research Institute, a non-profit education and research organization, states, “By representing math problems visually, we can show students why their answers are right, as well as why their answers are sometimes wrong. And thanks to software, we can do this in real-time.”

Currently, America ranks 25 out of 34 industrialized nations on math tests, “while tomorrow's jobs—more than 8 million by 2018—will require skills in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields, with math being at the heart. Students need to have a deep and solid understanding of math and the ability to utilize it in the solving of non-routine problems.”

Peterson believes “that all students have the cognitive horsepower to be proficient or advanced in mathematics all the way through algebra and beyond. By letting students visualize the math and intrinsically motivating students to solve increasingly difficult puzzles, we have a scalable vehicle for making this belief a reality.”

Innovative software programs, like MIND Research Institute’s ST Math, are having a positive impact on student learning. To see for yourself and read the full article click here.

My Voice News

2013-05-01T10:49:00.002-07:00

Great things are happening at My Voice: We just launched our new website myvoice.pearsonfoundation.org and released the 2012 My Voice™ National Student Report!

If you are not familiar with My Voice yet... My Voice is based on the philosophy that when we listen to students and make their perceptions a part of the solution, great results follow.

My Voice is the vision of our good friend Dr. Russell Quaglia, who has been surveying and studying student perception for over 25 years through the Quaglia Institute for Student Aspirations (QISA). Using a suite of surveys and services to measure perceptions of everyone in the school community — students, administrators, educators and parents — My Voice helps address the educational challenges facing students and schools today.

We are excited to share the findings of the 2012 My Voice™ National Student Report — the latest in a series of annual publications that document students’ perceptions. Using the results from the My Voice survey of the more than 94,000 students across the United States, the report measures student impressions with a special focus on the factors identified as essential to student success at school and in life - student self-worth, engagement and purpose.

The 2012 My Voice™ National Student Report found that while 94% of students believe they can be successful in school and 91% say getting good grades is important to them, many find school boring, and less than half say they feel supported by their peers. For an overview of the findings please read the Executive Summary, or for the full report click here.

Also be sure to check out the new My Voice website, with a fresh look and new features to help us promote student voice in schools across the country.

We Give Books and ReadMobile in Latin America

2013-04-26T10:25:00.000-07:00

More exciting news from We Give Books!

The Pearson Foundation’s We Give Books is now available in Latin America! Colombia Lee por Colombia, the inaugural project of We Give Books Latin America, has launched to promote early reading in English and Spanish amongst children across Colombia.

Just like the U.S. based We Give Books, We Give Books Latin America offers free, digital children's books to anyone with Internet access, while donating physical books to children in the region.

Colombia Lee por Colombia will be supported by a ReadMobile Reading Tour in the region. To highlight the critical role reading plays in developing lifelong learning, the Latin America ReadMobile will be visiting schools, libraries, and community centers throughout Colombia from now through May 22nd. At each stop, students, parents, and teachers can participate in fun reading activities, and each child will go home with a brand-new children’s book.

For more information on We Give Books Latin America and the ReadMobile Reading Tour please visit www.leyendoregalo.org.

Adopt Your Vision Webinar, April 24th

2013-04-22T14:01:00.001-07:00

Don’t miss Step 1: Adopt Your Vision Webinar on April 24 at 12 p.m. PT!

Step 1: Adopt Your Vision is the first webinar in an 8 part series created by EdLeader21 and the Partnership for 21st Century Skills to help schools and districts with the transition to 21st education.

One of the big questions in education right now is: What does the implementation of 21st century education really look like? The 8-part webinar series will help schools and district with the steps towards creating 21st century schools and districts.

In the first webinar of the series, Ken Kay, CEO of EdLeader 21, will moderate a panel of district and school leaders discussing their visions for 21st century education. Some of the topics that will be explored include: Why is adopting a vision for 21st century education so important? What role can the 4Cs play in helping you develop your vision? How does your vision of 21st century education relate to the new Common Core standards?

Don’t miss this informative webinar! Register now by clicking here.

We Give Books ReadMobile at the IRA Convention in San Antonio, TX

2013-04-19T10:30:00.000-07:00

The We Give Books ReadMobile is back at IRA’s Annual Convention, driving home the importance of reading early and often.

IRA’s Annual Convention brings together thousands of educators, administrators, researchers, literacy leaders, advocates and government officials from across the country to explore and respond to the latest research on literacy and how to make the most impact on student learning.

The ReadMobile is parked on the Convention’s exhibit floor through today, spreading the word that by reading a book, you can give a book on www.wegivebooks.org. Three years ago during IRA’s Annual Convention, we launched We Give Books and today 2 million books have been read and donated on We Give Books! Thank you to everyone who read with us!

We Give Books Restores Library at Bellevue Hospital’s Pediatric Care Clinic

2013-04-11T13:57:00.003-07:00

When Hurricane Sandy hit New York City last October, Bellevue Hospital was forced to evacuate due to flooding, power outages and extensive damage. Fortunately the Hospital was able to reopen a month later, but the entire inventory of books at the Hospital’s Pediatric Care Clinic’s Reach Out and Read library were destroyed.

Thanks to our friends at LitWorld, who brought together the Pearson Foundation and Reach Out and Read at Bellevue, the Pearson Foundation’s We Give Books has donated 7,000 brand new books to restore the library.

To celebrate: On Wednesday, the We Give Books ReadMobile delivered books to Bellevue Hospital and held a reading celebration featuring a special visit from the famous children’s book heroine “Ladybug Girl” of the acclaimed book series Ladybug Girl and the Bug Squad by Jacky Davis. The LitWorld team joined the celebration to help read aloud with the children.

The Pearson Foundation is proud to support Reach Out and Read—a national program that promotes early literacy and school readiness by partnering with doctors to prescribe books and encourage families to read together.

Through the Reach Out and Read program at Bellevue Hospital’s Pediatric Care Clinic, pediatricians offer free books to every child age 6 months to 5 years during regular pediatric checkups. Parent educators and volunteer readers at Bellevue reinforce the importance of reading aloud to children by reading to the children while they wait. To learn more about Bellevue’s Reach and Read Program, please watch the below PBS video.

2013 WrestleMania Reading Challenge Finalists Announced

2013-04-11T12:22:00.003-07:00

And the winners are…

WWE and the Pearson Foundation have announced the winners of the 2013 WrestleMania Reading Challenge and nine students have won!

The WrestleMania Reading Challenge is part of WWE’s global community outreach program that addresses important social issues, such as education. Through its new partnership with the Pearson Foundation’s We Give Books, for the first time the WrestleMania Reading Challenge included a digital reading component. Students age 4-11 were able to read books online, virtually connect with WWE Superstar Reading Buddies and enter to win prizes.

During the WrestleMania Reading Challenge, more than 27,000 students read over 111,000 books.

The Grand Prize winner was Alexander S. (FL), who won a visit from a WWE Superstar to his school; first prize winners, Dylan A. (NH), Gabriel S. (TN), Kal-El T. (CA), Oghenefejiro A. (FL), won a trip to attend WrestleMania 29; and finalist, Rece W. (MO), Abigail F (IN), Alexander A. (CT), Guadalupe R. (CA), won book grants for their school and will receive a donation of 1,000 books for their school library.

Together, WWE and the Pearson Foundation are helping children build a lifelong love of reading. To learn more about the WrestleMania Reading Challenge click here.

We Give Books Commits to Thrive With Hyatt

2013-04-05T13:15:00.000-07:00

New this April — We Give Books is partnering with Hyatt to support communities across the United States as part of Hyatt’s Commit to Thrive campaign.

Commit to Thrive is Hyatt’s social pledge campaign, which encourages associates, guests, and neighbors to take an online pledge to commit to making a positive difference in their communities, while sharing books. To take part, and pledge, users simply share this pledge badge on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ or Weibo using ShareThis technology. For each pledge taken, up to 35,000, Hyatt will donate a book to a child in need through We Give Books and Room to Read.

As the domestic giving partner, We Give Books will share the books with public libraries and community centers to support children in the United States. New York City, Boston, San Francisco, Chicago, San Diego, Denver, Seattle, Baltimore, Austin, and New Orleans will each receive up to 1,000 books.

To take part, and help give books to public libraries go to www.wegivebooks.org/commit-to-thrive from now through April 30th.

Deadline for 2013 Pearson Prize for Higher Education is April 19th

2013-04-03T14:24:00.002-07:00

Don’t miss the deadline! Applications for the 2013 Pearson Prize for Higher Education are due by April 19th.

The Pearson Prize is a student leadership award that recognizes and supports exemplary college students who are distinguishing themselves by leading public service efforts in their local communities. The Prize helps students continue their service while in school. This year, Pearson is awarding Pearson Prize Fellowships to 100 students.

In an effort to celebrate ways in which students are giving back to their local communities we are showcasing the 2012 Pearson Prize for Higher Education.

Meet Oluwadamisi (Kay) Atanda, one of the 2012 National Fellows.

Oluwadamisi graduated student council president of his high school in Lagos, Nigeria, before moving to the United States in 2010 in pursuit of quality higher education. He readily immersed himself into a rigorous academic program and a life of community service at Queensborough Community College of the City University of New York (CUNY), where he earned his associate’s degree in liberal arts, with honors, in the spring of 2012. He also graduated as student body president and the CUNY Student Leader of the Year. In addition, he was awarded the John F. Kennedy Memorial Award for his outstanding college and community leadership, was selected into the prestigious Phi Theta Kappa All-USA First Academic Team of 2012, was named a Silver Scholar on Coca- Cola’s 2012 Academic Team, and is a New York Needs You Fellow. His community involvement includes interning for New York State Assemblyman David I. Weprin in 2011 and competing in the 2011 New Haven Regional American Mock Trial Tournament at Yale University, where his team earned the Spirit of AMTA award. Oluwadamisi was a lead on both the Walk to Aspire fundraiser that garnered more than $14,000 for student scholarships and the Lambda Sigma Paperback Book Drive that raised about 690 books for incarcerated students and enlisted men and women overseas. Further, he remains an active member of the New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG) – regularly joining in its efforts to advocate for issues pertaining to environmental protection, consumer rights, higher education, government reform, voter registration, mass transit, and public health. In the fall, Oluwadamisi will continue his studies at CUNY as a junior, majoring in political science. He hopes to one day become secretary-general of the United Nations.

Here’s an excerpt from Oluwadamisi.

“Growing up in a third world country was an eye opening experience. My childhood was split between the autocratic regimes of military heads of states and the delicate democracy that emerged afterwards. I saw poverty first hand. Little children trolled the streets daily to feed themselves and the gap between the rich and poor was engulfing. There wasn’t even a middle class.

I grew up in Lagos, Nigeria, one of the fastest growing cities in Africa and in fact, in the world. I attended Redeemer’s International Secondary School. While my high school education provided the adequate academic background for me to get admitted into a U.S. college, in the last few years, I couldn’t help but notice the vast difference between the educational system in Nigeria and in the U.S. Nigeria is a third world country, as a result, avenues for academic opportunities and success are limited. I was taught very theoretically, with limited access to hands-on and practical options and technology. Personally, I have had internet connection interrupted in the middle of research for a class project. Also, because basic needs like constant electricity and water are scarce, I have had to study for midterms and final examinations under candle light. As you can imagine, this can make studying even more challenging. I was aware that schools in the U.S provided vast variety of opportunities that could help prepare, develop and encourage focused individuals to succeed. I learned about the great facilities and opportunities that schools in the United States have such as fully updated libraries, laboratories with state of the art equipment, internship programs and professors with extensive wealth of experience.

These are some of the reasons I was motivated to come to study in the U.S. Nonetheless, these experiences and more that I have faced growing up in Nigeria has shaped me into a unique, determined and focused man.

At Queensborough Community College, I competed in the 2011 and 2012 regional mock trial tournament at Yale University and the Philadelphia Criminal Justice Center, where Queensborough received the coveted “Spirit of American Mock Trial Association” award. I earned membership into the international honors society- Phi Theta Kappa and my college’s honors program. I was named into the Fall 2011 Dean’s list. I am a silver scholar on COCA-COLA’s 2012 Community College Academic Team. In addition, I serve as the elected President of the Student Government Association…

I am grateful for the privilege of education. From a poor boy studying under a candle light in rural Nigeria, to a young scholar and leader, my story is a testimony to the life that education provides.”

To learn more and apply to the 2013 Pearson Prize for Higher Education go to www.applications.pearsonprize.com/applications.

We Give Books and LeapFrog Partner to Give Books to Schools

2013-03-28T13:27:00.003-07:00

Here’s some exciting news: We Give Books and LeapFrog have joined forces to donate thousands of books to schools as part of We Give Books Read for My School campaign.

Read for My School is a classroom-based reading initiative that makes it possible for students to read together to secure books for their school’s classrooms and libraries.

New this year, LeapFrog is partnering with We Give Books to donate 150,000 new LeapFrog books to participating schools during the Read for My School campaign.

The campaign began on March 19th, and in just eight days 150,000 books have been read online and donated to schools across the United States! But don’t stop reading. Now that all 150,000 LeapFrog books have been given, keep reading through April 5, and your school may receive a visit from the We Give Books ReadMobile. It’s free and easy—all you have to do is go to wegivebooks.org, create an account, select a school and start reading.

Read for My School is an online effort to support schools and encourage a love of reading. Register today and start reading at www.wegivebooks.org.

2012 Teachers of the Year on Five Things I've Learned

2013-03-20T14:27:00.000-07:00

Meet the 2012 Teachers of the Year—now featured on the Pearson Foundation’s Five Things I’ve Learned.

Five Things I’ve Learned is a collection of personal reflections from educational leaders devoted to improving the fortune of others through learning. It chronicles personal and professional lessons learned from decades of experience and provides a forum to share examples of the best in education.

As a long time sponsor of the CCSSO's National Teacher of the Year program, we are proud to showcase the 2012 Teachers of the Year on Five Things I’ve Learned. As President Barack Obama said, “These are the kind of teachers that change lives forever.”

The remarkable teachers being featured this week are Bethany Bernasconi of New Hampshire, Tong Chen of Vermont, Adam Gray of Massachusetts and Alana Margeson of Maine. To read their insights go to http://www.thefivethings.org.

To watch a video of the 2012 Teachers of the Year click here.

Otis by Loren Long is Official Book for Jumpstart’s 2013 Read for the Record

2013-03-14T13:54:00.000-07:00

It’s official: The book for Jumpstart’s 2013 Read for the Record campaign is Otis!

Published by Penguin and written by New York Times bestselling author Loren Long, Otis is the timeless story of a friendship between a lovable tractor and a calf that live on a farm. Otis is replaced by a new tractor and learns the meaning of perseverance and true friendship when the calf needs his help.

On October 3, 2013 millions of children and adults will come together to read Otis as part of Jumpstart and the Pearson Foundation’s Read for the Record campaign. Now in its eighth year, the Read for the Record campaign helps raise awareness about the importance for early childhood literacy by encouraging record breakers to spread the word that reading with a child before he or she enters kindergarten can improve his or her overall success in school.

Last year, more than 2.3 million people participated in the record-breaking campaign. As in years past, Otis will be available to read for free on the Pearson Foundation’s We Give Books (www.wegivebooks.org).

Since the campaign’s inception in 2006, more than nine million people have joined local Read for the Record reading celebrations and over $8 million has been raised to support Jumpstart’s year-round work in preschools in low-income neighborhoods. And in conjunction with the annual campaign, the Pearson Foundation has donated 1.2 million books to local schools, libraries, and community organizations.

To learn more about participating in Read for the Record, visit www.jstart.org.

For more information about Otis, visit www.lorenlong.com/otis/otis.html.

CoSN 2013 Annual Conference

2013-03-12T14:00:00.000-07:00

This week, the conference to be at is the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) Annual Conference being held in San Diego.

The theme of this year’s CoSN conference is Audacious Leaders—showcasing leaders who have boldly led their schools and organizations, dared to confront convention and have inspiring stories to share. Education today needs bold leaders to help define a new vision and build 21st century learning environments.

Our friend Ken Kay is one of the featured presenters at CoSN speaking on, “What We’ve Learned From the First Decade of the 21st-Century Education.” Ken has just completed a new book with his colleague Valerie Greenhill, titled The Leader’s Guide to 21st Century Education: 7 Steps for Schools and Districts. Ken’s book provides education leaders with a seven step guide to moving their schools and districts forward in the quest to prepare students for the challenges of the 21st century teaching and learning of the 4 Cs—critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity. Learn more about the book at www.edleader21.com.

Also being showcased is the Pearson Foundation and EdLeader21’s video titled “The Four Cs: Making 21st Century Education Happen.” If you haven’t seen this valuable video, click here to view it.

The Pearson Foundation is proud to be a sponsor of the CoSN 2013 Annual Conference. To learn more about CoSN go to www.cosn.org.

Meet One of the Pearson Prize Fellows

2013-03-08T09:30:00.000-08:00

Here’s another person to know—Gabriela Tellez, one of the 20 National Fellows who received the 2012 Pearson Prize for Higher Education.

The Pearson Prize is a student leadership award that recognizes and provides support to exemplary college students who are distinguishing themselves by leading public service efforts in their local communities.

In an effort to celebrate ways in which these students exemplify giving back to their local communities we are showcasing them throughout the year.

Gabriela Tellez is majoring in nursing at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire. The example of strong leadership provided by her mother, grandmother, and abuela has cultivated her passion to empower others through the hand of service. On top of working three jobs and being a Dean’s List student, she volunteers for the YWCA Manchester Crisis Line for victims of domestic abuse and sexual assault. With the support of Saint Anselm College’s Meelia Center for Community Engagement, she has had the privilege of creating three new service opportunities through the Greater Manchester AIDS Project. In addition to these projects, she was given the honor of being one of twenty nursing students to represent their class in Montego Bay, Jamaica, working with the Mustard Seed Communities to care for orphans with severe mental and physical disability. She will continue her service in January of 2013 by working in the Dominican Republic with another orphan population. With the help of the Pearson Foundation she will be able to continue her service overseas, expanding her knowledge and ultimately her capacity to give.

Here’s an excerpt from Gabi.

“Community service has always been a prominent part of my life. A lot of my inspiration comes from Mother Teresa, who once said, "If you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love.” I have learned that the more you put into your service, the more you will get out.

Since arriving at college, I have volunteered at: Selma Deitch Early Learning Program for children with learning disabilities, VNA Child Care for low income families, the YWCA for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, and the Greater Manchester Aids Project for those infected and/or affected by HIV/AIDS…

Of these, the most important initiative I've undertaken has been addressing the horrific reality of domestic abuse and sexual assault in today's world. One out of every three woman will be sexually assaulted in her lifetime and only 14 out of 344 domestic violence hearings will result in an arrest of the plaintiff…In reality, the law only protects women from being attacked by strangers; however, domestic violence is the single greatest cause of injury to women in America (more so than muggings, rapes, and car accidents combined) and a woman in the United States is more likely to be killed by her partner than by any other assailant.

Having learned the shocking statistics, I have been setting up programs for my fellow nursing students, nursing faculty as well as the student body to spread awareness of this pressing issue. Through the support of the mentor program, I am working to also spread knowledge of this harsh reality to hopefully impact the future of health care in a positive way.

Most of these women will come our way in the health care field and being in a position of influence for my nursing class, I have made it a priority to encourage more nursing students to volunteer for the YWCA, learn under Karen McCall mastery instruction and take action to fight against domestic violence and sexual assault. This will not only make the Saint Anselm Community a safer place for females, but it will ultimately make the larger community of Manchester and hopefully the state a safer place for women. Thus far, there are twenty volunteers at the YWCA that are from Saint Anselm College that are enrolled in the nursing program.

To conclude, I know that I have the ability to make a difference in this world and feel a drive to do so. Although I try my best to give back to my community, I know that I can do more. The opportunity to participate in this service trip will enable me to do something life changing for those who I serve as well as myself. If awarded with this scholarship, I will be able to do a great service to the impoverished community of Montego Bay and I will use the skills I learn through my service in my future nursing practice. Furthermore, I will apply the advocacy work I’ve done for the YWCA, experiences from my work at Selma Deitch, and the things I learned from my other service to be a well rounded nurse and an asset to society. Although my actions in these projects seem simple, I happen to agree with Mahatma Gandhi who once said “everything you do in this life will be insignificant, but it’s important that you do it.”

Applications for the 2013 Pearson Prize for Higher Education are now being accepted. To learn more and apply go to http://pearsonfoundation.org/pearsonprize.

Half The Sky Movement: The Game Now on Facebook

2013-03-06T15:04:00.000-08:00

Exciting news! Now on Facebook you can play Half the Sky Movement: The Game—a new adventure game that raises awareness and funds to empower women and girls across the world.

According to MacWorld, every month users around the globe spend roughly 700 billion minutes on Facebook. Now users can make a positive impact on women and girls while playing Half the Sky Movement: The Game.

Half the Sky Movement: The Game is the first Facebook game with direct virtual to real-life translation; the tasks and issues portrayed in the game all have a real-world equivalent in donations and social action opportunities. For example, during one of the missions in the game players collect books for young girls in the virtual world and by completing the mission the player unlocks a donation by the Pearson Foundation to the non-profit Room to Read. There are seven nonprofit partners: The Fistula Foundation, GEMS, Heifer International, ONE, Room to Read, United Nations Foundation, and World Vision that are tying player’s actions in the game to real-world impact through partnerships with the Pearson Foundation and Johnson & Johnson.

The Game is the latest installment of the Half the Sky Movement, which includes the #1 New York Times best-selling book Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide, by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn, and the critically acclaimed primetime PBS television series featuring A-list celebrity advocates America Ferrera, Diane Lane, Eva Mendes, Meg Ryan, Gabrielle Union, Olivia Wilde and George Clooney. Like the book and TV series, Half the Sky Movement: The Game raises awareness of women and girls living under difficult circumstances all over the globe, including the United States, and invites players to become part of the solution.

The Pearson Foundation is proud to be a supporter of Half the Sky Movement: The Game. To learn more and start playing the game click here. To learn about the Half the Sky Movement go to www.halftheskymovement.org.

March 6th is World Read Aloud Day

2013-03-05T14:19:00.000-08:00

Here’s something to celebrate.

March 6th is World Read Aloud Day—a day to celebrate the importance of reading.

Since launching four years ago, World Reading Aloud Day (WRAD) has spread to all 50 states and over 60 countries. To celebrate people are “Reading it Forward” by reading aloud to a child, giving a book away, or taking action to advocate for literacy as a human right. There are almost 800 million people around the world who cannot read or write. World Read Aloud Day creates a community of people advocating for every child's right to learn to read and to have access to books and technology that will make them lifelong readers.

To participate go to the Pearson Foundation’s We Give Books, a proud partner of WRAD, and read a book aloud for free. Everyone can help change the world and Read It Forward, by sharing the power of story.

To join the Read It Forward movement, visit litworld.org/wrad. Register your participation, and rally your friends, family, and networks for March 6! LitWorld, the organization that founded World Read Aloud Day, offers free downloadable activity kits full of ideas for children, teens, families, educators, and professionals at litworld.org.

Pearson Foundation Presents 2012 My Voice Student Mock Election Awards

2013-02-27T12:26:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to the winners of the 2012 My Voice Student Mock Election Awards!

The My Voice National Student Mock Election Awards recognize students, teachers and administrators for their exceptional work in advancing civic engagement across the nation. Some of the country’s leading education organizations joined the Pearson Foundation in sponsoring the awards.

The My Voice National Student Mock Election Awards were presented to five outstanding student voter education projects in the categories of statewide, school district, school, classroom and student-led:

Statewide Projects:

Oregon Student Mock Election.

School District Projects, sponsored by the American Association of School Administrators Award for outstanding leadership in voter education:

Fort Bend Independent School District.

School Projects, sponsored by the National Association of Secondary School Principals Award for outstanding contributions to teaching democracy.

Kwajalein Junior/Senior High School, Armed Forces Pacific, Marshall Islands.

Classroom Projects, sponsored by the League of Women Voters for increasing parent and community participation in the Mock Election and/or in the actual election.

East Elementary – 5th Grade, Greenville, PA.

Student-led Projects, sponsored by the National Association of Student Councils/Ruth Hollander Award for outstanding contributions to democratic participation:

Chapel Hill Middle School Mock Election. Tyler, TX.

The My Voice National Student Mock Election is the nation’s largest civic education project and the world’s largest national mock election. Over the past three decades, more than 50 million votes have been cast in classrooms across the United States.

To view all of the winners and learn more about the My Voice National Student Mock Elections, visit http://www.nationalmockelection.org.

2013 Pearson Prize For Higher Education

2013-02-26T11:35:00.000-08:00

The 2013 Pearson Prize for Higher Education is now accepting applications.

The Pearson Prize is a student leadership award that recognizes and provides support to exemplary college students who are distinguishing themselves by leading public service efforts in their local communities.

The Pearson Prize supports students who are giving back to their college community and helps them continue their service while in school. This year, Pearson is awarding Pearson Prize Fellowships to 100 students.

To enter you must be a student attending an accredited community college, undergraduate school, or university in the United States, have completed at least one year of studies prior to the start of the application, and be a leader in your community. The winners will each receive a $1,000 scholarship, along with guidance and further opportunities from Pearson.

Applications are being accepted now through April 19, 2013. To learn more and apply go to http://pearsonfoundation.org/pearsonprize.

Meet Another Pearson Prize Fellow

2013-02-19T11:15:00.000-08:00

Here’s an inspiring person—Simone Bernstein, one of the 20 National Fellows who received the 2012 Pearson Prize for Higher Education.

The Pearson Prize is a student leadership award that recognizes and provides support to exemplary college students who are distinguishing themselves by leading public service efforts in their local communities.

In an effort to celebrate ways in which these students exemplify giving back to their local communities we are showcasing them throughout the year.

Simone Bernstein is a sophomore at St. Bonaventure University in an eight-year combined medical school program. She is an active volunteer in her hometown of St. Louis, Missouri, and in her college community. After three years of success with her regional organization, Simone and her brother launched VolunTEEN Nation in March 2012. VolunteenNation.org is a national, youth-led, volunteer-driven nonprofit organization providing an online resource for youth to easily find volunteer opportunities. More than 1,200 organizations are listed on the site, and over 5,500 students have found volunteer opportunities through its endeavors. To gain valuable experience in a national nonprofit, Simone is a research and marketing intern for Points of Light. In addition to her interest in service, Simone also enjoys the sciences, so she worked in a lab at Washington University Medical School in St. Louis, investigating the impact of chemicals on the elastin fibers in the lung. She serves on the Youth Service America Board of Directors, has spoken at numerous conferences, has a column at the Huffington Post, and was honored in 2010 as a L’Oreal Paris Woman of Worth.

Here’s an excerpt from Simone:

“It is tough to measure one's passion and enthusiasm for engaging youth in service, but I hope mine is contagious. Volunteer service is the key for youth and families with young children to understand and appreciate the importance of giving back. President Barack Obama recognized and cited my brother and I in his National Education Speech this past fall, in September 2011 for our commitment to engaging youth in community service. To date over 5,500 youth have found volunteer opportunities through the website, planned volunteer events and the annual St. Louis Youth and Family Volunteer Fair… This fall, I organized a “Serve to Remember” September 11, 2011 park and creek clean-up to honor the 10th anniversary of 9/11, a January 2012 Martin Luther King Day of Service Basketball clinic for youth with special needs, encouraging youth to give back on their day off from school, and the upcoming third annual St. Louis Youth and Family Volunteer Fair this spring highlights the vast array of opportunities for youth and families to volunteer in the St Louis region. I want to empower youth in every community to organize youth-led volunteer events and organize volunteer fairs. Youth want to give back and get involved in their communities. We need to activate and motivate youth to find ways to improve their communities. I created www.volunTEENnation.org to serve as a starting point for youth across our nation to locate volunteer opportunities in their communities and raise awareness that there are limited volunteer options for youth. Engaging youth in volunteer service benefits the community and youth. I also want my peers to realize that we all the power to improve our communities and the world, and that taking action as a volunteer is the first step.”

To learn more about the Pearson Prize go to http://www.pearsonfoundation.org/great-learning/programs/pearson-prize.html.

Ben & Jerry’s Greek Frozen Yogurt Flavor to Benefit Jumpstart

2013-02-15T09:48:00.000-08:00

Here’s some sweet news.

In honor of the NBC hit series “30 Rock,” which recently ended its seventh and final season, Ben & Jerry’s has unveiled its newest flavor entitled “Liz Lemon,” with a portion of product sales benefitting Jumpstart. The “Liz Lemon” concoction is a refreshing lemon Greek frozen yogurt with a blueberry lavender swirl, sure to be as sweet and tart as Liz Lemon herself.

Jumpstart’s mission statement will be on all of Ben & Jerry’s “Liz Lemon” packaging, as well as on posters in Ben & Jerry’s scoop shops and in other marketing materials. In addition, throughout 2013 the Liz Lemon yogurt will be available at all of Jumpstart’s Scribbles to Novels events.

This is an exciting new opportunity as Jumpstart’s celebrate its 20th Anniversary of working to ensure that every child in America enters kindergarten prepared to succeed.

As a national sponsor of Jumpstart for the past decade and a founding partner of Jumpstart’s Read for the Record® campaign, it is great to see Jumpstart supported in their essential work.

Liz Lemon, the flavor, will officially arrive in Ben & Jerry’s scoop shops around the country over the next few weeks.

For more information on Ben & Jerry’s or to find your local Scoop Shop, visit www.benjerry.com.

To learn more about Jumpstart go to www.jstart.org.