Bourbon Central student wins Hit the Books design contest

Ana Flores-Ortiz, a Bourbon Central Elementary student and winner of the Lexington Legends Hit the Books bookmark design contest, was congratulated by the Legends' Big L (center) and Pee Wee during a presentation at the school March 3. (Bourbon Central Elementary/Lexington Legends)
Ana Flores-Ortiz, a Bourbon Central Elementary student and winner of the Lexington Legends Hit the Books bookmark design contest, was congratulated by the Legends’ Big L (center) and Pee Wee during a presentation at the school March 3. (Bourbon Central Elementary/Lexington Legends)

Lexington-Legends-2013Ana Flores-Ortiz, a fifth grade student at Bourbon Central Elementary School, was the winner of a bookmark design contest that is part of the Lexington Legends Hit the Books reading incentive program sponsored by Waffle House.

Ana received a Legends prize pack, including Legends merchandise, a framed Hit the Books poster featuring her artwork, and membership in the 2015 Little Legends Kids Club. She also will be invited to throw a ceremonial first pitch at a designated Legends game for her school. Bookmarks featuring her artwork will be distributed to students at every school that participates in the Hit the Books program. More than 30,000 students from 74 central Kentucky schools are expected to take part in the program, which runs through April 1.

“Hit the Books will continue to be an important part of community outreach for the Legends,” said Tim Vieira, the Legends’ community outreach coordinator. “We enjoy going out to the schools and meeting with students. It’s great to be part of a program that has a positive impact in the educational development of so many students.”

In Hit the Books, a baseball diamond is used to record credit for a student’s reading. For every book a student reads, a teacher places his or her initials on a base. When the student has all three bases and home plate initialed by the teacher, the student may bring a Hit the Books bookmark to the Legends’ box office at Whitaker Bank Ballpark to exchange it for two tickets to a Legends home game designated for their school.

The 2015 season is the 15th for Legends baseball, and also marks the 15th year that the Legends have been associated with Hit the Books. About 205,000 students have participated.

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Lexington Legends. Click here to view the original story.

Knights Announce 2015 Scholarships with Founding Partners

From L-R -- 2014 Charlotte Knights Healthcare Scholarship recipients: Adam Miranda (NC State), Xena Nguyen (UNC - Chapel Hill), Sarah York (Wake Forest) and Homer the Dragon.
From L-R — 2014 Charlotte Knights Healthcare Scholarship recipients: Adam Miranda (NC State), Xena Nguyen (UNC – Chapel Hill), Sarah York (Wake Forest) and Homer the Dragon.

Charlotte-Knights-2014The Charlotte Knights are once again teaming up with two of their founding partners to provide educational funding through two unique scholarships for high school students. The Charlotte Knights Healthcare Scholarship, presented by Carolinas HealthCare System, along with the Charlotte Knights STEM Scholarship Program, presented by Piedmont Natural Gas, each represent the team’s focus on community initiatives.

“We are excited to once again team with Carolinas HealthCare System and Piedmont Natural Gas on these very important scholarships for local high school students,” said Chris Semmens, Charlotte Knights vice president of sales. “Supporting education is one of our primary goals and we look forward to working with our founding partners to help local students prepare for successful careers.”

The Knights and Carolinas HealthCare System began their partnership in 2013 with the Charlotte Knights Healthcare Scholarship program. That season, the Knights honored high school students John Dock Tallent (Appalachian State University), Gisele Bailey (Harvard University) and Stephanie Smith (UNC – Chapel Hill) as the inaugural recipients of the Charlotte Knights Healthcare Scholarship program presented by Carolinas HealthCare System. Last season, three more high school students were awarded a $1,000 scholarship each — Adam Miranda (NC State), Sarah York (Wake Forest), and Xena Nguyen (UNC – Chapel Hill).

In an effort to improve educational funding for high school students who are interested in pursuing a career in health care, the Charlotte Knights and Carolinas HealthCare System will once again provide three $1,000 college scholarships to local high school seniors in 2015.

“Carolinas HealthCare System’s vision is to lead the transformation of health care delivery and a key part of that effort is attracting the next generation of motivated, creative health care professionals,” said Carol Lovin, Executive Vice President of Carolinas HealthCare System. “Partnering with the Charlotte Knights to provide these scholarships is a great way to help turn that vision into reality.”

The Knights and Piedmont Natural Gas also will award three $1,000 college scholarships to high school seniors from the Charlotte region who plan to attend college and pursue studies in the STEM disciplines of science, technology, engineering or math. Last year, Piedmont and the Knights awarded three $1,000 scholarships to students attending college within Piedmont’s service territories in North and South Carolina. The three winners of the inaugural scholarship were EmmaLee Apple (Alamance Community College), James Reynolds (Bob Jones University), and Cody Wright (Guilford Technical Community College).

“STEM education is a focus area for Piedmont Natural Gas, and we are happy to join the Knights in offering these scholarships to students in the Charlotte region,” said Timothy Greenhouse, managing director of community relations for Piedmont Natural Gas. “Piedmont will continue to support programs like this that expand educational opportunities in our communities.”

The Carolinas HealthCare System scholarships will be awarded during an on-field ceremony at BB&T Ballpark on Tuesday, July 21, while the Piedmont Natural Gas scholarships will be awarded during an on-field ceremony on Thursday, July 23.

More details about each of the scholarships, along with applications to apply, guidelines and more, are now available at charlotteknights.com. All applications must be emailed to scholarships@charlotteknights.com or mailed to Charlotte Knights Annual Scholarship at 324 South Mint St., Charlotte, NC 28202. All applications must be postmarked by May 1, 2015.

* 2015 Charlotte Knights Healthcare Scholarship Application
* 2015 Charlotte Knights STEM Scholarship Application

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Charlotte Knights. Click here to view the original story.

Chasers in the Community – March 2015

Spotlight: Storm Chasers Participate in “Read Across America” March 2-6

­Omaha-Storm-Chasers-2014All this week, Storm Chasers staff members will take part in “Read Across America” by donating their time to read to classes at schools throughout the Omaha Metro. The National Education Association’s program is the largest celebration of reading in the country with a purpose of motivating children, promoting student achievement and creating lifelong successful readers.

Additional Community Events for March

  • Ronald McDonald House of Omaha Dinner – March 16 from 5:00-7:30 p.m.
  • Jackie Robinson Athletic Scholarship – Application deadline of March 20
  • “Why I Want to Go to College” Essay Contest – Entry deadline of March 27

Mascot Appearances for March

  • Read Across America – March 2-6 at Schools throughout the Omaha Metro
  • Heat the Streets Walk/Run for Warmth – March 7 from 8:00-9:00 a.m. at Midtown Crossing
  • Dancing with the Omaha Stars – March 7 from 5:30-7:00 p.m. at Ralston Arena
  • OPS Summer in the City – March 19 from 6:00-7:30 p.m. at Monroe Middle School
  • Autism Night – March 29 from 5:30-8:00 p.m. at Omaha Children’s Museum

February Volunteering Recap

  • Total Community Hours Donated by Omaha Storm Chasers Staff – 58.5 Hours

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Omaha Storm Chasers. Click here to view the original story.

Education Days, presented by Zaxby’s, back for 2015

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Hello from Whitaker Bank Ballpark!

Lexington-Legends-2013The Lexington Legends are happy to announce that we will continue the tradition of award-winning, family-friendly entertainment for students, teachers, administrators, and parents through our Education Day Program presented by Zaxby’s. Our Education Day games consistently sell out with schools traveling from around the region to attend! As the name suggests, Education Day is about educational opportunities as well as a fun day at the ballpark.

The dates for the 2015 Education Days are as follows and we sincerely hope that one of them will work for your class schedule in the Spring:

  •          Wednesday, April 22nd @ 10:05 AM vs. Greenville Drive (Boston Red Sox)
  •          Wednesday, April 29th @ 10:05 AM vs. Rome Braves (Atlanta Braves)
  •          Monday, May 11th @ 10:05 AM vs. Kannapolis Intimidators (Chicago White Sox)

 

We play these games at 10:05 AM to allow teachers and students to take a field trip during the school day and enjoy America’s Pastime, Lexington style. Baseball has played a significant role in American history and the civil rights movement, and every game is filled with scientific and mathematical learning opportunities. New this year, we will incorporate an educational curriculum that you can use in the classroom prior to the day of the game and also on game day. It’s a great combination that will make your day at Whitaker Bank Ballpark memorable – and educational!

Group Tickets and Add-Ons:

  •          Discounted tickets available for groups of 20 or more – prices range between $4 and $7 per ticket.
  •          Sack lunches available for an additional $5 each and includes the following:
    • o   Zaxby’s chicken finger sandwich comprised of three chicken fingers on a toasted bun with Zax sauce
    • o   Bag of chips
    • o   Soft drink
      •   We deliver these to your students in their seats meaning you do not have to journey around the ballpark with your kids looking for lunch while here.

We are taking reservations now for groups to attend these games so please contact your Account Executive or call the Lexington Legends Ticket Office at 859-252-HITS (4487) to reserve your seats now while they are still available. You can also reply to this email to make your reservation or seek more information.

Have a great day and Go Legends!

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Lexington Legends. Click here to view the original story.

Now accepting nominations for Local Heroes Nights to recognize community leaders

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(Ray Marsden/Kannapolis Intimidators)

 

Kannapolis-IntimidatorsThe Kannapolis Intimidators, Class A Affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, are now accepting nominations for a new “Local Heroes Night” series in 2015. Throughout the season, the Intimidators will be recognizing those who have gone above and beyond for our community by dedicating a night at the ballpark in their honor. Fans can submit nominations online at IntimidatorsBaseball.com.

*Click here to Nominate a Local Hero*

“There are people in our community that have been a hero in one way or another to those they serve. Teachers and coaches, police officers, firefighters, public servants, religious leaders, volunteers, and so many others have played such an important role in the growth and development of our community. We want to give them a chance to be recognized,” said Randy Long, Intimidators General Manager.

Local Heroes will be recognized at an Intimidators home game during the 2015 season with the opportunity to throw out a ceremonial first pitch, receive premium tickets to the game, and have their contributions to the community celebrated throughout the game. Nominations will be reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis.

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Kannapolis Intimidators. Click here to view the original story.

Paint The Pig Contest Underway!

Artwork must be received by Friday, March 6th

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It’s that time of the year again… the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, in conjunction with Painting and Decorating by Shane, are encouraging area youngsters to Paint the Pig! The winner will receive an IronPigs prize pack and have his/her artwork decorated on a giant 9′ x 5′ fiberglass piggy bank that will be displayed in the AT&T Plaza at Coca-Cola Park during all IronPigs home games.

Children ages 13 and under are eligible to participate and all entries must be sent to:

Paint the Pig
Coca-Cola Park
1050 IronPigs Way
Allentown, PA 18109

Artwork must be received by Friday, March 6, to qualify.

Following the deadline, a group of five finalists will be announced in The Morning Call and the general public will then be able to vote for the winning design at www.mcall.com beginning Wednesday, March 11 and ending Sunday, March 15. The child whose drawing receives the most votes will have the winning design painted on the giant piggy bank by a professional artist.

All proceeds from piggy bank donations collected at Coca-Cola Park will benefit IronPigs Charities, a non-profit organization striving to provide educational and recreational opportunities for children in the Greater Lehigh Valley area. IronPigs Charities is a recognized 501(c) (3) non-profit organization on the state and federal level.

Painting & Decorating by Shane has been serving clients for close to 10 years and owner Shane Smoyer has more than 20 years of experience. Based in Lehigh Valley, PA, Painting by Shane serves clients throughout the Lehigh Valley, including Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton, as well as the Poconos, Philadelphia, New Jersey and beyond. Call 610-285-6061 today for a free estimate!

The IronPigs piggy bank will be repainted prior to the beginning of each season.

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. Click here to view the original story.

Dragons Expand School MVP Program to 5 Counties

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Dayton-DragonsThe Dayton Dragons today announced the expansion of their elementary school MVP Program into two additional counties, taking the program to more than 1,100 classrooms in 2015. A total of 274 classrooms in 34 schools in Miami and Warren counties have been added to the program, which already included 842 classrooms in Montgomery, Greene, and Clark counties.

Click here for the Dayton Daily News story regarding the Dragons School MVP Program.

In 2015, the program will include 1,116 fourth and fifth grade classrooms in 183 schools over 48 school districts. About 34,000 children will participate (up from 26,000 in 2014). The program will enter its 10th year in 2015. Due to the support of the participating sponsors, the program is completely free of charge to the schools.

How does the Dragons School MVP Program work?  The teacher in each of the 1,116 classrooms over the five-county area will select five MVP’s based on the teacher’s judgment of performance, effort, citizenship, and improvement. The five MVPs selected by their teacher in each classroom will get four tickets to a Dragons game, tickets to a special Field Day event at the stadium during the season, an MVP certificate and a Dragons MVP hat. Dragons players and mascots will visit selected classrooms over the course of the season.

Additionally, MVPs are highlighted throughout the season. They record their own radio commercials that play during Dragons broadcasts. Their story is also featured in our PlayBall game program and in a 30-second commercial on Dayton’s CW.

Twelve Dragons games during the season are designated as “MVP Game Nights.” On those nights, one MVP gets to throw out the ceremonial first pitch to the game, another does an on-air interview during the Dragons game broadcast on Fox Sports 980 AM, and another participates in an entertainment skit during the Dragons game. Two times each season, all classroom MVP’s are invited to attend the Dragons MVP Field Day at Fifth Third Field and interact with Dragons players.

The Dragons MVP Program is also promoted via Facebook and Twitter, daytondragons.com, and in advertisements in the Dayton Daily News.

“The Dragons MVP Program has become a tradition in the Miami Valley and we are thrilled to expand it to two new counties,” said Robert Murphy, Dragons President. “The program represents a significant partnership between the Dragons and the community and has impacted thousands of children over the last nine years. We look forward to another successful year with this program in 2015.”

Dragons School MVP Program 2015 Summary (All five counties)

School Districts: 48 in 2015 (30 in 2014)

Schools: 183 in 2015 (149 in 2014)

Classrooms: 1,116 in 2015 (842 in 2014)

What this means…
Number of kids reached with program: over 34,000 in 2015 (26,000 in 2014)

Number of MVP winners: 5,580 in 2015 (4,210 in 2014)

The Dragons MVP Program presented by Bob Evans is also made possible by the generous support of Sinclair Community College, WDTN TV and Dayton’s CW Television.

The Dragons open their 16th season in the Midwest League on April 9 at West Michigan and open the home season at Fifth Third Field on April 12 vs. South Bend.

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Dayton Dragons . Click here to view the original story.

2015 Nick Adenhart Memorial Scholarship

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Application deadline is Friday, April 17.

ApplicCedar-Rapids-Kernelsations are being accepted through The Kernels Foundation for the fifth annual Nick Adenhart Memorial Scholarship.

Nick Adenhart was a bright young pitcher who played for the Cedar Rapids Kernels in 2006, and was a rising star in the Los Angeles Angels organization. Only hours after Nick’s 2009 season debut on the mound for the Angels, a drunk driver tragically killed him on April 9, 2009 at age 22.

Nick’s family would like to honor him by awarding a $1,000 scholarship in his memory. The Kernels Foundation is privileged to administer the scholarship on behalf of Nick’s family.

The deadline for submitting applications for this scholarship is Friday, April 17, 2015. Applicants must be a graduating high school senior from an area high school and attend a two or four-year accredited college or university and take 12 or more hours per semester. The applicant must have played an organized sport in the last two years, must be a great teammate, must demonstrate hard work and determination, and must have a clear vision of their career goal.

Scholarship applications are available through area schools guidance offices, or may be downloaded from the Kernels website by clicking here.

For more information, please contact Doug Nelson at 319-363-3887 or email at doug@kernels.com.

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Cedar Rapids Kernels . Click here to view the original story.

Gwinnett Braves Award January Grant to The Path Project

GwinnettBraves_2015-02-11

Organization receives $1,000 “I Have a Dream” themed grant

Gwinnett BravesThe Gwinnett Braves have announced the recipient of their $1,000 grant for the month of January. The Path Project, Inc. has been awarded the “I Have a Dream” themed grant, aimed at funding an organization that grants wishes, dreams and opportunities for the youth, elderly, injured or sick.

Path-ProjectThe Path Project offers academic, social and spiritual development for at-risk youth living in mobile home communities in Gwinnett and surrounding counties. The non-profit organization works to help those students close the achievement gap, graduate from high school, become productive members of society and find the right path for their lives. The outreach ministry currently operates five community centers in five mobile home parks, serving approximately 450 children each week.

The community centers run by The Path Project provide preschool programs, after-school programs, summer camps, soccer teams and mentoring services. Certified teachers and youth development specialists oversee the centers, run the programs, communicate with parents and schools, as well as lead volunteers. The $1,000 grant awarded by the Gwinnett Braves will be used for literacy and educational enrichment through field trips and the purchase of books and school supplies.

“On behalf of the staff, volunteers, students and families of Gwinnett County that are part of The Path Project, I wish to say thank you to the Gwinnett Braves organization for their generous grant of $1,000,” said Jim Hollandsworth, Co-Founder and Executive Director of The Path Project. “This grant will go directly to academic endeavors that are part of our after-school and literacy programs that serve hundreds of children and teenagers living in Gwinnett County. We are honored to partner with the Gwinnett Braves to help these young people find the right path for their lives.”

About The Path Project, Inc.: The Path Project is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization formed in 2009 by Jim and Melinda Hollandsworth as an outreach ministry of Graystone Church in Grayson, GA. What started as a once-a-week homework help program at the Gwinnett Estates mobile home park soon grew to a four-day-a-week, after-school program that included preschool, mentoring and soccer activities. The Path Project expanded in 2012 to serve other mobile home communities in Gwinnett, Walton and Newton counties, including Valley Brook in Stone Mountain, Bay Creek in Loganville and Riverside Estates in Covington. For more information, visit their website at www.path-project.org.

For more information on the Gwinnett Braves Grant Program, including details on how your organization can apply for future grants, call Community Relations Coordinator Alison Atkins at 678-277-0346 or email Alison.Atkins@braves.com.

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Gwinnett Braves. Click here to view the original story.

 

Fluor Field Hosts Complimentary Coaching Clinic on February 5th

Drive Manager Darren Fenster leads the clinic from 6:00-8:30 PM

greenvilledrive_2015-01-28

The Greenville Drive have announced they will hold a complimentary coaching clinic led by Drive Manager Darren Fenster on Thursday, February 5th from 6:00-8:30 PM in the home clubhouse at Fluor Field.

The clinic is available for coaches at all levels of baseball, including little league, middle and high school, and travel baseball.
Fenster will cover a wide array of topics during the interactive forum, ranging from individual skills such as hitting, throwing, and fielding to team fundamentals such as cutoffs, relays and rundowns. Fenster will provide insight on a general approach to coaching, while also touching on practice organization and how to keep players engaged while getting the most out of their time on the field.

Additionally, those in attendance will have the unique opportunity to experience exactly how the Drive coaching staff employs this approach to their daily work during the 2015 season.

“With the amazing support that the Greenville and entire Upstate communities give us throughout the course of the season, I wanted to find a creative way to give back to the very people who make our days at Fluor Field so rewarding,” said Fenster. “I couldn’t think of a better way to do so than by putting together a coaching clinic that will benefit the next generation of players through this generation of coaches.

“Baseball has given me a platform as a coach that I truly value, and I take a great sense of responsibility to share my passion for and knowledge of the game with as many others who want to listen. To do this in the place I’ve called home for parts of the past few years is a special opportunity.”
Fenster has accumulated a wealth of experience during his time as a player and coach at both the college and professional levels. He was a two-time All-American shortstop at Rutgers University before spending five seasons in the Kansas City Royals system from 2000-2004, and he received an invite to major league spring training during his time with the Royals.

Following his playing career, Fenster returned to his alma mater and spent six seasons on the staff of the Scarlet Knights, serving under legendary coach Fred Hill, who earlier this month was inducted into the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. He also spent a season as an assistant coach for the Orleans Cardinals in the Cape Cod League in 2008.

In 2013, Fenster created Coaching Your Kids, an initiative that shares his love and understanding of the game to the baseball community of coaches, players, and fans in general through camps and clinics in addition to media forums such as Twitter (@CoachYourKids), print magazines, and online blogs and podcasts.

He joined the professional coaching ranks in 2012 as the Drive’s hitting coach before getting his first managing opportunity with the Gulf Coast League Red Sox in 2013, leading the club to the league championship series. The 2015 season will be Fenster’s second piloting the Drive.

“We are thrilled to give back to the local coaching community with this clinic at Fluor Field,” said Drive General Manager Eric Jarinko. “Darren Fenster is a terrific coach as well as being an outstanding person, and his passion for the game and his ability to connect with players of all ages and ability levels are second to none. He truly is a great ambassador for both the Greenville Drive and the game of baseball, and we couldn’t be happier to have him on board for this coaching clinic and the 2015 season at Fluor Field.”

The clinic is complimentary, but registration is required as space is limited. Coaches interested in registering for the clinic can do so by clicking here.
For additional info, please contact Cameron White, the Drive’s Media Relations Manager, at cameron@greenvilledrive.com.

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Greenville Drive. Click here to view the original story.

 

 

IronPigs Charities Announce Record-Setting Donations

LehighValleyIronPigs_2015-01-23

Grants Were Awarded during Thursday’s Phillies Winter Banquet

Lehigh-Valley-IronPigsIronPigs Charities, presented by The Air Production Foundation, a non-profit organization striving to provide educational and recreational opportunities for children in the Greater Lehigh Valley area, awarded a record-breaking 101,897.45 in cash grants to 22 non-profit organizations during Thursday’s Phillies Winter Banquet at the Sands Events Center. Since debuting in 2008, IronPigs Charities has contributed a total in excess of $750,000 in cash grants to dozens of local non-profit entities. Between the IronPigs Charities organization and the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, the total all-time cash distribution is nearing $1.1-million.

“The Phillies Winter Banquet, coupled with the opportunity to make meaningful donations to so many deserving local organizations, is truly the highlight of our year,” remarked IronPigs Charities President Kurt Landes. “It’s genuinely humbling to be in such a position to be able to impact our community in such a significant manner. And, the best is yet to come.”

The 2015 beneficiaries are listed below:

  • Allentown School District Foundation
  • Boy Scouts of America, Minsi Trails Council
  • Boys and Girls Club of Allentown
  • Boys and Girls Club of Bethlehem
  • Boys and Girls Club of Easton
  • Center for Vision Loss
  • Community Bike Works
  • East Side Memorial Little League
  • East Side Youth Center
  • Easton Area Police Athletic League
  • Friends of Allentown Parks
  • Girl Scouts of Eastern PA
  • Lehigh Valley Center for Independent Living
  • Lower Macungie Athletics
  • Mikayla’s Voice
  • Miracle League of Lehigh Valley
  • Northeast Ministry
  • Sacred Heart Hospital
  • Wildlands Conservancy
  • YMCA of Bethlehem
  • YMCA of Easton, Phillipsburg & Vicinity
  • Youth Education in the Arts

Philadelphia Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro, Jr., manager Ryne Sandberg along with OF Ben Revere, INF/OF Darin Ruf and RHP David Buchanan headlined the 2015 Phillies Winter Banquet presented by The Air Products Foundation, Lehigh Valley Health Network, Service Electric Cable TV & Communications and Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network. Other Phillies dignitaries included broadcaster Tom McCarthy, Assistant General Manager Scott Proefrock and Assistant Director of Player Develoment Steve Noworyta.

The Phillies Winter Banquet beneficiary, IronPigs Charities, is a recognized 501(c) (3) non-profit organization on the state and federal level. The annual Phillies Winter Banquet is IronPigs Charities’ flagship event and all of the money raised at the event directly benefits IronPigs Charities.

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. Click here to view the original story.

“Hit The Books” Bookmark Contest Winners

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Overall Bookmark Contest Winner will be announced February 4

Omaha-Storm-Chasers-2014The highlight of the Storm Chasers “Hit The Books” Literacy Program, the 2015 Bookmark Contest Winners have been announced out of more than 10,000 submissions. This year’s “Hit The Books” Program saw the most schools participating in its history at 52, reaching 16,583 students.

The “Hit The Books” literacy program, presented by Nebraska Educational Savings Trust, has encouraged area elementary students that reading is an essential skill to have since 2007. Teachers at each school determine four different reading goals for the program. Students who “round the bases” receive four different prizes, including the grand prize of a ticket to a 2015 Storm Chasers game.

“Hit The Books” students can also participate in the Bookmark Contest, with a winner announced for each grade level. The overall winner, whose bookmark is distributed as a prize to all students, will be one of these grade level winners selected by the Storm Chasers:

  • Kindergarten: Kara Salton – Black Elk Elementary
  • 1st Grade: Nathan Russell – Wheeler Elementary
  • 2nd Grade: Blake G. – Black Elk Elementary
  • 3rd Grade: Giuliana Gagliolo – Reeder Elementary
  • 4th Grade: Callie Kirchner – Reagan Elementary
  • 5th Grade: Jenna Christensen – Reagan Elementary
  • 6th Grade: Nick Brickman – Patriot Elementary

The announcement/presentation for the overall Bookmark Contest winner is planned for February 4.

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Omaha Storm Chasers. Click here to view the original story.

Bully Busters Anti-Bullying Program Returns

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Elementary School Assembly Program Expands to Wake and Orange Counties

Durham-BullsThe Durham Bulls have announced the return of the successful anti-bullying program “Bully Busters,” which debuted in February of 2014. The initiative, in which the Bulls provide free school assemblies to raise awareness for a priority issue in elementary schools, will again travel to schools throughout Durham County, while expanding this year to Wake and Orange counties as well. ARS Rescue Rooter has partnered with the Bulls to present the program in its second year.

Using beloved mascot Wool E. Bull as the driving force, each interactive assembly engages students in recognizing bullying behavior and exploring what to do should they witness or experience bullying. At the conclusion of the 20-minute presentation, students are asked to take the “Bully Buster Pledge” at home with their families, and students who do so will be rewarded with two complimentary tickets to a select Durham Bulls game this spring. Additionally, the Bulls provide teachers and students with take-home activity books, further reinforcing the anti-bullying message.

In its inaugural campaign, the program reached over 10,000 students throughout Durham County. The success from 2014 has prompted growth into Wake and Orange counties in 2015, nearly tripling the number of schools the Bulls will visit in the initiative’s second year.

“We’re thrilled to bring back this extremely successful program for 2015,” Bulls General Manager Mike Birling said. “In our first year we reached a large number of students for a very pertinent, meaningful issue, and we’re excited to grow Bully Busters even further throughout the Triangle.”

Bully Busters, presented by ARS Rescue Rooter, will run from mid-January through the end of March. School administrators seeking more information about booking a Bully Busters assembly can do so by visiting the Bully Busters webpage.

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Durham Bulls. Click here to view the original story.

NEST, Storm Chasers Present 13th Annual Essay Contest

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Students in 7th and 8th grade write about “Why I Want to Go to College”

Omaha-Storm-Chasers-2014The Nebraska Educational Savings Trust (NEST) and the Omaha Storm Chasers have officially kicked off the 13th-annual “Why I Want to Go to College” essay contest, Nebraska State Treasurer Don Stenberg announced today.

Students in 7th and 8th grade both in and outside the state of Nebraska may send their entries until the March 27 deadline. Essays must be 750 words or less, describing the student’s educational goals and dreams for the future. Entries must be typed, double-spaced on 8 1/2 by 11″ paper and must be the student’s original work. Each entry must be accompanied with the required cover sheet found here:

http://treasurer.nebraska.gov/csp/scholarships/essay/college/2015/2015writingContestCoverSheet.pdf.

Judging will be conducted by faculty and students in the College of Education at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. The essay contest awards 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners in each of Nebraska’s three congressional districts, as well as Out-of-State, with winners earning prizes of $2,000, $1,000 and $500 toward a NEST College Savings Plan.

All winners from Nebraska, which will be notified in early May, receive four box seat tickets and earn recognition prior to the Storm Chasers game on May 10 against the Oklahoma City Dodgers. Each winning student will get an opportunity to meet Nebraska State Treasurer Stenberg during the visit.

For complete rules and information on the Essay Contest, visit the Nebraska State Treasurer’s Office website here:

http://treasurer.nebraska.gov/csp/scholarships/essay/college/2015/.

Entries must be postmarked by March 27 and sent to:

Omaha Storm Chasers

Attn: Andrea Stava

12356 Ballpark Way

Papillion, NE 68046

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Omaha Storm Chasers. Click here to view the original story.

Cougars To Host Coaches Clinic On January 31

Youth baseball and softball coaches can attend free event, receive professional instruction from Cougars and Arizona Diamondbacks

Kane-County-CougarsThe Kane County Cougars will host a free Coaches Clinic on Saturday, January 31st that features professional instructors from the Cougars and Diamondbacks organizations including new Cougars manager and former Major Leaguer Mark Grudzielanek, Cougars pitching coach Doug Bochtler, Cougars hitting coach Vince Harrison and Diamondbacks hitting coordinator Chris Cron. The clinic will take place from 9-11:30 a.m. inside Fifth Third Bank’s upper deck level. Attendees are asked to RSVP by calling the Cougars at (630) 232-8811 or emailing sfreed@kanecountycougars.com. The clinic is provided free-of-charge to participants as a community service from the Cougars and Diamondbacks organizations.

Although open to the public, the clinic’s purpose is to specifically instruct coaches. Therefore, the clinic is intended for adult coaches rather than youth players. Coaches are encouraged to bring video recorders and note pads for their convenience, and will have the opportunity to visit each station and learn valuable pointers in specific areas of on-field execution, practice techniques and coaching style. Donuts and coffee will be provided for attendees.

This article originally appeared on the official website of the Kane County Cougars. Click here to view the original story.