July 2008
Oklahoma Honors University of Phoenix
University of Phoenix Recognized at the Kids Chance Scholarship Awards Dinner
Red Cross Ultimate Lifeguard Challenge
CMT One Country and University of Phoenix
Raleigh Campus Creates “Friends of Phoenix”
Richmond Employee Scores a Goal for Iraq
Jermaine Dye and University of Phoenix Scholarship Presentation
University of Phoenix Participates in LULAC National Convention & Exposition
Phoenix Back-to-School Drive
From July 14-July 25, 2008, University of Phoenix and its new
official office supplier, Staples®, piloted its first Back-to-School
Drive and Phoenix-area employees, students, faculty and alumni were
invited to collect school supplies or donations for members of the
Boys and Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix.
During the two week period, supplies were collected at various drop-off locations, through the Staples® online personal purchase program, and during the café sales held at the Riverpoint corporate complex. With support from various divisions and departments such as Southeast Online, Specialized Services and the Mesa Learning Center, Apollo Group, Inc. collected 3,118 pencils, 332 glue sticks, 153 boxes of crayons, 255 notebooks and 395 pencil top erasers—just to name a few. Following the Back-to-School Drive, University of Phoenix visited the Boys and Girls Club of Metropolitan Phoenix and presented the staff and members with over 6,600 school supplies and $6,100 in donations!
Click here to view the photo gallery from the Back-to-School Drive.
Oklahoma Honors University of Phoenix
The State of Oklahoma recently paid tribute to University of
Phoenix by announcing that July 25th will be “University of Phoenix
Day” throughout the state. Oklahoma City took the honor a step
further and decreed that July 26th is now “University of Phoenix
Day” in Oklahoma City. The proclamation focuses on University of
Phoenix’s dedication to being a pioneering provider of innovative
educational solutions for working adults in the state and across the
country.
The Oklahoma campuses were proud to be honored for having graduated more than 3,000 students since their opening in 1998. Citizens of Oklahoma were asked to join Governor Brad Henry and Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett in saluting University of Phoenix for its exemplary history and boundless future. Mayor Cornett was the commencement speaker at the graduation ceremony in Oklahoma, and he had the opportunity to read the proclamation at the event and share the honor with all of the great Oklahoma students, faculty, staff, family and friends. It is great to see that our communities are recognizing what it is that we do, and it was very special to be able to share the proclamation with the state of Oklahoma on such an important day in our student’s lives.
University Recognized at the Kids Chance Scholarship Awards Dinner
On July 24, 2008, University of Phoenix received the highest level of recognition, the Diamond Award, at the first annual Kids Chance of Arizona Scholarship Awards Dinner in Phoenix, Arizona. The night was filled with inspiration and hope as Kid’s Chance recipients were awarded scholarships to attend college, while other individuals were recognized for going above and beyond to give these children a chance for a future filled with education. Kids Chance of Arizona is an organization that provides scholarships to children whose parents have been injured or killed on the job and who otherwise wouldn’t be able to attend college, due to the lack of financial resources. Through the ongoing partnership with Kids Chance of Arizona, University of Phoenix has presented ten full-tuition scholarships to the organization.
Red Cross Ultimate Lifeguard Challenge
On Sunday, July 20th, 2008, University of Phoenix was the lead sponsor of Arizona’s 28th Annual Red Cross Ultimate Lifeguard Challenge. The Ultimate Lifeguard Challenge is an event during which trained Red Cross lifeguards from around the state of Arizona come together to demonstrate and test their skills in a competitive environment. Teams trained extensively for this event and University of Phoenix is proud to support the lifeguards in our community who save lives on a daily basis. Employee volunteers from the University of Phoenix got their feet wet working alongside other volunteers at the pool, and our own Bonnie Trowbridge, Vice President of Audit, was there to represent University of Phoenix and kick of the tournament with a bang! It was an exciting event for lifeguards and guests full of competition and team spirit, applauding our lifeguards for keeping us safe around water.
CMT One Country and University of Phoenix
In July, 2008, University of Phoenix launched the second year of
our partnership with CMT One Country’s Power of One to award a
scholarship to a deserving individual who gives back to the
community. Through the months of July and August individuals can
nominate a deserving friend, a relative or themselves who impact the
world in a positive way and the recipient will receive a
full-tuition scholarship to attend University of Phoenix. For more
information, visit
http://www.cmt.com/one_country.
Raleigh Campus Creates “Friends of Phoenix”
The University of Phoenix- Raleigh, North Carolina campus is doing their part to support non-profit organizations in the area in a big way. The Raleigh campus and the Durham Bulls baseball team have paired up this season to create the “Friends of Phoenix” kiosk in the Durham Bulls Stadium. The kiosk was created to help non-profits in the area get the word out about their organizations. Charitable organizations can “rent” the kiosk for free during games throughout the 2008 season, and use the booth to inform fans about their causes. When the “Friends of Phoenix” kiosk is not being rented out, University of Phoenix representatives will be there answering questions regarding the University’s many degree programs and promoting higher education. With the hundreds of thousands of fans that attend sporting events every season, this promises to have a big impact on the Raleigh community.
Richmond Employee Scores a Goal for Iraq
Retired Army Lieutenant Colonel Justin Porto, faculty member and
student at the University of Phoenix Richmond campus, has recently
returned from Iraq. During his tour of duty, Porto went above and
beyond the call of duty by starting the “Soccer for American and
Iraqi Friends (SAIF)” organization. Porto and other members of the
organization collect soccer balls, equipment, and sports apparel to
distribute to adults, children, soldiers and police in Iraq along
with U.S. military troops in Baghdad. SAIF has collected over 500
soccer balls and the organization hopes to continue to promote
recreation and universal friendship through sports.
While in Iraq, Porto occupied himself by dribbling a soccer ball through the streets. He soon began promoting peace by passing the ball to squads of Iraqi soldiers, policemen, and groups of local citizens. The short games and passes put smiles on the faces of a community in the midst of a war. Porto plans to continue to spread the goodwill and cheer of SAIF by recruiting his local University of Phoenix community. He is truly an inspiration to us at University of Phoenix and others around the world.
Jermaine Dye and University of Phoenix Scholarship Presentation
On July 1, University of Phoenix presented full-tuition
scholarships to 10 members of the Boys and Girls Club of Chicago as
part of the First Chance® Scholarship
Program. Fellow White Sox outfielder and Boys and Girls Club
supporter, Jermaine Dye, was on-hand to present the scholarships to
the recipients. This is the second year University of Phoenix and
Jermaine Dye have presented the scholarships at a White Sox game.
University of Phoenix Participates in LULAC National Convention & Exposition
As part of our scholarship partnership with LULAC, University of Phoenix Washington D.C. Campus participated in the LULAC (League of United Latin American Citizens) National Convention & Exposition. Representatives were on hand to speak to the members about the many possibilities University of Phoenix offers to the Hispanic community. The LULAC Convention hosted notable speakers such as John McCain and Barack Obama. As the premier Hispanic convention, the LULAC National Convention draws over 15,000 people each year including the top leaders from government, business, and the Hispanic community