May 2008
IT Tees Up to Fight Muscular Dystrophy
Louisville Campus Preserves a Green Foundation
University of Phoenix Awards March of Dimes Nursing Scholarship
University Of Phoenix Sheds New Light For Their Employees On Volunteer Opportunities
University of Phoenix Celebrates National Foster Care Month
Employees Team Up to Help the Special Olympics
University of Phoenix Celebrates the Power of Education with the Urban League of Denver
University of Phoenix Supports CPLC
University of Phoenix Salutes the 2008 Global Education Dinner
IT Tees Up to Fight Muscular Dystrophy
On April 18, 2008, the Apollo Group Information Technology Department hosted their 5th Annual Apollo Cup golf tournament at Club West Golf Course. The tournament started out as a simple team building activity and soon became much more. The past golf events have benefited organizations such as Toys for Tots and the March of Dimes. Players had a wonderful opportunity to build relationships, have fun, and do something great for the local community all at once.
The Information Technology Department was inspired to use this year’s tournament to raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association when they were touched by the story of one team member’s family struggle with muscular dystrophy. The Apollo Cup raised an astounding total of $25,000 through the golf tournament, a Texas Hold’em Tournament, and company matching funds from Apollo Group, Inc.
The IT Department plans to host their Fall Classic in November to benefit Toys for Tots, and will host Apollo Cup VI in March or April of next year. It is inspiring to see the Apollo Group family giving back to the community in such a big way.
Louisville Campus Preserves a Green Foundation
In celebration of Earth Day, eleven staff members at the
University of Phoenix Louisville Campus contributed their time and
labor to helping maintain and restore Blackacre State Nature
Preserve and Historic Homestead, Kentucky’s first nature
conservancy, founded in 1979. Without volunteers the Blackacre
Foundation would find maintaining the 300 acres impossible. The
Louisville Campus volunteers spent the day restoring the landscapes
of this scenic reserve while enjoying each other’s company. The
Louisville Campus inspires all of us to go green and help to keep
our communities beautiful.
University of Phoenix Awards March of Dimes Nursing Scholarship
University of Phoenix and the March of Dimes have established a
partnership that benefits moms and babies – and is giving one
Arizona nurse a remarkable opportunity to further her education –
and her career.
At the 2007 March of Dimes Nurses of the Year Awards, Charlotte Saylors, Vice President of Strategic Development of Healthcare for University of Phoenix, announced the establishment of a March of Dimes scholarship for full tuition and fees for continuing nursing education.
On May 15, 2008 she presented the award to Korena Fine, RN, BSN who has worked as a staff RN at VA Medical Center for the past 14 years, serving in an in-house pool position and in the intensive care unit.
Since 2004, “Kori” has also been a Med/Surg and ICU clinical instructor for Rio Salado College and Grand Canyon University, through the VA Medical Center. “With the degree of MSN/ED, I would like to continue educating nursing students,” Kori wrote in her application for the scholarship. “Without a master’s degree I cannot instruct students in a classroom or online setting. It is my goal to provide students with greater continuity and flow of their learning experiences.”
Her application was selected from more than 30 that were submitted to the March of Dimes. In presenting her with the scholarship, Charlotte Saylors noted, “We thank Kori for her efforts in furthering the education of new nurses, and we are pleased to help a very deserving nurse expand her career by helping others to enter and advance in the field of nursing.”
University Of Phoenix Sheds New Light For Their Employees On Volunteer Opportunities
On May 1, 2008, in association with National Volunteer Week,
University of Phoenix hosted a Volunteer Fair for employees in
Phoenix, Arizona. During the Fair, over 22 non-profits from
throughout the Phoenix Valley came to the new Riverpoint building
locations to provide employees with information on how they can
become involved in their community through a number of different
volunteering opportunities. Upon arrival, employees received cards
to stamp as they visited each non profit and at the end the
non-profits with the most stamps received a donation from University
of Phoenix. The Arizona Science Center received a donation for
$5,000, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society received a donation for
$2,500 and Sunshine Acres received a donation for $1,000. The Fair
was in association with the company’s partnership with VolunteerMatch that provides employees throughout the nation with a
resource for opportunities in their area.
University of Phoenix Celebrates National Foster Care Month
In our effort to promote and provide access to higher education,
we are proud to announce a major nationwide partnership with the
National Foster Parent Association (NFPA) as part of our First
Chance Scholarship program. Launching May 1, in tandem with National
Foster Care Month, we will jointly award 50 scholarships this year
to exceptional individuals from the foster care program who clearly
demonstrate a passion for learning, strength of character and the
desire to make a difference.
As part of the partnership, campuses have been invited to play a significant role with their local NFPA chapters. This new partnership allows us to reach students who want to improve their lives, but do not have the financial means or do not know the educational options available to them.
As the centerpiece sponsor of the Walk Me Home program, the signature fund-raising and awareness event for foster care, campuses are given the opportunity to participate in local NFPA walks.
Employees Team Up to Help the Special Olympics
On the first weekend in May, a gathering of inspiring and
exceptional athletes took place in Tempe, Arizona. Athletes from
around the state came together for the 2008 Special Olympics Arizona
Summer Games. The Special Olympics Arizona seeks to provide children
and adults who have intellectual disabilities with courage,
friendship and physical fitness through sports programs. Three teams
from the University of Phoenix offered their time and companionship
to the Olympians, coaches and families involved in this amazing
event. Teams were led by Lisa Adams, an Executive Account Analyst
from Online, Melissa Fernandez, an Executive Finance Counselor from
Online, and Julie Scaff, Associate Director from Online Disability
Services.
University of Phoenix volunteers participated in various ways at the track and field and kayaking events. They enjoyed helping with event staging, cheerleading, and generally supporting the athletes. The Olympians showed determination, competitiveness, and amazing fitness that proved to be motivating to all who were in attendance. Employees were inspired by the hugs, stories, and unbridled excitement they witnessed throughout this great weekend with the Special Olympics Arizona. It was certainly a day that the University of Phoenix teams won’t soon forget. Regardless of who crossed the finish line first, everyone left the event a winner.
University of Phoenix Celebrates the Power of Education with the Urban League of Denver
In May, 2008 University supported the Urban League of Denver’s 62nd Anniversary. During this event, University of Phoenix announced it’s partnership with the Urban League of Denver to provide education to those in pursuance of their dreams through the University’s First Chance Scholarship program. Established in 2006, the program has helped deserving individuals fulfill their dream of going to college by awarding full scholarships through partnerships with non-profit organizations like the Urban League.
The partnership with the Urban League has helped reach the exceptional teenagers and young adults most in need of a college education, along with parents whose children would be first in their family to attend college
The Urban League of Denver is dedicated to serving African American and other residents of metro Denver by helping them attain social and economic equality and self reliance. Education is a big part of achieving this goal and University of Phoenix is proud to help the Urban League with their mission by helping those individuals achieve their dreams.
University of Phoenix Supports Chicanos Por La Causa
In May, 2008, University of Phoenix was a proud sponsor of the Chicanos' Por La Causa (CPLC) 39th Annual Anniversary Dinner, the organization’s largest fundraising event of the year. As a sponsor of the event, University of Phoenix supported the CPLC’s mission of promoting healthy and vital neighborhoods not only on a local and national level, but on an international level as well. The evening included guests from various companies and foundations from both Arizona as well as neighboring states. What began as a small event thirty-nine years ago, evolved into the evening with more then 1,000 attending this year’s event.
University of Phoenix Salutes the 2008 Global Education Dinner
On
April 30, the World Affairs Council of Washington, D.C., honored Dr.
John Sperling, University of Phoenix founder and Apollo Group
executive chairman, with its 2008 Global Education Award for his
commitment to expanding quality education opportunities to working
adults.
The annual Global Education Dinner honors the work of citizens and teachers, government officials and diplomatic corps members, and Council supporters for their commitment to educating the national capital area community about issues of international affairs and the United States' relationship with the world. The Council, founded in 1980, sponsors a variety of programs during the academic year and summer to help enrich the knowledge of educators and students, helping them hone leadership and teamwork skills, gain knowledge of international affairs, and meet a variety of influential leaders, experts, and newsmakers.
Sperling's fellow honorees included the Honorable Joseph R. Biden, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, who was named Global Service Honoree and delivered the keynote speech; and Teachers of the Year Isabel Vazquez-Gil of Luke C. Moore Academy SHS and Melissa Beth Schoeplein of Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology.