Category Archives: Education

Singapore’s Temasek Polytechnic Students Embark on Cross-Cultural Exchange at Galgotias University

9th July 2024  Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India  In a remarkable display of international collaboration and cultural exchange, students from Temasek Polytechnic, Singapore students, have embarked on a visit to Galgotias University one of India’s premier educational institutions. The initiative, part of a broader effort to foster global connections and mutual learning, involves a series of interactive sessions, workshops, and cultural events aimed at enhancing the educational experience of students from both institutions.

The exchange program allowed students from Temasek Polytechnic to immerse themselves in the rich cultural heritage of India while participating in academic activities that promote a deeper understanding of each other’s educational methodologies and societal contributions. Conversely, Galgotias University students will gain insights into Singapore’s advanced educational systems and technological prowess, encouraging a global perspective in their studies.

“Such initiatives are vital in today’s globalized world,” stated Dr. Dhruv Galgotia, CEO of Galgotias University. “They not only provide a platform for academic exchange but also help students develop a broader, more inclusive view of the world.”

Activities during the visit included visiting the Apple iOS development center, seminars on technological advancements, and active learning discussions on sustainable development, all designed to encourage critical thinking and innovation.

Both institutions hope that this exchange will pave the way for future collaborations and continuous engagement, benefiting their educational communities and beyond. As the program unfolds, students and faculty alike are enthusiastic about the potential outcomes and lasting friendships forged through this cross-cultural rendezvous.

Oakridge Bachupally Marks Another Year of Academic Success with Exceptional 2024 CBSE Results

9th July 2024  Hyderabad, Telangana, India   Oakridge International School Bachupally is delighted to announce another year of outstanding student performance in the CBSE examinations for the academic year 2024. Devoted to nurturing young minds through a comprehensive educational approach, Oakridge remains steadfast in pursuing academic excellence.

Grade 12

The Grade 12 cohort at Oakridge Bachupally has achieved an impressive overall average score of 77.2%, with 67% of students attaining distinctions.

In the Commerce stream, Yuva Ganesh Narne emerged as the top performer with an exceptional score of 95.4%, closely followed by Neha Girish Kalagudi, who secured an impressive 90.4%.

Within the Science stream, Aditya Ramarao claimed the top spot with a stellar 93%, while Samala Kedar Reddy closely trailed with a remarkable 92%.

Grade 12 Topper Yuva Ganesh Narne expressed his gratitude, saying, “I am thankful for the continuous support of my teachers and family that has propelled me to this achievement.”

Grade 10

The Grade 10 cohort at Oakridge Bachupally has emulated the success of Grade 12, achieving an impressive average score of 81%. Notably, 69% of the students attained distinctions. Sriram Venugopalan clinched the top spot with an exceptional score of 97%.

Anika Rastogi and Maneet Kaur secured the second position with a commendable score of 95.6%.

Sriram Venugopalan, the Grade 10 Topper, expressed his joy, “I am pleased to witness the fruition of my efforts in Mathematics with a perfect score. I express my gratitude for the steadfast encouragement and mentorship provided by my teachers.”

Ms. Baljeet Oberoi, Principal of Oakridge International School Bachupally, expressed her immense pride in our students’ remarkable achievements. She emphasized, “Our school’s strong culture of excellence is highlighted in the tremendous performance of our students in the Board Examinations. As the legacy of success continues to inspire, our students are encouraged to dream big and pursue excellence. Oakridge’s commitment to maintaining high standards remains unwavering, and its inclusive approach celebrates diversity, aiming to serve and nurture global citizens.”

Ms. Shalini Singhal, Head of CBSE at Oakridge International School Bachupally, further emphasized the exceptional results, “Reaching one’s fullest potential is commendable, yet achieving perfection is a distinction in its own right. Our students’ perfect Mathematics and Informatics Practices scores are a testament to their exceptional capabilities and the high standard of education they receive.”

The outcome this year has established a standard and demonstrated that the school exemplifies the virtue of ‘Kaizen,’ which refers to the pursuit of continuous improvement. It has been a path-breaking year for the school, and the results validate the academic excellence maintained through relentless dedication.

These remarkable achievements reflect the students’ hard work, parents’ support, and faculty’s commitment. Congratulations to all the kids!

Author Sean Ferguson’s New Book, A Layman’s Look at Life

Hixson, TN, July 08, 2024 –Sean Ferguson, who is currently retired and living with his wife and their two dogs in Hixson, Tennessee, has completed his new book, “A Layman’s Look at Life: A Road Less Traveled”: a captivating exploration of existence that seamlessly blends science, religion, philosophy, and personal reflection.

Having spent most of his working life in sales, author Sean Ferguson has one US patent for a valve design. He spent over twenty-five years selling in industries ranging from nuclear power, food, and beverage to refining and petrochemicals. Ferguson also spent fourteen years in telecom and wide area network sales. Ever restless, he even drove eighteen-wheelers from Southern California to Eastern Canada for almost three years in his early sixties. The author is a former avid skydiver, motorcyclist, skier, and scuba diver, and enjoys traveling with his wife, reading, listening to music, and now writing.

“I never would have claimed to be a religious person until just recently,” writes Ferguson. “I always believed there was a God, and I believed Jesus lived, died on the cross, and rose from the dead. These are things learned by rote when I was a kid. I had a mental image of these things and had seen movies and many graphic representations of the stories I was told. However, I wasn’t taught the Bible and didn’t know that it told a complete story about mankind and God’s plan for human beings. Despite that, I always found myself trying to reconcile the ideas of people who said there was no God and those who believe. I was looking for evidence in the material world to attach to the possibility/probability that God does exist. Decades before I ever heard the term apologetics, I was trying to be an apologist. So what follows is how this layman has come to explain what I believe and why I believe it.”

The author continues, “I hope that what I have to share will inspire or provoke the reader to look deeper in this direction for another way to find a real, dependable, and lasting way to feel good and secure in life.

“What I’ll say to you is please read the entire book. Take what you need or can use, and just leave the rest. If what I have written helps you in any way or even leads you to a belief in God and a reliance on the Bible, I’ve done what I’ve set out to do.”

The Sport of Presidents by Alexandra Kitty Now Available from Histria Books

Las Vegas, NV, July 06, 2024 — Histria Books is pleased to announce the release of the The Sport of Presidents by Alexandra Kitty. This book is published by Prende Publishing, an imprint of Histria Books dedicated to outstanding works in arts & entertainment, sports, and poetry.

The book examines the relationship between the presidency and the sport, and argues through stories that the two naturally go together. Golf is the sport of presidents. It defines the presidency. It is a game of patience, concentration, focus, and moving forward toward a target. The job is about aim and guiding others toward an end goal amid the obstacle, and the job requires simplicity and making progress in as fewer moves as possible. Golf allows access to the president, and it is also a form of communication the leader uses to send subtle messages to the public

Alexandra Kitty is an award-winning author, educator, and researcher whose work has appeared in Presstime, Quill, Current, Elle Canada, Maisonneuve, Critical Review, and Skeptic. She was a relationships columnist for the Hamilton Spectator and an advice columnist for the Victoria Times-Colonist. She was the first female recipient of the Arch Award from McMaster University, Canada, and is the author of a number of books, including The Art of Kintsugi: Learning the Japanese Craft of Beautiful Repair, and A Different Track: Hospital Trains of the Second World War.

The Sport of Presidents, by Alexandra Kitty,168 pp., ISBN 978-1-59211-425-2, is available at HistriaBooks.com and from all major book retailers. The book is also available in eBook. Titles published under the various imprints of Histria Books are distributed worldwide by the Independent Publishers Group (IPG).

Author Conner Doyle’s New Book Dragons of Tellusara The Skylight Dance

Elizabeth, CO, July 06, 2024 –Conner Doyle, who has a lifelong love of dragons and enjoys creating worlds and characters for new stories, has completed his new book, “Dragons of Tellusara: The Skylight Dance”: a riveting story in which a young dragon must work to help a new dragon in her community feel welcome, despite the hesitancy of her friends to trust a stranger.

“‘Dragons of Tellusara’ is about a world where dragons are the main characters. The Skylight Dance is a special celebration for twelve-year-old dragons. Elianora and her friends are excited to participate in this celebration. A new dragon moves to their island who may not be able to be part of the celebration. Elianora tries to find a way to include the newcomer in the Skylight Dance, but the other dragons aren’t so sure they’re willing to change things for one dragon.”

Authors Virginia and Bob MacKenzie’s New Book One More Last Trip

Hilton Head, SC, July 06, 2024 — Virginia, who holds a PhD in public policy from the University of Buffalo Graduate School of Management, and Bob MacKenzie, a veteran of the Army Air Corps, have completed their new book, “One More Last Trip”: a heartfelt account that follows the authors as they achieve, and even surpass, their dreams of visiting one hundred countries, and the wonderful adventures they experience along the way.

Originally from Albany, New York, Bob MacKenzie enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1943 and served from 1945 to 1947. He graduated from Clarkson University in 1951 with a degree in electrical engineering and received a master’s degree in engineering administration from Syracuse University in 1965. Bob was employed by New York State Electric & Gas in 1951 and rose to the position of vice president of operations, retiring in 1987. He moved to Hilton Head in 1987, where he enjoyed golf, scuba diving, traveling, and reading.

Dr. Virginia Bergin MacKenzie was born and raised in Orlando, Florida, and was a member of the political science faculty of Nazareth College in Rochester, New York, as well as Director of Operations for the New York Independence Party. Upon moving back south to Hilton Head, South Carolina, Virginia was hired as Executive Supervisor for the Marriott Vacation Club. Her retirement passion is art, and she has been the featured artist twice for the Hilton Head Art League, and once at the Society of Bluffton Artists.

Virginia shares, “‘This trip is absolutely our last big trip,’ said by husband, Bob, several ‘last trips’ ago. ‘I’m ninety-four, and you are eighty-four. We are just getting too old to keep traveling long distances like this. I don’t have the stamina anymore.’

“Somehow there was always another trip luring us to hear that lovely greeting: ‘Welcome Aboard!’

“Cruises are addictive. Passengers unpack once, and everything you could possibly need is close by—food, lodging, entertainment, transportation, tours on shore, and even a priest and a doctor. For what more could you ask? Because of our advanced age, almost all our trips in the last few years have been by cruise ship. If it is at all possible, we try to meet with people who live in the various countries we visit. Several of the destinations are not the ones people usually select. We often have gone on the road less traveled and have been rewarded by our unique, surprising experiences.”

Hamlet at Theatre School North Coast Rep

Del Mar, CA, July 05, 2024 — The Theatre School @ North Coast Rep presents the climactic Shakespearean tragedy, Hamlet, as its next student production. The ghost of the King of Denmark tells his son Hamlet to avenge his murder by killing the new king, Hamlet’s uncle. Hamlet feigns madness, contemplates life and death, and seeks revenge. His uncle, fearing for his life, also devises plots to kill Hamlet. The play ends with a duel, during which the King, Queen, Hamlet’s opponent and Hamlet himself are all killed.

Featured in the cast are (Giavanna Adams, Carlsbad; Bex Balsdon, La Jolla; Bugz Baltzer, Del Mar; Kai Bunyak, Cardiff; Kiera Casey, Carlsbad; Tirzah Cisneros, Escondido; Landon Friis, Carlsbad; Caroline Grace, Carmel Valley; Tessa Haubert, Carlsbad; Charlotte Larson, Carlsbad; Alice Price, Carlsbad; Nicole Sample, Carlsbad; Steve Smith, South Park; and Genevieve Tai, Carlsbad).

Performances are July 18 through 20 at the Birdwing Open Air Classroom: 3201 Via de la Valle, Del Mar, CA 92014; July 25 through 27 at La Colonia Park: 715 Valley Ave., Solana Beach, CA 92075; and August 1 through 3 at the San Diego Botanic Garden: 300 Quail Gardens Dr., Encinitas, CA 92024 with show times at 5:30PM. Admission is free at all three venues, but please call to reserve a spot for the August 1st performance as space is limited that day: 760-436-3036. No advance reservations are needed for any other performances. Audiences are encouraged to bring their own outdoor seating and blankets.

Cal Coast Academy Breaks Ground on Classroom Building

San Diego, CA, July 05, 2024 — Cal Coast Academy, a Carmel Valley based college preparatory private school, has reached an exciting new milestone in its plans for campus expansion: the groundbreaking of its 3-winged classroom building. The school, which opened its doors in 1999 and includes grades 6-12, will comfortably be able to accommodate approximately 75 full-time students upon its classroom completion.

The new classroom building will add almost 10,000-square-feet of additional building space to the already established campus. The single-story classroom structure will feature 13 spacious classrooms, 1 faculty lounge, 1 multimedia-tech center, 1 locker room, and student restrooms. Each state-of-the-art classroom will be equipped with the latest innovative technologies. To extend learning beyond the classroom walls, the site will also incorporate a broad collection of other beneficial areas including a spacious outdoor courtyard, a student rec room, an art studio, a science laboratory, a student-maintained garden, and a commercial grade kitchen.

“We are ecstatic about making our individualized approach to education accessible to more students,” said Cal Coast Academy’s Founder and Principal Ms. Jan Dunning. “This is a bold step forward in supporting our mission of serving the whole student, inside and beyond the academic classroom. Not only do we support students academically, socially, and emotionally, we also help them develop life skills through our CUT (Convergence Unleashed Training) Program, encourage a purposeful sense of belonging through our international service work, and lead them to explore and discover their individual attributes and career interests.”

Cal Coast Academy is renowned for providing dynamic academics within a small community of dedicated students, faculty, and staff. It is a place where students have the luxury of receiving a customized education while engaging in an intimate, hands-on learning environment.

“Our school will continue to restrict class size to a 6:1 student-teacher ratio as we have historically,” says Dunning, “As this component is an essential part of our school’s DNA and will never be compromised.”

Kellie Q. Smith’s Newly Released Tread Without Meds

Jonesboro, GA, July 05, 2024 — “Tread Without Meds: How I Took Back Control and Reversed the Symptoms of My Rheumatoid Arthritis,” a testament to the power of faith and determination, is the creation of published author, Kellie Q. Smith.

Smith shares, “In the Bible, Proverbs 29:18 KJV teaches us that ‘where there is no vision the people perish, but he that keepth the law, happy is he.’ I believe this to be very true. Just as we look to our parents for everything when we are children is the same way I have learned to look to God for everything. I currently reside in Atlanta, Georgia with my husband and children and my mom and dad about thirty minutes away. However, growing up in the city of St. Louis was impoverished (deprived of strength and vitality). Whatever you were exposed to, such as alcoholism, guns, unemployment, and more, you had to decide within yourself much later in life what to do with it. You could either become a product of your environment or do something different. I decided to do something different. I had always heard voices in my head telling me that I would never do anything or become anyone because of where I came from. And so I believed that, and it made me afraid. But when I was ten, we moved out of that neighborhood, and we moved with my grandmother. This was a much more established well-cured community compared to the one I had come from. It was the home my mother and her siblings had grown up in. Deep down in my heart, I had always wanted to live there. (Psalms 37:4 ESV says, ‘Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.’) Shortly after moving there, I turned eleven years old, and I met my best friend Trestaca Warren whom I met visiting the church of extended family members. The pastor did what is called an altar call. It’s when you’re asked if you want to be saved and join the church, and I had decided in my heart that I wanted to. So Tressie offered to go with me to the altar. When I look back on that experience now, I see it as God holding out his hand to me, letting me know that he will carry me every step of the way in life. I have been close to meeting death several times; from nearly being kidnapped to overcoming cancer and surviving four major car accidents, God has kept me. I stand here today to let you know that I am here to do his work by helping others overcome the challenges they face in life. I find my joy the most in encouraging healthy living, marriage, and family. My bachelor’s, master’s, doctorate, and PhD degrees are not from the classroom but from my life experiences.”

Author Christina Marie’s New Book My Thoughts Wage War

Pittsburgh, PA, July 05, 2024 –Christina Marie, a lover of animals and nature who attended the University of Pittsburgh, where she played soccer, has completed her new book, “My Thoughts Wage War”: a deeply personal and poignant account of the author’s harrowing battle with mental illness and the transformative power of hope, love, and resilience.

“‘My Thoughts Wage War’ is about when I was twenty-seven years old and going through a mental crisis/psychosis,” writes Christina. “An unfortunate, tragic accident happened.

“Taking you through my thoughts of the night of the accident, jail, and a state hospital, I can help others maneuver through such crises in a better, more positive way.

“Through my experience, I’m looking to bring awareness to mental health and how to help individuals survive through such tough times and how to keep hoping that God is forgiving, also how love is the answer…”