Category Archives: Education

Author Ted O. Padgett’s New Book, Vega Simple Speaking Steps

Seymour, TN, July 19, 2024 — Ted O. Padgett, who holds a bachelor of arts from Carson-Newman University, a master of divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a doctor of ministry from Luther Rice Theological Seminary, has completed his new book, “Vega: Simple Speaking Steps”: a transformative guide that equips readers with essential tools for effective communication and overcoming public speaking fears utilizing an effective methodology designed by the author to help individuals of all backgrounds and abilities succeed in any speaking scenario.

After serving twelve years with the Navy and fourteen years with the Marines, author Ted O. Padgett retired from the military as a lieutenant-commander. His military service included the Cuban Crisis, four Vietnam tours, and the Desert Storm conflict. He received twenty-two military medals and ribbons including the Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Meritorious Citation, Vietnam Combat Medal, and other military medals. Now retired, Padgett continues to write, teach, preach, speak, and travel with his wife for over sixty years.

“My reason for writing this book concerning speaking is to present my four basic steps to help others as they speak!” writes Padgett. “‘VEGA,’ the title of this book, comes from the name of one of the brightest stars in our universal galaxy. It is the ‘alpha star’ of the planet Mercury constellation; it is also the brightest star in the northern Lyra group of stars. So Vega is a bright star! 1 This book will use the term ‘VEGA’ as an acronym to present my four steps for speaking. For example: V stands for the word ‘voice,’ E stands for ‘eye contact,’ G stands for ‘gestures,’ and A stands for ‘attitude.’ These four words will form the simple steps to help anyone speak like a star! Vega is a star!

“It is my hope and desire that these simple steps for speaking will assist anyone as they speak and/or strive to communicate with others. These steps have been used by me for over fifty years to have a very successful career as a speaker. It has been in my heart to write this manuscript on speaking to show that anyone can overcome their fear of speaking in front of others by using my simple steps called ‘VEGA!’”

Vels University Awards Rs 1.5 Crore in Research Fellowship Grants to Promote Academic Excellence

19th July 2024  Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India  Vels Institute of Science, Technology, and Advanced Studies (vistas.ac.in.), also known as Vels University, is pleased to announce the award of research fellowship grants to 20 distinguished scholars totaling Rs 1.5 crore. The grants aim to support their pursuit of PhD research across 15 different subjects. Each scholar will receive Rs 20,000 per month for 3 years in recognition of their dedication to advancing academic knowledge and innovation.

The awards were presented at a prestigious ceremony attended by esteemed dignitaries including Dr. Preethaa Ganesh, Vice President of the Vels Group of Institutions, Dr. S. Sriman Narayanan, Vice Chancellor of VISTAS, and Dr. M. Bhaskaran, Pro Vice Chancellor of VISTAS. This initiative underscores VISTAS’ commitment to fostering research and innovation in higher education.

“We are delighted to support these outstanding scholars who have shown exceptional promise in their respective fields,” said Dr. Preethaa Ganesh. “These grants reflect our commitment towards advancing indigenous research in science, technology and SDG domains.“

Congratulations are extended to all the recipients of the fellowship grants. Their contributions are expected to have a significant impact on the academic and research landscape at VISTAS and beyond.

AAEON Unveils New RISC Computing Line Powered by Texas Instruments

Orange, CA, July 18, 2024 — AAEON, a leading provider of compact embedded solutions, has announced two new additions to its RISC computing line: the PICO-AM62, a single board built on the PICO-ITX form factor, and the SRG-AM62, its RISC Gateway system counterpart.

Both the PICO-AM62 and SRG-AM62 represent a new approach from AAEON’s RISC Computing Division, powered by Texas Instruments™ AM62x Sitara™ Processors. These processors consist of a quad-core Arm® Cortex®-A53 CPU, single-core Arm® Cortex®-M4F MCU, and integrated GPU support.

The new product line stands out for its cost-efficiency and reliability. Both the PICO-AM62 single-board and the compact SRG-AM62 Gateway System are available in SKUs with a wide temperature tolerance of -40°C to 85°C and a power input range of 9V to 36V. The products are based on Texas Instruments™ processors, which are highly scalable and have a 20-year lifespan. This influenced AAEON’s vendor choice and should attract customers looking for cost-effective, durable IoT solutions. The environmental ruggedness of both the PICO-AM62 and SRG-AM62 makes them well-suited for deployment in challenging environments, such as in-vehicle digital clusters or industrial applications.

At both board and system levels, the platform offers dual LAN ports, camera, and sensor support. These features, combined with their compact dimensions, make them strong candidates for applications such as building access monitoring. Additionally, both products host an HDMI 1.4b interface. The PICO-AM62, in particular, includes an LVDS connector for display output, which is well-suited for human-machine-interface (HMI) use.

Wireless communication, such as Wi-Fi and 4G/LTE, is also available via full and half-size mini cards. Both products also feature a multipurpose I/O connector for industrial control functions such as RS-232/422/485, CANBus, UART, GPIO, and I2C. Leveraging this versatility, it is easy to see how the products could serve as a flexible foundation for low-cost industrial automation devices. AAEON notes that the PICO-AM62 hosts additional serial configuration options. Combining its multipurpose I/O connector with two pin headers, users can pair two RS-232/422/485 interfaces with two CAN-FD, four full RS-232/422/485 by BOM, all the way to four RS-485 alongside dual UART.

U.S. Students Earn Gold Medals at 2024 International Biology Olympiad

McLean, VA, July 18, 2024 –– The Center for Excellence in Education (CEE) announces all USA Biolympiad Team members were awarded Gold Medals at the 35th International Biology Olympiad (IBO) held in Astana, Kazakhstan.

2024 USA Biolympiad Team IBO Gold Medalists:

Suzuko Ohshima, North Hollywood High School, North Hollywood, CA
Jason Wang, Marriotts Ridge High School, Marriottsville, MD
Bill Sun, Seven Lakes High School, Katy, TX
Frederick Song, Solon High School, Solon, OH

“The USA Biolympiad Team honored the United States at the International Biology Olympiad with receipt of four Gold Medals,” said Joann DiGennaro, President of CEE. “Suzuko, Jason, Bill, and Frederick garnered world recognition with their academic excellence. They are exceptional academic scholars that are headed for outstanding careers in science.”

The 2024 IBO was held from July 7-14 at Nazarbayev University in Astana, Kazakhstan. IBO included students from 80 countries across five continents. It awards individual achievement in theoretical and laboratory biology knowledge. IBO delegations consist of four students and two academic advisors. The 2024 USA Biolympiad Team was selected at CEE’s USA Biolympiad National Finals competition held in June on the campus of Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia. Kathy Frame is the Director of the USA Biolympiad program. Over 11,000 students from 690 schools, 44 states, and 25 International Schools registered in the nationwide high school competition.

Newly Elected President of University of New Haven Visiting India to Advance Collaboration Opportunities with Academic and Industry Leaders

18th July 2024  India, Mumbai | West Haven, CT, United States  The University of New Haven’s new president Jens Frederiksen, Ph.D., is visiting Mumbai, India, to interact with academic and industry leaders to talk about his global vision for the University to become a global powerhouse for preparing the next generation of elite talent to excel in the workforce of the future.

An innovative higher education leader with extensive experience in enrollment management, fundraising, and academic/corporate pathways, Dr Frederiksen assumed the presidency on March 1. He is looking to continue the University’s momentum in India, where the University has experienced great success attracting students to pursue graduate degrees, particularly in the University’s more than 55 STEM-designated graduate degree programs, which prepare students for a wide variety of cutting-edge careers.

“The University of New Haven has a rich history of attracting students from across India and around the globe to our suburban campus located in Connecticut, between New York City and Boston, to pursue advanced degrees in a wide variety of fields, including data science, public health criminal justice, and business analytics,” said Dr Frederiksen. “We are working to further capitalize on this momentum to create new opportunities to enrich the University’s relationships with businesses and academic institutions in India. We are deeply committed to delivering an unparalleled return on investment for Indian students as well as the entire University community.”

During his visit, President Frederiksen will take part in an exclusive event with the Confederation of Indian Industry. Select academic and industry leaders will discuss the Indian market, and collaboration opportunities, and look at potential placements for Indian graduates in the United States. President Frederiksen will also have individual meetings with a diverse group of companies and business leaders to discuss potential opportunities.

The University’s international recruitment and go-to-market efforts are led by Ranjana Maitra, a graduate of the University’s MBA program. She spent three decades excelling in the corporate world, holding leadership positions at Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and Wipro Limited, before returning to the University of New Haven five years ago.

“I have such lovely memories of my time at the University, and that’s what I discuss with prospective students,” says Maitra. “Without my University of New Haven education, I couldn’t have done my corporate jobs as well. Because of my experiences at the University, including the opportunities I had to meet with people of other cultures, I was prepared. I tell students that. Also my corporate experience helps me doing this job as I bring in that expertise.”

The University excels at maximizing the investment students are making and preparing alumni for successful outcomes. Nearly 96 percent of graduates to earn an advanced degree are employed or continuing their education within six months of graduating.

Students hail from more than 55 countries. The University has major international contracts and partnerships across the globe including in Saudi Arabia, Poland, Italy, the Netherlands, South Korea, Taiwan, and Canada.

Oakridge International School Bachupally Hosts India’s First Early Years Idea Showcase: TEDO

18th July 2024  Hyderabad, Telangana, India  Oakridge International School Bachupally (OISB) proudly announces the resounding success of TEDO: Thought Leaders in the Making, India’s pioneering Early Years Ideas showcase. This groundbreaking event, the first of its kind in India, marked a historic moment as young learners aged 5 to 7 took center stage to articulate their perspectives on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and children’s rights, a feat that is truly unique and inspiring.

Oakridge Bachupally’s Early Years learners captivated the audience with their profound speeches, delving into topics from gender equality to societal change with a depth of understanding and empathy that was truly remarkable for their age.

“TEDO represents a paradigm shift in early childhood education,” remarked Ms. Nandini Mathur, EY Head at OISB. “It’s remarkable to witness our young learners’ intellectual curiosity and empathy. By engaging with global issues at such a tender age, they are not just learning but actively shaping the world they will inherit.”

Ms. Baljeet Oberoi, Principal at Oakridge Bachupally, added, “The success of TEDO underscores the importance of providing platforms that amplify the voices of our youngest learners. It’s heartening to see parents, teachers, and students unite to foster a culture of empowerment and inclusivity.”

Dr Sravya, a parent associated with Oakridge since 2019, expressed her profound pride in witnessing her 5-year-old daughter, Suhanshi, fearlessly take the stage alongside 32 other young speakers. Dr. Sravya lauded Oakridge for providing an exceptional platform that nurtures and celebrates the potential of every child. She remarked, “The immense feeling of pride I experienced…when I saw my 5-year-old speak…gave all us parents a moment of pride.”

The event was a testament to the collective efforts of parents, teachers, and students, underscoring Oakridge’s unwavering commitment to fostering holistic development and global citizenship from an early age. By empowering young learners to engage with complex global issues, TEDO instilled confidence and inspired a sense of responsibility toward creating a better world.

TEDO: Thought Leaders in the Making stands as a testament to Oakridge International School Bachupally’s dedication to innovation and excellence in education. As the first of its kind in India, TEDO sets a precedent for future generations, encouraging them to embrace their voices and become catalysts for positive change.

Crack the Code of Arduino Microcontroller Development and Embedded Engineering with Nurve Network’s Newest Udemy Course

Austin, TX, July 17, 2024 — Embedded engineering, “edge computing” and IOT are going to continue to grow into the foreseeable future and exceed $190B by 2032 (GMI Research). With advances in computation, miniaturization, low power design, wireless communications, and sensors, the need for “embedded engineers” and experts in microcontrollers, firmware, and embedded development is going to skyrocket. Additionally, with AI in the limelight, more and more applications will require AI enabled hardware. This means the need for students and engineers entering the job market or pivoting from other engineering fields to electronics can greatly benefit by mastering embedded engineering fundamentals.

Nurve Network’s Andre LaMothe is well known as a Master Instructor/Author in Electrical Engineering, Game Development and 2D/3D Computer Graphics (over 90,000 students on Udemy). He has launched a new course on Udemy, over 3 years in the making – “Crash Course Arduino and Microcontroller Development.” He has built the most complete course on embedded engineering, microcontrollers and the Arduino platform for beginners. The course takes you on a journey through countless topics such as:

– Learn about microcontrollers, microprocessors and their internal architecture including how instructions are executed, ALUs, Buses, MMUs, DMA and more.
– Learn the Arduino platform’s hardware, software and APIs as a working platform to bridge the gap to more complex systems like ARM later in the course.
– Understand C/C++ from the ground up and how to write effective firmware for embedded systems and memory/compute constrained systems.
– Learn how processors run at the bare metal level including inline and external assembly language programming and interfacing with C/C++.
– Conquer advanced Computer Science subjects such as optimization theory, data structures, recursion, interrupts, and Big O analysis.
– Explore multitasking on microcontrollers by developing an interrupt based-round-robin kernel as well as using FreeRTOS.
– Become expert in numerous tools such as compilers, IDEs, TinkerCAD, EasyEDA, Replit, VSCode, CodeLite, Fritzing, MPLabX, STM32CubeIDE, and more.
– Overcome programmable logic and the fundamentals of CPLDs, PALs, GALs, and FPGAs along with a primer on hardware description languages and CUPL.
– Conquer power management and sleep modes and how to shut peripherals down in your embedded designs, wake from interrupts, and manage power effectively.
– Master one of the fastest growing and highest paid engineering fields in the world.

“Crash Course Arduino and Microcontroller Development” features over 111 hours of video and 128 lectures and is currently rated at 5 stars.

Introducing My Friend Toothy Brushing and Flossing Charts

Ottawa, Canada, July 17, 2024 — Stacey Laviolette, a driven mom from Ottawa, Canada, is thrilled to announce the release of her highly anticipated children’s book, My Friend Toothy® Brushing and Flossing Charts, now available on Amazon. This innovative and interactive book is designed to make dental care fun and educational for children, helping them develop lifelong healthy habits.

My Friend Toothy® Brushing and Flossing Charts is a 112-page activity book packed with engaging dental activities, jokes, fun facts, and more. The book features a 26-week program with morning and night charts, encouraging kids to track their brushing and flossing routines from Monday to Sunday. The colorful illustrations and interactive content make it an enjoyable experience for both children and their parents.

“Promoting good dental habits from an early age is crucial, and I wanted to create a resource that makes this important routine fun and exciting for kids,” said Stacey Laviolette. “With this book, children can learn about dental health in an engaging way, making brushing and flossing something they look forward to every day.”

Stacey Laviolette is a dedicated mom who is passionate about helping parents and guardians address the growing problem of children’s dental health. After struggling to address her own daughter’s multiple cavities and hearing countless stories from parents facing similar challenges, Stacey created the My Friend Toothy® series and plushy to make learning about brushing and flossing fun and interactive. Having sold thousands of books and receiving rave reviews from satisfied customers, Stacey is eager to explore opportunities to partner with organizations to bring her series to more children and families.

Stacey’s mission is to encourage children to develop healthy hygiene habits at home to prevent cavities from forming. She strives to educate families to use proper dental hygiene techniques so they can be healthy, proud, and confident for every dental visit.

“My dream is to get onto Dragons’ Den (the Canadian version of Shark Tank) to promote my brand, My Friend Toothy®, and help families all over the world make brushing and flossing fun,” added Stacey.

With dental health being a significant aspect of children’s overall well-being, My Friend Toothy® aligns with ongoing discussions about preventative healthcare. It is a resource that dental professionals and educators can recommend to parents as a fun and effective tool for improving their children’s dental health.

California Surgeon General Dr. Diana E. Ramos to Speak at Free Online Event ACEs & Teaching Resilience in Early Childhood, Hosted by The Discovery Source

San Diego, CA, July 17, 2024 — On Tuesday, July 23 at 1pm PST, The Discovery Source, publishers of early childhood education resources, will welcome “California’s Doctor,” Dr. Diana E. Ramos, for a special online event focusing on adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), a top priority of the Office of the California Surgeon General. The discussion is part of the company’s “Lunch & Learn” event series, which are free, one-hour sessions designed to provide early childhood communities with practical strategies and resources to enhance mental health wellness and social-emotional support.

“We are thrilled to have the California Surgeon General join us for this vital
discussion on early childhood mental health,” says David Scahill, founder and CEO of The Discovery Source. “Our goal with the Lunch & Learn webinars is to bring professionals in the field together to expand public understanding of the impact of early childhood education and intervention. We are proud to support the California Surgeon General’s prioritization of applying evidence-based solutions to ACEs.”

In addition to the California Surgeon General, the webinar will also be joined by early childhood development specialist Dr. Angela Searcy and Director of Professional Development for The Discover Source and early childhood education specialist Sandy Ampudia, both highly experienced leaders in the field.

Dr. Diana E. Ramos is a renowned public health leader and California’s second Surgeon General and first Latina Surgeon General. Her office continues to demonstrate a tremendous commitment to the mental health and wellbeing of children and families by dedicating considerable resources towards trauma informed care and evidence-based interventions through early childhood education.

Members of the media are invited to attend and encouraged to cover the event in order to raise awareness of these important issues.

Author Jay Clark, Ph.D.’s New Book The Five Principles of Global Teams

Prosper, TX, July 17, 2024 — Jay Clark, Ph.D., who earned a PhD in leadership studies from Carolina University and has been dedicated to practicing, researching, and teaching global leadership for over two decades, has completed his new book, “The Five Principles of Global Teams: Leading Across Boundaries”: a comprehensive guide to navigating the complexities of leading diverse teams in today’s interconnected world.

From his experiences of working in emerging markets around the world, author Jay Clark, Ph.D. developed the Nextgen Global Leaders Program—a program for corporations and nonprofit organizations that are transforming into global companies and need to identify, train, and manage top talents to expand globally. To expand the NGLN, Jay founded Nextgen Global Leaders in Singapore in 2015 to serve Asian organizations in developing global leaders, followed by organizations in the Middle East and the United States.

“‘The Five Principles of Global Teams’ analyzes what makes and breaks leadership styles and activities on the global stage. From small working groups to massive international companies, the principles of global teams can be applied to increase leadership awareness, make course corrections, and increase both productivity and accountability. Contained within are clear and concise examples which can be applied to any business leader willing to take a hard look at what may be holding their team back,” writes author Jay Clark, Ph.D.