Florida A&M University President James H. Ammons announces that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration awarded FAMU an education and research grant totaling $15 million. This is the largest single grant awarded in the history of the University.

Tallahassee, FL (BlackNews.com) — Florida A&M University (FAMU) has been awarded an education and research grant totaling $15 million from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to meet the agency’s workforce needs in areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) that support NOAA’s mission. This is the largest single grant awarded in the history of the University.

“One of the highest criteria used to determine the quality of a university is the level of extramural funding and quality of research taking place by faculty and the funding obtained for them to conduct research on a regular basis,” said FAMU President James H. Ammons. “This announcement proves that Florida A&M University meets that standard of excellence.”

With 30 percent of the grant designated for scholarships, FAMU has partnered with Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Delaware State University, Jackson State University, University of Texas at Brownsville, and Creighton University as well as three National Estuarine Research Reserves; Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary; the Gulf of Mexico Alliance; and, the Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System. The grant will provide funds to support students as they pursue NOAA-relevant education, research, and training in environmental science. This grant supports enhancing environmental literacy from K-12 to the doctorate level.

“Our education efforts will focus on training and graduating under-represented minorities and utilize research as a vehicle to educate students, and develop skills relevant to the new economy,” said Michael Abazinge, professor and interim director of the School of the Environment who also serves as the principal investigator for this significant award.The award will support the NOAA Environmental Cooperative Science Center (ECSC), FAMU as the lead institution with its partners to focus on the following goals:

* Increasing the number of well-trained and highly qualified scientists and managers, particularly from under-represented minority groups entering the NOAA workforce and other resource management entities;

* Improving the scientific bases for coastal resource management and to develop tools and research products to characterize, evaluate, and forecast coastal and marine ecosystem responses to natural and human induced stressors; and,

* Facilitating community engagement related to the function and relevance of coastal ecosystems and the services they provide to society.

“The magnitude of this environmentally-focused research and training award is critical to our region, nation and to the world, as we develop best practices to govern us in all areas of our existence,” said K. Ken Redda, professor and acting vice president for research.

The ECSC was established in 2001 at FAMU through a national competitive process. This five-year award was made to a team of academic institutions led by FAMU. Through this award, ECSC will increase the number of scientists, particularly from under -represented minority groups in environmental, coastal, and oceanic sciences. Of the over 180 postsecondary student participants, ECSC has graduated 19 Ph.D. degree recipients, 41 master’s degree holders, and 56 bachelor’s degree recipients, since 2006. Graduates of ECSC, a part of FAMU’s School of the Environment, has a 100 percent placement rate. Eight are working as employees of NOAA, while others are employed by state or other governmental employees or as researchers in university settings.

“We’re committed to developing problem-solving skills as we engage undergraduate majors and graduate students from varied disciplines, including biology, chemistry, physics, math and other STEM areas needed to address and resolve environmental issues,” said Charles H. Jagoe, distinguished professor in the School of the Environment.

Those problem-solving skills are being put to use in the laboratories in the School of the Environment.

Currently, two students, LaTrisha Allen and Kali Farris, are conducting research under the leadership of Jagoe. Allen, a second-year Ph.D. research student, and Kali Farris, a third-year master’s degree student majoring in environmental science marine toxicology, are examining and conducting different analysis of several fish species to determine their exposure to the oil released in the BP Oil Spill.

This grant will also provide educational opportunities for students and teachers in the local K-12 school districts through summer workshops, Brain Bowl competitions and others enrichment activities. K-12 student participants will learn how environmental decisions impact the social and economic structure of their communities.

The Environmental Sciences Institute, which is currently referred to as the School of the Environment, was established in 1995 and became a school in 2011. It is one of several new innovative programs at Florida A&M University. The FAMU School of the Environment is a multidisciplinary unit that offers a wide range of services to students, governmental agencies, private sector companies, communities and other organizations.

The grant awarded to the School of the Environment is budgeted over the next five years, ending on June 30, 2016. For more information on NOAA’s Environmental Cooperative Science Center at Florida A&M University visit www.ecsc.famu.edu.

Madigan: Know your neighborhood                                                                                   

Chicago, IL – As Halloween approaches, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan reminded families to  “know their neighborhood” and check the online sex offender registry when planning their trick-or-treat routes.  The Attorney General also issued a 10-question quiz designed to generate discussion about keeping kids safe during this time of year.

 “A majority of sex offenders commit their heinous crimes against children. I can’t stress how important it is, especially during this time of year, for parents to take advantage of the online registry,” Madigan said.  

Illinois law prohibits sex offenders on parole, mandatory supervised release or probation from distributing candy or other items to children on Halloween.

Parents and families can visit the Illinois Sex Offender Registry at www.isp.state.il.us or call the Illinois Sex Offender Registry Team’s (ISORT) Hotline at 1-888-41-ISORT (1-888-414-7678). The Sex Offender Registry website is administered by the Illinois State Police.

A total of 25,246 sex offenders are currently listed on the Illinois Sex Offender Registry, of which 20,381, or almost 81 percent, committed a crime against a child.

In advance of Halloween, Madigan’s office also distributed 1,500 posters about the sex offender registry to local park districts, Secretary of State facilities, and Chicago and university police departments.

Nine schools make it off status even as benchmarks increase

Springfield, IL – The Illinois State Board of Education announced that 2011 state standardized test results released today show the achievement gap is narrowing at the elementary school level, particularly due to gains among African American, special education, and low income students. Additionally, nine Illinois schools made it off improvement status under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 by making Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) for two consecutive years even as the state’s proficiency benchmarks increased by 7.5 percent each year.

“It’s encouraging to see the achievement gap narrow among elementary school students,’’ said State Superintendent of Education Christopher A. Koch. “Our students have shown steady, incremental improvement and we know that represents solid progress. It’s especially remarkable to see schools flagged for improvement make the dramatic changes necessary to get off status.”

State trend data show some closure of the achievement gap at the elementary level. Meanwhile, Illinois’ public school minority population grew from 36.7 percent of students in 1997 to 48.6 percent in 2011 and the state’s low-income student population increased from 35.7 percent in 1997 to 48.1 percent of students in 2011.

Over time, the achievement gap between White and Black students has narrowed by 11.4 percent in math and 7.9 percent in reading. Since 2006, Black students have made substantial gains, with a 14.3 percent increase in Black students meeting and exceeding proficiency in ISAT math and a 13.0 percent increase in ISAT reading. Percent of Hispanic students meeting and exceeding proficiency also increased, by 4.7 percent in ISAT math and 5.2 percent in ISAT reading.

Likewise, the achievement gap between special education students with an Individualized Education Program (IEPs) and students without IEPs narrowed. Percent of students with an IEP meeting and exceeding proficiency has increased by 7.6 percent in ISAT math and 7.0 percent in ISAT reading since 2006.

In addition, the achievement gap between low income and non-low income students narrowed by 7 percent in math and 4 percent in reading. Percent of low income students meeting and exceeding proficiency has increased by 10.8 percent in ISAT math and 10.4 percent in ISAT reading since 2006.

Graphs reflecting these gains can be found at this web page: http://www.isbe.net/assessment/pdfs/report_card/rpt_card_ayp_findings10-11.pdf

The results were announced as part of the State Board’s statewide analysis of the 2011 State Report Card and as the state develops a comprehensive application for a waiver to the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 offered through the Obama administration and the U.S. Department of Education. ISBE plans to submit its waiver application by the February deadline.

In addition, analysis of the statewide data for 2011 shows that nine schools have been removed from improvement status by meeting standards for NCLB, or AYP, for two consecutive years even as the benchmarks rose by 7.5 percent each year. They are:

• Mount Greenwood Elementary School, City of Chicago School District 299
• Glacier Ridge Elementary School, Crystal Lake CCSD 47
• Frederick School, Grayslake CCSD 46
• Pepper Ridge Elementary School, McLean County USD 5
• Oakwood Grade School, Oakwood CUSD 76

• Virginia Lake Elementary School, Palatine CCSD 15
• Peoria Heights Grade School, Peoria Heights CUSD 325
• Calvin Coolidge Middle School, Peoria SD 150
• Oak Prairie Jr. High School, Will County SD 92

Across the state, eight high schools and one high school district, Adlai E Stevenson High School District 125, made AYP this year based on PSAE scores. (Two more high schools made AYP based on other indicators but not PSAE scores.) The eight high schools are:

• Glenbrook North High School, Northfield Twp HSD 225   
• Lane Technical High School, City of Chicago SD 299      
• Jones College Prep High School, City of Chicago SD 299
• Young Magnet High School, City of Chicago SD 299       
• Northside College Preparatory High School, City of Chicago SD 299   
• Payton College Preparatory High School, City of Chicago SD 299       
• Adlai E Stevenson High School, Adlai E Stevenson HSD 125    
• Dunlap High School, Dunlap Community Unit School District 323     

ISBE has produced the School Report Card since 1986 for every public school and district in Illinois. State report cards have been produced since 2002 and are required under No Child Left Behind. District report cards can be found on the ISBE website at www.isbe.net and http://iirc.niu.edu/

Information about statewide composite scores and AYP information released earlier this month can be found on the ISBE home page at http://www.isbe.net/news/2011/oct20.htm.

Local foods key to growing economy

Champaign, IL – At an award ceremony celebrating 25 of the greenest public, private and non-profit organizations and businesses in Illinois, Lt. Governor Sheila Simon said good environmental practices strengthen the state’s economy.

“These awards recognize leaders in sustainability, and they also recognize smart economic policy for businesses and governments,” Simon said at the 25th Annual Governor’s Sustainability Awards Ceremony hosted by the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center at the University of Illinois.

Among those recognized was Uncommon Ground in Chicago, which runs two restaurants serving locally grown food from its 2,500 square foot rooftop farm. The group received a Continuous Improvement Award, given to organizations that have won awards at previous Sustainability Award Ceremonies.

Simon noted that Uncommon Ground helps keep local food dollars in the state. Simon, who chairs the Governor’s Rural Affairs Council has targeted building opportunity in Illinois by promoting local foods.  Illinoisans spend roughly $46 billion annually on food, but only $2 billion of that amount on food grown in Illinois.

The awards have been presented since 1987 by the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center (ISTC) at the University of Illinois. Awards are given to organizations for their efforts in implementing green practices such as technology and energy conservation.

“The efforts of these businesses and organizations demonstrate that it is possible to meet social and economic needs while minimizing impacts on the environment,” ISTC Director Manohar Kulkarni said. “Present and future generations will appreciate their foresight.”

A Sustainability Award, which recognizes first-time winners, was given to the University of Illinois Retro-commissioning Group, which is comprised of engineers, field technicians and tradesmen. The group has spent $6 million making 27 campus buildings more energy efficient. The team’s efforts have resulted in an average energy savings per building of 26 percent and a total $9.7 million reduction in utility costs since 2007.

Four community colleges – John A. Logan College, Lewis and Clark Community College, Rock Valley College and Southwestern Illinois College – all received sustainability awards for implementing energy efficiencies on campus.

“More efficient energy use in community colleges means more opportunity for students to get the education they need to be ready for the workforce,” Simon said.

The winners are:

         ActOnEnergy Business Program, Peoria

         Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne

         Cabot Corporation, Tuscola

         City of Evanston, Evanston

         City of Naperville, Naperville

         DuPage County, Wheaton

                     Earth Friendly Products, Addison

         Elmhurst Park District, Elmhurst

         Gabriel Environmental Services, Chicago

         GE Healthcare IT, Barrington

         Harris Corporation, Quincy

         J.L. Clark, Rockford

         John A. Logan College, Carterville

         Lewis and Clark Community College, Godfrey

         Lincoln Park Zoological Society, Chicago

         NOW Foods, Inc., Bloomingdale

         PortionPac Chemical Corporation, Chicago

         Rock Valley College, Rockford

         Solberg MFG., Itasca

         Southwestern Illinois College, Belleville

         The Sherwin-Williams Company, Effingham

         Uncommon Ground, Chicago

         University of Illinois at Chicago, c/o Office of Sustainability, Chicago

         University of Illinois Retro-commissioning Group, Champaign

         Village of Hoffman Estates, Hoffman Estates

Warwick, NY (BlackNews.com) — L Guy Burton, author of several books, magazine articles, and screenplays, reveals, in his latest e-book on Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com, How To Be a Sure Winner At Casino Slots, the key strategies for winning consistently at casino slots and keeping ahead of the game as a regular player.

Burton advises, “If you want the same success rate that I’ve enjoyed, you first need to seriously answer some questions about your frame of mind regarding casino gambling and slots.” He says, “Remember, it is just a game you’re playing . . . and every game has winners and losers. “But,” he states, “also keep in mind, every game has rules and strategies for beating your opponent.” Burton says he has won over $100,000 since 2006.

He further states he has tested his theories at several casinos and discovered there is a pattern and certain conditions that will greatly improve one’s opportunity for a profitable payout. “I win, virtually, every time I go to a casino, and usually play with the money they give me as ‘free play.’”

Burton talks of being very disturbed by the overwhelming number of Blacks and Latinos he sees in the local New York, Pennsylvania and Connecticut casinos, who pour money into the slot machines with less than positive results. He notes, “Most I’ve talked to say they don’t really expect to win . . . ‘but maybe I’ll hit the big one, someday,’ they tell me.”

Pointing out the fact that casinos want winners, Burton says they also want their winners to seen winning. A casino without winners would be a casino without customers, and luck, alone, based on random number generator(RNG), which is a system used in slot machines, would not insure sufficient winners and/or payouts. Casino managers have the ability to direct how, when, and where the next big jackpots are likely to occur.

Observation, insider information, trial and error, are what he says have allowed him to produce a comprehensive guide to playing it smart when playing the slots. He says he hopes the time and effort he has invested in learning about their ‘secrets’ will produce more knowledgeable players and give them a better advantage than just plain luck.

For more information Google “L Guy Burton” or go to:
www.amazon.com (ASIN: B005E90IK4) – Kindle
www.BN.com (BN ID: 2940012968418) – Nook

 From Refugee to ‘Look at Me!’

Iman Kerigo

Nationwide (BlackNews.com) — Iman Kerigo, the first woman of African descent to be crowned Miss Norway, arrives in the US this week as part of her goodwill tour. Miss Kerigo, a refugee from Kenya who fled with her family to safety in the United Kingdom, continues her mission to raise awareness on poverty, war and domestic abuse. She will be visiting Los Angeles, Las Vegas and surrounding areas as part of her twelve day visit.

As a child born into a life of extreme hardship forged by her family’s struggle in war torn Kenya, she and her mother struggled to survive day-to-day while living under the rule of an abusive father. Iman’s mother’s greatest dream was to simply see her children live. She never dreamed her second child could achieve something so amazing.

“My mother was just happy that we were alive but she didn’t want us to live a meager existence,” Miss Kerigo said. “Being crowned Miss Norway gave me the opportunity to make sure that her dream came true.”

After waiting for some time to gain citizenship in a new country, Iman, her mother and siblings were finally accepted under refugee status to the Scandanavian country of Norway. Growing up thousands of miles away from everything she had ever known, Iman worked hard to adjust to her new adopted home, even learning to speak Norweigan and English, rather than her native Swahili.

Through hard work and dedication, she overcame tremendous odds to eventually become the first woman of African descent to ever be crowned Miss Norway. She credits much of her success in the Miss Norway Pageant to her coach, nutrition expert David Sandoval. David, author of The Green Foods Bible, had Iman follow his ‘Superfoods For Supermodels’ program, an eating program designed especially for those in the public eye.

David says, “I created this program in response to the epidemic of bulimia, anorexia and other eating disorders prevalent in the modeling and entertainment business.” But David is keen to explain that ‘Superfoods For Supermodels’ is not a diet. He adds, “Instead it features realistic guidelines for creating exceptionally healthy, lean, beautiful bodies through pure, organic, green food nutrition and core fitness.” David’s program also helps to build confidence and strength while focusing on taking personal responsibility for one’s own destiny.

Iman adds,”Part of my mission is to let young girls know that even if it seems all the odds are against you, you can still achieve great things.”

In the future, Iman hopes to forge a career in modeling and/or become a spokesperson for an African centric product line. Iman is available for interviews during her visit. All enquiries, including requests for press photos should be directed to David Sandoval’s assistant at dsandovalpa@organicbynatureinc.com