New scholarships will foster awareness about aneurysm

Kim Tudor was a bright student-athlete, graduating as class salutatorian from Deering High School and going on to earn her CNA certificate and bachelor’s degree from the University of New England. She was building a successful career when she suffered a sudden brain aneurysm and passed away at the age of 32. Three years later, another successful young woman, Karolina Kurka, who attended Scarborough schools and graduated from the University of New Hampshire, would suffer the same fate, dying from a brain aneurysm at age 27.

In honor of the two women, the University of New England and the Maine Brain Aneurysm Awareness Committee announced the availability of Maine Brain Aneurysm Awareness Scholarships. One scholarship in Tudor’s name will be awarded to a third-year undergraduate student. The other in Kurka’s name will be awarded to a third-year graduate student studying occupational therapy. Both scholarships will seek to support students who have been impacted by brain aneurysm, engage in public outreach and awareness of brain aneurysms and/or work with that population through their area of study.

In 2009, Tudor’s family and friends organized and held their first annual walk in Kim’s honor. Kurka’s family joined the memorial walk after her death, and the event has grown to embrace many families affected by brain aneurysms, creating awareness, honoring survivors and remembering those lost to this silent killer.

Levey Day School accepted into National Governance and Fundraising program

Levey Day School, Maine’s only Jewish day school, recently announced that it is the recipient of a Governance and Fundraising Academy Small School Grant from the Partnership for Excellence in Jewish Education in partnership with Prizmah: Center for Jewish Day Schools. One of only 14 schools nationwide accepted into the program, Levey will participate in conferences with renowned experts, receive customized coaching and training, and, at the end of the program, will be eligible for matching grant funds of up to $100,000.

The total value of the 18-month program is $40,000. Funding from The AVI CHAI Foundation and an anonymous Jewish day school advocate committed to supporting small schools and small communities, means the total cost to participating schools is only $5,000.

Levey’s participation in the program is being funded by long-time supporters Joe and Debbie Bornstein.

Levey will be working with Nanette Fridman of the Boston based nonprofit consulting firm Fridman Strategies. Levey’s core GFA team includes Head of School Gerri Chizeck, Board President David Freidenreich, Immediate Past President and Vice President Development Chairman Karl Schatz; and Molly Rowles, board vice president and assistant director of the Southern Maine Jewish Community Alliance.

Business challenge back with new name, sponsor

Move over, “Shark Tank” – UMaine Business Challenge is back for another year of business plan battle with a new name, new mentors, and new opportunity for students to win $20,000 in cash and in-kind consulting prizes. Today, Business Lending Solutions announced an exclusive, three-year sponsorship agreement with UMaine Business Challenge, committing $10,000 to the Challenge each year through 2018. Under the agreement, UBC will be known as “UMaine Business Challenge, presented by Business Lending Solutions.”

The UMaine Business Challenge, presented by Business Lending Solutions, provides collegiate entrepreneurs with the support necessary to turn their best business ideas into reality. The 2017 competition is open to students from every Maine college or university. Past UBC winners have enjoyed great business success beyond graduation, including Evolution Research, Inc., a thermal materials company founded by two UMaine graduates who realized their UBC dream in 2015 upon landing a $225,000 National Science Foundation grant. With backing from Business Lending Solutions, UBC aims to give every young Maine entrepreneur the chance to achieve this same success, all to the benefit of Maine’s future economy.

Students interested in participating have until Dec. 16 to enter the first phase of the UBC: the “Intent to Participate” stage. The remaining phases of the competition will take place throughout the academic year and conclude with the final “Pitch Day” event in April. For more information see www.umainebusinesschallenge.com.

UNE named one of best by U.S. News and World Report

The University of New England has been named one of the best universities in the north by U.S.News and World Report, rising three spots from last year’s ranking in the Best Regional Universities category for the North in “America’s Best Colleges” listings.

To determine its ratings, U.S. News & World Report uses a range of indicators including assessment by administrators at peer institutions; retention and graduation rates; faculty resources, and financial resources. Also considered is student selectivity, which considers acceptance rate, admissions test scores and the percentage of freshmen who graduated in the top quarter of their high school class.

Waynflete open house scheduled 

Discover Waynflete: Middle and Upper Schools, for prospective parents of students in grades 6-11, will be held 8:30-10:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 20 at Waynflete, 360 Spring St. To register or for more information, contact Melissa Fox at admissionoffice@waynflete.org or 774-7863, ext.1224.

Copy the Story Link