#How to enroll in a trade school in Philadelphia
Explore tagged Tumblr posts
Visit Tumblr Blog
Explore Tumblr blogs with no restrictions, modern design and the best experience.
Last Seen Tumblr Blogs
scoutenergyadvisorsofnewjer-blog
Scout Energy Advisors of New Jersey is a Solar Energy Contractor
4 posts
Fun Fact
70% of Tumblr users say the Dashboard is their favorite place to spend time online.
Text
Vocational Training in Philadelphia: Career Paths for the Next Generation
Vocational training in the Philadelphia area is helping bridge the skills gap by preparing Gen Z for rewarding careers in high-demand fields like welding, carpentry, and electrical work. With rising trade school enrollment in Philadelphia and access to robust Philadelphia apprenticeship programs, young adults are gaining real-world experience and valuable certifications. These skilled trades opportunities for Philly youth are shaping a new generation of professionals. Whether you're a student, parent, or educator, explore how vocational education is fueling economic growth and creating stable, hands-on career paths for the future workforce.
#Best vocational training programs in Philadelphia#How to enroll in a trade school in Philadelphia#Philadelphia apprenticeship programs for high school graduates#Skilled trades jobs for Philly youth#Electrical and welding training in Philadelphia#Trade school options for Gen Z in Philadelphia#Affordable vocational training in Philadelphia#High-paying skilled trades careers in Philadelphia#Carpentry and construction training in Philadelphia#Vocational education for young adults in Philadelphia
0 notes
Text
"The Past Catches Up With Bill-An Army Records Snafu"
"I Double Dare You-A Rendezvous With Destiny. "
*Author's Note: All info about Guarnere's military records comes from his and Babe's book. Frannie Guarnere wrote letters to Dick Winters, etc. to obtain proof of Bill's being promoted to Staff Sergeant. Bill's son and eldest granddaughter told the stories included here in a podcast.*
One evening, after supper, Bill was helping Leigh with the supper dishes. She noted that he was unusually quiet.
"Honey, what's wrong?"
"Baby, I gotta tell ya somethin', an' I hope it doesn't upset ya." As Bill collected his thoughts on how to tell Leigh what was on his mind, she wondered what was going on.
"I wanna quit the government job. I know it's a good job, but bein' behind a desk all day ain't for me. This doesn't mean I'm gonna sit back an' expect ya to support us.
I read in the newspaper the other day that veterans can get money for school. I was thinkin' about learnin' a trade that would get more money for us. Now that I told ya, I hope you ain't too mad at me."
Leigh put her hand on Bill's shoulder,
"Honey, why would I be upset with you wanting a different job? I'm behind you 100 percent with whatever you choose to do." Guarnere felt more at ease.
"Thanks for understandin', Baby, an' for supportin' me. I had another idea about a job. Doin' something' wit' my hands is perfect work for me. I've really enjoyed construction work. "
"As long as it makes you happy, do what you want to do."
"Leigh, you're an angel."
Bill decided to take advantage of the G.I. Bill for educational expenses. He was interested in engineering and enrolled in classes. Unfortunately, he had to cancel his education after going to college for in Philadelphia for six months due to the government denying him the money.
When Guarnere was shot and wounded in Holland, he went AWOL from the military hospital when he learned that he was headed to a "Repo Depot," in other words, he would be reassigned to another unit.
Bill wanted to go back to Easy Company, so he painted his cast black with shoe polish to make it look like a boot. He made it as far as an airfield before being caught.
Guarnere told the Military Police that he would go AWOL again if he wasn't assigned to Easy Company. From that point until he was released from the hospital, Bill had to walk and then run in order to get himself in shape for combat. The military busted him down to Private from his previous rank of Staff Sergeant.
Somehow, the paperwork about his demotion got lost in the shuffle, so Guarnere remained Staff Sergeant.
His records only indicated that he went AWOL when he got back to the United States, his promotion to Staff Sergeant wasn't included.
Upon learning about the reason for losing the money for his education, Bill realized he was in for a long haul with the government.
Leigh wrote to Dick Winters and other officers, asking them to send letters on behalf of Bill to verify his claim that he was never officially demoted. He wasn't receiving the money for his disability due to this error.
In an interview many years after this event, Guarnere said,
"I had a hell of a time straightening out records." That was an understatement. He got officially and honorably discharged from the Army as a private in 1946.
The government then decided Bill owed them back pay since he was paid as a Staff Sergeant and discharged as a private.
Leigh was so irate that she wanted to give an interview on the radio and in print with the local newspaper, the Philadelphia Inquirer about the situation. She envisioned headlines along the lines of "Army Denies Songbird's Hero Husband Rank and Salary"
Bill discouraged this idea, saying,
"Baby, I know ya wanna help me, an' that ya love me an that you're pissed off wit' the Army, but this ain't the way to do it. I believe they (the Army) will do the right thing. We just need to be patient."
"After what you sacrificed, they have no right to treat you this way!"
"I was only doin' my job. If ya think about it, I went against Buck's orders to stay in my foxhole. If that would come out, if we had a hearing, it wouldn't help my case.
Leigh, I appreciate ya wantin' to help me, but a man has to fight his own battles sometimes." She immediately understood that Bill didn't want her doing what he thought was his work to do with the government and the Army.
Leigh didn't like not getting involved, but she respected and loved Bill too much to go against his wishes. This was an era where men were largely in power and a woman taking action like this would go against the societal norms.
It took about eight years for Bill to get his back pay. He was, at first, considered 60 percent disabled and he got about $145-$150 per month.
Since he took the disability money, he couldn't use that money for his education due to governmental rules.
By the 1960s, the artificial leg was causing blood clots. Bill went through several wooden legs. When they wore out, he burned some of them. Some kids in the neighborhood wanted the legs. He gave one of the legs to a friend of his son.
His son later recalled in a podcast that his friend's sister "screamed her head off" when she saw the leg in their basement.
Bill's eldest granddaughter said in the same podcast, that they "should've saved the legs and made a table."
There was a danger of the blood clots going to Guarnere's heart or lungs. He told his doctor, who in turn informed the government,
"You're gonna get me on the damn leg an' get me workin', or get me off the damn thing right now an' give me full disability." Bill was granted full disability in 1967.
After a couple of years of fighting the government, Guarnere went to a hearing in Washington, D.C. where he was exonerated and his records were officially corrected.
While this was going on, Bill worked as a salesman, he also sold rugs and worked for U.S. Gypsum. Prior to doing construction work full-time, Guarnere worked as exterminator.
When Stephen Ambrose interviewed Bill about the records snafu, he asked,
"Mr. Guarnere, are you angry with the government because of the mistake they made with your files?"
"Hell, no! What are you gonna accomplish? I was one of the ones who got lumped. You take your lumps and it all works out in the end."
#bill guarnere#william guarnere#wild bill guarnere#bill guarnere imagine#hbo war#bellewintersroe#mary corleone#alluringmoonlightbabe#indigo graves#softguarnere#valkitti#lizisodd#leksi rae#lizziebitch33#breadsprinkles#itstheheebiejeebies#ithinkabouttzu#saint-petah-the-good#superblumenkranz#linabob#lovearead#footprintsinthesxnd#footprintsinthesand#booklover0618#sassyblazecloud12
8 notes
·
View notes
Text
Open Your Future: Discover Top Free CNA Schools That Jumpstart Your Healthcare Career!
Unlock Your Future: Discover Top Free CNA Schools That Jumpstart Your Healthcare Career!
Are you ready to embark on a fulfilling journey in the healthcare industry? Becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) is a fantastic first step. Not only does this role provide you with invaluable skills, but it also acts as a gateway to more advanced career opportunities within the field. In this complete guide, we’ll explore how to unlock your future by discovering the best free CNA schools that can jumpstart your healthcare career.
Why Choose a Career as a CNA?
The role of a CNA is both rewarding and essential in the healthcare system. Hear are a few reasons why pursuing a career as a Certified Nursing Assistant is a wise choice:
High Demand: The need for CNAs continues to grow as the population ages and healthcare facilities expand.
job Stability: With job security comes peace of mind. CNAs are always in demand.
Career Advancement: Starting as a CNA can lead to opportunities such as RN or LPN, enabling upward mobility.
Personal Fulfillment: Helping patients and making a difference in their lives brings a sense of satisfaction.
Top Free CNA Schools to Jumpstart Your Career
Finding a quality school that offers free or low-cost CNA programs can be a game-changer. Below, we highlight some of the top free CNA schools across the country that can help you kickstart your healthcare career.
School Name
Location
Program Duration
Contact Information
Community College of Philadelphia
Philadelphia,PA
8 weeks
www.ccp.edu
Red Cross Nursing Assistant Training
Multiple Locations
4-8 weeks
www.redcross.org
Texas Workforce Commission
Texas
6-12 weeks
www.twc.state.tx.us
Broward College
Fort Lauderdale, FL
8 weeks
www.broward.edu
Los Angeles Trade-Technical College
Los Angeles,CA
10 weeks
www.lattc.edu
Benefits of Attending Free CNA Schools
Attending a free CNA school can provide several benefits that extend beyond just cost savings. Here are some key advantages:
Affordability: Free programs eliminate the financial burden, allowing you to focus on your studies.
Quality Education: Many free programs are provided by reputable institutions committed to quality training.
hands-On Experience: These schools frequently enough include practical training that prepares you for real-world scenarios.
Networking Opportunities: by studying in established programs, you can connect with industry professionals.
Practical Tips for Enrolling in Free CNA Schools
Enrolling in a CNA program can be an exciting yet daunting process. Here are some practical tips to ease your journey:
Research Schools: Compare different programs to find one that suits your goals and location.
Check Requirements: Understand the prerequisites, such as age, background checks, and health assessments.
Prepare for Exams: Most programs require a written exam. Use study guides and practice tests to prepare.
Apply Early: Free programs can have limited spots. Submit your request as early as possible.
Real-Life Experiences: Testimonials from CNAs
Hearing from those who’ve walked the path can be motivating. Here are some testimonials from recent CNAs:
“I was nervous about starting my healthcare career, but the free CNA program at the red Cross changed everything. I was able to learn hands-on skills while working alongside experienced nursing staff. This program truly jumpstarted my career!” – Emily R.
“I found a free CNA course at my local community college that fit my schedule perfectly. The instructors were learned and supportive, which made all the difference.Thanks to this experience, I’m now pursuing my RN degree!” – Michael T.
Conclusion: Your Pathway to a Successful Healthcare Career
The journey to becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant is both a personal and professional adventure. By exploring the free CNA schools available to you, you can gain the skills needed to thrive in the healthcare environment. Whether you are motivated by financial reasons or the desire to make a difference, these programs offer a solid foundation for your future. Start today and unlock the potential of your healthcare career!
youtube
https://cnacertificationprogram.net/open-your-future-discover-top-free-cna-schools-that-jumpstart-your-healthcare-career/
0 notes
Text
Leading CNA Schools in Philadelphia, PA: Your Guide to Launching a Rewarding Caregiving Career
Top CNA Schools in Philadelphia, PA: Your Guide to Launching a Rewarding Caregiving Career
top CNA Schools in Philadelphia, PA: Your Guide to launching a Rewarding Caregiving Career
Embarking on a career as a certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) can be a fulfilling and rewarding choice for those passionate about helping others.Philadelphia, PA, is home to numerous CNA training programs that provide the necessary skills and certifications to excel in this vital field. In this article, we’ll explore the top CNA schools in Philadelphia, the benefits of becoming a CNA, practical tips for prospective students, and insights from those who have successfully launched their caregiving careers.
The Importance of Choosing the Right CNA School
When selecting a CNA school, it’s essential to consider several factors to ensure that you receive high-quality training. Here are some criteria to look for:
Accreditation: Ensure that the school is accredited by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
curriculum: Look for programs that offer comprehensive training, including both classroom instruction and hands-on clinical experience.
Pass Rate: Research the school’s pass rate for the CNA certification exam.
Job Placement Assistance: Consider schools that provide job placement services to help you transition from education to employment.
Top CNA Schools in Philadelphia, PA
Here’s a list of some of the best CNA schools in Philadelphia that can definitely help you kickstart your caregiving career:
School Name
Program Length
Accreditation
Contact Information
Philadelphia Training Center
4 Weeks
State Accredited
CCP Nursing Assistant Program
8 Weeks
State Accredited
Walden University
6 Weeks
Nationally Accredited
Philadelphia School of Trades
4 Weeks
State Accredited
Benefits of Becoming a CNA
When considering a career as a CNA, understanding the advantages can help solidify your decision. Here are some key benefits:
Job Security: The demand for CNAs is steadily increasing, creating numerous job opportunities in healthcare.
Short Training Period: Most programs take onyl a few weeks to complete, allowing you to enter the job market quickly.
Hands-On Experience: CNA training includes practical experience, helping you develop essential skills.
Transferable Skills: Skills gained as a CNA can pave the way for further education in nursing or healthcare administration.
Practical Tips for Prospective CNA Students
Entering a CNA program can feel overwhelming, but preparation can make a significant difference. Here are some practical tips:
Research Schools: Take the time to visit and research different schools to find the best fit for your needs.
Ask Questions: Don’t hesitate to ask about class sizes, instructor qualifications, and job placement statistics.
Prepare Financially: Look into financial aid options, scholarships, and payment plans that many schools offer.
Practice Communication Skills: CNAs interact with patients regularly; strong communication skills are crucial.
First-Hand Experience: A CNA’s Journey
To add depth to your understanding, let’s explore a personal case study from Sarah, a graduate from the Philadelphia Training Center:
“I always knew I wanted to work in healthcare, but I wasn’t sure how to get started. After a friend recommended the Philadelphia Training Center, I enrolled in their CNA program. The instructors were supportive, and the hands-on training was invaluable.I passed my certification exam on the first try and landed a job in a local nursing home within weeks. My career as a CNA has been incredibly rewarding!”
– Sarah M., CNA
Conclusion: Your Path to a Rewarding Career as a CNA
Choosing to become a Certified Nursing Assistant is an crucial step toward a fulfilling career in healthcare.Philadelphia, PA, boasts an array of CNA schools that can provide the education and training you need to succeed.By considering factors like accreditation, curriculum, and job placement assistance, you can select the right program for you. Remember to take full advantage of the benefits that come with this career path, and don’t hesitate to seek support and advice from those who have been through the process. With dedication and the right training, you can successfully launch your caregiving career and make a positive impact in the lives of others.
youtube
https://coursescna.com/leading-cna-schools-in-philadelphia-pa-your-guide-to-launching-a-rewarding-caregiving-career/
0 notes
Text
Haunted (Javier x Reader) {MTMF}
Title: Haunted Rating: PG-13 Length: 3700 Warnings: Potential triggers if you have toxic family members and/or family members or loved ones with addiction, emotional abuse, childhood trauma, and allusions to childhood abuse. Notes: You can find everything about Maybe Today, Maybe Forever here. Set November 1st 1998. Summary: Reader grapples with her mother.
@grapemama @seawhisperer @huliabitch @pedropascalito @rogrsnbarnes @thewallpapergoesorido @twomoonstwosuns @gooddaykate @livasaurasrex @ham4arrow @plexflexico @readsalot73 @hdlynn @lokiaddicted @randomness501 @fioccodineveautunnale @roxypeanut @snivellusim @lukesrighthand @historynerd04 @mrsparknuts @synystersilenceinblacknwhite @behindmyeyes-insidemyhead @exrebelshocktrooper @awesomefandomsunited @ah-callie @swhiskeys @lady-tano @beskar-droids @space-floozy @cable-kenobi @cool-ultra-nerd @himbopoes @findhimfives @pedrosdoll @frietiemeloen @arrowswithwifi @random066 @uncomicalhumour @heather-lynn @domino-oh-damn @cyarikaaa @ahopelessromanticwritersworld @im-still-a-pieceofgarbage @ksgeekgirl @yabby-girl @xqueenofthecraziesx @punkass-potato @coredrive @pascalesque @theduchessofkirkcaldy @queenquazar @sabinemorans @buckstaposition @holkaskrosnou @yespolkadotkitty @fleetwoodmactshirt @seeking-a-great–perhaps
You laid on your side watching as another minute ticked by on the alarm clock sitting on the nightstand beside your bed. For the past two hours, you had watched as the red numbers transformed from 3:00 to 3:30 to 4:00 and finally now 4:43.
You had willed it to stay October 31st just a little bit longer, but against your wishes, it was November 1st.
The Halloween party at Josie’s school had been fun and you had tried to live within that moment for as long as possible.
Josie had been thrilled to win the dumpster diving game, which had been a hilarious sight to witness. Javier had held her by her ankles as she dove into a trash can to find a plastic rat that was tucked into one of the empty boxes near the bottom of the can.
She had found the rat, when none of her classmates had been able to.
Josie’s triumphant grin as she declared herself the Rat Queen had been enough to chase away the anxiety that was now clawing at your stomach.
But then you came home. Monica and Nadia departed for a party downtown. Josie’s braids came out and she traded her Wednesday Addams costume for pajamas and you no longer had anything to occupy your thoughts with.
It felt like a waking nightmare.
Javier has tried to console you. He kept close to you all night, one hand constantly at your waist or your hand or your knee. Like he was trying to keep you grounded. And he did.
But there was only so much he could do to chase away the past, when the past had arrived on your doorstep — unwilling to leave.
It had been a real fear of yours. Even Mitch had reached out to you when the article was syndicated into The Washington Post and The New York Times. Even Good Morning America had rehashed the particulars of the story one Monday morning.
Monica was hiding from her parents, but you had been hiding from your own mother too. And you hadn’t seen her since you were sixteen and desperate to escape.
Before you left for Colombia, you had used your resources to check in on her. Morbid curiosity really. You had forged your own path for yourself, against the odds, and you had wanted to indulge yourself. You had to know if you truly had made the right choice.
And you had. Rebecca was married yet again, settling into her fifth marriage and he had a record a mile long that you hadn’t bothered to comb through. She wasn’t your problem. There was only so far you could carry her on your conscience.
Javier moved behind you, seeking you out beneath the covers as he snaked his arm around your waist, drawing you back against his chest. He sighed heavily, pressing his face into the crook of your neck.
“I can feel your mind racing.” He murmured, brushing his lips against the soft curve of your neck, his breath dancing hotly over your skin.
“I’m sorry.” You whispered, curling your hand around his as you sank back against him. “I have too much on my mind.”
Javier ran his hand over your stomach reassuringly, “I know, baby.”
“I should’ve known. The handwriting was on the wall.” You lamented. “She sees success — she sees happiness and she tries to blot it out.”
He lifted his hand, brushing his fingers over your cheek as he tucked your hair behind your ear. “I’ll be with you. I’m not going to let you deal with her alone.”
“When I was like nine, I spent the weekend with my father.” You recalled quietly, “He would’ve loved you.”
“Yeah?”
“I see so much of how he was with me, when you’re with Josie.” You sighed heavily, nestling back against him more. “But he bought me this really cool bike. It had a basket and a bell.” You laughed as you thought back on that weekend. It felt like a lifetime ago. “It wasn’t much, I’m sure but to a kid… it was everything. I took care of that bike like it was a pet. I always kept it upright when I wasn’t riding it, I would stow it in the garage to keep it safe.”
“And what happened?”
“Rebecca backed over it. Swore up and down that I had left it in the driveway behind her car. Which I never would have done.” You sniffed, trying to ignore the prickle of mushed tears. “My dad bought me a new one, but I kept it at his house. I was nine, but I wasn’t stupid. I knew what she had done.”
“I’m sorry, baby.” He ran his hand down your arm, taking hold of your hand and interlacing your fingers. “We’ll get through this today. Together.”
“I don’t know how she found me.”
“I do.” Javier squeezed your hand. “She apparently followed you from the P.D.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?”
He shook his head. “She’s certainly a piece of work.”
“I don’t want her anywhere near the girls.” You insisted, your voice wavering. “I fought so hard to stay clear of her path. It isn’t fair. She can’t just show up—“
“Shhh.” Javier soothed you, pressing his lips to the spot right behind your ear.
“I just hate this Javi.” You swallowed thickly, rolling onto your back, but keeping yourself close to him. “I thought this year was going to be better. Last year was hell and I felt like I had finally overcome so many of the hang ups that existed because of her.”
He kept his arm wrapped around you, his fingers curled around your waist. “Her showing up doesn’t change any of that.” Javier told you.
“I know that, but…” You shook your head slowly. “And I feel so ungrateful, shouldn't I be happy that I have a mother?”
“No.” Javier kissed your shoulder. “It’s not the same and we both know it, baby. You’ve told me enough about your mother to know she gave up the right of being your mother a long time ago.”
You turned towards him then, resting your forehead against his collarbone. “Thank you for understanding.”
Javier ran his hand up and down the length of your back, “I’m glad you’ve always let me in.”
He had always been the one you told your deepest darkest secrets to. Even back in Colombia, before Josie was even a thought. You spilled your guts to him. You told him everything. Javier was he one person you trusted with your past.
“I love you,” You whispered as you brushed your fingers over his cheek, drawing him in so you could kiss him.
Javier brushed his nose against yours, “I’m here for you no matter what, baby.” He promised, “And if you want me to send her own her way…”
“No, I’ll face her. I owe myself that much.” You sighed, sinking back against the bed, staring up at the dark ceiling above. “What all did she say to you?”
He shrugged, “A few off the cuff remarks.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah.” He clicked his tongue against his teeth, “Apparently I’m not what she pictured for her beloved daughter.”
You snorted, “Trust her to think she knows me.”
“I only took mild offense to it.” He chuckled, running his hand over the length of your side. “It was clear she was trying to get her hooks in.”
“Let me guess…” You rubbed your lips together thoughtfully, pressing closer to Javier like you couldn’t get quite close enough to him. “You’re too old for me?” You reached up and played your fingers through his hair.
“Spot on.” Javier chuckled, leaning down to press a kiss to the corner of your lips, sighing quietly. “How old were you?”
“Sixteen.” You answered quietly, tracing your thumb over the rise of his cheekbone. “My dad died—“
“— and you moved to Philadelphia.”
You nodded. “Mitch and the family lawyer helped me sort out emancipation and enrolling in high school there.”
“And you did that. All on your own.” He reminded you, brushing his lips against yours.
“My dad knew what he was doing. If he hadn’t left me the money, I don’t know what I would’ve done.”
“You would’ve persevered, baby. Have you met you?”
“Or I’d be as strung out as she is.” You turned towards him once more, pressing close to him. You ran your hand from his shoulder down his arm and back again. “Is it bad that I don’t care? I know I should be more empathetic but all I feel is… apathy. I’ve been here before.”
“You’re allowed to feel however you feel, baby. I’m not going to judge you.” He kissed the top of your head. “Especially if you’ve seen this happen before.”
“She gets clean long enough to catch someone new to facilitate her habits.” You hummed softly as Javier laid back and pulled you down with him. He wrapped both arms around you, like he was trying to keep you from getting carried away by your memories. “I don’t want the girls caught in the middle of this. And that means Monica and Nadia too.”
“I know,” He ran his hand down your back, “It’s just going to be the three of us. I’ll make sure she leaves. If she shows up again, I’m not against calling the cops on her.”
You let out a heavy sigh as you let yourself relax against his chest, “I just want this over with.”
——
“This is a lovely backyard,” Rebecca offered hesitantly as she gestured around the space. “Will I be welcomed into your humble abode? I’m just dying to see where my daughter lives.”
Your brows rose upwards in surprise.
“I did say we’d meet in the backyard.” Javier interjected, reaching out to rest his hand on your shoulder reassuringly.
“Yes, but that was your decision. My little girl can make her own choices, can’t you sweetheart?”
“If I were making my own choices, you wouldn’t be here right now.” You gritted, “Javier was kind enough to extend my grace than I was willing to.”
Your mother seemed surprised by your response, “I’m trying to make amends for the past. Can’t you see that? How can you deny me the right to see my grandbabies?”
You scoffed, “You have no rights. None. You gave up any chance to have a part in my life when I was very young.”
“Oh, don’t say that.” Rebecca turned her attention to Javier then. “She’s convinced you I’m some monster, hasn’t she? She was such a little trouble maker, what was I supposed to do? Let her run free?” She rocked back in her seat, looking away then.
“That doesn’t sound like amends,” Javier pointed out.
“Javier,” You shook your head, reaching over to rest your hand on his knee. He was more than willing to fight this battle for you, but you could handle it.
He nodded, resting his hand over yours. Your mother’s gaze flickered towards your hands.
“You don’t have a ring.”
“Why would I?” You questioned, suppressing the urge to scream that you were married to the man you loved despite everything in your past that told you to run from allusions of commitment.
“Two little girls out of wedlock?” Rebecca tsked, shaking her head as she set her sights on you. “I could’ve told he was bad news. Just look at him.”
You felt fire roar through your veins as you pitched forward in your chair, “You don’t get to say one bad word about Javier. If there’s bad news here, it’s you mother.”
She feigned injury at your words, “All I ever tried to do was protect you. But everyone else tried to lead you astray. They tried to take you away from me.”
You laughed, the sound coming out almost maniacal. “Who? Dad? God, I wish he had.” You squeezed Javier’s leg, like you were trying to ground yourself in your reality.
“He filled your head with so many lies about me.” She jeered a finger at you, “He was a rotten man. Always trying to drag me into court. Trying to paint a picture that was all wrong.”
“Oh, right. Yeah.” You shook your head. “I guess you probably thought Uldi was a better father, right? Nothing says step-dad quiet like throwing beer on a ten-year-old.”
“Well, he never tried to take you away from me!”
“He was a drug dealer, mom!” You snapped, your voice cracking as you glared at her. “And the fact that I knew that — at ten — speaks volumes. How many people were in and out of our house? All hours of the day.” You looked away then. “Dad never used. I don’t know how you ever ended up with him.”
“Chuck had money.” Rebecca answered, though she seemed like she regretted it the second she said it.
“Is that why you’re here now?”
“What?”
“Money.” You pressed, narrowing your eyes as you focused on her once more. “I bet you saw the article in the paper — figured I was doing well for myself and you thought… there’s a money tree I haven’t tapped yet.”
“No. No!” She held up her hands in defense. “I didn’t think that. I only meant to come here to see my grandbabies. I had to find you again, sweetheart. I missed you.”
“You followed her from her job,” Javier reminded her, his voice tinged with a venom you weren’t sure you had heard since Colombia. “That’s not the correct way to find someone you claim to care about.”
“What would you know?” Rebecca gritted out. “I read the articles. You’re no saint.”
“Never once said I was.” Javier clicked his tongue against his teeth. He released his hold on your hand and leaned forward, elbows on his knees. “I do know one thing, you had to read an article to know jackshit about your daughter’s life, while I was right there beside her for all of it. So maybe you should fucking listen.”
“Did you hear how he just spoke to me?” Rebecca questioned, looking to you then. “Are you going to let him sit there and disrespect me?”
You shrugged, “Are you going to sit there and pull crocodile tears? I remember they worked so well for you in court.”
“I’m clean now, sweetie!” Her voice cracked. “Quit dredging up the past.”
“I wish it were that easy,” You retorted, “I wish there were some magic switch that shut off the past. Because the past gets ‘dredged’ up all the time for me.” You dragged your fingers through your hair as you exhaled slowly. “I’ve almost let the best parts of my life slip out of my hold because of you. Because you managed to fuck up sixteen years of my life and twenty-odd years removed hasn’t fixed me.”
“That’s not my fault!” Rebecca snapped, her voice edging towards hysterics. “If you weren’t such an ungrateful little brat, things would’ve been good. But every time things didn’t go your way, you went running and crying to your daddy. Treating him like some white knight, sweeping in to save the day.”
“Fuck you.” You growled out.
“It’s the truth, sweetheart. Life’s not easy. And you made mine hell every time you made up some outlandish claim about me so you could spend more time with Chuck. What did he have that I didn’t have? You would’ve come running back to me the second you didn’t get what you wanted.”
“This might come as a shock to you, but all I wanted was to feel safe. It’s not normal for a five-year-old to sleep with a chair in front of her door! And I did that. Parents should be chasing the monsters of their child’s closets, not opening the door and letting them in.”
“You were always safe!”
“I saw a man OD when I was thirteen.” Your fingers curled into fists on against the tops of your legs. “I think my favorite part of dad’s place was that I had a bed. A proper bed. You know, something other than a box spring.”
Javier’s head snapped to look at you, his brows furrowed together as he searched your face. Apparently, you hadn’t gotten into these particulars before.
“You think you could do better?”
“I mean I know I can.” You laughed bitterly. “Against all odds I’ve managed to raise two beautiful little girls. Despite constantly worrying that I was going to turn out like you.”
Rebecca switched tactic then, right on schedule. “And I’m so proud of you sweetheart. You’ve done so well for yourself.”
“I have.”
“I’ll admit,” She started. “I was disappointed to read about what sort of man you ended up with.” She gave Javier a look askance. “He’s so much older than you.”
“Mother, it’s only nine years.”
“Who do the girls look like?”
You rolled your eyes, scratching at your forehead. “We’re not having this conversation. Actually, I think we’re done.”
“Twenty-two years apart and this is how you treat me? You’re still that same ungrateful little bitch—“
“That’s enough!” Javier was quick to his feet. “You’re leaving, now.”
“Who do you think you are?” Rebecca questioned, rising to her feet like she expected to square off with Javier.
“The person who has been there for her.” Javier gritted out. “Look, I don’t know if you came here with good intentions or not, but you’ve crossed a line. Multiple lines. If I catch you following her again or anywhere near our house — I won’t need to call the cops.”
You hadn’t seen this side of Javier in a long time.
“Are you threatening me?” Rebecca actually cowered, trying to play into your sympathy. “Is this the kind of man you let near your daughters?”
“Get off my property.” You said flatly. “I don’t want you here or in my life.”
“You’re breaking my heart! You’ve never cared about me.” She cried, “I hope you never know what it’s like to have your daughter turn her back on you! To treat you like a monster.”
“You were a monster, mother!” You snapped, coming entirely unhinged. “It is a goddamn miracle that I know how to have any semblance of a happy relationship. I have been with Javier for ten years!”
It didn’t matter that only half of that was an actual relationship — it was all the same to you. He was a constant fixture.
“How long did your marriages last? Ten months? This is what? Seven? Eight?” You let out an incredulous sound, “I bet you have two pages in the record books. You need to figure out how to be okay with being alone, mother. Because no one is going to be there for you.”
“You would just send your mother away? I raised you for sixteen years and this is how you repay me? You owe me for everything I did for you. I fed you, I clothed you, I cared for you. What did your daddy ever do for you, aside from die and facilitate you stabbing me in the back one more time?” Rebecca sneered at you. “You deserve all the shit you went through. That’s payback for hurting me. All I ever did was love you.”
You took a step back. “I’m going to count to ten and I want you off my property.”
“I’m just going to kill myself,” Rebecca threatened. “That’s what you want, isn’t it? You won’t rest until I’m six feet under! Denying me my right to see my grandbabies. My flesh and blood.”
“They are my children, Rebecca. And their grandmother is dead.” You set your teeth together hard enough that your jaw ached. “You have no power over me, my family, or my future. I don’t want anything from you. I simply don’t care.”
“I’m going to call the cops,” Javier threatened, giving you a wary look.
“I’ll leave.” Rebecca said frantically. “I’ll go. Since I’m nothing to you!” She pointed at you. “I come here to make amends and this—“
“You came to make excuses.” You fumed. “You’re fucking psycho, mother! Get help. Get real help.”
“Won’t you help me?”
“No.” You turned away then. “Javier can you escort her to her car?”
“Yeah,” He nodded stiffly, brushing his hand over your back as he walked past, “You’re leaving now.”
“I’m going!” Rebecca pronounced dramatically. “Since my daughter would sooner see me dead!”
You sank back down in your set, staring at the empty one across from you. She was still ranting as Javier escorted her out of the yard, but you stopped listening.
She hadn’t changed. You had stupidly hoped, deep down, that maybe she was clean. That maybe she had changed. But she was still the same unhinged abuser that ruined your childhood.
How you managed to share DNA with her, made you wonder. Though, you knew you had traits that came from her.
You used to use people. One night stands to make you feel wanted. Lance to fill a void you didn’t know how to fill.
But it wasn’t like that with Javier. He made you want to be a better person — to love and love and be happy. To overcome everything that should’ve held you back.
“She’s gone.” Javier’s hands rested on your shoulders as he leaned over the back of the car. “I told her if she came near our house again I would call the cops.”
“Thank you.”
“No gratitude necessary, baby.” He assured you, pressing a kiss to the crown of your head. “She’s… certainly something.”
“She’s a train wreck.” You sighed, shaking your head as you chewed on your bottom lip.
“People like that… they’ll say anything to get a reaction.”
“Yeah.” You looked down at your hands. “I’m not like her, am I?”
“Baby.”
“I know. I know. I just… that is my worst nightmare. Well, losing you or the girls… this — Rebecca — is a close second.”
“Night and day.” Javier petted his hand over your head. “You’re not your mother, baby.”
“Good.” Smiled weakly. “I think I’m going to go back to bed. Today sucked.” You peeled yourself out of your chair. “Wanna join me?”
He smiled adoringly at you before he nodded. “Whatever you want.”
126 notes
·
View notes
Text
Philadelphia Skilled Trades Training for Real Careers & Second Chances
Philadelphia skilled trades training is transforming lives by providing hands-on career paths to underserved communities. Programs like Youth Build Philly, Rebuild Philadelphia workforce development, and Philadelphia trades night school empower individuals with valuable skills, certifications, and confidence. Whether you’re seeking a second chance or a new career in construction, plumbing, or electrical work, these initiatives offer life-changing opportunities. Join a movement that’s rebuilding the city and the future—one skilled worker at a time. Explore how Philadelphia skilled trades training opens the door to a brighter tomorrow.
Related Tags : free skilled trades training programs in Philadelphia, Philadelphia trades night school enrollment options, Rebuild Philadelphia workforce development programs, Youth Build Philly construction training programs,
#free skilled trades training programs in Philadelphia#Philadelphia trades night school enrollment options#Rebuild Philadelphia workforce development programs#Youth Build Philly construction training programs#skilled trades job placement in Philadelphia#Philadelphia hands-on vocational training for adults#second chance workforce programs in Philadelphia#certified electrician training in Philadelphia PA#Philadelphia trade schools for underserved communities#how to join Philadelphia skilled trades training programs
0 notes
Text
Financial Considerations: How To Pay For A Plumbing Trade Program?
Before enrolling in a plumbing trade program, there are various financial factors that need to be taken into account. Take a deep dive to understand more.
plumber program in Wynnfield Heights, plumbing certificate programs in north philadelphia east, best plumbing schools in Spring garden , plumbing certificate programs in Wynnfield Heights, best plumbing schools in north philadelphia east, plumbing trade school in uppar north philadelphia, plumbing trade school in north philadelphia, plumbing school in north philadelphia, plumbing trade school in north philadelphia,
0 notes
Photo
I'd intended to post this yesterday to coincide with the 64th anniversary of its publication. However, true to my nature, I got hung up on minor details and it went unposted. Now that I’ve edited the crap out of the cover, it’s finally ready for primetime... sort of.
NEWSWEEK magazine - May 17, 1954
THE COVER: A calm, clear-eyed beauty, Philadelphia's Grace Kelly is the latest star to reach Hollywood's top rung. Now one of the busiest actresses in Hollywood, she undoubtedly inherits much of her drive from her father, the fabulous John B. Kelly, who built a multimillion-dollar construction business from a $7,000 loan. Kelly, a famous oarsman and Olympic winner, saw his fondest dream come true when Grace's brother, John B. Jr., won the Henley Regatta in England. But Kelly dreams have a way of coming true with surprising regularity. For a story about Grace and her family of champions, see page 96.
THE KELLYS’ COOL FILM BEAUTY
In a quieter moment of history, as the words of George M. Cohan's song go, everyone was crazy about a legendary New York girl named Nellie, the daughter of Officer Kelly, and as beautiful and lively a girl as ever danced an Irish reel:
The Boys are all mad about Nellie, the daughter of Officer Kelly; And it's all day long they bring flowers all dripping with dew, And they join the chorus of Nellie Kelly, I Love You © 1922 M. Witmark & Sons, © renewed 1949 Agnes Cohan. © assigned 1952 to George N. Cohan Music Publishing Co.
In 1954 Hollywood, a world away from Nellie in time and space, everyone is still a little awed and breathless by the shooting star of quite a different Kelly girl, from Philadelphia, a coolly beautiful actress named Grace.
At 24, Grace Kelly (see cover) is a relative Hollywood rarity - a star who came out from the East already bright and shining, dispensing with the usual apprenticeship through the ranks of the studio publicity posers, the leg-conscious starlets, and the struggling featured players. After only two years in pictures, she has the kind of contract with M-G-M that Beverly Hills regulars envy - only three films a year and extra payment for any others she chooses. She is currently regarded as one of the hottest properties in films. Since she came to public notice, as Gary Cooper's peace-loving wife in High Noon, and, later, as Clark Gable's major distraction in Mogambo, Grace has made four major films, and her list of leading men (Ray Milland, James Stewart, William Holden, Bing Crosby, and Stewart Granger) sounds like an autograph hunter's New Year's resolutions. Her current hit, Dial 'M' for Murder (NEWSWEEK, May 10, 1954), has just been released.
All of this puts blond Grace quite a bit ahead of little Nellie; but only, in point of fact, by a generation or so. Behind Grace, and probably in great part responsible for her success, is the story of the rise of a great Irish-American family, of men and women blessed by strong arms and good looks, a dogged instinct for hard work, and a sure feel for success.
Grace's father, John Brendan Kelly, 64, is a handsome, vigorous, and wealthy Philadelphia contractor, who won himself a corner of sporting history by his great rowing victories in the '20s. One uncle, George Kelly, is a ranking American playwright (The Show-Off, Craig's Wife). Her late uncle, Walter, was the beloved “Virginia Judge” of the vaudeville stage. Her brother, John B. Jr., followed in his father's footsteps by becoming the greatest oarsman of his time (Diamond Sculls champion in 1947 and 1948). To be a standout in the Kelly family, as Philadelphians justly observe, takes some doing.
Pat Went to School: The story of Grace Kelly begins, perhaps, on her great-grandfather's farm in Ireland.
“There were five boys in the family," as her father John relates, “and not much money to spare. It was plain to my grandfather that he could not educate them all so he called them together one day and said: 'Boys, we are going to put the oldest one of you through school, but the rest will have to stay and work the farm and contribute a share to Pat's schooling. At least one Kelly will be educated.' So Pat went to school and ended up the dean of Dublin University. My own father never had a day in school himself, but he had a wonderful memory, all right, and maybe that's where Grace gets her talent for learning a part.”
At 20, the County Mayo farm boy who was to be Grace's grandfather came to the United States and met and married Mary Costello, who had preceded him out of the same county. They settled at the Falls of the Schuylkill, 5 miles from Philadelphia, and began raising their family. The first seven children all went to work in the mills before they were in their teens. The last three, among them Grace's father, got a break: They were able to go through grammar school before settling down to work.
Tunney and the King: John Kelly served three years' apprenticeship as a bricklayer. He was getting nicely started on his trade - and growing adept at his hobby of rowing on the Schuylkill when the first world war took him off to France. There, in his off-hours, he boxed at 175 pounds, and he was well on his way to taking the light-heavyweight championship of the AEF when he broke his ankle in a truck accident. The man who did win the title was a Marine named Gene Tunney.
Last week in his pleasant Philadelphia office (the building is a replica of William Penn's Letitia Street house) John Kelly read aloud a letter from the former heavyweight champion which concluded: “Polly [Tunney's wife] doesn't know that but for an accident the world would never have heard of her husband as a pugilist.” This may have been so. The man Tunney beat for the AEF title stayed three rounds with him; Kelly had stiffened the same fighter in the first round in an earlier bout.
Bricks and Oars: Kelly came back from France to resume his bricklaying and his oarsmanship. In 1920, having already won the national singles, he went to England to try for the Diamond Sculls at Henley, rowing's highest prize. At the last moment, his entry was rejected because he was not a gentleman - the Henley definition of that being one who has never worked with his hands.
He got his revenge two months later by winning the Olympic singles at Antwerp, beating England's champion, among others. In exultation, he sent his sweaty green rowing cap to the King of England, with the compliments of John Kelly. Twenty-seven years later he stood on the banks of the Thames and saw his son John, University of Pennsylvania student and by Henley standards a “gentleman,” take the Diamond Sculls by eight good lengths.
In 1924, John Kelly married a beautiful Philadelphia girl of German ancestry named Margaret Majer, an athlete and magazine-cover model herself. By the time Grace, the third of their four children were born, the Kellys were growing prosperous. John Kelly had started a bricklaying business with $7,000 he borrowed from his brothers, George and Walter, and he was rapidly turning it into what is now an $18 million contracting concern.
In 1935, John Kelly ran for mayor of Philadelphia on the Democratic ticket and was narrowly beaten. Two years later, when Grace was 7, a much more important thing happened to her. Douglas Fairbanks Jr. came to the Kelly house to visit. (“He kissed me goodnight. I was never going to wash again.")
A Trouper at 11: Grace was a quiet child, who could, however, forget her shyness on the stage. When she was 11, she played a part at a presentation of Philadelphia's old Academy Players. In the middle of the show, her stage mother muffed her lines. With characteristic coolness, Grace dropped her handbag, turned her back on the audience, and gave the older actress her lines, while she was picking up her bag. John Kelly turned to his wife: “We've got a trouper on our hands."
In 1947, fresh from Stevens school in Philadelphia and a trip to Europe, Grace started trouping in earnest. She sped to New York and enrolled in the American Academy of Dramatic Arts to learn how. To support herself, she found work as a model and worked her way up to the sixth heaven of those models who command $25 an hour. Six times, during her New York days, she looked out at her friends from the covers of Cosmopolitan and Redbook. “The money was very nice," she says as she recalls this, “and that's what makes it all worth-while."
After modeling and the academy, young Grace worked her way into television and did very well on TV's dramatic circuit. Her thinly drawn blond beauty and a certain discipline of manner were heavily in demand, although often for specialized roles. (“I was afraid for a while that I'd be typed as an English wife.”) But few directors who saw her forgot the Kelly features - a face, as one Hollywood surveyor put it, which reminds him of a cool, fast stream in a mountain hideaway.
In 1951, after starting a movie part on location in New York, she went out to the Coast. Preferring New York to Hollywood, she had no desire to move away, and M-G-M had to hustle before she considered a contract. She got her second big part, in Mogambo, on the strength of a screen test which John Ford, its director, remembered. It was a test, fittingly enough, in which she played an Irish girl with a brogue. Ford, an Irishman, found it hard to believe when he heard that she was American born.
A Classic English Type: In California, Grace Kelly lives as quietly as can be in a small apartment on Sweetzer Avenue in West Hollywood. She still retains her apartment on 66th Street in Manhattan. She is not given to making friends easily, and her manners give many people the impression that she is aloof. Hollywood columnists who try to interview her, after their first fruitless attempts at eliciting expansive or humorous responses, finally emerge as if they had been presented at court.
When she finishes her present picture, Green Fire, a drama about emerald hunting in Colombia (with Stewart Granger as the emerald hunter), she has two more pictures waiting for her (The Cobweb and [To] Catch a Thief). Perhaps atomic-age audiences feel some vicarious reassurance and stability in watching her restrained behavior and gazing into the cool stream of the Kelly face - what many call a classic English type. It makes a nice Hollywood switch-ending to recall that this classic English type is really the daughter of the Philadelphia Irishman who once angrily mailed his sweaty green cap to Buckingham Palace.
38 notes
·
View notes
Text
WSET Philly
Wine & Spirit Education Trust in Philadelphia
Phillywine is the place to find world-recognized, quality wine classes in the Philadelphia area. We also offer wine tastings and referral to wine experts who host private events. We've been providing high quality wine tastings & wine classes in the Delaware Valley since 1988 (as Neal Ewing Wine Services).
Twice rated "Best of Philly"("Best Wine Tastings" and "Best Wine Events") by Philadelphia Magazine. Rated "Best Wine School in the Country" by Wine Notes Magazine
World's Best Wine Classes: WSET and Beyond
We are a Registered Centre and Approved Programme Provider for the world-renowned wine courses of England's Wine & Spirit Education Trust.
Our instructors have nationally and internationally recognized wine credentials. Our students' high passing rate on the difficult WSET exams is a testament to our instructors' teaching skills.
We provide instructors and curriculum for the wine courses offered at several local colleges.
We also offer our own wine classes and wine tastings at a variety of restaurants and educational institutions in the Philadelphia area.
We don't scrimp on either the wines we pour or the people we have brought in as guest speakers. Our wine classes and wine tastings have included some of the world's rarest and most expensive wines, and our guest speakers have included many of the world's top winemakers and wine masters.
Private Wine Tastings
If you are looking for someone to lead an in-home wine tasting or other private event, we will be glad to refer you to a thoroughly knowledgeable wine expert. You and he or she can make your own arrangements, without having to pay anything additional to our organization. There is no arbitrary minimum number of guests and no arbitrary per-person fee, so your savings can be substantial.
Learn More about our Wine Classes and Wine Events
We encourage you to learn more about our wine courses and other wine services we offer:
Wine Classes in the Philadelphia Area
WSET Wine Classes from the Wine and Spirit Education Trust (Philadelphia area, online, and home study)
Private Events
Awards Replace Certificates
In the UK a new certification Authority for WSET led to a change in titles for the documents you receive when you successfully pass a WSET exam. From now on “Certificate” has been replaced by “Award.”
WSET Certified Educators
Every WSET center must have at least one WSET Certified Educator, who has gone through extensive training on teaching techniques. We have far exceeded that minimum, having sent ten of our instructors to this training.
Diploma via Video
Only six cities in the U.S. offer the WSET Diploma. If you’re not near one of them your options had been just home study or WSET’s Online Diploma Course. Now we have a third option: video participation in our Diploma classes via a Skype-like connection. There is no additional charge when you enroll in the home study course.
Our recent students continued our excellent performances on the WSET Diploma Unit 3 (Light Wines) exam. Fifteen of 21 students passed the theory portion and 19 of 21 passed the tasting portion. This is far above the international pass rate (approximately 50%) for this difficult, day-long exam.
WSET Classes in Philadelphia
World's Best Wine Classes from the WSET. The WSET is England's Wine & Spirit Education Trust. Since 1969 it has been affiliated with the Institute of Masters of Wine in educating the wine trade as well as consumers seeking a very thorough wine education. In the U.K., completion of WSET's Advanced and Diploma classes are pre-requisites for Master of Wine candidates.
We feel quite confident saying the WSET Courses are the world's greatest wine classes:
They have been offered for nearly 40 years
They're offered in 47 countries, from Australia to Zanzibar, in 13 languages
Approximately 24,000 people per year take the courses
Detailed objectives are listed and covered each week
Classes are student-centered and discussion-focused; we don't just talk at you
Evocative multi-media presentations: 80% of adults are "visual modality" learners, so we don't just tell you, we show you
Great wines are poured
They're poured into Vinea INAO/ISO stemware, which you keep -- six free glasses per student
In many countries the classes are MW pre-requisites-- if you have ever dreamed of becoming a Master of Wine, these are the classes for you.
So You Say You've Taken a Wine Class? Is WSET So Different?
Why do people take wine classes? Sometimes, just to meet other people. Otherwise, to learn to buy and to taste wine. To learn why what they like tastes that way (geography, chemistry, whatever). And to find other wines, maybe cheaper, they will like as much. No more aimless wandering through wine aisles, they think. No more what-am-I-tasting confusion.
Oh, sure, most of the wines in the shop have numerical scores. Is that enough help? Will that 90-point wine taste better than that other 90-point wine? And how will either taste with your 85-point dinner? (Ever notice that the foods we buy don’t come with scores attached?)
So, you’ve already taken a wine class? Let me guess. The instructor told some good jokes. He or she talked, you listened. You got a pile of handouts, maybe some maps. You tasted a bunch of wines. The wine made everyone get friendlier. More good jokes about the wines. End of class.
Next time in the wine shop, were you any less confused? Did the handouts help? WSET Classes are different.
WSET Professional Wine Expertise: Wine Buyers, International
England is too far north to grow good wine grapes. But for centuries they have had royalty and nobility who wanted good wine and had the money to pay for it. Europe was very nearby and had lots of good wines. And England had colonies, ranging from America to Australia, some of which were beginning to make wine. The market responded and a profession was created.
Wine professionals visited cellars in little towns throughout Europe and the empire. Was this wine good, and a good value? Did it taste like wines from this-little-town usually taste, so customer expectations would be met? The skills they learned and used were written down and passed along to their apprentices. Beginning 1969, this knowledge, acquired over centuries, was all formalized with the creation of the WSET.
Once you have read the course descriptions in this section of the website, we're sure that you will agree with us about the quality of these courses. In a culture such as ours, in which wine knowledge is equated with memorizing Wine Advocate or Wine Spectator scores, it's not surprising that American Master of Wine candidates did so badly when they first began taking the M.W. exams in 1988, or that they have had more success now that these WSET courses -- mandatory for U.K. candidates -- are more widely available in the U.S.
1 note
·
View note
Link
Biden to Raise Minimum Wage for Federal Contractors to $15: Live Updates Here’s what you need to know: Joseph R. Biden Jr., then vice president, at a 2015 event calling for a $15 minimum wage in New York.Credit…Damon Winter/The New York Times President Biden plans to sign an executive order on Tuesday raising the minimum wage paid by federal contractors to $15 an hour, the latest in a set of ambitious pro-labor moves at the outset of his administration. The new minimum is expected to take effect next year and is likely to affect hundreds of thousands of workers, according to a White House document. The current minimum is $10.95 under an order that President Barack Obama signed in 2014. Like that order, the new one will require that the new minimum wage rise with inflation. White House economists believed the increase would not lead to significant job losses, a finding in line with recent research on the minimum wage, and that it was unlikely to cost taxpayers more money, two administration officials said in a call with reporters. They argued that the higher wage would lead to greater productivity and lower turnover. The White House also contends that although the number of workers directly affected by the increase is relatively small as a share of the economy, the executive order will indirectly raise wages beyond federal contractors by forcing other employers to bid up pay as they compete for workers. Several cities have a minimum wage of at least $15 an hour, and several states have laws that will raise their minimum wage to at least that level in the coming years. There is so far little evidence on how a $15 minimum wage affects employment in lower-cost areas of such states. Two years ago, the House of Representatives passed a bill to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2025, but the legislation has faced long odds in the Senate. Mr. Biden sought to incorporate such a measure in his $1.9 trillion pandemic relief package so that it could pass on a simple majority vote, but the Senate parliamentarian ruled that it could not be included. Mr. Biden’s executive order will also eliminate the so-called tipped minimum wage for federal contractors, which currently allows employers to pay tipped workers $7.65 an hour as long as their tips put them over the regular minimum wage. Under the new minimum, all workers must be paid at least $15 an hour. The order will technically begin a rule-making process that is expected to conclude by early next year. The wage will be incorporated into new contracts and existing contracts as they are extended. Traffic in Philadelphia last month. BP reported higher earnings on Tuesday, and said it expected demand for oil would continue to recover from the pandemic.Credit…Matt Rourke/Associated Press BP reported a sharply higher profit for the first quarter of 2021 on Tuesday, signaling that after a grim 2020, oil companies’ earnings are recovering along with demand for their products. BP said that underlying replacement cost profit, the metric most closely watched by analysts, was $2.6 billion, up from $791 million in the period year earlier. The London giant said that the price it received for its oil in the quarter was up more than 20 percent. BP described its trading and marketing of natural gas, where prices also increased, as “exceptionally strong.” Citing strong economic growing in China and the United States, BP said that it expected the oil market to continue to recover from the effects of the pandemic. Bernard Looney, the chief executive, has said he wants to use the cash from oil and gas operations to finance a shift toward electric power and other clean energy. In the first quarter, the plan seemed to work well. The company raked in about $10.9 billion, a sum that included revenue from sales of fossil fuel businesses, among them a stake in a gas field in Oman. Because of divestments, BP’s oil production fell by 22 percent compared with the same period a year earlier. At the same time, BP expanded into the offshore wind business. It entered into a partnership with Equinor, the Norwegian energy company that is developing wind farms off the East Coast of the United States, and is acquiring offshore wind acreage off Britain at what some in the industry considered high prices. BP also said that, having met debt reduction targets, it would resume a program of buying back shares, a way to increase the price of BP stock; it had not bought back shares since the first quarter of last year, as its business was battered by the pandemic. In the second quarter the company plans to spend $500 million on such purchases. Last summer, BP also cut its dividend for the first time since the Deepwater Horizon disaster a decade ago, to 5.25 cents a share. The dividend will remain at that level, the company said. BP said it could generate a surplus with oil prices above $45 a barrel. Lately, prices have been considerably higher, with Brent crude, the international benchmark, at about $66 a barrel. Talasheia Dedmon enrolled her son Braylon in a college savings account through SEED for Oklahoma Kids, an effort to help a new generation climb the educational ladder and build assets. Credit…September Dawn Bottoms for The New York Times An experiment called SEED for Oklahoma Kids, or SEED OK, is one of a growing number of efforts by cities and states — governed by Democrats and Republicans alike — to help a new generation climb the educational ladder and build assets SEED OK is a far-reaching research project begun in Oklahoma 14 years ago to study whether creating savings accounts containing $1,000 for newborns would improve their graduation rates and their chances of going to college or trade school years later, Patricia Cohen reports for The New York Times. Research about the Oklahoma project published this month by the Center for Social Development at Washington University in St. Louis, which created SEED OK, found that families that had been given accounts were more college-focused and contributed more of their own money than those that hadn’t been. And the effects are strongest among low-income families. The 1,300-plus children who were chosen at random to be given accounts in 2007 had an average of $3,243 saved by the end of 2019. Among the control group — another 1,300 children who were randomly selected to take part but were not given any money — only 4 percent had an account. Proposals at the federal level to establish savings accounts at birth, for college, homes, business or retirement savings, go back to the 1990s. Canada, Israel, South Korea and Singapore have established versions of the idea. Pennsylvania, Nebraska and Illinois are among the states that have created programs. Technical problems marred the Small Business Association’s first attempt at accepting applications for the grant program.Credit…Zack Wittman for The New York Times After months of delays and technical problems, the federal government finally opened a $16 billion grant fund for music club operators, theater owners and others in the live-event business on Monday. Thousands of people hit the website for the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program the moment it began accepting applications. Speed mattered: The money — awarded on a first-come-first-served basis — is widely expected to run out fast. One applicant posted a screenshot showing that he was in line behind more than 6,000 others waiting for their turn to apply. “Hunger Games” memes — “May the odds be ever in your favor” — popped up in Twitter posts from desperate business owners venting their collective anxiety. But this time, the system stayed up. As of 5 p.m. on Monday, the agency had received 6,040 grant applications, according to Andrea Roebker, an agency spokeswoman. Nearly 8,400 more had been created but not yet been completed. Sarah Elger, chief executive of Pseudonym Productions, an events production company in Philadelphia, successfully submitted her application 16 minutes after she got access to the system. “It was such a relief,” Ms. Elger said. She was one of thousands of business owners who had their hopes dashed earlier this month, when the Small Business Administration, the agency that runs the program, tried — and failed — to start taking applications. After four hours, the agency took the system offline for what turned into weeks of technology repair work. Ms. Elger estimated that she uploaded more than 100 documents for her application, which she and her husband, Ricky Brigante, spent months preparing. They knew they would have to move quickly once the application website opened. “We turned it into a game,” Ms. Elger said. “We had lots of folders on the desktop and raced through the uploads.” The Small Business Administration said it would immediately start reviewing the applications, which are intended to yield grants for 45 percent of applicants’ prepandemic gross earned annual revenue, up to $10 million. “We recognize the urgency,” said Barb Carson, the deputy associate administrator of the agency’s Office of Disaster Assistance. “With venue operators in danger of closing, every day that passes by is a day that these businesses cannot afford.” The program, created in the $900 billion economic support package that President Donald J. Trump approved in December, is the first large direct-to-businesses grant program the Small Business Administration has ever run. The process, for both the agency and applicants, has for months been fraught with complexity and confusion. John Russell, the executive director of the Montford Park Players, a nonprofit community theater group in Asheville, N.C., submitted his application on Monday afternoon. He is relying on the grant to help cover his group’s return to the stage. After a full year of hosting only virtual events, the group is planning to open its first full in-person production, the Shakespeare play “The Comedy of Errors,” next month. “We figured people are in the mood for comedy,” Mr. Russell said. The show’s actors are volunteers, but the production creates paid jobs for its director, stage manager, lighting designer, food vendors and others, as well as for the theater troupe’s support staff. The Small Business Administration is also preparing to open a second grant program, the Restaurant Revitalization Fund, a $28.6 billion support fund for bars, restaurants and food trucks that was created in last month’s $1.9 trillion relief bill. That program is planning a seven-day test to help the agency avoid the kind of technical problems that plagued the venue program. Lyft lost $1.8 billion last year as the pandemic cut into its revenue.Credit…Mike Blake/Reuters Lyft will sell its unit devoted to developing autonomous vehicles to Woven Planet, a Toyota subsidiary, the companies announced on Monday. Woven Planet will pay $200 million in cash for Level 5, Lyft’s self-driving car initiative, and will follow up with additional payments of $350 million over five years. Lyft is among several tech companies that have stepped back from developing autonomous vehicles over the last year as the technology has proved difficult to master and the pandemic has placed pressure on the company’s bottom lines. In December, Uber essentially paid Aurora, a self-driving truck start-up, to take its autonomous vehicle unit. Some automotive executives have said they overestimated how soon the technology would be ready for the road. And although Waymo, the autonomous vehicle unit owned by Google’s parent company, Alphabet, has recently expanded its operations, the chief executive of Waymo stepped down earlier this month to pursue “new adventures.” Lyft said unloading Level 5 would cut about $100 million in annual expenses, helping the company edge closer to profitability after the pandemic sliced into its revenue. Lyft lost $1.8 billion last year. The company is set to report earnings for the first three months of 2021 next month. Lyft will still have a team focused on third-party self-driving technology and will continue to collect data from trips to help train autonomous systems, the company said. “Not only will this transaction allow Lyft to focus on advancing our leading autonomous platform and transportation network, this partnership will help pull in our profitability timeline,” Lyft’s president, John Zimmer, said in a statement. Source link Orbem News #Biden #Contractors #Federal #Live #minimum #raise #Updates #Wage
0 notes
Text
Welding Courses & Future Technologies to Watch in 2025 | Philadelphia Focus
Explore how the welding course landscape in Philadelphia is evolving with cutting-edge advancements in AI in welding processes, advanced welding automation, and laser welding technology. Stay ahead of the curve by learning how eco-friendly welding techniques and smart systems are reshaping the industry in 2025. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned welder, these innovations are essential to stay competitive in the skilled trades. Enroll in a welding course that integrates next-gen technology and sustainable practices for a future-ready career.
Related Tags : best welding course in Philadelphia 2025, advanced welding automation training in Philadelphia, eco-friendly welding course in Philadelphia, laser welding technology certification Philadelphia, AI welding programs near Philadelphia, where to learn AI in welding in Philadelphia, top-rated welding schools with automation in Philadelphia, future welding techniques course Philadelphia,
#best welding course in Philadelphia 2025#advanced welding automation training in Philadelphia#eco-friendly welding course in Philadelphia#laser welding technology certification Philadelphia#AI welding programs near Philadelphia#where to learn AI in welding in Philadelphia#top-rated welding schools with automation in Philadelphia#future welding techniques course Philadelphia#Philadelphia welding training with green methods#high-tech welding certification programs in Philadelphia
0 notes
Photo
BASICS
Name: Alexandros Li Age: 24 Affiliation: Old Olympus Occupation: Hitman Faceclaim: Zhang Yixing Status: TAKEN by Nik
THE STORY
They call you Ares, but you’re not sure if you’re ready to fill his shoes, yet. You were only given the name when the Ares before you was killed by the Titans - a brave man, they called him, and you know you pale in comparison to your predecessor. However, a combination of hard work, dedication, and a certain subset of skills has earned you your place in Olympus. You have not found your footing in all of this yet, simply drifting from one person to another in between jobs. All eyes are on you to prove yourself, your worthiness to Old Olympus, and you can tell the majority of them are all holding their breaths while simply waiting for you to fail miserably. You know you are not and will never be a carbon copy of the old Ares, but you were given this title for a reason and you want nothing more than to earn it in everyone else’s eyes too. Their doubts and whispers only fuel you, pushing yourself harder and harder into your role. It may wear you down, but you want nothing more than to simply fit as everyone else seamlessly does.
CONNECTIONS
APHRODITE - You can hardly blame Aphrodite for not wanting to be around you. Subtlety is a lost art, and they make their distaste known whenever you’re around. You understand that they see you only as an unworthy replacement to someone they once loved, but you cannot control what was bestowed upon you. You can only do what you have always known to do: plant yourself like a tree with your head held high, your gaze unwavering as you hope they can look at you with something other than distrust one day.
EROS - In a world full of people who want to see you fail, Eros has been the one person that you have come to rely on and trust. You have never seen the doubt in their eyes as you have with nearly everyone you run across, knowing their belief in you has made you even more determined to earn your place. You suppose love and war is an odd combination, but from that stems the passion that you need some days to push forward.
HYPERION - It’s no secret that Hyperion was the one who had killed the old Ares - it’s something that all of Olympus already knows but hasn’t been able to do anything about it. You know that there is no better way to prove your worth than to kill them yourself, but you are not a fool. They are far more skilled than you know or have observed and you have to bide your time, nurse the wounds of Old Olympus, and wait for the perfect time to strike to wipe that self-satisfied smirk off their face.
SUGGESTED FACECLAIMS
Ludi Lin, John Boyega, Choi Seung-hyun, Lindsey Morgan, Kylie Bunbury, Christian Serratos
BIOGRAPHY
YOU REMEMBER YOUR MOTHER. Aline was an immigrant from China, brought here at a young age in the hopes of a better life and one of the lucky few who found it. Her days were spent studying medicine, her evenings spent playing the violin, until she met a man, your father. His life was much the same as hers, with university classes during the day and a hobby by night, though their interests differed.
In her future was the chance to save lives; in his, to end them.
They marry two years after meeting, the wedding a small affair. You come around seven months later, held in loving arms shortly after your arrival. Your parents raise you as best they can, enrolling you in summer camps, gym classes, and even the Shaolin kung fu courses you’re desperate to take with your friends. You’re not the best at sports, but you’re far from the worst, and they give you the encouragement you need to pursue everything you take an interest in.
Your entry to the world parallels Aline’s exit. She lays in bed, back to the window with you before her, held tight against her chest. Blood splatters across all before her including you, the only sound you hear being the tinkling of glass falling behind you. Her grip loosens but you don’t move – you’re only ten, too young to lose your mother to anything, much less such violence.
Your father takes care of you as best he can, but he’s only one man, and a busy one at that. He has work during the day, work at night; he’s gone at odd hours, and though he claims to be a mechanic, you’ve never heard of one repairing cars at three in the morning. It’s then that you start doing poorly in school, a desperate yet silent cry for attention, but he doesn’t seem to notice. Your Ds and Fs are taken in stride, although he does suggest you study more.
Things continue as such for four years until you garner the courage to follow him one night and overhear him on the phone down the street. Though you don’t fully understand, something becomes clear – your mother’s death is his fault, related in some way to an unfinished job. It’s then you decide you’ll finish it for him, no matter how long it takes.
You throw yourself back into your studies and hobbies – archery, gymnastics, martial arts – with a passion like never before, and soon everyone believes you’ll follow in your mother’s footsteps to become a doctor. You pick up her violin, feigning ignorance to the pain it causes your father; this you do from spite. Jack of all trades, master of none, is who you become, dabbling in this and that until the end of high school.
University of Maryland, College Park campus, is where you go in the fall directly after you graduate. Their criminology degree is what you have your eye on, and you get it within three years before making your way into the world. Your mother’s murderer is the first man you kill, for you can’t go on with this desire for vengeance eating at your soul, whispering in your ear during every waking moment.
It’s over and done with before you even know it; a pull of the trigger, compensation for recoil, and a person’s life has been taken. You’re not even sure of it at first – shouldn’t you feel different? A stranger lies on the floor, blood pooling around him, and yet your soul feels intact.
Days pass before the dreams begin, nightmares that leave you screaming your mother’s name to an empty room. Her killer may be dead but he follows you, haunting you in your days and nights until you’re little more than a ghost yourself. Aline’s violin is what saves you, the bloodstains marking the fair wood reminding you of why you did it to begin with. Vengeance may not have given you nor her spirit satisfaction, but the balance of the world is kept; one killer has gone and another, you, has taken his place.
You start travelling northward then, heading to Baltimore and then Philadelphia, where you settle for what you think of as the foreseeable future. A hitman is what you become, much like your father – though you’ve striven to be like your mother, you’re an even mix of them both. Lives are taken for pure profit, nothing more, and though you feel for their passing, you remind yourself that this is simply a means of survival. You don’t live lavishly, after all; your services are mostly for hire when you’re in need of extra money, and your day job as a paralegal covers the rest.
It’s a sudden round of lay-offs that forces you to make a change. Your choices are all horizontal, and since the chance for upward motion is available in only one possibility, you see no reason to stay where you are. You travel to New York and take your place amongst the Olympians, biding your time until a position opens by the death of Ares. You will never be him, but you take his place, and for the first time in your life, you find pressure on you from all sides. They believe you will fail, but you will prove them wrong.
Your days are spent with your mother’s violin in the subways; your nights with a variety of weapons. Knives, guns, your fists; they are all the same to you, a means to an end. The walls of your apartment turn bloody as you bruise your knuckles against them time after time, your frustration taking form in a version of violence turned selfward. Fingertips are cut by blades and strings alike – you work yourself to the bone until you have nothing left to give, and then continue, forcing strength you didn’t know you had.
You may not be the Ares Olympus once knew, but you will do the name justice nevertheless.
4 notes
·
View notes
Text
Arcadia University Admissions: Everything You Want to and Need to Know
Overview of Arcadia University
Arcadia University is a private university situated in Glenside, Pennsylvania; Arcadia is 25 miles from Philadelphia. With one of the nation’s most robust study abroad options, nearly 95% of Arcadia undergraduates study in one of the school’s abroad programs. The institution has a large selection of undergraduate and graduate degree programs for students to choose from. A robust student/faculty ratio backs students, and professors take a personalized approach to the teaching and learning process. Outside of the classroom, students will find plenty of opportunities to engage with the campus community via the university’s many clubs and organizations.
Enrollment
Total Enrollment: 3,662 (2,160 undergraduates)
Gender Breakdown: 32 percent male/68 percent female
90 percent full-time
Cost of Attendance Information
Tuition and Fees: $44,440
Books: $1,500
Room and Board: $13,900
Other Expenses: $1,100
Total Cost: $60,940
Financial Aid Information
Percentage of New Students Receiving Aid: 100 percent
Percentage of New Students Receiving Types of Aid
Grants: 99 percent
Loans: 84 percent
Average Amount of Aid
Grants: $26,624
Loans: $6,627
Academic Programs Offered
Most Popular Majors: Biology/Biological Sciences, General; Psychology, General; International Business/Trade/Commerce; Health/Health Care Administration/Management; and Criminology
Retention and Graduation
First-Year Student Retention (full-time students): 78 percent
Transfer-Out Rate: 23 percent
4-Year Graduation Rate: 64 percent
6-Year Graduation Rate: 71 percent
NCAA Athletic Programs
Men’s Sports: Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Golf, Lacrosse, Soccer, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Volleyball
Women’s Sports: Basketball, Cross Country, Field Hockey, Golf, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Volleyball
Overview of Arcadia University Admissions
Arcadia University has a selective admissions process and admits two-thirds of its applicants. If your test scores and GPA score within the school’s average ranges, you have a strong chance of being accepted. However, Arcadia has a robust admissions process that involves a multitude of academic measures. The admissions office is searching for applicants with glowing recommendation letters as well as those who participate in meaningful extracurricular activities. Applicants can also submit an optional essay and resume to improve their chances of admission.
Admissions Data
During the 2018-19 admissions phase, Arcadia University had an acceptance rate of 64%. For every 100 students who submitted applications, 64 students gained admission, making Arcadia’s admissions process competitive.
SAT Requirements and Scores
Arcadia University requires all applicants to submit SAT or ACT scores. Throughout the 2018-19 admissions phase, 87% of admitted students provided SAT scores.
This admissions data reveals that most of Arcadia’s admitted students score within the top 35% nationally on the SAT. For the reading and writing section, 50% of students admitted to Arcadia scored between 540 and 640, while 25% scored under 540, and 25% scored over 640. In the math section, 50% of students scored between 510 and 610, while 25% scored under 510, and 25% scored above 610. Applicants with an overall SAT score of 1250 or higher will have competitive chances.
ACT Requirements and Scores
Arcadia University wants all applicants to submit either SAT or ACT scores. During the 2018-19 admissions phase, 19% of admitted students sent ACT scores.
This admissions data reveals that most of Arcadia’s admitted students score within the top 42% nationally on the ACT. 50% of students admitted to Arcadia received an overall ACT score between 21 and 27, while 25% scored over 27, and 25% scored under 21.
GPA
In 2018, the mean high school GPA of the freshman class was 3.7. This information suggests that admitted students to Arcadia University have A grades primarily.
Safety Net Schools: Easy to Gain Admission
If past admission data predicts that you would be a competitive candidate for Arcadia University, then it should be easy for you to gain admissions to the schools below. If Arcadia University is currently out of your reach, then you are sure to be a competitive candidate for the schools below.
East Carolina University, Texas State University, Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis, Georgia State University, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, University of Texas at El Paso, California State University Northridge
Same Tier: Just As Hard to Gain Admission
If you’re a competitive candidate for Arcadia University, then you should have an equal chance of gaining admissions at these schools.
Ohio University, University of Alabama, University of Texas at Arlington, Pace University, University of North Texas, California State University Long Beach, Florida Gulf Coast University
Reach Institutions: Gaining Admissions Will Be More of a Challenge
These schools are more challenging to gain admission into than Arcadia University. If you improve your GPA and SAT/ACT scores, then you’ll be a competitive candidate for these schools.
Drexel University, University of Cincinnati, Penn State University Park, United States Military Academy, Hofstra University, Temple University, Seton Hall University
Applying to Arcadia University
Application Deadline: Rolling
Undergraduate Admissions Website: https://www.arcadia.edu/admissions/undergraduate
Undergraduate Application Link(s): https://www.arcadia.edu/admissions/undergraduate/how-apply
Graduate Admissions Website: https://www.arcadia.edu/admissions/graduate
Graduate Application Link(s): https://www.arcadia.edu/admissions/graduate/how-apply
The post Arcadia University Admissions: Everything You Want to and Need to Know appeared first on The Edvocate.
Arcadia University Admissions: Everything You Want to and Need to Know published first on https://sapsnkra.tumblr.com
0 notes
Text
Pennsylvania Scholarships and Grants: How to Find Them and Apply
Attending college in Pennsylvania isn’t so cheap — according to the Institute for College Access & Success, students in the state left school with the second-highest amount of debt in the country in 2017, second only to Connecticut. But there are ways to keep debt under control, and one of the best is to apply for grants and scholarships, which don’t need to be paid back.
The key to getting free money for college in the Keystone State is knowing where to look. Whether you’re planning to root for the Quakers at Penn or the Nittany Lions at Penn State — or to just avoid college sports altogether — here’s how to find grants and scholarships that will keep you from leaving school in the red.
Pennsylvania College Costs at a Glance Average in-state tuition and fees at public colleges (2018-19) $14,770 per year Average out-of-state tuition and fees at public colleges (2018-19) $27,180 per year Average college debt at graduation at public and private nonprofit colleges (Class of 2017) $36,854 Source: College Board and The Institute for College Access & Success (Tuition/fee data are for four-year institutions)
Applying for Pennsylvania financial aid awards
You can think of financial aid as coming in three main categories: grants and scholarships, work-study and student loans.
Your first stop in accessing financial aid is to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). In many cases, it makes you eligible not just for federal aid, but also for state and college-sponsored aid, too. You may also have to submit additional forms, like the CSS Profile and Pennsylvania state grant applications, to qualify for specific grants and scholarships.
Grants are available from the federal government and individual states, and they’re typically based either on financial need or specific characteristics, like your course of study. Scholarships can come from nonprofits, foundations or your college itself, and they can be need-based or merit-based, meaning they’re specifically for students who have certain academic or extracurricular credentials.
Work-study is available from the federal government. Student loans can come from the federal government, states or private lenders, but federal student loans generally offer the most flexible options in repayment.
Pennsylvania scholarships and grants
The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency, known as PHEAA, administers the state’s grants for college students. Pennsylvania’s state programs are primarily need-based, with the exception of the Ready to Succeed Scholarship, which also has a GPA requirement.
Certain universities in Pennsylvania offer their own grants and scholarships to state residents too. The Mayor’s Scholarship at the University of Pennsylvania, for instance, is available to Philadelphia residents with financial need, and the award amount varies based on the student’s financial situation.
The following are state grants provided by PHEAA to Pennsylvania residents regardless of school choice:
Pennsylvania State Grant Program
The main college grant for Pennsylvania residents, the Pennsylvania State Grant Program, is available to those pursuing their first bachelor’s degree and who are enrolled at least half-time and have financial need.
The grant award is based on income and covers a portion of financial need after any federal Pell grant funds have been applied. However, Pennsylvania State Grants are disbursed without taking Pell grant funding into account if you’re a veteran, or your spouse or a parent died or became disabled after Jan. 1, 2017.
Awards range from $500 to $4,123 for in-state students. The maximum award for Pennsylvania residents attending school out of state is $600, or $800 for veterans.
You can apply for a Pennsylvania State Grant online directly, after you’ve completed the FAFSA. The deadline is May 1 for most first-time applicants, and Aug. 1 for those attending a community college or trade school.
Pennsylvania Targeted Industry Program
PHEAA itself — not federal or state tax revenue — funds the Pennsylvania Targeted Industry Program (PA-TIP), founded in 2012 to encourage Pennsylvania college students to pursue in-demand careers. To qualify, you must major in a field related to energy, advanced materials and diversified manufacturing or agriculture and food production. Check if your program of study is eligible before applying.
In order to qualify, you cannot have already received a Pennsylvania State Grant for the area of study you’ve chosen. However, unlike with the Pennsylvania State Grant, you are still eligible for PA-TIP even if you’ve already received a bachelor’s degree or are pursuing a graduate degree. The maximum award is the lesser of $4,123 or 75% of education costs after other grants have been applied. Applications are due by May 1.
Ready to Succeed Scholarship Program
The Ready to Succeed Scholarship is both a merit- and need-based award. It’s available to current college students in Pennsylvania who are succeeding academically and whose family’s income is $110,000 or less per year.
Participating colleges nominate eligible students who have at least 24 credits under their belt and a GPA of 3.5 or higher. While there’s no separate application for the program, students must have submitted the FAFSA and an application for the Pennsylvania State Grant to qualify.
Since scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, submit the FAFSA and State Grant Form as close to Oct. 1 as possible, when the FAFSA application period first opens.
Awards range from $500 to $1,000 for part-time students and $2,000 for full-time students.
More scholarships and grants
Pennsylvania residents can — and should — also look into grants available nationwide. Many are for students with financial need. You can access these federal grants by filling out the FAFSA every year you’re in school.
Federal Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant: Up to $5,717 for 2018-19 for eligible students with a parent who died while performing military service in Iraq or Afghanistan after 9/11. Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG): Up to $4,000 for students with high financial need, particularly those who have already received a Pell grant. College financial aid offices administer this program, and not all schools participate. Federal Pell Grant: Up to $6,195 for 2019-20 for undergraduates with financial need who are pursuing their first degree. Federal Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant: Up to $3,752 for 2018-19 for students pursuing a career as a teacher in a high-need field or school. Awardees must teach full-time for four years, or the grant converts to a loan. American Association of University Women (AAUW) Grants: Women who are international students or who are getting master’s degrees in fields traditionally dominated by men can receive grants from this nonprofit. For example, the Selected Professions Fellowship can provide funds worth between $5,000 and $18,000 to women pursuing degrees in areas such as STEM, law and medicine. National Health Service Corps: Students planning to provide medical care to underserved communities can apply for scholarships, plus a living stipend of nearly $1400, through this federal program run by the Department of Health and Human Services.
There is a huge variety of grants and scholarships out there, but in most cases it’s up to you to find them. Start with your college’s website, and look for any opportunities you might qualify for based on your personal characteristics or academic or extracurricular background. Check for scholarships with local community organizations and your parents’ employers, as well.
Private nonprofits and foundations provide scholarships to students with particular interests, like music, photography or poetry. There are also scholarships for you if you identify as LGBTQ, and scholarships for black and Latino students. Once you land on a major (say, for example, nursing), professional organizations and foundations offer scholarships, and if you plan to study abroad, there’s funding for that, too. Student Loan Hero even offers a scholarship.
Getting scholarships and grants in Pennsylvania
The more free money you’re able to get for college, the better, so take the time to research and apply for as many scholarships as you can. Don’t be discouraged by seemingly small award amounts — several of them can add up, and you could use them to help offset the cost of a new laptop or textbooks.
Once you’ve maxed out grant and scholarship aid, accept any work-study funding you’re offered — and make sure to submit the FAFSA as early as possible to get access to it, since it’s first-come, first served.
Next, apply for federal student loans, which typically have lower interest rates and more forgiveness and repayment options than private student loans. Consider private loans as a last resort if you have a funding gap to cover.
Financing college in Pennsylvania means doing your best to skip a big student loan bill when you graduate — and with determination and thoughtful research, you can do it.
Need a student loan? Here are our top student loan lenders of 2019!
LenderVariable APREligibility 1 Important Disclosures for Ascent. Ascent Disclosures
Before taking out private student loans, you should explore and compare all financial aid alternatives, including grants, scholarships, and federal student loans and consider your future monthly payments and income. Applying with a cosigner may improve your chance of getting approved and could help you qualify for a lower interest rate. Ascent Student Loans may be funded by Richland State Bank (RSB). Ascent Student Loan products are subject to credit qualification, completion of a loan application, verification of application information and certification of loan amount by a participating school. Loan products may not be available in certain jurisdictions, and certain restrictions, limitations; and terms and conditions may apply. Ascent is a federally registered trademark of Turnstile Capital Management (TCM) and may be used by RSB under limited license. Richland State Bank is a federally registered service mark of Richland State Bank.
Ascent rates are effective as of 04/01/2019 and include a 0.25% discount applied when a borrower in repayment elects automatic debit payments via their personal checking account. Competitive rates calculated monthly at the time of loan approval. Ascent Tuition Cosigned Loan: Variable rate loans are based on a margin between 2.00% and 11.00% plus the 1-Month London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR), rounded to the nearest 1/100th of a percent. The current LIBOR is 2.491%, which may adjust monthly. Your interest rate may increase or decrease, based on LIBOR monthly changes, resulting in an APR range between 4.24% – 13.24%. Fixed rate loans have an APR range between 5.07% – 14.15%. For Ascent Tuition loan current rates and repayment examples visit www.AscentTuition.com/APR. Ascent Independent Non-Cosigned Loan: Variable rate loans are based on a margin between 4.00% and 12.50% plus the 1-Month London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR), rounded to the nearest 1/100th of a percent. The current LIBOR is 2.491%, which may adjust monthly. Your interest rate may increase or decrease, based on LIBOR monthly changes, resulting in an APR range between 5.88% – 13.16%. Fixed rate loans have an APR range between 6.69% – 13.45%. For Ascent Independent non-cosigned loan current rates and repayment examples visit www.AscentIndependent.com/APR. Payments may be deferred. Subject to lender discretion, forbearance and/or deferment options may be available for borrowers who are encountering financial distress. Making interest only or partial interest payments while in school will not reduce the principal balance of the loan. There are three (3) flexible in-school repayment options that include fully deferred, interest only and $25 minimum repayment. Flexible repayment plans may be offered up to a fifteen (15) year repayment term for a variable rate loan and ten (10) year repayment term for a fixed rate loan. Students must be enrolled at least half-time at an eligible school. Minimum loan amount is $2,000. Interest rate reduction of 0.25% for enrollment in automatic debit applies only when the borrower and/or cosigner signs up for automatic payments and the regularly scheduled, current amount due (including full, flat, or interest only payments, as applicable) is successfully deducted from the designated bank account each month. Interest rate reduction(s) will not apply during periods when no payment is due, including periods of In-School, Deferment, Grace or Forbearance. If you have two (2) returned payments for Nonsufficient Funds, we may cancel your automatic debit enrollment and you will lose the 0.25% interest rate reduction. You will then need to re-qualify and re-enroll in automatic debit payments to receive the 0.25% interest rate reduction. All applicants (individual and cosigner) are required to complete a brief online financial literacy course as part of the application process to be eligible for funding. Eligibility, loan amount and other loan terms are dependent on several factors, which may include: loan product, other financial aid, creditworthiness, school, program, graduation date, major, cost of attendance and other factors. Aggregate loan limits may apply. The cost of attendance is determined and certified by the educational institution. The legal age for entering into contracts is eighteen (18) years of age in every state except Alabama where it is nineteen (19) years old, Nebraska where it is nineteen (19) years old (only for wards of the state), and Mississippi and Puerto Rico where it is twenty-one (21) years old. 1% Cash Back Graduation Reward subject to terms and conditions. >Click here for details. In order to be eligible for the 1% Cash Back Graduation Reward, borrower must meet the following criteria after graduation: · The student borrower has graduated from the degree program that the loan was used to fund. · The student borrower may change majors and/or transfer to a different school, but must obtain the same level of degree (e.g. – undergraduate or graduate) · The graduation date is more than 90 days and less than five (5) years after the date of the loan’s first disbursement. · Any loan that the student has borrowed under the Ascent loan is not more than 30-days delinquent or in a default status as of the graduation date and until any Graduation Reward is paid. Students can apply to release their cosigner and continue with the loan in only their name after making the first 24 consecutive regularly scheduled full principal and interest payments on-time and meeting the other eligibility criteria to qualify for the loan without a cosigner.
* Application times vary depending on the applicants ability to supply the necessary information for submission.
2 Important Disclosures for College Ave. CollegeAve Disclosures
College Ave Student Loans products are made available through either Firstrust Bank, member FDIC or M.Y. Safra Bank, FSB, member FDIC. All loans are subject to individual approval and adherence to underwriting guidelines. Program restrictions, other terms, and conditions apply.
All rates shown include the auto-pay discount. The 0.25% auto-pay interest rate reduction applies as long as a valid bank account is designated for required monthly payments. Variable rates may increase after consummation. This informational repayment example uses typical loan terms for a freshman borrower who selects the Deferred Repayment Option with an 8-year repayment term, has a $10,000 loan that is disbursed in one disbursement and a 7% variable Annual Percentage Rate (“APR”): 96 monthly payments of $179.28 while in the repayment period, for a total amount of payments of $17,211.20. Loans will never have a full principal and interest monthly payment of less than $50. Your actual rates and repayment terms may vary. As certified by your school and less any other financial aid you might receive. Minimum $1,000.
Information advertised valid as of 4/1/2019. Variable interest rates may increase after consummation.
3 Important Disclosures for Discover. Discover Disclosures At least a 3.0 GPA (or equivalent) qualifies for a one-time cash reward of 1% of the loan amount of each new Discover undergraduate and graduate student loan. Reward redemption period is limited. Please visit DiscoverStudentLoans.com/Reward for any applicable reward terms and conditions. View Terms and Conditions at DiscoverStudentLoans.com/AutoDebitReward. * The Sallie Mae partner referenced is not the creditor for these loans and is compensated by Sallie Mae for the referral of Smart Option Student Loan customers. 4 = Sallie Mae Disclaimer: Click here for important information. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. 5 Important Disclosures for SunTrust. SunTrust Disclosures
Before applying for a private student loan, SunTrust recommends comparing all financial aid alternatives including grants, scholarships, and both federal and private student loans. To view and compare the available features of SunTrust private student loans, visit https://www.suntrust.com/loans/student-loans/private.
Certain restrictions and limitations may apply. SunTrust Bank reserves the right to change or discontinue this loan program without notice. Availability of all loan programs is subject to approval under the SunTrust credit policy and other criteria and may not be available in certain jurisdictions.
SunTrust Bank, Member FDIC. ©2019 SunTrust Banks, Inc. SUNTRUST, the SunTrust logo and Custom Choice Loan are trademarks of SunTrust Banks, Inc. All rights reserved.
Interest rates and APRs (Annual Percentage Rates) depend upon (a) the student’s and cosigner’s (if applicable) credit histories, (b) the repayment option and repayment term selected, (c) the requested loan amount and (d) other information provided on the online loan application. If approved, applicants will be notified of the rate applicable to your loan. Rates and terms effective for applications received on or after 3/1/2019. The current variable APRs for the program range from 4.251% APR to 13.250% APR and the current fixed APRs for the program range from 5.351% APR to 14.051% APR (the low APRs within these ranges assume a 7-year $10,000 loan, with two disbursements and no deferment; the high APRs within these ranges assume a 15-year $10,000 loan with two disbursements). The variable interest rate for each calendar month is calculated by adding the current One-month LIBOR index to your margin. LIBOR stands for London Interbank Offered Rate. The One-month LIBOR is published in the Money Rates section of The Wall Street Journal (Eastern Edition). The One-month LIBOR index is captured on the 25th day of the immediately preceding calendar month (or if the 25th is not a business day, the next business day thereafter), and is rounded up to the nearest 1/8th of one percent. The current One-month LIBOR index is 2.500% on 3/1/2019. The variable interest rate will increase or decrease if the One-month LIBOR index changes. The fixed rate assigned to a loan will never change except as required by law or if you request and qualify for the auto pay discount. Any applicant who applies for a loan the month of, the month prior to, or the month after the student’s graduation date, as stated on the application or certified by the school, will only be offered the Immediate Repayment option. The student must be enrolled at least half-time to be eligible for the partial interest, fully deferred and interest only repayment options unless the loan is being used for a past due balance and the student is out of school. With the Full Deferment option, payments may be deferred while the student is enrolled at least half-time at an approved school and during the six month grace period after graduation or dropping below half-time status, but the total initial deferment period, including the grace period, may not exceed 66 months from the first disbursement date. The Partial Interest Repayment option (paying $25 per month during in-school deferment) is only available on loans of $5,000 or more. For payment examples, see footnote 7. With the Immediate Repayment option, the first payment of principal and interest will be due approximately 30-60 calendar days after the final disbursement date and the minimum monthly payment is $50.00. There are no prepayment penalties. The 15-year term and Partial Interest Repayment option (paying $25 per month during in-school deferment) are only available for loan amounts of $5,000 or more. Making interest only or partial interest payments while in school deferment (including the grace period) will not reduce the principal balance of the loan. Payment examples within this footnote assume a 45-month deferment period, a six-month grace period before entering repayment and the Partial Interest Repayment option. 7-year term: $10,000 loan disbursed over two transactions with a 7-year repayment term (84 months) and 8.468% APR would result in a monthly principal and interest payment of $199.90. 10-year term: $10,000 loan disbursed over two transactions with a 10-year repayment term (120 months) and 8.938% APR would result in a monthly principal and interest payment of $162.92. 15-year term: $10,000 loan disbursed over two transactions with a 15-year repayment term (180 months) and 9.423% APR would result in a monthly principal and interest payment of $136.90. The 2% principal reduction is based on the total dollar amount of all disbursements made, excluding any amounts that are reduced, cancelled, or returned. To receive this principal reduction, it must be requested from the servicer, the student borrower must have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher and proof of such graduation (e.g. copy of diploma, final transcript or letter on school letterhead) must be provided to the servicer. This reward is available once during the life of the loan, regardless of whether the student receives more than one degree. Earn an interest rate reduction for making automatic payments of principal and interest from a bank account (“auto pay discount”). Earn a 0.25% interest rate reduction when you auto pay from any bank account and an extra 0.25% interest rate reduction when you auto pay from a SunTrust Bank checking, savings, or money market account. The auto pay discount will continue until (1) automatic deduction of payments is stopped (including during any deferment or forbearance) or (2) three automatic deductions are returned for insufficient funds during the life of the loan. The extra 0.25% interest rate reduction when you auto pay from a SunTrust Bank account will be applied after the first automatic payment is successfully deducted and will be removed for the reasons stated above. In the event the auto pay discount is removed, the loan will accrue interest at the rate stated in your Credit Agreement. The auto pay discount is not available when payments are deferred or when the loan is in forbearance, even if payments are being made. A cosigner may be released from the loan upon request to the servicer provided that the student borrower is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident alien, has met credit criteria and met either one of the following payment conditions: (a) the first 36 consecutive monthly principal and interest payments have been made on-time (received by the servicer within 10 calendar days after their due date) or (b) the loan has not had any late payments and has been prepaid prior to the end of the first 36 months of scheduled principal and interest payments in an amount equal to the first 36 months of scheduled principal and interest payments (based on the monthly payment amount in effect when you make the most recent payment). As an example, if you have made 30 months of consecutive on-time payments, and then, based on the monthly payment amount in effect on the due date of your 31st consecutive monthly payment, you pay a lump sum equal to 6 months of payments, you will have satisfied the payment condition. Cosigner release may not be available if a loan is in forbearance. If the student dies after any part of the loan has been disbursed, and the loan has not been charged off due to non-payment or bankruptcy, then the outstanding balance will be forgiven if the servicer is informed of the student’s death and receives acceptable proof of death. If the student becomes totally and permanently disabled after any part of the loan has been disbursed and the loan has not been charged off due to non-payment or bankruptcy, the loan will be forgiven upon the servicer’s receipt and approval of a completed discharge application. If the student borrower dies or becomes totally and permanently disabled prior to the full disbursement of the loan, and the loan is forgiven, all future disbursements will be cancelled. Loan forgiveness for student death or disability is available at any point throughout the life of the loan. 6 Important Disclosures for LendKey. LendKey Disclosures
Additional terms and conditions apply. For more details see
The post Pennsylvania Scholarships and Grants: How to Find Them and Apply appeared first on Student Loan Hero.
from Updates About Loans https://studentloanhero.com/featured/student-grants-scholarships-pennsylvania/
0 notes
Text
Rob’s Rundown: Week of February 25 – March 1, 2019
Senator Portman delivered remarks on the Senate floor Thursday to honor the life of Ohio native Otto Warmbier and to remind everyone of his wrongful imprisonment and horrible mistreatment at the hands of the North Korean regime and its dictator Kim Jong Un.
Also this week, Portman chaired a Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI) hearing and delivered remarks on a new bipartisan report that details the lack of transparency in how American colleges and universities manage Confucius Institutes—which are located at more than 100 American colleges and universities and have received more than $158 million in support from the Chinese government. These Confucius Institutes are controlled, funded, and mostly staffed by the Chinese government. Later that day, Portman spoke on the Senate Floor about the report and hearing, and discussed the new commitments he received at the PSI hearing from (1) the Department of Education to issue new guidance to the more than 3,000 schools it oversees to ensure schools know they’re obligated to report receiving these foreign government funding sources; and (2) the State Department to do more to ensure visas are being properly used at Confucius Institutes around the country.
In addition, Portman introduced legislation this week called the Recovering Excessive Funds for Unused and Needless Drugs (REFUND) Act that would enable Medicare to recoup money from drug companies that were paid for wasted medications in order to lower prescription drug prices for seniors enrolled in Medicare and reduce costs for taxpayers.
For a more detailed look at Senator Portman’s week, please see the following:
Monday, February 25
Ohio and National Business Leaders Praise Portman’s Bipartisan Trade Security Act
Portman believes we must hold countries that violate our trade laws accountable, but we must do so in a way that protects American jobs and strengthens the U.S. economy. Recently, Portman introduced bipartisan legislation called the Trade Security Act, which will reform the Section 232 tariff process to ensure this trade remedy tool is used only for genuine threats to national security. In keeping with the original intent of Section 232 as a national security tool, this bill requires the Department of Defense to justify the national security basis for new tariffs under Section 232 and increases congressional oversight of this process. The bill has garnered praise from business groups in Ohio and across the country who view the legislation as a common-sense solution for preserving this important tool while reserving it for genuine national security threats. Here is a sampling of support.
Portman, Durbin Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Tackle PhRMA Waste in Oversized Prescription Drug Packaging
Portman and Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced a bipartisan bill that would reduce the egregious wasted spending on discarded medications that are the result of excessively large, single-use drug vials. The Recovering Excessive Funds for Unused and Needless Drugs (REFUND) Act would enable Medicare to recoup money from drug companies who were paid for wasted medications, and provide savings to seniors enrolled in Medicare.
Tuesday, February 26
Portman’s Bipartisan Migratory Birds Legislation Ready for the President’s Signature
Tuesday the House of Representatives approved bipartisan legislation introduced by Portman – the Migratory Birds of the Americas Conservation Act (S. 310) – which will reauthorize the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s program to promote the long-term conservation, education, research, monitoring, and habitat protection for more than 380 species of migratory birds. The measure is now headed to the president’s desk for his signature. Portman introduced the bill with Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), and it was approved by the Senate and House as part of a larger legislation that includes more than 100 public lands, natural resources, and water bills. Portman issued the following statement:
“Hundreds of bird species migrate through Ohio each year, making Lake Erie one of the most popular destinations for birdwatching. Birding contributes more than $20 million to Ohio’s tourism industry and attracts visitors from across the world each year. Protecting and conserving these bird populations is critically important and I am pleased the House approved this bipartisan legislation. I urge the president to sign this legislation into law without delay.”
Portman, Brown Measure to Protect the Ohio & Erie Canalway & Support Northeast Ohio Jobs Ready for the President’s Signature
The House of Representatives Tuesday passed bipartisan legislation introduced by Portman and Sherrod Brown to ensure that the Ohio & Erie Canalway National Heritage Area, which spans more than 110 miles between New Philadelphia and Cleveland, can continue to draw investment, and support local jobs, tourism and economic development in northeast Ohio. The bill is now headed to the president’s desk for his signature. Portman and Brown’s measure was included as part of a broader public lands package that has passed by both the House and Senate.
“This legislation will provide greater funding certainty for the Ohio & Erie Canalway National Heritage Area, which will help ensure that this site is protected and continues to attract jobs and investment,” said Portman. “The canal holds great significance to the state of Ohio, from helping our early towns and communities prosper to linking our state to the rest of the nation. I am proud to be one of the 2.5 million visitors who enjoy the canal’s towpath trail each year, and I urge the President to sign this legislation into law.”
Wednesday, February 27
Senators Portman & Carper Unveil Bipartisan Report on Confucius Institutes at U.S. Universities & K-12 Classrooms
Following an eight-month long investigation, U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Tom Carper (D-DE), the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI), unveiled a new bipartisan report that details the lack of transparency in how American colleges and universities manage Confucius Institutes—which are located at more than 100 American colleges and universities and have received more than $150 million in support from the Chinese government. These Confucius Institutes are controlled, funded, and mostly staffed by the Chinese government. The report also details China’s one-sided treatment of U.S. schools and key State Department programs in China, and documents the lack of oversight by the Departments of State and Education of U.S. Confucius Institutes.
“This bipartisan report documents the stunning lack of transparency and reciprocity from China in how Confucius Institutes operate inside the United States. As China has expanded Confucius Institutes here in the U.S., it has systematically shut down key U.S. State Department public diplomacy efforts on Chinese college campuses,” said Senator Portman. “We learned that schools in the United States— from kindergarten to college—have provided a level of access to the Chinese government that the Chinese government has refused to provide to the United States. That level of access can stifle academic freedom and provide students and others exposed to Confucius Institute programming with an incomplete picture of Chinese government actions and policies that run counter to U.S. interests at home and abroad. Absent full transparency regarding how Confucius Institutes operate and full reciprocity for U.S. cultural outreach efforts on college campuses in China, Confucius Institutes should not continue in the United States.”
At Senate Foreign Relations Committee Hearing, Portman Questions Experts on Current Issues with Russia and China
During a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, Portman questioned experts about current global and national issues with Russia and China. Portman discussed his bipartisan efforts to fully utilize the Global Engagement Center, which was tasked with leading U.S. government efforts to counter propaganda and disinformation from countries like Russia and China through legislation that Portman and Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) wrote and successfully passed in 2016. Portman also highlighted a hearing held Thursday by the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI), which he chairs, that examined China’s impact on the United States education system. PSI used its broad investigatory power over the last eight months to examine Confucius Institutes, which are located at more than 100 American colleges and universities and have received more than $150 million in support from the Chinese government.
Excerpts of his questioning can be found here and a video can be found here
Thursday, February 28
Portman Opening Statement at PSI Oversight Hearing on China’s Impact on the U.S. Education System
Thursday, Portman, the Chairman of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI), delivered the following opening remarks at a hearing to examine China’s impact on the United States education system. Yesterday, Portman and Senator Tom Carper (D-DE) unveiled a new bipartisan report that details the lack of transparency in how American colleges and universities manage Confucius Institutes—which are located at more than 100 American colleges and universities and have received more than $158 million in support from the Chinese government. These Confucius Institutes are controlled, funded, and mostly staffed by the Chinese government. The report also details China’s one-sided treatment of U.S. schools and key State Department programs in China, and documents the lack of oversight by the Departments of State and Education of U.S. Confucius Institutes.
Here is a transcript of Portman’s opening statement and you can watch his opening statement here.
Portman on North Korea: “We Can’t Be Naive About What They Did to Otto”
Portman delivered remarks on the Senate floor Thursday to honor the life of Ohio native Otto Warmbier and to remind everyone of the North Korean regime’s unnecessary detainment and terrible mistreatment of Warmbier.
In his speech, Portman said, “We can’t be naive about what they did to Otto, about the brutal nature of the regime…”
Transcript can be found here and a video can be found here.
Friday, March 1
On Senate Floor, Portman Delivers Remarks on China’s Impact on the U.S. Education System
Portman, the Chairman of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI), delivered remarks on the Senate floor highlighting China’s impact on the United States education system. Building upon the opening remarks Portman delivered at the PSI hearing, Portman highlighted a new bipartisan report that details the lack of transparency in how American colleges and universities manage Confucius Institutes—which are located at more than 100 American colleges and universities and have received more than $158 million in support from the Chinese government. These Confucius Institutes are controlled, funded, and mostly staffed by the Chinese government. Portman also discussed the new commitments he received at the PSI hearing from (1) the Department of Education to issue new guidance to the more than 3,000 schools it oversees to ensure schools know they’re obligated to report receiving these foreign government funding sources; and (2) the State Department to do more to ensure visas are being properly used at Confucius Institutes around the country.
A transcript of Portman’s remarks are here and a video can be found here.
Ohio Conservation Leaders Praise Portman’s Bipartisan Legislation to Fund National Parks’ Maintenance Backlog
Last month, Portman introduced the Restore Our Parks Act, bipartisan legislation that would address the nearly $12 billion backlog in long-delayed maintenance projects at the National Park Service (NPS). This legislation has been praised by Pew Charitable Trusts, the National Parks Conservation Association, the U.S. Travel Association, National Trust for Historic Preservation, and the Trust for the National Mall. The linked are supportive statements from Ohio conservation leaders who support the legislation.
On Social Media
Stivers, Portman not buying N. Korea denials on Warmbier - as Trump apparently has
WASHINGTON — In an apparent swipe at President Donald Trump, Sen. Rob Portman said the United States cannot “be naïve” in its dealings with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and the “brutal nature of a regime” whose mistreatment of Otto Warmbier led to his death in 2017.
Speaking on the Senate floor after Trump said earlier Thursday in Hanoi he did not believe the “top leadership” in North Korea knew of Warmbier being badly treated in prison, the Ohio Republican said Warmbier’s “detainment and his sentence were appalling; unacceptable by any standards.”
“We can’t be naïve about what they did to Otto, about the brutal nature of the regime that would do this to an American citizen,” said Portman.
Warmbier, who was from the Cincinnati suburb of Wyoming and attended the University of Virginia, was seized by North Korean officials during a trip to the reclusive country. While in prison, Warmbier suffered a severe brain injury and he died in a Cincinnati hospital just days after Pyongyang released him.
At a news conference in Hanoi, Trump said Kim told him during a summit that “he felt badly” about Warmbier’s death from “bad things” in prison. But Kim “tells me that he didn’t know about it and I will take him at his word,” Trump said.
“I know the Warmbier family very well,” said the president, who had them as his guests at this year’s State of the Union speech. “I think they’re an incredible family. What happened is horrible. I really believe something very bad happened to him.”
But Portman, who favors talks with Pyongyang on reducing its arsenal of nuclear weapons, cast doubt on Kim’s claim.
“Who did the North Korean government tell about the fact that he had this brain damage? Portman asked. “No one. Unbelievable.”
Other Ohio lawmakers were even blunter in their criticisms.
“Warmbier’s life was taken by the abusive and oppressive regime in North Korea,” Dayton Republican Rep. Mike Turner said. “As the head of that regime, Kim Jong-Un bears full responsibility for Otto’s death.”
Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, said “North Korea murdered” Warmbier and Trump “has a responsibility to make sure they face the consequences. Anything short of that is unacceptable.”
The Ohio Democrat added, “The president of the United States is sending a message to dictators around the world that he believes autocrats when they lie or when they cover up, or when they justify policies that result in the deaths of human beings.”
Rep. Steve Stivers, R-Upper Arlington, said it is “hard for me to believe that Kim Jong-un had no knowledge of Otto Warmbier’s treatment. Regardless of whether he was aware or not, he is ultimately responsible.”
“Any leader who allows gulags to operate in their country and allows thousands to die as a result is responsible for each and every one of those deaths,” Stivers said.
A spokesman for Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said the Republican “respectfully declines comment.”
A federal judge has ordered North Korea to pay more than $500 million in a wrongful death suit by Warmbier’s parents.
Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley also seemed to distance herself from Trump, tweeting: “Americans know the cruelty that was placed on Otto Warmbier by the North Korean regime.”
Rep. Adam Schiff, D-California, questioned in a tweet Trump “accepting Kim’s denial of involvement in Warmbier’s death? Detestable, and hearkens back to Trump’s duplicitous acceptances of denials from other dictators.”
Trump has also given credibility to denials by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of misdeeds despite information from U.S. intelligence agencies.
In July 2018, Trump said in a joint news conference with the Russian leader that Putin “was extremely strong and powerful in his denial” and thus Trump didn’t “see any reason” to believe he was involved in attempts to manipulate American elections. Later, Trump backed off that remark somewhat.
Trump also expressed belief in bin Salman’s denial — again despite U.S. intelligence findings — that the Saudi government was not involved in last fall’s killing of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
(Stivers, Portman not buying N. Korea denials on Warmbier - as Trump apparently has. Columbus Dispatch. February 28, 2019.)
Colleges’ program with China comes under Senate’s crosshairs
A bipartisan report from Congress is urging U.S. colleges and universities to sever ties with the Confucius Institute, a program that allows the Chinese government to help teach language classes on American campuses but that, according to critics, poses a threat to national security and academic freedom.
The report, released Wednesday, found that federal agencies have failed to monitor the program and the $158 million it has sent to the United States since 2006. The panel says the program should “not continue in the United States” unless Chinese officials provide full transparency and offer the U.S. equal opportunities for cultural outreach in China.
“We learned that schools in the United States — from kindergarten to college — have provided a level of access to the Chinese government that the Chinese government has refused to provide to the United States,” said Sen. Rob Portman, an Ohio Republican who leads the Senate’s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations.
More than 100 U.S. colleges host Confucius Institutes through partnerships with Hanban, an affiliate of China’s Ministry of Education. Hanban provides teachers and directors from China, along with textbooks and startup funding of $100,000 to $200,000. Schools have to sign a contract with Hanban and agree to split the cost.
The investigation by Portman’s panel found that the deals give Chinese authorities too much control over programs on U.S. soil.
Many colleges told investigators they don’t know how Hanban selects its teachers or if its process aligns with campus hiring policies. Teachers sent by Hanban sign contracts saying they will “safeguard national interests” for China. As a result, the Senate found, the program often depicts China as “approachable and compassionate” while leaving out critical views of the country.
The report adds to mounting scrutiny of a program that has been dogged by criticism for years. Professors have said China’s control of the program encourages schools to avoid events or speakers that might be seen as controversial by China.
The Confucius Institute U.S. Center did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.
At least 10 schools have announced plans to close Confucius Institutes since the start of 2018, including the University of Michigan, Texas A&M University and the University of Minnesota.
Last April, the Texas A&M University system closed its Confucius Institutes at the request of two Texas congressmen who called the program a threat to national security. The system’s chancellor, John Sharp, said at the time he didn’t question the lawmakers’ judgment.
The University of Rhode Island closed its institute in January to preserve federal funding for its Chinese language program after a 2018 national defense bill explicitly barred schools from using Defense Department money on Chinese language programs if the school hosts Confucius Institutes.
The Senate panel acknowledged that there are mixed views on the institutes. While some school officials told investigators they had concerns about China’s influence, others reported no concerns about academic freedom or undue control.
The congressional report called for increased oversight of the program.
At the State Department, officials have been ramping up oversight, the report found. Last year, the U.S. revoked 32 visas for Chinese nationals who said they were coming for research but were found to be teaching at Confucius Institutes. This year the department plans to take a close look at more campuses.
At the same time, the report found that the State Department doesn’t collect information on Confucius Institute employees and doesn’t know how many are in the U.S. The Education Department tells schools to report foreign gifts of more than $250,000, but the Senate found that 70 percent that received that amount from Hanban didn’t properly report it, and the agency didn’t catch it.
Through its own investigation, the Senate found that Hanban has sent more than $158 million to more than 100 U.S. schools since 2006.
Sen. Tom Carper of Delaware, the top Democrat on the investigations panel, said that while there’s no evidence of illegal activity, U.S. officials must “have our eyes wide open about the presence of these institutes in our schools and around young, impressionable students,” especially since the program is tied to “a much different worldview than ours.”
In response to the early success of the Confucius Institutes, the State Department launched its own American Cultural Center program in 2010, paying more than $5 million to set up 29 outposts at Chinese universities. But China has routinely interfered with the program and its activities, the Senate found.
But the program was ended in October 2018 after the State Department’s internal watchdog found that it was ineffective, the report revealed.
The panel encouraged colleges to continue partnering with Chinese universities in other ways. “Partnering with foreign universities offers students unique international learning experiences and enhances research opportunities,” it said. “U.S. schools, however, should never, under any circumstances, compromise academic freedom.”
(Colleges’ program with China comes under Senate’s crosshairs. Associated Press. February 27, 2019.)
###
from Rob Portman http://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/rob-s-rundown?ContentRecord_id=091A0C43-B7F5-472F-A5FD-94AAE16E3406
0 notes
Text
Trump intervention comment may be gift to Huawei CFO
VANCOUVER/HONG KONG (Reuters) – Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou, released on bail on Tuesday to await a ruling on U.S. extradition at one of her luxury Vancouver homes, may have received welcome ammunition in court from an unlikely source – President Donald Trump.
U.S. President Donald Trump walks out from the White House in Washington before his departure for the annual Army-Navy college football game in Philadelphia, U.S., December 8, 2018. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas/File Photo
As the hearing was winding up in a Canadian court, Trump told Reuters he would intervene in the U.S. Justice Department’s case against Meng if it would serve national security interests or help close a trade deal with China.
Legal experts and Canadian officials said the comments could allow Meng’s lawyers to contend her prosecution is politically motivated, an argument that would resonate in Canada where judges are particularly wary of abuse of the court system.
“He has handed her lawyers an opportunity to argue that the prosecution has been politicized and the extradition proceedings should end,” said Robert Currie, a professor of international law at Dalhousie University in Halifax. A Canadian official agreed that the comments could be raised.
Currie also said, however: “It’s not a sure thing.”
U.S. prosecutors accuse Meng, the chief financial officer and daughter of the founder of Huawei Technologies Co Ltd [HWT.UL], of misleading multinational banks about Iran-linked transactions, putting the banks at risk of violating U.S. sanctions. Meng says she is innocent.
If a Canadian judge rules the case is strong enough, Canada’s justice minister must next decide whether to extradite Meng to the United States. If so, Meng would face U.S. charges of conspiracy to defraud multiple financial institutions, with a maximum sentence of 30 years for each charge.
The Justice Department bristled at Trump’s remarks, which referred to current efforts by China and the United States to negotiate a deal to resolve their trade war.
Asked about the comments at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Wednesday, Assistant Attorney General John Demers said his department was not “a tool of trade.”
“What we do at the Justice Department is law enforcement. We don’t do trade,” said Demers, the department’s top national security official.
Meng’s lawyer was not reachable for comment on Wednesday. The White House did not reply immediately to a request for comment.
Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said the legal process should not be hijacked for political purposes and that Meng’s lawyers would have the option of raising Trump’s remarks if they decided to fight extradition.
“Our extradition partners should not seek to politicize the extradition process or use it for ends other than the pursuit of justice and following the rule of law,” she said.
BARGAINING CHIP
Meng is one of her country’s most powerful businesswomen and her father, Huawei CEO Ren Zhengfei, is a former People’s Liberation Army engineer.
The company, which builds everything from networks to handsets, is China’s largest technology company by employees, with more than 180,000 staff and revenue of $93 billion in 2017.
Bennett Gershman, a professor at Pace Law School in New York, said it was hard to see how national security or foreign policy could justify a possible intervention by Trump in the Huawei case.
“It seems like Trump is using this case as a bargaining chip in our trade deals and for financial gains,” Gershman said.
There is precedent for White House involvement in criminal cases for foreign policy reasons. The Obama administration in 2016 dismissed charges against a man based on “significant foreign policy interests” related to Iran’s nuclear program and agreed on a prisoner swap with Iran.
Earlier this year, Trump revisited penalties against Chinese company ZTE Corp for violating trade sanctions with Iran, saying the telecom maker is a big buyer for U.S. suppliers.
The case against Meng stems from a 2013 Reuters report that Huawei had close ties to a Hong Kong-based firm that attempted to sell U.S. equipment to Iran despite U.S. and European Union bans.
ANKLE MONITOR, MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR HOMES
No matter what the politics, one thing seems clear – Meng will be staying in Vancouver for a long time. It can take up to 12 years to exhaust all legal avenues in the Canadian extradition process.
Meng appeared to be settling into one of the two multimillion-dollar properties she owns in the city, a likely relief after spending 10 days in a women’s prison that a former inmate described as spartan, with little privacy.
“I am in Vancouver, got back with my family,” Meng posted on her account on Chinese instant messaging platform WeChat after her release. “Thanks to everyone for your concern.”
Fitted with an ankle monitor and hampered by severe restrictions on her movements, the executive faces a dramatic comedown from the jet-set lifestyle described in court documents.
Meng’s seven passports issued by China and Hong Kong held stamps showing travels around the world including to the United States, Mauritius, South Africa, Madagascar, Ghana, Mali and Myanmar, court documents showed.
She became a Canadian permanent resident in 2001, but her status expired in 2009, according to the court hearing.
U.S. prosecutors believe she stopped traveling to the United States after Huawei learned of the criminal investigation being pursued by the Justice Department in April 2017.
FILE PHOTO: Meng Wanzhou, Executive Board Director of the Chinese technology giant Huawei, attends a session of the VTB Capital Investment Forum “Russia Calling!” in Moscow, Russia October 2, 2014. REUTERS/Alexander Bibik/File Photo
Her lawyers told the court that she will spend Christmas with her husband, Liu Xiaozong, 43, her daughter and one of her sons. Liu identified himself in court documents as a venture capitalist and Meng’s lawyer said he previously worked for Huawei in Mexico.
The couple married in Hong Kong in 2007 and have the one daughter together, said Liu, in addition to Meng’s three sons from previous marriages, aged between 14 and 20. One is enrolled at Eaglebrook school in Massachusetts in the seventh grade, according to a Dec. 6 character reference from its headmaster.
“I have been working hard for 25 years and … my only simple goal would be to be with my husband and daughter,” Meng’s lawyer quoted her as saying on Tuesday. “I haven’t read a novel in years.”
Additional reporting by Tina Bellon, Jan Wolfe and Anthony Lin in New York; Writing by Anne Marie Roantree and Denny Thomas; Editing by Alex Richardson and Sonya Hepinstall
Our Standards:The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
Source link
from RSSUnify feed https://hashtaghighways.com/2018/12/13/trump-intervention-comment-may-be-gift-to-huawei-cfo/
0 notes