USD ANNOUNCES NEW CENTER TO EMPHASIZE THE VALUE OF THE HUMANITIES
Unique Center will focus on undergraduate student and faculty engagement
SAN DIEGO – Preparing students for purposeful lives and successful careers, the University of San Diego has opened a centrally located Humanities Center. The Humanities Center provides a space for the campus and the San Diego community to study and explore the human condition and the limitless ways human beings understand and interact with the world.
Noelle Norton, dean of USD’s College of Arts and Sciences, who led the campaign for the Center, says “We believe an understanding of history, art, philosophy, literature and language, is relevant for all citizens. In order to make reasonable, ethical and informed life choices as individuals and members of local and global communities, we need to think broadly and inclusively about our place in the universe. Our plan is to help our students connect the liberal arts: past, present and future.”
Associate Professor of Philosophy, Brian Clack, PhD, has been appointed director of the Humanities Center. Clack says, “Our Humanities Center will have four primary thrusts: collaborative research; digital humanities; interdisciplinary curriculum development; and public humanities. Our Center will offer unique opportunities for engagement between faculty and undergraduate students, and will welcome members of the San Diego community to become involved and engaged with our Center.”
In the months ahead, the Humanities Center will launch new programs that inspire the study and integration of the humanities. Two programs that are already underway focus on veterans and palliative care. The Philosophy for Veterans program, for example, is a unique partnership between USD and the Travis Manion Foundation that resurrects the notion that philosophy is “medicine for the soul,” a conception that opens up philosophical investigation to every person, and shows it to be especially valuable to those who have experienced life's more turbulent and troubling phenomena. The program opens concepts of philosophy to every person and investigates notions such as: the scope and nature of belief and knowledge; the character of ethics and of moral responsibility; and the very possibility of a purposeful and happy life. Participating veterans receive will participate in a semester long seminar free of charge.
“The humanities, as we’re focusing on them, is holistic,” says Clack. “This center will allow students to experience firsthand the many ways their studies can affect people – and the strange, sad, beautiful and wondrous experience of being human. Our Center will bring together what students are learning in various disciplines in a unified and integrated way.”
Through the Center’s Digital Humanities initiative, faculty and students will collaborate to blend technology and rigorous humanities scholarship to generate and record new knowledge that will enhance understanding of all forms of human thought for generations to come.
The Center’s focus on developing new interdisciplinary curriculum will ensure the Center’s academic partners engage faculty from across disciplines. Exploring intractable challenges, such as sustainability and social entrepreneurship, from integrated academic disciplines will better prepare USD students to address societal challenges post-graduation.
The San Diego community will have several opportunities to become involved with the Humanities Center throughout the academic year. Last year, the College of Arts and Sciences launched the Illume Speaker Series, a series of public events which invites distinguished thought leaders whose work focuses on humanistic study to speak to the broader San Diego community. The 2016 – 2017 schedule of Illume Speaker Series events can be found by clicking here.
About the University of San Diego
The University of San Diego is a Catholic institution of higher learning committed to teaching the liberal arts and preparing students to be ethical leaders and compassionate citizens. Chartered in 1949, the university enrolls approximately 8,300 undergraduate and graduate full-time equivalent students. The University of San Diego has a long history of public service and is one of only 36 universities in the world recognized as a Changemaker Campus by Ashoka, the global association of the world’s leading social entrepreneurs. The university’s eight academic divisions include the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Business, the Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering, the School of Law, the School of Leadership and Education Sciences, the Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science, the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies, and the Division of Professional and Continuing Education. USD launched Leading Change, the $300 million Campaign for USD earlier this year.
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More Delight in Every Bite with Red Button Vintage Creamery Premium Pies
Utah company adds seven new flavors in time for the holidays
Salt Lake City, UT (November 1, 2016) The holidays just got a little sweeter thanks to Red Button Vintage Creamery Premium Pies. The Utah company is launching seven new varieties of the award-winning pies just in time later this month. New flavors include: Banana Cream, Coconut Cream, French Silk, Lemon Meringue, Turtle Pie, Apple Cranberry and Pumpkin Pie. The premium pies are available at more than 300 Associated Food Stores retailers.
“Pie is a staple of the holidays and we are excited to bring more flavors, including the classic pumpkin pie, to our guests just in time for Thanksgiving,” said Boyd Irving, director of exclusive brands for AFS.
Launched in 2016, Red Button Vintage Creamery Premium Pies are created through a partnership with Rocky Mountain Pies and are made exclusively in Utah. Each pie is made with the freshest ingredients including fresh fruit, cane sugar and many include flavor-infused crusts. Most of the pies total approximately four pounds and are ready to bake and serve. The seven new flavors join the six original pies: Dazzleberry, Cherry Almond Praline, Apple Crumb, Peach Blueberry, Pineapple Upside down and Sea Salt Caramel Crumb. Earlier this year, Red Button Vintage Creamery Premium Pies received blue ribbons at the National Pie Championship.
To learn more about Red Button Vintage Creamery Pies and to find a retailer near you, visit www.redbuttoncreamery.com
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About Associated Food Stores
Associated Food Stores is an independent retailer-owned warehouse based in Salt Lake City, Utah, which provides complete warehouse facilities and services to over 400 grocers throughout the Intermountain West. To learn more about Associated Food Stores or to find a retailer near you, visit www.afstores.com.
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DIPLOMA to Continue Educational Transformation in Tennessee School District
The digital integration program will provide laptops for Maury County students and teachers
COLUMBIA, Tenn. – A new digital education program will change the way Maury County students learn.
Maury County Public Schools unveiled DIPLOMA, a one-to-one digital integration plan, at a press conference Tuesday at Spring Hill High School. The initiative will shift the school district to digital learning by providing all students and teachers in grades three through 12 at select schools with a laptop to take back and forth between home and school. Students and teachers in kindergarten through second grade will use the technology at school.
DIPLOMA stands for “Digital Integration Plan for Learning on Mobile and Accessibility.” The name was conceived by Spring Hill High School junior Luke Nicholson as part of a student contest that drew 220 entries. MCPS is partnering with Discovery Education to implement the initiative.
“This program will have a major impact on the learning environments at our schools,” said MCPS Superintendent Dr. Chris Marczak. “Effective digital programs increase attendance, decrease behavioral problems, improve student success and encourage collaboration.”
DIPLOMA will be deployed at Mount Pleasant Elementary, Middle and High School this year, as well as Hampshire Unit School. the following schools this year: Eventually, MCPS plans to expand DIPLOMA to all schools in the district as budget allows. The implementation schedule will be available in the coming days.
“Our Seven Keys to College and Career Readiness require students to achieve at a higher level than we’ve ever asked of them,” Marczak said. “DIPLOMA gives them the support they need to prepare for the next step in their educations and, ultimately, their careers.”
DIPLOMA is the latest in a series of MCPS initiatives geared toward optimizing student achievement. The school system continues to add teachers, technology and curriculum options aligned with the Seven Keys. Mount Pleasant’s recently announced K-12 STEAM campus will be the first of its kind in the nation. And a growing number of businesses are partnering with schools to provide job shadowing opportunities, mentorship and resources, such as Columbia Power and Water System, whose Roundup program allows customers to round up their utilities bills to the next dollar to fund classroom technology.
In addition, MCPS co-hosted a major education forum, “Unlocking the Keys to Student Success,” last week with the Maury County Chamber and Economic Alliance. Tennessee Commissioner of Economic and Community Development Randy Boyd joined several state and local education and business leaders to discuss how area students can take advantage of the Tennessee Promise and tnAchieves programs.
“This is only the beginning of our transformation, but we are off to a flying start,” Marczak said. “Our community’s support is vital as we empower our students to break barriers.”
Nicholson and the two runners-up in the naming contest, Culleoka Unit School eighth grader Wesley Thompson and Spring Hill High School sophomore Alan Senske, each received a Lenovo laptop computer, an Amazon gift card donated by Central Technologies, a Best Buy gift card donated by Education Networks of America (ENA), and a Dairy Queen gift card that can be used at the restaurant’s Columbia and Spring Hill locations.
“We are amazed by the response we received from the hundreds of students who entered the naming contest,” Marczak said. “It serves as proof that our youth are invested in their own academic growth and excited about partnering with us.”
About Maury County Chamber and Economic Alliance:
The mission of The Maury County Chamber and Economic Alliance is to facilitate business opportunities for Chamber members and create job growth through economic development. For more information about Maury Alliance, visit mauryalliance.com.
About Maury County Public Schools:
The mission of Maury County Public Schools is to provide the educational instruction, tools and environment for every child to succeed in LIFE (Life-long learners, Independent thinkers, Fearless innovators and Exemplary citizens). For more information about MCPS, visit www.mauryk12.org.
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Local Insulation Installer to Compete for the Title of
America’s Best Insulation Installer
J Rosario Ruiz-Cardenas of Pleasant View, Utah-based J&K Insulation to compete for this year’s title and $10,000
DENVER – Nov. 2, 2016 – J Rosario Ruiz-Cardenas of J&K Insulation in Pleasant City, Utah will compete in the 14th annual America’s Best Installer competition (Nov. 10-12) at the Exdo Events Center in Denver. He will compete against more than 30 insulation installers from coast-to-coast to test his skills in a fast-paced competition for the $10,000 grand prize.
Created in 2003 by building products manufacturer Johns Manville and Insulate America, the America’s Best Installer competition emphasizes the importance of a quality insulation installation as an important way to increase energy efficiency and decrease energy waste in a home.
“America’s Best Installer gives industry professionals the opportunity to show off their skills and learn from some of the country’s best installers, while engaging in a friendly competition,” said Danelle DeGroodt of Johns Manville. “We’re proud to recognize the skilled installers who continue to raise the bar in the quality of installations to ensure a more energy efficient and comfortable home.”
During the competition, each competitor will install various types of JM formaldehyde-free insulation batts into a mock home structure complete with construction obstacles, such as electrical outlets, pipes and a vaulted ceiling. Industry-expert judges will evaluate the individual performances based upon real job site criteria, including quality of workmanship and installation, speed, and material use.
In addition to the grand-prize Best Installer winner, the competition also will recognize the second-place winner with a $5,000 cash prize, the third-place winner with a $3,500 cash prize and the fourth-place winner with a $2,500 cash prize. America’s Best Installer and the runners-up will be announced during an awards ceremony at Exdo on Nov. 12.
About Johns Manville
Johns Manville, a Berkshire Hathaway company (NYSE: BRK.A, BRK.B), is a leading manufacturer and marketer of premium-quality products for building insulation, mechanical insulation, commercial roofing, and roof insulation, as well as fibers and nonwovens for commercial, industrial and residential applications. JM serves markets that include aerospace, automotive and transportation, air handling, appliance, HVAC, pipe and equipment, filtration, waterproofing, building, flooring, interiors and wind energy. In business since 1858, the Denver-based company has annual sales of approximately $2.6 billion and holds leadership positions in many of the key markets that it serves. JM employs approximately 7,000 people and operates 44 manufacturing facilities in North America, Europe and China. Additional information can be found at www.jm.com.
About Insulate America
Insulate America is the nation’s largest independent insulation contractor. With 200 locations serving 46 states, Insulate America is committed to the highest quality workmanship and service. Training, education, sharing ideas, rigorous certifications and life-long learning separate Insulate America as professionals in the industry. Learn more at www.insulateamerica.com.
###Humana Offers Telemedicine Technology Benefit in Medicare Advantage Plans Available in Utah
Service provides 24/7 access to doctors through a relationship with MDLIVE
SALT LAKE CITY – Oct. 25, 2016 — To better meet members’ needs and expand access to care, Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM), a leading health and well-being company, is teaming up with MDLIVE, a leading telemedicine services and software provider, to provide Humana Medicare beneficiaries virtual access to doctors in select Utah counties.
Humana is including the telemedicine benefit on certain Medicare Advantage plans offered for the 2017 plan year. Members who choose plans with this benefit can access doctors through personal computers, telephone or mobile devices for a wide range of non-emergency medical conditions, such as cold and flu, headaches and skin infections, with an applicable co-pay for each visit.
Telemedicine can be beneficial for people who might need to see a doctor outside of their primary care physicians’ office hours, such as on the weekend or evenings, or when they are traveling. It can also be beneficial for those who may not have access to transportation or become unable to drive when ill. MDLIVE’s network of board-certified physicians consistently achieves high patient satisfaction scores. Telemedicine should not be used for emergency situations or chronic conditions, such as diabetes or heart disease, and does not replace an in-person visit with a primary care physician or other provider. Limitations on healthcare and prescription services delivered via telemedicine vary by state.
With the member’s consent, Humana utilizes its clinical data technology to ensure individual health records are available to MDLIVE medical professionals and the MDLIVE clinician’s prescribed treatment is shared with the member’s primary care physician.
The telemedicine benefit is offered on Humana HMO plans available in Davis, Salt Lake, Utah and Weber counties, as well as Local PPO (LPPO) plans available in Davis Salt Lake and Weber counties.
People with Medicare may select these plans during the annual Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plan enrollment period, which runs Oct. 15 through Dec. 7, 2016. Those selecting a plan with this option will be able to start using the benefit Jan. 1, 2017.
Since introducing the benefit on some Medicare Advantage plans in 2016, 90 percent of Humana members who used the service and took the post-care survey ranked their experience as either good or excellent.
“With on-demand services playing a big role in people’s lives today, it’s important that we offer our members access to on-demand care to help reduce some of the primary barriers that prevent people from getting medical care,” said Catherine Field, Intermountain Vice President for Humana’s Senior Products. “Video and telephonic visits allow our members to receive health care when and where they need it so we can help them achieve their optimal health. For Medicare beneficiaries, getting care when it’s needed may be able to help reduce hospitalizations and emergency room visits.”
Utah Medicare beneficiaries living in Davis, Salt Lake, Utah and Weber counties who are interested in utilizing MDLIVE should visit www.Humana-Medicare.com to research these plans and learn more about this and other plan benefits.
About MDLIVE
Founded in 2009, MDLIVE is a visionary and pioneer in the digital delivery of high-quality, convenient, cost-efficient virtual care for medical and behavioral health conditions. The company provides consumers, health plans, health systems and self-insured employers with 24/7/365 access to its network of board-certified doctors and licensed therapists via secure online video, and phone through the MDLIVE service and technology platform. Registered users can receive a virtual consultation through the company’s HIPAA and PHI-compliant secure, cloud-based platform from home or on the go. To learn more about how MDLIVE is using telehealth innovations to improve the delivery of healthcare, visit www.MDLIVE.com.
About Humana
Humana Inc., headquartered in Louisville, Ky., is a leading health and well-being company focused on making it easy for people to achieve their best health with clinical excellence through coordinated care. The company’s strategy integrates care delivery, the member experience, and clinical and consumer insights to encourage engagement, behavior change, proactive clinical outreach and wellness for the millions of people we serve across the country.
More information regarding Humana is available to investors via the Investor Relations page of the company’s web site at www.humana.com, including copies of:
Additional Information:
Humana is a Medicare Advantage HMO and PPO organization with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in any Humana plan depends on contract renewal. This information is not a complete description of benefits. Contact the plan for more information. Limitations, copayments and restrictions may apply. Benefits may change on January 1 of each year. Other Physicians/Providers are available in our network.
Humana Inc. and its subsidiaries (“Humana”) do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex.
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