Two Las Vegas Residents Receive University of Phoenix AMVETS Scholarships

In honor of Veterans Day, University of Phoenix and AMVETS announced
that April Di Giovanni and Samuel Mandello of Las Vegas are 2013
University of Phoenix AMVETS scholarship recipients. To recognize and
appreciate the personal sacrifices made by veterans, active-duty
service members and their families, University of Phoenix and AMVETS
have awarded $350,000 nationwide through 50 scholarships worth $7,000
each. AMVETS has teamed with University of Phoenix since 2007,
offering more than 264 scholarships to veterans, active-duty service
members and their families to help them transition from military to
the civilian sector.
Di Giovanni is the spouse of a current Las Vegas military police
officer. After being laid off from her job, Di Giovanni recognized
more than ever the importance of furthering her education. Since then,
Di Giovanni and her husband have remained active in the Las Vegas
community, volunteering with local military and veteran’s charities
and participating in the Wounded Warriors program. She will return to
school after more than 17 years to receive her bachelor’s degree in
accounting.
Mandello, a four-year U.S. Air Force Veteran, will pursue a master’s
degree in administration of justice and security with a concentration
in global and homeland security with the support of the AMVETS
scholarship. Mandello will be the first in his family to graduate with
a college degree, a landmark achievement for his family.
“AMVETS is once again proudly partnering with University of Phoenix to
help bring high quality education to our military veterans and their
families,” said AMVETS National Commander John Mitchell. “Our youngest
veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan have a shamefully high unemployment
rate well above the rest of the population at 13.9 percent. These
heroic young men and women who are seeking to transition into civilian
careers and provide long term stability for themselves and their loved
ones can find the skills and training they need for gainful employment
available through University of Phoenix.”
As service members return from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, we
have a responsibility to provide them education resources that allow
them to be competitive and better prepared for career opportunities in
the military and civilian sectors,” said University of Phoenix
Associate Regional Vice President and retired Army Col. Garland
Williams. “The 2013 University of Phoenix AMVETS Scholarships provide
America’s veterans, service members and their families access to
education opportunities to allow our military community to help secure
future employment opportunities both in the military and beyond.”
The Bureau of Labor statistics reports that the unemployment rate for
veterans who served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces since
September 2001, a group referred to as the Gulf War-era II Veterans,
is 10 percent. The University and AMVETS understand the critical need
for veterans, service members and their families to market themselves
among job seekers in today’s competitive employment landscape.
Therefore, the 2013 University of Phoenix AMVETS Scholarships provide
these individuals with access to educational opportunities.
University of Phoenix AMVETS Scholarship program demonstrates the
University’s corporate social responsibility to providing access to
education opportunities. To learn more about local degree offerings
and special discounts offered to veterans, service members and their
families, please visit http://www.phoenix.edu/military.
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LOCAL DOG OWNER’S DREAM COULD HELP INSPIRE A $500,000 RENOVATION OF
DOG PARK IN LAS VEGAS AREA
Attention Las Vegas dog lovers! Local resident Kara Easton and her
four-legged best buddy Bart need your votes. More than one thousand
dog owners across the country entered the fourth annual Beneful Dream
Dog Park Contest that invites dog owners to answer the question: “If
you had $500,000 to create a Dream Dog Park where you and your best
buddy can play together, what would you do?” Kara has been selected as
one of 14 finalists advancing to the final round of the contest.
The Grand Prize Winner of the contest will receive $10,000 cash and a
one year supply of Beneful brand dry dog food. In addition, the
winner’s dream ideas will help serve as inspiration for a $500,000
Beneful Dream Dog Park renovation of a dog park in his or her area.
From now through December 5, Kara is encouraging the local community
to visit the website BenefulDreamDogPark.com and cast a vote for her
video entry. In addition to the public vote, which represents 30
percent of the total score to select the Grand Prize Winner, the
finalists video entries will be judged by the Beneful Dream Team.
Their judging will count for 70 percent of the final total score. The
Beneful Dream Team consists of designer and dog lover Nate Berkus, who
will help design the fourth $500,000 Dream Dog Park renovation;
licensed contractor Jason Cameron who hosts DIY Network’s “Desperate
Landscapes” and “Man Caves,” and manages the renovation; pet expert
Arden Moore, who oversees the renovation from the dog’s point of view;
and a Beneful brand representative.
The finalists in the 2013 contest were asked to create, narrate and
submit a video up to two minutes in length that showed their typical
daily adventure together with their dog in their current dog park and
explained their ideas to make it even better if they had the chance to
help inspire a Dream Dog Park renovation. Some of the ideas in Kara’s
entry include: Taking a trip around the world — complete with London
underground tunnels, an Eiffel Tower structure, a Colosseum and a
Great Barrier Reef for cooling down, and structures of the pyramids of
Egypt and the Great Wall of China.
All runners up will receive a one-year supply of Beneful brand dry dog
food. The Grand Prize Winner will be announced in December 2013, and
the fourth Beneful Dream Dog Park will be unveiled in summer 2014. For
more information and to vote, visit BenefulDreamDogPark.com.
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SOMETHING FOR
AUTUMN RECREATION
Valley of Fire is Nevada’s oldest and largest state park, dedicated in
1935. Ancient trees and early man are represented throughout the park
by areas of petrified wood and 3,000 year-old Indian petroglyphs.
Popular activities include camping, hiking, picnicking and
photography. The park offers a full-scale visitor center with
extensive interpretive displays. Several group use areas are also
available. The park is open all year. Valley of Fire State Park is six
miles from Lake Mead and 55 miles northeast of Las Vegas via
Interstate 15 and on exit 75. CONTACT the park at 702-397-2088 for
more information or email to vof@mvdsl.com.
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GRANITE
TRANSFORMATIONS LAUNCHES ITS FIRST-EVER GIVING BACK INITIATIVE,
“MISSION: LEND A HAND” ON VETERANS DAY
In honor of Veterans Day and the upcoming holiday season, Granite
Transformations, a global full-service home and business remodeling
resource known for its revolutionary resurfacing process, launched its
first-ever national charitable initiative, “Mission: Lend A Hand” on
Veteran’s Day. This giving-back inspired effort will kick-off with a
Facebook campaign to raise funds for Homes for Our Troops followed by
local community activities led by franchise owners and their employees
to rally behind local causes.
People are encouraged to “like” the Granite Transformations corporate
Facebook page and in response the company has pledged to donate $1 for
the first 5,000 new “likes” during Nov. 11 – Dec. 1, 2013 to Homes for
Our Troops, a non-profit organization founded in 2004 to provide aid
to injured veterans returning home from war. To join this effort, fans
must “like” the page at www.facebook.com/granitetransformations.
Granite Transformations honors military veterans year round by
offering service members a discount of 50 percent off the franchise
fee, allowing veterans to use their training and operational skills in
a new civilian career. In addition, Granite Transformations allows
potential veteran franchisees to finance the other half of the
franchise fee within a 12 month timeframe.
Also as part of Granite Transformations’ Mission: Lend A Hand,
franchise locations around the country will also send the message of
giving back by spearheading or participating in charitable endeavors
of their choice this holiday season. These efforts will go a long way
to say thank you to the communities that we serve, but to also inspire
and motivate others to give back.
“Granite Transformations wants to thank the communities we serve by
working alongside charitable organizations doing great work,” said
Carl Griffenkranz, vice president, marketing for Granite
Transformations. “Based on our growing success as a leading home
remodeling company, this is a great opportunity for Granite
Transformations to give back and show our gratitude.”
Granite Transformations is most recognized for its exclusive line of
granite, stronger and more durable than slab granite, as well as
stylish recycled glass surfaces. The company also offers an impressive
line of mosaic tile in a variety of styles and colors. Granite
Transformations products can be professionally installed in as little
as one day and are accompanied by a lifetime warranty. Customers also
enjoy Granite Transformations’ complimentary in-home design
consultations, which allow them to choose products from the comfort of
their own home.
For more information about Granite Transformations, visit
www.granitetransformations.com.
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