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Item Posted: May 10, 2013 by Jason Riley

Sharing your impact and opportunities for funding

EF headquarters is asking Fellows around the globe to share the work that they are doing in collaboration with other Eisenhower Fellows. Our network is constantly being strengthened by the impact that our Fellows have, and we would like to share that news with the network. One example of such collaborations that are achieving consequential outcomes is the Mindanao project by the Eisenhower Fellows of the Philippines. They are pooling their expertise to think big and have a significant economic impact on their country and the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Please contact Erin Hillman to share your initiatives or to help get connected with other Fellows in the network who may have an interest in your project.

We also want to share with you funding opportunities for Eisenhower Fellows to help launch or enhance the initiatives that you are working on with other Fellows. As we did last year, Eisenhower Fellowships is again providing seed funding up to US $25,000 to help catalyze projects. To see the request for proposals, click here.

Another funding opportunity that we shared a couple of weeks ago is the U.S. State Department's "Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund", which also awards grants of up to US $25,000 for initiatives that promote shared values and innovative solutions to global challenges. Hurry, their deadline of May 12 is fast approaching! For more information, visit the AEIF website.

We look forward to hearing about the work that you continue to do to make the world more just, prosperous, and peaceful.

Item Posted: May 10, 2013

USA Fellow Creates Connections

Michael "Gus" Schmedlen, '13, USA, has his Eisenhower Fellowship wheels turning.

Last month, he met with Sarah Brown (wife of former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown) to initiate work on his Eisenhower Fellowship "key questions" for the private sector. Simultaneously, Schmedlen is also working with a group led by Accenture's Gib Bullock to create a roadmap for private-sector engagement in education. The plan is to present the research during UN General Assembly week in September. On May 7, Schmedlen also met with HM Queen Rania al Abdullah in Amman to further collaboration that enhances education through the private sector.

Continuing his passion for education, Schmedlen recently wrote a chapter in the recently-published Principal 2.0, called "The Role of For-Profit Firms in the Educational Ecosystem". The subject of his chapter is in line with his fellowship goals, which include maximizing the positive societal and economic impact of corporate actors in global education reform. On his fellowship set to begin later this month, Schmedlen will travel to Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Item Posted: May 10, 2013 by Nicole Tafuri

New Mission for Uruguayan Fellow

Father Gonzo with Pope Francis. Photo credit: http://www.laprensa.hn/

Beginning in August, Father Gonzalo Aemilius,' 12, Uruguay, will begin a new mission: he will travel to Rome to study for two years upon the invitation of Pope Francis. Father Aemilius (or "Gonzo" as many call him) believes "education is the greatest challenge for the 21st century" and is working to meet those challenges as the principal of Liceo Jubilar "Juan Pablo II", an innovative educational center that serves 340 adolescent and adult students directly and impacts more than 1,500 people in the community, one of the poorest in Uruguay. As a result of its success, the Liceo Jubilar model is now being replicated around the country, and Father Aemilius has garnered acclaim and media attention for his creative and holistic approach to education. Recently, Father Aemilius was featured in newly-elected Pope Francis' homily as the pontiff celebrated Mass at the Church of St. Anne inside Vatican City.

Item Posted: May 10, 2013

Indian Fellow Elected Chair of Asian EMS Council

Subroto Das,'11, India, was recently elected in Singapore on April 7th, 2013 as the chair of the South Asian chapter of the Singapore-based Asian EMS Council. This is Asia's top participatory organization (18 Asian countries are represented) spearheading the science of emergency medical services. In addition, he was elected as the chair of Asian EMS Council's official e-journal editorial board.

Item Posted: May 10, 2013

USA Fellows Partner to Launch New Educational Technology Company in Philadelphia

Christine Massey and Brigitte Daniel (center) with Philadelphia Public School District students and administrators.

On May 2, with initial seed capital from Eisenhower Fellowships through the Consequential Outcomes Initiative, Executive Vice President of Wilco Electronics Brigitte Daniel, '11, USA, hosted the launch for Knick Knack Learning – a new educational technology company set to pilot an affordable tablet solution within select K – 8 charter and public schools throughout Philadelphia.

"Through the partnership with University of Pennsylvania and the Eisenhower Fellowships, Wilco is now continuing its long history of providing low-cost technology to underserved communities", said Daniel. "Knick Knack Learning will change the landscape within urban schools by offering affordable one-to-one tablet learning devices along with researched proven educational content to help K-8 students understand math and science through a more engaged and focused manner."

Rising operational costs along with recent federal and state funding cuts have caused a crisis for Philadelphia's schools, the nation's 6th largest public district. Outdated systems and academic paradigms are inadequately preparing students for our nation's transition to a new knowledge based economy, as witnessed by consistently low student achievement rates. With help from Director of Research and Education at the Institute for Research in Cognitive Science at the University of Pennsylvania Dr. Christine Massey, '01, USA, and Insight Learning Technology Inc., Knick Knack Learning tablets will feature specialized content that will address students' specific educational math and science needs while aligning with current national and state specific benchmarks. The content will address achievement gaps in the classroom by using gaming software techniques to improve scores on standardized tests.

In collaboration with Jarvus Innovations, Knick Knack Learning will provide a software platform to facilitate engagement between administrators, teachers, students and parents while tracking and assessing student performance and usability. The pilot will also offer technology based professional development for teachers through a "teacher trainer" business model. The Knick Knack Learning pilot will take place at five (5) charter and public schools through the summer of 2013. Participating schools include Independence Charter School, Richard Allen Preparatory Charter Academy, Pan American Academy Charter School, Global Leadership Academy, and Penrose Elementary School. In total, the pilot program will engage approximately 200 students in the 5th and 6th grades.

Item Posted: May 10, 2013

Turkish Fellow Now at World's Largest Regional Security Organization

Yurdakul Yigitgüden, '92, Turkey assumed the post of coordinator of Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Economic and Environmental Activities, based in Vienna on 1 February 2013. Yigitgüden served from 1997-2003 as the Under-Secretary of the Turkish Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, responsible for energy, water and mining policy. He took a leadership role in the Caspian region energy diplomacy and in implementing energy market reforms.

From 1995-1997, he held the position of CEO of Fenis Holding in Istanbul. Most recently, Yigitgüden was a consultant on energy economics, energy efficiency, renewable energy and Caspian geopolitics and board member of the steel pipe manufacturer Borusan Mannesman. Yigitgüden holds a diploma and doctoral degree in engineering from RWTH Aachen University. He has published numerous articles on energy security and energy economics.

Item Posted: May 2, 2013 by Diane Shoemaker

EF HQ Visit to Latin America

L-R: J. Chacel, ’59, A. Dias Leite, ’60, D. Shoemaker, R. Serta, ’89, J. Llerena, ’95, A. Llerena, D. Horovitz, ’08, and S. Serta

To re-connect with alumni Fellows as part of EF's effort to enhance alumni networking during its 60th anniversary year, EF's Alumni Director Diane Shoemaker traveled to Brazil and Colombia last month.

Executive Director of the ABE (Brazilian alumni association of EF) Josiano Gomes, '05, along with officers, Anna Barbara Proietti, '00, Flavio Noguera, '11, Dafne Horowitz, '08 and Alumni Advisory Council (AAC) member, Eduardo D'Aguiar, '96, coordinated an itinerary of Fellow meetings in Sao Paulo, Belo Horizonte and Rio de Janiero.

Discussions included a 2nd annual EF Day Latin America regional event to be planned jointly with the Fellows of Argentina and Uruguay for November 2013, opportunities for Consequential Outcomes or collaboration on projects among the alumni network, a 60th anniversary publication, and increasing the alumni participation in the nominating process of future candidates.

Rear, L-R: S. Castro, ’05, R. Schambach, ’93, E. Penalosa, ’01, C. Garces, ’09
Front: D. Shoemaker, Marlene Saveerdra, C.G. Navas, ‘81

In Bogota, Santiago Castro,'05, Carlos German Navas, '81, Father Ray Schambach, '93, Enrique Penalosa,'01, Christian Garces, '08, and U.S. Embassy Special Assistant Marlene Saavedra met Diane over dinner and expressed their appreciation for the EF experience which has had a measurable impact on their lives and throughout Colombia. Director of St. Francis of Assisi Foundation and Brotherhood of the Divine Providence Fr. Schambach commented that the increase of homes for the elderly and disabled run by the brotherhood had increased from approximately a dozen to over 70 since his fellowship in 1993, thanks in large part to EF. Castro credited EF for contributing to his success as director of the Civil Aviation Authority and the new state-of-the-art airport facility recently opened in Bogota.

Item Posted: May 2, 2013 by Diane Shoemaker

Two 50-Year Awardees

Shoemaker pins Dias Leite, celebrating 50+ years as an Eisenhower Fellow

At a recent gathering of Brazilian alumni Fellows in Rio de Janiero, Julian Chacel, '59, and Antonio Dias Leite, '60, each were presented with special EF 50-year-anniversary pins for their affiliation and ongoing participation in the EF alumni network. Director of EF's Alumni Network Diane Shoemaker attended the lunch meeting organized by Dafne Horovitz, '08, and offered congratulations along with Brazilian Fellows and spouses, Felipe Dias, '08, Flavia Lins e Silva, '04, Juan and Annelise Llerena, '95, and Ronaldo and Susie Serta, '89.

Julian Chacel wears his pin proudly

Dias Leite is a former Minister of Mines and Energy and author of several books on energy, including his most recent, Efficiency and Waste of Energy in Brazil, published earlier this year. Chacel, a former director of the Brazilian Institute of Economics and Vargas Foundation and economic eadvisor to the president of the National Confederation of Industries, continues to consult on economic issues. Felipe Dias, '08, commented that in his work as chief economist with the Brazilian Petroleum Institute he continues to be inspired by the writings of Chacel and Dias Leite.

Item Posted: May 2, 2013

EF HQ Visit to Ireland

Last month, EF Vice President Dan Geisler visited the Irish and Northern Irish alumni Fellows at a gathering in Maryborough, co-organized by 2012 MNP Fellows Val Cummins and Dearbhail McDonald (also selected as the new president of the Irish/Northern Irish alumni association). Throughout the weekend, about 50 attendees, including Eisenhower Fellows, trustees, and guests, gathered. Guests included prominent figures from the media and government, as well as EF trustee Jack Golden of CRH, who was also the conference moderator.
The weekend began with dinner at the Naval Station hosted by the Commodore (an innovative partner in Cummin's IMERC) where Minister for Agriculture, Marine and Food Simon Coveney spoke on Ireland's marine resources. The following day included sessions with speakers on two distinct themes: Ireland's maritime resource potential and the media. Attendees also took part in an afternoon tour of an island in Cork harbor being developed as a tourist destination. Eisenhower Fellows and guests took the opportunity to engage in conversations throughout the tour and the evening dinner, including Tom Frawley, '89, N. Ireland, highlighting his work heading up the Alumni Advisory Council (AAC) working group, exploring Fellow's interests in staying connected and actively engaged.

Lourda Geoghegan, '10, who was selected as the new secretary of the alumni association, spoke of the importance of the leadership and team-building skills she developed through her Eisenhower Fellowship. She also encouraged the other Fellows not to lose sight of these skills when focusing on concrete outcomes. Donal de Buitleir, '87,noted the impact on him was his becoming involved in a global network and giving him self-confidence.

Additionally, the Fellows spoke highly of their involvement in programming 2013 USA Fellows Gus Schemdlen and Dan Isom, who will travel there later this month. The group plans to gather again in October in Northern Ireland. Peter Malone also suggested a celebration of next year's 25th anniversary of 1989 Single Region Program.

Item Posted: May 2, 2013

Turkish Fellow Travels to Rwanda

Last month, Faik Tunay, '12, Turkey, traveled to Rwanda with the IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation. The foundation is active in 25 countries around the world, organizing aid activities every month, reaching countries hit by wars, disasters, poverty and human rights abuses. From their website: IHH "believes that civilian initiatives play a complementary role beside intervention by states and international organizations in resolving humanitarian problems." Here is a brief video showing the children at a small school greeting Tunay.

Click here to read news from April 2013 or click here to read other archived news.

All items written by Alumni Coordinator & Website Manager Holly Logan, unless otherwise noted.