ScholarshipOwl’s Post

From Gridiron Grit to Gemstones: Lessons Learned on and Off the Field... Growing up, sports weren't just a pastime; they were my escape, my identity, and the crucible that forged my character. Despite coming from humble beginnings, on the athletic field I found joy, discipline, and resilience. While I may have fabricated a trust fund to fit in, the reality was grit and hard work were my true assets. One pivotal moment came during my high school football career. My coach, despite the small eight-man team, saw a potential I couldn't yet grasp. He ignited a fire within me, showing me the path to college football through dedication and effort. This became my new playing field, a goal worth fighting for. After high school, I walked on at a community college, eventually earning a scholarship. The University of Arkansas offered a partial scholarship, but a full ride at Southern Arkansas University opened a different door. While a part of me still wonders "what if", this path led me to the love of my life, our children, and an unexpected apprenticeship under a second-generation jeweler. On the field, one of the most valuable lessons I learned was playing my position. As captain of the defense, staying disciplined and focused was crucial, even when I wanted to be everywhere at once. My proudest moment wasn't about individual accolades, but witnessing my team achieve its best season in a decade. Fueled by collective spirit and unwavering focus, we tasted the sweet victory of shared success. The knowledge that I played a key role in this, alongside my teammates, surpassed any individual accomplishment. These lessons transcended the athletic world, shaping the foundation of my 33-year journey in the jewelry business. Discipline, hard work, preparation, teamwork, and perseverance became my core values. This collaborative spirit fuels not only my business endeavors but also guides my family life and fosters the relationships I nurture with colleagues. In both sports and business, success thrives when a team aligns its focus, leaving "what ifs" behind. It's in this united front that true victory lies, on and off the field. #FromUnderdogToChampion #SportsAndBusinessLessons #FamilyValuesAndTeamwork

February at Arlinghaus University is not just about the chill in the air; it's about the warm buzz of excitement as we welcome our 9th class of young professionals! Think of it as the premiere of the latest season of your favorite Netflix series—full of fresh faces, compelling stories, and the journey towards finding purpose. 📺 Binge-Worthy Career Adventures 🚀 Like awaiting new episodes, the anticipation here is electric. Our university is about to be filled with the energy of ambitious minds ready to explore the intricate world of their new careers. Every student's path is a series to watch, filled with plot twists, triumphs, and the thrill of the unknown. 🌟 The Season of Growth 🌟 As these bright individuals navigate their professional landscapes, they're not just building careers; they're crafting narratives of self-discovery and purpose. And just like your favorite characters overcoming obstacles, our students are equipped to tackle the challenges of the HVAC world with resilience. 💼 From Classroom to Career 💼 Arlinghaus University is more than a classroom; it's a set where every student plays the lead role in their success story, guided by a script of innovation and a backdrop of opportunity. 🔔 Set Your Reminders! 🔔 So, mark your calendars and get your popcorn ready. This season, as Arlinghaus unveils its 9th class, you won't want to miss a single moment of these captivating journeys. Tune in and cheer on as we watch these young professionals grow, succeed, and find their purpose! #ArlinghausUniversity #Class9Premiere #CareerJourney #ProfessionalGrowth #NewSeasons #DiscoverPurpose #EducationThrills #FutureLeaders #SeasonOfSuccess #FebruaryFreshStart

"So how do we bring in more career pathway programs, vocational opportunities, and early college? At the end of the day, the question is this: is Massachusetts willing to make the changes? I think we're Blockbuster video in 1992 — we're not seeing Netflix coming." - Massachusetts Commissioner of Education Jeffrey C. Riley underscoring the need for urgency and innovation, and the opportunity to drive "what's next." Thank you to Commissioner Riley for joining us for our latest Competitiveness Conversation event in partnership with Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education. Learn more about the event and read our recommendations to accelerate student learning: https://lnkd.in/epYb63mS

Over the weekend, I was engrossed in the college football playoffs. (sadly my OR Ducks lost) 🦆 And there was one brand that captured my heart. ❤️ Cue:  Dr. Pepper Admittedly, we all know that drinking soda is not healthy (but it sure is hard to resist a Zero Sugar Dr. Pepper Cream soda) But Dr. Pepper made a good brand move with their Halftime Scholarship Giveaway. 🎉 When I was earning my college degree, I was working full time as a single mom.  But I was fortunate enough for my company to pay my college tuition. However, both my boys, and 43.5 million other Americans are carrying the load of student debt. So just watching current college students tossing the football into the Dr. Pepper can for the possibility of winning $100,000 in college tuition made me feel so good. Dr. Pepper stood for a social cause that is important to them and it just so happened to align with my own personal values on education. 📚 Today, to stand out, brands need to take a stand on the things that they value because this is the way you engage the hearts of like-minded customers.  Not everyone will feel aligned with Dr. Pepper’s stance the way I do, but that’s not the point. What matters is that you make a stand for something you believe in when sharing your brand story. I’m curious. If you were a big brand like Dr. Pepper, what would your halftime giveaway be?

🚦How to go from 0 to 120 registrations for student events. Listen to Kevin's story about how he built out the first graduate event programs for professional development at Morgan State University and learn how to successfully market the events. Full episode in comments. Here are 4 tips for creating more buzz and awareness before an event: https://lnkd.in/gEqHRdDC #eventmarketing #highered #higheredmarketing

Transforming Education with a Twist! As I journey through schools across our great state, I've noticed a cherished tradition – college and university pennants adorning walls and windows. It's a symbol of aspiration, and I fully support our students reaching for the stars through higher education. But here's the twist: Not every path to success leads through a college gate. Some students face barriers like costs, rigorous academic demands, or different career dreams. For them, we proudly introduce our Workforce Centers of Excellence! Imagine this: Alongside traditional college pennants, our Workforce Centers of Excellence will proudly display a new set of pennants. These won't feature university logos, but the names of industries and businesses our students will aspire to work for. Picture a lineup with names like BMW, Volvo, Harbor Freight, SC Ports Authority, Scout Motors, Boeing – the list goes on! Let's inspire a new generation to chase their dreams, whether through higher education or alternative pathways to fulfilling and prosperous careers. Our commitment to innovation knows no bounds, and the future belongs to those who dare to dream differently. Join us in this educational revolution! Together, we're shaping a brighter future where every student can thrive no matter the path they choose. South Carolina Public Charter School District #EducationRevolution #WorkforceCentersofExcellence #DreamDifferently #CharterSchools #EducationalFreedom #SchoolChoice Scout Motors Inc. Boeing BMW of North America, LLC Harbor Freight Tools

Oh, that sneaky Florida alum Chris Rapozo decides to call me out on a Saturday! Wait...does that make me...Gator bait??? 😂 But, he asks a great #higheredmarketing question about smaller institutions creating the kind of brand loyalty that we normally see at large institutions. In addition to Chris's four great tips, I would add: 💡 Stop the *desperate* pursuit of media coverage. I've worked at three small institutions where media coverage was at the top of the brand loyalty priority list. In hindsight...NOPE! The extremely valuable time that your (presumably) small/understaffed comms/marketing team spends chasing media coverage could be better used CREATING valuable, searchable news content for the website, social media, and newsletters. Besides, an internal news strategy gives you more control of your narrative to build brand loyalty. 💡 Speaking of searchable news content, get your comms/marketing team trained on content marketing and SEO. It doesn't sound sexy; but students, alumni and donors LOVE it when their small institution fills the first couple of pages of search results! 💡 Leverage video to capture the vibe of your campus, especially if you can enlist student and faculty influencers. It doesn't have to be "exciting" so much as it has to authentically represent your brand to your audience. 💡 Speaking of which...galvanize YOUR audience. Brand loyalty isn't about popularity so much as it's about the relationship you develop with your faculty and staff (#employerbranding), students and their families, alumni, donors, and surrounding community. A small army of vocal brand ambassadors is more powerful than a population of people who have heard of you but can take or leave your brand. And since I've had the pleasure of hanging out at UF a couple of times, I'll do a Gator Chomp today just for you, Chris. 🐊

Cold rinks and hot coffee. The story of my Saturday mornings as we’re now a hockey family. As much as I love hockey, I had mixed emotions for my son playing the most expensive sport known to mankind. I didn’t want him to play because I love it. I want him to play whatever sport he wants to. Not because he feels it makes me happy. I’ve been around sports my entire life, playing the money sports, golf and tennis. But hockey was my favorite to watch, play in the driveway and the outdoor rink in college. I photograph sports on the side and hear parents pushing their kids. I see kids out there not having fun because their parents are pushing them to play because they played. Or because they wanted to play. Same goes for them pushing their kids to go to college or into a career they’ll hate because that’s what society says they have to do. But how can we solve our workforce development problem with youth hockey? These kids are going into a freezing rink on a Saturday morning because they want to. As they progress, they’re out there in the wee hours of the morning. Why? It’s fun? Their friends are doing it? They’re seeing it on tv, social media or attending junior, high school, college or professional games? They’re up early, working hard, getting beat against a wall. That’s basically working in construction. But we will pay you. Maybe not throw a hip check against the boards, but sometimes it will feel like you have been. We need to show what we do, why we do it and how people outside of the industry can get there without ever having set foot in a piece of machinery or on a construction site. Maybe have cool jerseys too. But can we please, please, leave hockey helmets in hockey, not on jobsites(go ahead, flame away). Kids don’t want to work? That’s the biggest bag of fecal matter I’ve heard. They want to work, they need structure to show them how. Be it apprenticeships, an in house construction academy or whatever method you have. PS, friends don’t let friends cheer for UNH, the Blues or Wild.

Meet Sev and Sarah, the dynamic duo behind the marketing and operations of Alto LA and proud alumni of USC Marshall School of Business. Read below to learn more about Alto and the Los Angeles team. #altola #losangeles #usc #marshall 📸 Sevag Konialian Sarah Teichner

It is officially SUMMER! 😎 While we know many SPARC, Summer Programs and Auxiliary Revenue Collaborative members started summer programs already - the official start of summer means the fun has really begun! 📆 All the pre-season planning, hiring and training staff, and getting everything ready is finally paying off! 💦 🎯 Please share photos of your summer activities - we would love to celebrate and share in the wonderful memories! #independentschools #summerprograms #summercamp #auxiliaryprograms #leadershipdevelopment #professionaldevelopment