Month: September 2010

Purpose of trip is to see if the huge whale is ready to be unearthed

ORLANDO, Fla. (June 11, 2010) – Ripley’s  VP Exhibits & Archives Edward Meyer will be visiting Prince Edward Island, Canada, on Tuesday and Wednesday, June 14-15 on a reconnaissance mission to check out the condition of a beached whale the company purchased – and buried – in 1989. He will be joined by Cavendish’s Ripley’s Believe It or Not! franchisee, Thom MacMillan.

“The whale seems to have been strangely off course when it beached on PEI that summer,” said MacMillan. “It is very unusual for a Sperm Whale to be in this part of the world and that’s what initially got our attention.”

MacMillan and Meyer went to look at the whale and purchased it with the intention of putting it into Ripley’s Cavendish museum which had just opened that year. They soon found that the 37-foot long, 20 ton whale was too massive for the museum, and with nothing else to do with it at the time, they decided to bury it and let nature take over the job of stripping the carcass down to bones. They checked on it two years later but it has remained buried and untouched by humans since 1991.

“I imagine the bones have been pretty well stripped by now, at least that’s what I am hoping to find,” added Meyer. “Once we see it, we’ll make the decision as to when we will dig it out. Hopefully we can do that this summer.”

Edward Meyer can be reached at – 407-492-8256. Thom MacMillan can be reached at 902-962-2022.

Corporate Contact:

Tim O’Brien

VP Communications

Ripley Entertainment Inc.

615-496-5949

Obrien@ripleys.com

Remington College leads 3 Lives effort with the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America and America’s Blood Centers

Heathrow, Fla. – (September 1, 2010) – September is National Sickle Cell Awareness Month and Remington College is holding blood drives on all its campuses in an effort to increase the number of minority blood donors.

According to the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, more than 70,000 people in the U.S. have this life-threatening disease.

Remington College has partnered with the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America (SCDAA) and America’s Blood Centers to hold a series blood drives on all its campuses. The effort is called 3 Lives – because three lives may be saved for every one pint of blood donated.

So far this year, Remington College campuses have collected a total of 1,479 pints of blood.

The September blood drives will focus on the need for minority donors – especially African Americans.

According to the SCDAA, African American donors are vital to many people battling sickle cell disease because they provide blood with unique antigens. The best blood match for a chronically ill patient requiring multiple blood transfusions will likely come from a donor of the same ethnic background. Blood transfusions help benefit sickle cell disease patients by reducing recurrent pain crises, risk of stroke and other complications.

While the focus is on recruiting minority donors, everyone is encouraged to attend the September drives and donate blood. All the blood collected will be used to help people in the communities where Remington College has campuses.

Based in Heathrow, Florida, Remington College offers diploma and degree programs at 20 campuses throughout the United States, including a new online campus. Its mission is to provide career-focused education through a variety of programs, including nursing, cosmetology, business office management and criminal justice.

For more information, call 1-800-448-6405 or visit www.3Lives.com.

About Remington College: Remington College is a common name used by all 20 campuses of a group of affiliated companies of privately-owned, post-secondary educational institutions based in Heathrow, Florida. Through its campuses, Remington College offers diplomas, bachelor’s and associate’s degrees in a variety of fields, including: cosmetology; nursing; healthcare; criminal justice; business; electronics; information technology; and more.  Course offerings vary by campus. Remington College and its predecessor companies have been part of the higher education community since 1985. For more information, please visit http://www.remingtoncollege.edu/. For the latest news about Remington College, visit http://today.remingtoncollege.edu/.

Media contact:

Frank Wolff

Wellons Communications

407-339-0879 office

407-637-6000 cell

Frank@wellonscommunications.com

Award includes grant worth up to $5,000 and paid trip to Las Vegas convention

Shreveport, La. – (June 3, 2010) – Remington College-Shreveport Campus student Latisha Jefferson was chosen as one of seven recipients of the 2010 Imagine America LDRSHIP Award.

She will receive a grant worth up to $5,000 towards her career college tuition because of her impressive military service record and excellent grades.

Jefferson has been a student in the Remington College-Shreveport Campus Business Office Management Associate’s Degree program since February 2010 and carries a 4.0 GPA.

Jefferson’s military service includes both the Air Force and the Army. She served as a Navy reservist from 2003-2006 as an Aviation Resource Management Apprentice. In 2006 she joined the Army as an active duty Petroleum Supply Specialist and spent several months in Iraq. She was one of two women who were part of the 4^th Brigade 2-13^th Calvary Regiment.

In addition to the grant money, Jefferson will also receive an all-expense paid trip to the Career College Association’s Annual Convention in Las Vegas from June 9 to 11. The LDRSHIP Award lunch and presentation on June 11 will feature keynote speaker former President Bill Clinton. Jefferson and the other award recipients will have a chance to take a photo with the former president after the lunch. Remington College is paying the expenses for Jefferson to take a guest.

The LDRSHIP Award, which stands for Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, Personal Courage, has been awarded since 2004 by the Imagine America Foundation. The Foundation serves the career college community with scholarships, financial aid information and supports and promotes the benefits of career colleges to the public.

“It is a terrific honor for Latisha to receive such an important national award. She exemplifies everything a Remington College student should be. She will represent our campus well at the convention,” said Jerry Driskill, Remington College-Shreveport Campus President.

Based in Heathrow, Florida, Remington College offers diploma and degree programs at 20 campuses throughout the United States, including a new online campus. Its mission is to provide career-focused education through a variety of programs, including nursing, cosmetology, business office management and criminal justice.

For more information, call 1-800-448-6405.

About Remington College: Remington College is a common name used by all 20 campuses of a group of affiliated companies of privately-owned, post-secondary educational institutions based in Heathrow, Florida. Through its campuses, Remington College offers diplomas, bachelor’s and associate’s degrees in a variety of fields, including: cosmetology; nursing; healthcare; criminal justice; business; electronics; information technology; and more.  Course offerings vary by campus. Remington College and its predecessor companies have been part of the higher education community since 1985. For more information, please visit http://www.remingtoncollege.edu/. For the latest news about Remington College, visit http://today.remingtoncollege.edu/

Media contact:

Frank Wolff

Wellons Communications

407-339-0879 office

407-637-6000 cell

Frank@wellonscommunications.com

Free event features healthy hands-on activities and exhibits

Shreveport, La. – (June 4, 2010) – Remington College-Shreveport Campus will hold a Health & Fitness Expo featuring several family-friendly activities. The event is free and the campus invites the public to take part in a day of activities that will focus on health and fitness.

The event will be held on Saturday, June 12 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on the Remington College-Shreveport Campus, located at 2106 Bert Kouns Industrial Loop.

The Health & Fitness Expo will feature a variety of activities and booths, including:

• Blood pressure screenings
• Glucose screenings
• Children’s activities
• Spacewalk
• Basketball
• Hula hoops
• Jump ropes
• Personal trainer
• Fitness demonstrations
• Food
• Door prizes

Remington College-Shreveport Campus offers a variety of degree and diploma programs, including two diploma programs in the healthcare field:

Medical Assisting teaches patient care, laboratory procedures, therapeutic care and medical insurance and bookkeeping basics and can be completed in as few as eight months.

Medical Billing and Coding teaches medical billing systems, fundamentals of anatomy and physiology, HIPPA regulations and medical terminology and can be completed in as few as nine months.

For more information, call 318-671-4000.

About Remington College: Remington College is a common name used by all 20 campuses of a group of affiliated companies of privately-owned, post-secondary educational institutions based in Heathrow, Florida. Through its campuses, Remington College offers diplomas, bachelor’s and associate’s degrees in a variety of fields, including: cosmetology; nursing; healthcare; criminal justice; business; electronics; information technology; and more.  Course offerings vary by campus. Remington College and its predecessor companies have been part of the higher education community since 1985. For more information, please visit http://www.remingtoncollege.edu/. For the latest news about Remington College, visit http://today.remingtoncollege.edu/

Media contact:

Frank Wolff

Wellons Communications

407-339-0879 office

407-637-6000 cell

Frank@wellonscommunications.com

Remington College School of Cosmetology provides education as well as student salon services for the public

Mobile, Ala. – (July 9, 2010) – Remington College-Mobile Campus will hold an open house for its new Remington College School of Cosmetology on Monday, July 12 from noon to 2 p.m.

The public is invited to tour the salon, manicure/pedicure/facial areas and the classrooms. Instructors and students will be on hand to talk about the program.

Ribbon-cutting ceremony scheduled for 1 p.m.

The Cosmetology Diploma Program teaches students the art of hair, skin and nail care through traditional classroom instruction and hands-on training, which allows students the opportunity to work with real clients.

“The cosmetology program is a great addition to our campus,” said Stephen Backman, Campus President. “The opportunity for students to get hands-on experience working with real clients is a tremendous plus.”

In addition to Cosmetology, Remington College – Mobile Campus also offers associates degree programs in Computer and Network Administration, Criminal Justice, Electronics and Computer Technology and Process Control Engineering Technology. Diploma programs are offered in Computer-Aided Design and Drafting, Medical Assisting, Medical Assisting with X-Ray Tech (Limited Scope) and EKG, Medical Billing and Coding and Pharmacy Technician.

The campus is located at 828 Downtowner Loop West in Mobile.

For more information, call 1-251-343-8200.

About Remington College: Remington College is a common name used by all 20 campuses of a group of affiliated companies of privately-owned, post-secondary educational institutions based in Heathrow, Florida. Through its campuses, Remington College offers diplomas, bachelor’s and associate’s degrees in a variety of fields, including: cosmetology; nursing; healthcare; criminal justice; business; electronics; information technology; and more.  Course offerings vary by campus. Remington College and its predecessor companies have been part of the higher education community since 1985. For more information, please visit http://www.remingtoncollege.edu/. For the latest news about Remington College, visit http://today.remingtoncollege.edu/.

Media contact:

Frank Wolff

Wellons Communications

407-339-0879 office

407-637-6000 cell

Frank@wellonscommunications.com

Remington College partners with America’s Blood Centers and the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America to recruit minority blood donors

Heathrow, Fla. – (July 1, 2010) – Remington College, America’s Blood Centers and the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America recently wrapped up the second in a series of 3 Lives blood drives on Remington College campuses across the country and collected 795 pints of blood during the month of June.

The program is called 3 Lives – because three lives may be saved for every one pint of blood donated. The blood drives focus on the need for minority donors – especially African Americans.

According to the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America (SCDAA), African American blood donors provide blood with unique antigens that is vital for people battling sickle cell and other life-threatening diseases. Many people with sickle cell require frequent blood transfusions and it’s best for them to receive blood that closely matches their own.

A total of 1479 pints of blood have been collected through the 3 Lives campaign this year. Each Remington College campus has held two blood drives in 2010, and another round of blood drives are scheduled for September on the following Remington College campuses:

• Remington College of Nursing in Lake Mary, Florida
• Remington College-Houston, North Houston and Houston Southeast campuses in Texas
• Remington College-Cleveland and Cleveland West campuses in Ohio
• Remington College-Dallas and Ft. Worth campuses in Texas
• Remington College-Baton Rouge, Shreveport and Lafayette campuses in Louisiana
• Remington College-Mobile campus in Alabama
• Remington College-Memphis campus in Tennessee
• Remington College-Tampa campus in Florida
• Remington College-Colorado Springs campus in Colorado
• Remington College-Honolulu campus in Hawaii
• Remington College-Columbia campus in South Carolina

For detailed information on the blood drives, please visit www.3Lives.com.

The Remington College 3 Lives blood drives are part of “Remington College Reaches Out,” a series of community initiatives and charitable efforts to mark the college’s 25^th anniversary in 2010.

Based in Heathrow, Florida, Remington College offers diploma and degree programs at 20 campuses throughout the United States, including a new online campus. Its mission is to provide career-focused education through a variety of programs, including nursing, cosmetology, business office management and criminal justice.

For more information, call 1-800-448-6405.

About Remington College: Remington College is a common name used by all 20 campuses of a group of affiliated companies of privately-owned, post-secondary educational institutions based in Heathrow, Florida. Through its campuses, Remington College offers diplomas, bachelor’s and associate’s degrees in a variety of fields, including: cosmetology; nursing; healthcare; criminal justice; business; electronics; information technology; and more.  Course offerings vary by campus. Remington College and its predecessor companies have been part of the higher education community since 1985. For more information, please visit http://www.remingtoncollege.edu/. For the latest news about Remington College, visit http://today.remingtoncollege.edu/

Media contact:

Frank Wolff

Wellons Communications

407-339-0879 office

407-637-6000 cell

Frank@wellonscommunications.com

eSchool Solutions provides latest teacher absentee management system and professional learning software to nearly 75,000 new students nationwide

ORLANDO, Fla. (August 4, 2010) – eSchool Solutions®, the leading provider of integrated technology solutions for the pre K-12 education market, has signed with five new school districts this fall to provide its teacher absentee management system and professional learning software.

The new districts are:

• District of Columbia Public Schools (Washington, D.C.)
• Balsz School District (Phoenix, Ariz.)
• Virginia Adult Learning Resource Center (Richmond, Va.)
• Pleasanton Independent School District (Pleasanton, Texas)
• Benton-Carroll-Salem Schools (Oak Harbor, Ohio)

These districts join the more than 500 school systems—encompassing 29,000 schools— in the U.S. and Canada already using the Orlando-based eSchool Solutions. In addition, eSchool Solutions re-signed with dozens of other districts this year, including Toronto District Schools. The services purchased include:

SmartFindExpress: With the old-fashioned manual process, administrative assistants at the school level went through a tedious and time-consuming process in order to find substitute teachers. SmartFindExpress automates the process by selecting the most qualified sub for a specified classroom (it also works for custodial, lunchroom staff and bus drivers). New this fall, teachers will even be able to communicate with substitutes and monitor the whole process through their iPhones.

Electronic Registrar Online: It’s not enough to offer a number of staff development options. For maximum effectiveness, professional learning opportunities must align with student achievement goals. With ERO, staff development is strategic. Combining best practices with state-of-the-art technology, ERO enhances professional development by making it more targeted, customized and effective.

To learn more about the company, visit http://www.eschoolsolutions.com/ or call 800-776-8774.

About eSchool Solutions

eSchool Solutions® is the leading provider of integrated technology solutions for the preK-12 education market. In 1987, the Orlando-based company revolutionized substitute management for school systems, completely changing the way districts managed substitutes and employee absences. Now, as a total solutions provider, eSchool Solutions provides a full suite of products and services designed to improve administrative efficiency and help school districts work smarter. The company serves more than 500 school systems, encompassing 29,000 schools in North America.

Father’s Day fun includes a race weekend, World’s Greatest Dad Challenge

NIAGARA FALLS, ON. (June 4, 2010) – Dads can celebrate Father’s Day in style with a full lineup of activities at Ripley’s Great Wolf Lodge Niagara Falls.

Not only will dad enjoy his special day, but the whole family is sure to enjoy all the Great Wolf Lodge special events, including:

• Father’s Day Race Weekend: Get dads’ motor running by treating him to an exhibit of real stock cars in front of the Lodge and a chance to meet some of the drivers.

• World’s Greatest Dad Challenge: Think your dad is the greatest of all? Have him take part in the World’s Greatest Dad Challenge and test his skill at golfing, pie-eating, arcade games, dancing and tattoo wearing. It’s sure to be a blast and the winning dad gets a free night’s stay.

• Family Dance: On Friday, June 18, the entire family can put on their dancing shoes and get their groove on from 8:30-10:00 pm in the Grand Living Room.

• Father’s Day Fashion Show: Check out the latest fashions from the Trading Post in this Father’s Day fashion show.

• Father’s Day Paw Race: On Monday, June 21, the Great Wolf Lodge will hold the wildest, wackiest race you’ve ever seen. 406 “paws” will race down the waterslide and around the lazy river. Each paw has a suite number on it. The winning guest gets a free future nights stay at the Lodge. All guest rooms occupied on Sunday night will be entered in the race.

Rates for Father’s Day start at $219.95 and includes 2 Days Play with 1 Night Stay. A package including dinner, a gift for dad, souvenir photo and children’s activities starts at $269.95.

For reservations at the Great Wolf Lodge Niagara Falls, visit http://www.greatwolf.com/niagara/waterpark or call (800) 605-9653.

About Great Wolf Lodge Niagara Falls

Great Wolf Lodge (www.greatwolf.com) Niagara Falls, Canada, is owned by Ripley’s Niagara Water Park Resort, L.P., a Jim Pattison Group company, through a license from Great Wolf Resorts, Inc.

Great Wolf Lodge captures the adventure and the intrigue of the Northwoods with nature-inspired accommodations, multiple family-themed restaurants, Elements spa, an arcade with over 100 games and an interactive miniature golf course. Measuring more than 100,000 square feet with 2.5 million litres of water, the indoor waterpark complex includes 13 waterslides, three pools, two whirlpools, a large outdoor heated spa experience, a giant wavepool, a 500,000 litre lazy river, a 4,000 litre tipping bucket and more.  Well known for its environmental programs, Great Wolf Lodge Niagara Falls has been awarded four leaves in the Audubon Green Leaf™ Eco-Rating program.

About Great Wolf Resorts, Inc.

Great Wolf Resorts, Inc^®. (NASDAQ: WOLF), Madison, Wis., is North America’s largest family of indoor waterpark resorts, and, through its subsidiaries and affiliates, owns and operates its family resorts under the Great Wolf Lodge^® and Blue Harbor Resort^™ brands.  Great Wolf Resorts is a fully integrated resort company with Great Wolf Lodge locations in: Wisconsin Dells, Wis.; Sandusky, Ohio; Traverse City, Mich.; Kansas City, Kan.; Williamsburg, Va.; the Pocono Mountains, Pa.; Niagara Falls, Ontario; Mason, Ohio; Grapevine, Texas; Grand Mound, Wash.; and Concord, N.C.; and Blue Harbor Resort & Conference Center in Sheboygan, Wis.  Through Great Wolf Resorts’ environmental sustainability program, Project Green Wolf^™, the company is the first and only national hotel chain to have all US properties Green Seal^™ Certified – Silver.

The company’s resorts are family-oriented destination facilities that generally feature 300 – 600 rooms and a large indoor entertainment area measuring 40,000 – 100,000 square feet.  The all-suite properties offer a variety of room styles, arcade/game rooms, fitness rooms, themed restaurants, spas, supervised children’s activities and other amenities.  Additional information may be found on the company’s Web site at www.greatwolf.com.

Eighteen schools across the country each win $2,000 donation of school supplies

Heathrow, Fla. – (April 1, 2010) – After more than 36,000 votes from parents and public schools eager to fill needs in the classroom, Remington College is proud to announce the winners from its inaugural Adopt Our School program.

Schools competed for up to $2,000 worth of school supplies of their choice, courtesy of Remington College. Any public school in a Remington College campus market was eligible to compete.

Here are the winning schools for each Remington College campus:

Baton Rouge: St. Helena Central High School

Cleveland: Oliver Hazard Perry Elementary School

Cleveland West: Union School

Columbia (South Carolina): Camden Elementary School

Colorado Springs: Cheyenne Mountain Charter Academy

Dallas: Ed Hodges Elementary School

Ft. Worth: Elkins Elementary School

Honolulu: Hawaii School for the Deaf and Blind

Houston: O’Donnell Middle School

Houston Southeast: Park Place Elementary School

North Houston: Humble High School

Lafayette (Louisiana): Woodvale Elementary School

Little Rock: Little Rock Preparatory Academy

Memphis: Southern Avenue Charter School

Mobile: Orange Beach Elementary School

Nashville: Holloway High School

Shreveport: Bossier High School

Tampa: Pine Grove Elementary School

Remington College is now working with the winning schools to purchase the items that the schools want – and need. Remington College will be supplying everything from band instruments to school uniforms to backpacks.

“As educators, we know how important it is to have the resources that students need,” said Jack Forrest, Remington College President and CEO. “We want to help schools in our local communities by helping fill the gap created by budget pressures. In the final analysis, nothing is more important to the health and future of the community than an educated citizenry.”

Remington College will hold another Adopt Our School competition in the fall, with another $2,000 worth of school supplies for the winning schools.

The Adopt Our School program is part of “Remington College Reaches Out,” a series of community initiatives and charitable efforts to mark the college’s 25^th anniversary in 2010.

Based in Heathrow, Florida, Remington College offers diploma and degree programs at 20 campuses throughout the United States, including a new online campus. Its mission is to provide career-focused education through a variety of programs, including nursing, cosmetology, business office management and criminal justice.

For more information, call 1-800-448-6405.

About Remington College: Remington College is a common name used by all 20 campuses of a group of affiliated companies of privately-owned, post-secondary educational institutions based in Heathrow, Florida. Through its campuses, Remington College offers diplomas, bachelor’s and associate’s degrees in a variety of fields, including: cosmetology; nursing; healthcare; criminal justice; business; electronics; information technology; and more.  Course offerings vary by campus. Remington College and its predecessor companies have been part of the higher education community since 1985. For more information, please visit http://www.remingtoncollege.edu/. For the latest news about Remington College, visit http://today.remingtoncollege.edu/

Media contact:

Frank Wolff

Wellons Communications

407-339-0879 office

407-637-6000 cell

Frank@wellonscommunications.com

“King for a Day, the Story of Stories” teaches children how to unlock their imagination and discover possibilities!

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. (August 12, 2010) – No need to kiss a frog or chow down on a poison apple. Becoming royalty these days just requires a bit of imagination and a flip of a page.

Acclaimed illustrator Mark Wayne Adams, who has illustrated more than 15 picture books and written two other stories, is launching his latest book, King for a Day, the Story of Stories, this month that helps children unlock their imaginations.

Fans are invited to meet Adams at the book’s launch party.

When: Saturday, Aug. 14 from 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

Where: Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Altamonte Springs

Web: www.kingforaday.me

In Mark Wayne Adams’ illustrative style King for a Day provides a whimsical look at the way children take their passions and create imaginative stories from everyday life. Complete with enlightening writing and drawing exercises, this story will win the hearts of children and adults everywhere. This enduring tale allows children to discover visual and expressive techniques through sketchbook journaling.

From the book:

“Have you ever wanted to change an ordinary day into an extraordinary story?

Well, first you must find your life’s passion!

A passion is not a place or a thing.

It is an action—an action that makes you happy.”

The book is published through Adams Illustration & Design and Caballo Books, the publishing side of the design company. For more information on Adams, visit http://www.markwayneadams.com.

King for a Day: ISBN-13:  978-1-59616-008-8           ISBN-10:  1-59616-008-X

ABOUT MARK WAYNE ADAMS (http://www.markwayneadams.com)

Mark Wayne Adams has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Drawing and resides in Florida. His professional career ranges from a caricature artist to art director for companies like The Walt Disney Company to Caballo Books. In addition to writing and publishing children’s books, he is the illustrator of more than 15 children’s books. Growing up as a librarian’s son, it seemed a natural development for him to create illustrations for a new generation of readers. His insightful quote “The greatest treasure is your story. What role will YOU play?” has inspired his audience to seek out their unique life’s passion.

Mark Wayne Adams’ company is dedicated to the design and production of a variety of children’s picture books. The company contribution to authors’ books has received numerous awards, including the Eric Hoffer Award, Benjamin Franklin Award, Independent Publishers Award, Mom’s Choice Award, Indie Excellence Award, and Moonbeam Award.

Mark Wayne Adams’ goal is to inspire children to create and build confidence in their remarkable talent.

All of Mark Wayne Adams’ books are available in bookstores nationwide, as well as on www.Amazon.com and www.markwayneadams.com. Mark Wayne Adams is available for interviews, as well as school, bookstore and professional events. Please contact Mark Wayne at http://www.markwayneadams.com.