The University of Toledo is hosting its 44th annual National Youth Sports Program to support economically disadvantaged youth ages 10 to 16 in the Toledo area.

The free program started Monday and will continue through June 28. It takes place 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday throughout UT’s Main Campus and several area parks. 

NYSP gives its participants more than just sports instruction. Each year the more than 150 participants also participate in fun activities that teach them math and science, alcohol and drug awareness, personal nutrition and self-esteem.

“It provides constructive use of leisure time,” said Ruthie Kucharewski, project administrator. “A lot of these kids have free time and don’t have anything to do, so this is a safe place where they’re with good role models and nurturing staff.”

Throughout the program, youth will learn about sports such as basketball, track, soccer, swimming, softball and more at UT. They also will travel to Swan Creek and Secor Metro Parks for some of their activities.

From 11:10 a.m. to 3:25 p.m. on Wednesday, June 26, the children will attend a program at Olander Park called “Hooked on Fishing, Not on Drugs,” where they will have the opportunity to fish in the pond.

Children also will hear from “hometown heroes” such as Assistant Provost for International Studies and Programs Dr. Sammy Spann, UTPD Officer Florence Wormely, UT Women’s Basketball Coach Tricia Cullop and UT Head Football Coach Matt Campbell throughout the program.

For a detailed daily schedule, click here.

An appreciation banquet to conclude the program will be held 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, June 28 in the Health Education Building’s gym.

The University of Toledo is expanding a partnership with Toledo Public Schools that brings higher education to community members through their local schools.

The UT@TPS program will expand this fall to Leverette Elementary School where individuals can take UT liberal arts courses for lower costs at a convenient location.

TPS Assistant Superintendent Romules Durant and Lynne Hamer, UT associate professor of education theory and social foundations of education and director of the UT@TPS program, will announce the expansion at a news conference 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 11 at Leverette, 445 E. Manhattan Blvd.

The UT@TPS program currently allows individuals to take business courses through the University at Samuel M. Jones at Gunckel Park School, 430 Nebraska Ave. The students at Jones work toward an associate’s degree in business management technology with two courses per semester that meet 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

At the new program at Leverette, the liberal arts and general education courses can apply to any major and after four semesters participants can continue to pursue their studies on a UT campus. Those courses meet 3:30-6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Participants in UT@TPS are fully-enrolled UT students with campus privileges. The classes taught by UT faculty members are held at TPS locations, which reduces the costs. For many students Pell grants completely cover their tuition costs.

UT@TPS was established in 2010 to support parents and community members to continue their schooling and thus lead the way for Toledo’s children and youth to stay in school. The program also works with Penta Career Center to offer Adult Basic Literacy classes at TPS schools to prepare individuals for the GED.

UT@TPS is currently enrolling students. Contact Lynne Hamer for more information at 419-283-8288 or lynne.hamer@utoledo.edu.

Media Coverage
The Blade (June 11, 2013)

Dr. Thomas Nasca, chief executive officer of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), will speak at the UT College of Medicine and Life Sciences’ commencement ceremony Friday, June 7, at 2 p.m. at Stranahan Theater.

There are more than 200 students who are candidates for degrees; this includes 156 students who will receive doctor of medicine degrees, including three who also will receive certificates, one who also will receive a master’s in public health, and one who also will receive a PhD in biomedical sciences.

Nasca

Five students will earn a PhD in biomedical sciences, and 58 will receive master’s degrees, including two who also will receive certificates. One student will receive a combined master of public health and master of occupational health degree, and eight students are candidates for certificates.

Nasca will receive an honorary doctor of science degree at the ceremony.

“As the practice of health care changes, so too will the methods we use to educate the next generation of doctors. As the CEO of the ACGME, Dr. Thomas Nasca has unique insight into what the future holds for an industry very much in flux,” said Dr. Jeffrey P. Gold, chancellor and executive vice president for biosciences and health affairs, and dean of the College of Medicine and Life Sciences.

“We are honored to welcome Dr. Nasca to The University of Toledo as a new class of physicians and health professionals embark on their careers.”

In addition to his current role, Nasca is the chief executive officer of the ACGME International and a professor of medicine at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia. Involved in medical education since 1981, Nasca has served as chair and residency program director of the Department of Medicine and director of medical services at Mercy Hospital of Pittsburgh.

He served in the role of vice chair of the Department of Medicine at Jefferson Medical College and Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, where he was responsible for the medical student, residency and fellowship educational programs. He also served as the associate dean for education and research, the associate dean for academic affairs and affiliations, and then was appointed the senior vice president for academic affairs and dean of Jefferson Medical College and president of Jefferson University Physicians.

Named the first Anthony F. and Gertrude M. DePalma Dean of Jefferson Medical College, Nasca left the deanship in 2007 to assume the leadership of the ACGME.

Nasca has served in various leadership roles on the Council of the Association of Program Directors in Internal Medicine, the Nephrology Medical Knowledge Self-Assessment Program for the American College of Physicians, the Alliance for Academic Internal Medicine, the Federated Council for Internal Medicine, the Residency Review Committee for Internal Medicine, and the Council on Graduate Medical Education of the Department of Health and Human Services and the United States Congress.

He has received numerous awards, including the Dema C. Daley Founders Award for Excellence in Internal Medical Education from the Association of Program Directors in Internal Medicine, the Rev. Clarence Shaffrey S.J. Award from St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia and the Jefferson Medical College Alumni Achievement Award. He was named one of the 50 most powerful physician executives in 2009, 2010 and 2011 by Modern Healthcare. Nasca is the author of more than 100 peer-reviewed articles, chapters and other publications, and has delivered more than 300 invited lectures and presentations on topics related to medical education.

Nasca graduated from the University of Notre Dame with high honors and is an Alpha Omega Alpha graduate of Jefferson Medical College. He completed his internship, residency, and was chief medical resident at Mercy Hospital of Pittsburgh, and completed his nephrology fellowship at Brown University and Rhode Island Hospital.

Click here to download a photo of Nasca.

UT Manager of Business Incubation among those recognized

The University of Toledo Manager of Business Incubation is among a group of professionals to be recognized as “Champions of Change” June 4 at the White House.

The Champions of Change program each week recognizes Americans who are doing extraordinary things in their communities to out-innovate, out-educate, and out-build the rest of the world.

The White House Office of Public Engagement invited Scott E. McIntyre, UT interim manager of business incubation, to the ceremony along with a group of entrepreneurs who exemplify the promise of crowdfunding to fuel growth of startups, small businesses and innovative projects across the nation.

“I am honored to be invited to attend this important event with my peers, and am gratified to be able to collaborate with such passionate, visionary professionals from all walks of business. I look forward to seeing the continued commitment this administration makes toward Restoration of the American Dream,” said McIntyre, co-chair of education and training for the Crowdfunding Professional Association, a leading international trade group.

Traditional methods of financing a business startup can be expensive and time consuming, but crowdsourcing provides entrepreneurs greater access to funding opportunities. Individual donations in a crowdfunding campaign currently average $25 to $80, which is low economic risk for the donor but could have a huge impact on a start-up company if a number of individuals contribute, McIntyre said.

Websites such as kickstarter.com are an example of crowdfunding, which can be used to fund artistic projects as well as manufacturing a new product.

McIntyre joined The University of Toledo in April and is responsible for administering an incubation program in partnership with UT and the State of Ohio’s Edison Technology Program.

He also serves a Founder/Chairman of Phabriq Development, a venture catalyst organization responsible for the founding of CrowdSchools.org to support student entrepreneurship.

For more information on Champions of Change, visit whitehouse.gov/champions.

Media Coverage
13 ABC (June 4, 2013)
The Blade (June 4, 2013)