Monday, December 30, 2013

January is National Blood Donor Month

Blood is usually in short supply during the winter months due to the holidays, travel schedules, bad weather and illness. January, in particular, is a difficult month for blood centers to collect donations. Poor turnouts can put our nation’s blood supply at a critical low. The AABB (formerly known as the American Association of Blood Banks), along with America’s Blood Centers, is dedicated to increasing public awareness of the importance of voluntary blood donation. Every day in the United State, blood is needed in hospitals to care for patients with cancer and other diseases, for organ transplant recipients, and to help save the lives of accident and trauma victims. Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood.


Facts About Blood: 

• More than 38,000 blood donations are needed each day.
• Blood can be separated into at least three components: red blood cells, plasma, and platelets.
• Just one blood donation can help save up to three lives.
• 60% of the U.S. population is eligible to give blood, but only 5 % actually donate.
• Blood and blood products are perishable. Donated red blood cells must be used within 42 days of collection

A blood donation truly is a “gift of life” that a healthy individual can give to others who are sick or injured.

Continue your holiday giving and donate now!

To learn more about blood donation visit www.aabb.org. To find areas in your community where you can donate blood, visit https://www.membersforlife.org/pennj/schedule/bdc_zip.php to search by zip code.

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

PRESTIGIOUS GRAMMY CAMP®

Two Upper Darby High School students have been selected along with 30 other talented teens, to perform in the 2014 Grammy Camp Jazz Session.  The students, Immanuel Wilkins and Yesseh Furaha-Ali, play the saxophone.

GRAMMY Camp — Jazz Session has been fostering the next generation of music and its makers since 1993, and the results have been truly impressive," said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of the GRAMMY Foundation and The Recording Academy®. "Not only do these young people have a once-in-a-lifetime experience during GRAMMY Week playing with their peers as well as with GRAMMY-nominated and GRAMMY-winning artists at a range of events, but many of them go on to enjoy thriving performance careers, including singer/pianist Peter Cincotti, three-time GRAMMY-nominated jazz pianist Gerald Clayton, New York Philharmonic bassist David J. Grossman, GRAMMY-nominated singer/songwriter Brandon Heath, saxophonist Grace Kelly, and pianist Aaron Parks, among others."

The selected students will perform at various GRAMMY Week events including — for the fifth year— an appearance at GRAMMY In The Schools Live! — A Celebration Of Music & Education, sponsored by Ford Motor Company Fund. This special evening, which is open to the public, will showcase the selectees, along with special guest artists, on Jan. 22, 2014, at the University of Southern California. The group will offer another public performance at Spaghettini Fine Dining & Entertainment with a special guest artist on Jan. 23. GRAMMY Camp — Jazz Session members will also attend the 56th Annual GRAMMY Awards on Jan. 26 as guests of The Recording Academy and will perform at theGRAMMY Celebration® after-party.

On Jan. 23–25, the young musicians will again record at the legendary Capitol Studios & Mastering in Hollywood, Calif., courtesy of the EMI Music Group. GRAMMY Camp — Jazz Session albums from 2007–2013 are available for purchase at online music outlets such as AmazoniTunes, Napster, and Rhapsody.

The GRAMMY Camp — Jazz Session selectees are eligible for more than $2 million in college scholarships made possible through the GRAMMY Foundation's college partners: Berklee College of Music, Manhattan School of Music, the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music, and USC Thornton School of Music. In addition, each selectee's school will receive a professional cymbal courtesy of the Zildjian Company.

Check out the two in the below video taken during an appearance in Memphis.



Thursday, December 5, 2013

Tree Lighting Ceremony


Join Upper Darby Township and The Upper Darby School District on Sunday, December 8 for the Tree Lighting Concert.


Free Concert at 3 PM at the Tower Theater
Tree Lighting at 4:30 PM at the top of 69th Street

Bring the entire family to enjoy more than 400 talented performers
including the Aronimink Singers,
the Beverly Hills Middle School Orchestra, Band and Chorlations,
The Bywood Buddies,
The Girls Ensemble and Concerts Singers from Drexel Hill Middle School,
The Garrettford Singers and the
Stonehurst select Singers
Welcome Santa as he kicks off the Holiday Season!


Tuesday, November 19, 2013

The Holidays Begin at the UDPAC!

The Nutcracker!
This week! An affordable alternative to ring in the holiday season!

Consider This:

The most valuable holiday memories revolve around the quality time we spend with loved-ones and the experiences we share with them.

Treat your family to a memorable gift of the performing arts to ring in your holidays!

Join us for a magical sleigh ride to the Land of the Sweets! Enjoy the stirring music of Tchaikovsky, the intricate choreography performed by the professional soloists, and the journey of a little girl from a Christmas party to a world of new experiences and intriguing characters! All at an affordable price for everyone in the family to enjoy!

THE NUTCRACKER - THIS WEEK!


November 22 at 7:30 pm
November 23 at 11 am and 3 pm
November 24 at 1:30 pm and 5:30 pm

TICKETS:
$10 - $22

For more information and to purchase tickets, call the box office: 610.622.1189 or












More Performances at UDPAC this Holiday Season!
The Lansdowne Symphony Orchestra
The Holiday Concert
Sunday, December 8 at 3:00 pm

Tickets:
General Admission: $18
UDPAC members: $16
Senior: $15
Students under 25 with ID: $5

Tickets available at the door. For more information call: 610.622.1189.



Christmas Time is Here!
The Upper Darby Summer Stage Shooting Stars present the Annual Holiday Show!

Two performances this year!
December 20 at 7:30 pm
December 21 at 2:00 pm

Tickets:
Just $6 - $9
Call the box office: 610.622.1189 or visit the Web site: www.udpac.org for tickets! 


Upper Darby Performing Arts Center
601 N. Lansdowne Avenue, Drexel Hill, PA * 610.622.1189 * www.udpac.org

DCCC:Up to 72% off tuition and fees under new program for high school students

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 18, 2013

Contact: Anthony Twyman, Assistant to the President for Communications, 610-325-2816



More than 70% off Tuition and Fees, Under New College Pilot Program for High School Students

(Delaware and Chester Counties, PA)—For a limited time, the College is allowing students from Delaware and Chester Counties the opportunity to earn college credits while still in high school at a substantially discounted rate of up to 72 percent off the College’s normal tuition and fees.

 “Our High School Dual Enrollment Pilot Program provides high school students with a way to accelerate their education, while saving them and their parents a significant amount of money on a quality college education,” said College President Dr. Jerry Parker, adding that 266 students are already enrolled for the fall semester.

Qualified students from the College’s sponsoring school districts pay only $40 per credit versus the normal $146 a credit with fees. Students from non-sponsoring school districts pay only $80 per credit versus the normal $254 a credit with fees. Courses can be taken at most of the College’s nine locations. Fees are waived. Application deadlines are Dec. 1 for the spring semester, May 1 for Summer I and June 1 for Summer II. (Sponsoring districts contribute to the College; residents from these districts receive a reduced tuition rate).

 The High School Dual Enrollment Pilot Program will last three years. Eligible high school juniors can earn up to nine college credits, while eligible high school seniors can earn up to 12 college credits. Thus, by the time students graduate from high school, they can accumulate up to 21 credits. Program eligibility is based on a student’s potential for success, which includes demonstrated academic ability and motivation.

Additionally, dual enrollment students can save thousands of dollars by completing their first two years at Delaware County Community College and then transferring to a four-year school for a baccalaureate degree. Studies show that students who complete their associate degree before transferring credits are more likely to attain their bachelor’s degree. 

The College—under already existing programs (Dual Admissions, Core-to-Core Articulations, and Guaranteed Admissions Agreements)—enables students who graduate with an associate degree to seamlessly transfer their credits to a variety of four-year schools. These transfer agreements often come with guaranteed admission and excellent scholarship opportunities to universities such as Drexel, Penn State, Temple, West Chester, and Widener, as well as to colleges such as Albright, Cabrini, Chestnut Hill, Peirce and Rosemont.

College transfer agreements and high school dual enrollment programs enable four-year schools to enroll students they may otherwise have not received. Research shows that students who take advantage of dual enrollment opportunities while in high school tend to be more successful as they progress through their post-secondary education experience.

 “Participation in the College’s Dual Enrollment Pilot Program can simplify and take the worry out of the college admissions process,” said Fran Cubberley, the College’s vice president for Enrollment Management. “The College’s dual enrollment and dual admissions programs allow qualified students to—early on in their college selection process—be assured of guaranteed admission to excellent four-year schools in the Greater Philadelphia area.”

Students are under no obligation to attend Delaware County Community College after completing the High School Dual Enrollment Pilot Program and can transfer the credits they earn to a four-year school.

To learn more about the Dual Enrollment Pilot Program, visit www.dccc.edu/highschool, or call 610-359-5141.

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