MEDIA ALERT AND INVITATION FOR COVERAGE 

D2 students to chat with astronauts at the International Space Station over amateur radio transmission

Media contact:

Christine O’Brien, PIO  

Office: (719) 579-2310  

Cell: (719) 660-2033  

rien@hsd2.org">cobrien@hsd2.org  

Harrison School District 2  

Who: Harrison District 2’s Stratton Meadows Elementary and Thrive Homeschool Academy students will have a Q&A session with a NASA astronaut through Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) on April 22.

What: Crew members aboard the ISS will participate in the 10-minute scheduled amateur radio contact while the ISS is overhead Colorado Springs. ARISS lets students worldwide experience the excitement of talking directly with International Space Station crew members, inspiring them to pursue interests in science, technology, engineering, and math and engaging them with radio science technology through amateur radio. The students selected to ask questions were nominated by their teachers, ranging from 3rd to 11th grade.

The astronauts themselves became amateur radio operators before launching into space, and three of the selected students are taking classes to obtain their radio licenses as well.

When: Monday, April 22 at 11:30 a.m. 

Where: Stratton Meadows Elementary at 610 Brookshire Ave.  

Saturday, April 20, 2024, from 9:00 am-1:00 pm, Chipeta Elementary School will host students from all over The Colorado Springs School District 11 for an exciting community event centered around the life skills taught through chess and the fun of the game. Studies have shown the positive impacts of chess on young students. In addition to developing cognitive skills, the game can aid children's social skills and aspects such as learning to play fair, taking turns, having respect for others, and self, and developing empathy for others' perspectives. Students attending will participate in chess games and enjoy a tasty pizza lunch in an atmosphere of good sportsmanship and good cheer. A small group of dedicated D11 staff have been sponsoring and arranging yearly chess tournaments at various school locations in the district for almost 20 years. In addition to the chess tournaments, high school chess teams volunteer in elementary school classrooms throughout the year. Chess is alive and well in D11! 

The University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) College of Engineering and Applied Science, with The Anschutz Foundation, architect OZ Architecture and general contractor GH Phipps, is celebrating the completion of the new Anschutz Engineering Center and the Design and Prototyping Center.

The ribbon-cutting will take place at 6 p.m. today, April 18, and will include brief remarks. A tour of the building will follow.

The 23,000-square-foot Anschutz Engineering Center is a dedicated lab building housing state-of-the-art lab space, classroom facilities, an executive conference room and faculty offices. Additionally, the project includes the nearby 3,000-square-foot shop building dedicated to fabrication, electric vehicle technology, and Senior Projects – the Design and Prototyping Center.

Colorado Springs, CO – April 17, 2024 — The YMCA proudly announces its continuation as a Rocky Mountain 5K Race partner along with The Colorado Springs Sports Corp. The race, which will be held on July 27th, 2024, is part of the Rocky Mountain State Games and leads into the festivities of Downtown Summer Fest. Held at America the Beautiful Park, the 5K starts at 9:00 AM and includes the 1K Sasquatch Shuffle for the kids. 

Today marks the 100-day milestone until the Paris Games. Colorado Springs Sports Corporation is thrilled to announce the Downtown Summer Fest in partnership with the United States Olympic & Paralympic Museum (USOPM).  Downtown Summer Fest in Olympic City, USA, is set to be a highlight of the summer, featuring an array of exciting activities and entertainment for the whole family, including the YMCA Family Zone, complete with sports demos, crafts, and more. 

Here are some of the highlights you won't want to miss:

• The Official Torch Relay presented by Olympic City USA: To kick off the event, Olympians, Paralympians, and community dignitaries will carry a torch across the Park Union Bridge and light the cauldron, starting at 11:00 AM
• Special Appearance: Team USA athlete meet and greets with autograph signings, and the opportunity to meet Olympic champion Dominique Dawes, member of the 1996 Magnificent Seven Gymnastics team.
• Live Music: Get ready to groove to the beats of talented local musicians as they take the stage throughout the day.
• Vendors: Explore a variety of vendors offering everything from delicious food and refreshing beverages to unique arts and crafts.
• National Governing Bodies: Witness the fast-paced action of Team Handball with a thrilling demonstration on the plaza and experience the grace and precision of fencing with an exciting demonstration by USA Fencing athletes, along with other informational booths.
• USA Basketball Clinic: Basketball enthusiasts (ages 6-17) can improve their skills and learn from the best at the USA Basketball Clinic. Register HERE.
• Aerial Aura Performance: Prepare to be mesmerized by breathtaking aerial performances that will leave you in awe.
• On the Break Dance Academy Performance: Enjoy the dynamic moves and impressive choreography of the On the Break Dance Academy performers.

Admission to all these incredible activities is completely FREE! The USOPM is open to the public 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM and admission is required. 

Don't miss out on this unforgettable celebration of sports, culture, and community in Olympic City USA.

For more information, visit downtownsummerfest.org.

About the YMCA of the Pikes Peak Region

There is no other nonprofit quite like the Y. We believe that lasting personal and social change can only come about when we all work together to invest in our kids, our health, and our neighbors. That is why the YMCA of the Pikes Peak Region is partnering with two other great organizations to impact our community with a focus on health and wellness. The Rocky Mountain Run 5K allows the Y to help bring another great 5K race to the Pikes Peak Region in a fun and safe environment. At the Y, we are a cause-driven organization for youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility, and we look forward to serving our community at another great event! For more information, visit ppymca.org.

About the Colorado Springs Sports Corporation 

Colorado Springs Sports Corporation (CSSC) exists to inspire and advance Colorado Springs, Olympic City USA, and the Pikes Peak Region through sport and community events. Through event promotion and community development activities, CSSC plays a critical role in bringing civic leaders together with some of the nation's premier sporting organizations to promote tourism and create positive economic impact.

CSSC hosts annual signature and partnership events including The Broadmoor Cycle to the Summit, Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off, Colorado Springs Sports Hall of Fame, Pikes Peak APEX, Pikes Peak Regional Airshow, Rocky Mountain State Games, Star-Spangled Symphony & Fourth of July Fireworks, Downtown Summer Fest, and various sport centric celebrations. In addition, supporting the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, National and International Governing Bodies of Sport, and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum remains a staple component of the overall mission.

For more information on the Colorado Springs Sports Corporation visit our website: SportsCorp.org.

About the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum

The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum offers an immersive and universally accessible look into the journey of Team USA’s Olympic and Paralympic athletes. Through interactive exhibits, innovative displays and a comprehensive artifact collection, the Museum instills the Olympic values of excellence, friendship and respect, as well as the Paralympic values of determination, equality, inspiration and courage in every visitor. It honors yesterday's legends with the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame while inspiring tomorrow’s legends through entertaining activities and events. The USOPM is more than a museum but a life-changing experience that will continue to educate and inspire the public to take part for generations to come.

With the NFL draft coming up next week, fantasy football fans everywhere are getting ready to place their bets, pick their players and hopefully emerge victorious at the end of the season.

Jayden Daniels is likely to perform better in the National Football League (NFL) than any other quarterback in the 2024 draft, according to an algorithm developed by economists at UCCS and the Auckland University of Technology that predicts the NFL potential of college quarterbacks. This is at odds with rankings based on ESPN scout scores, which ranks Daniels the second-best quarterback behind Caleb Williams.

The algorithm uses data from college games and other sources to predict the performance of rookie quarterbacks in the NFL.

Quarterback performance is measured using ESPN’s Total Quarterback Rating (QBR), a numerical measure of quarterback performance that ranges from zero to 100, with higher numbers indicating better performances. The algorithm determined that to succeed in the NFL, quarterbacks must be good passers, but rushing ability also matters.

The algorithm estimates each quarterbacks’ maximum season QBR in their first five years in the league, which is abbreviated to Max5-QBR. Max5-QBR values for the top-ranked quarterbacks in the 2024 NFL draft, according to the algorithm, are displayed in the table below.

Jayden Daniel’s expected Max5-QBR value (65.9) is significantly higher than that for second-ranked Drake Maye’s (58.1).

The algorithm’s ranking of quarterbacks differs from one based on ESPN scout grades, as noted above. According to scouts, Caleb Williams is the top quarterback, followed by Daniels and then Drake Maye. Additionally, scouts rate Bo Nix the fifth best quarterback, but the algorithm rates Nix fourth, just behind Williams.

The reason for the difference in rankings is that, according to the algorithm, scouts undervalue rushing ability when evaluating draftee quarterbacks. Among the top quarterback draft prospects, Daniels has the best college rushing statistics by a large margin, and Nix the second best. According to the algorithm, the rushing prowess of these quarterbacks will help their performances in the NFL.

A possible reason for the importance of rushing ability is that effective rushing at opportune times enables quarterbacks to gain the additional yards required to be awarded a new set of downs.

Interestingly, this year’s NFL Most Valuable Player, Lamar Jackson, was considered the top quarterback in the 2018 NFL draft by the algorithm, but he was ranked the fifth best draftee quarterback by scouts. Like Daniels in the 2024 draft, Jackson’s college rushing statistics were considerably better than other quarterbacks in draft contention.

Who will be the first quarterback drafted in 2024? Jayden Daniels is the algorithm’s top prospect, but scouts favor Caleb Williams. 

Fountain Valley School (FVS) is delighted to announce Colorado Supreme Court Justice Melissa Hart as the keynote speaker for its 94th Commencement Exercises on May 25, 2024, at FVS. Raised in Colorado, Justice Hart's journey to the State's highest court has been marked by a commitment to legal scholarship, teaching, and public service.

A distinguished alumna of Harvard-Radcliffe College and Harvard Law School, Justice Hart clerked for Judge Guido Calabresi of the Second Circuit and Justice John Paul Stevens on the U.S. Supreme Court. Following her clerkships, she practiced law in Washington, D.C., including serving as a trial attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice before transitioning to academia.

In 2000, Justice Hart joined the University of Colorado Law School faculty, where she has been instrumental in shaping the next generation of legal minds. She has dedicated much of her career to teaching and scholarship, focusing on vital issues such as employment discrimination, access to justice, and constitutional law. Her contributions to legal education are further exemplified by her past tenure as director of the Byron R. White Center for the Study of American Constitutional Law from 2010 to 2018.

In December 2017, Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper recognized Justice Hart's exceptional legal acumen and commitment to justice by appointing her to the Colorado Supreme Court. Governor Hickenlooper praised her as "without question a brilliant legal mind" and hailed her appointment as "a great opportunity for Colorado."

Throughout her time serving on the Colorado Supreme Court, Justice Hart has continued to uphold the principles of justice and fairness, earning widespread respect and admiration from her colleagues and the community. As the 2024 Commencement speaker at Fountain Valley School, Justice Hart will undoubtedly inspire graduates with her insights, wisdom, and dedication to the law. The day's ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. on the School's graduation lawn (6155 Fountain Valley School Rd., Colorado Springs, CO 80911).

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Founded in 1930, Fountain Valley School of Colorado is a boarding and day school for grades 9-12. Situated on 1,100 acres of rolling prairie in Colorado Springs, the School provides a rigorous, global curriculum in academics, arts, athletics, and the outdoors to develop young adults who are courageous, open-minded, self-reliant, curious, and compassionate. Enrollment is approximately 240 students from 23 countries, 21 states and the Pikes Peak Region. www.fvs.edu

Colorado Springs, CO. - The YMCA at First & Main is proud to announce that it will host the second-ever Book Bash event on Saturday, May 4th, from 12 noon to 4:30 pm at 3035 N. New Center Pt, Colorado Springs. This free, family-friendly event will feature over 50 authors showcasing their books for sale and many book-related vendors. The first Book Bash, held in December, was a huge success.

Organizer C.H. Lyn said, “We will have a kid's room with books for toddlers to teens, a romance room with everything from sweet to spicy, and a general space with more books of every age range and genre. Come prepared to relax among fellow book lovers as we’ll have free goodies from a local baker, drinks from Dyanmo Coffee, and food trucks outside. There will be music, giveaways, and many titles to find your next great read.”

Lyn chose the YMCA as the host venue due to her close ties as a longtime Y member. In one of her own books, Lyn dedicated it to the Y, writing: “To my friends at the Y, without the amazing childcare you all provide, this book would have taken much longer to finish. Likely years longer. Having my girls in a safe place, with people I trust, gives me the emotional security to focus on the writing and getting the story on the page. That, plus the support and encouragement I get from you all, means the world. Thank you.” 

The Spring Book Bash is a nonprofit event, with all profits going to the YMCA’s Annual Support Campaign, the event's charity of choice. The event is still accepting sponsors. For more information, visit the website at chlyn.com or contact C.H. Lyn at chlyn.author@gmail.com.

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