Latest news with #AOA
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
Exclusion of Arunachal weightlifter from Commonwealth trials slammed
GUWAHATI The Arunachal Olympic Association (AOA) and other organisations in the State have slammed the exclusion of weightlifter Sambo Lapung, a consistent gold medal winner, from the trials for the Commonwealth Championships 2025. Lapung appealed to the Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWF) a few days ago, requesting a chance to participate in the trials scheduled for June 13-14, but his plea was rejected. In a letter to Indian Olympic Association president P.T. Usha on June 5, AOA secretary general Bamang Tago sought justice for Lapung, who was allegedly ignored to accommodate Harshit Sehrawat of Haryana. A copy of the letter was sent to Mansukh Mandaviya, the Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Kiren Rijiju, the Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, the Secretary to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, and the Director General of the Sports Authority of India. Lapung hails from the East Kameng district, which falls under the Arunachal West parliamentary constituency represented by Mr Rijiju. 'Lapung, a three-time national gold medallist and record holder, has consistently dominated the 96 kg category, securing gold at the Senior National Weightlifting Championships held in Chandigarh (2022), Itanagar (2023), and Himachal Pradesh (2024). His outstanding performances include lifting 338 kg in the 2023 Nationals, outperforming his closest competitors, including Harshit Sehrawat, who secured silver with a total of 328 kg,' Mr Tago wrote. 'Despite this, the IWF released a selection list that excluded Lapung from the 94 kg category trials, while selecting Sehrawat, typically a 102 kg lifter, based on his silver medal performance at the Inter Railways Championship (335 kg). This selection, bypassing a reigning national champion who has repeatedly outperformed the selected athlete in direct competition, has raised serious concerns over transparency, meritocracy, and possible regional bias,' he wrote. Later, Mr Tago told reporters that Sehrawat could have been favoured because his father is a coach or because of the State he hails from. 'This matter is not only about one individual. It reflects a growing pattern of underrepresentation and neglect of athletes from the northeastern region in national-level selections. Talents such as Sambo Lapung, Kojum Taba, Jimjang Deru, and Soram Hitler Tagru have brought pride to the country. Yet, their efforts are too often overlooked during crucial opportunities,' he said. The East Kameng Social Welfare and Cultural Organisation also criticised the IWF for ignoring Lapung and sought the intervention of Mr Rijiju. The organisation said Lapung's exclusion not only undermines his achievements but also wounds the sentiments of the people of Arunachal Pradesh and the region beyond. 'This decision reinforces a recurring pattern of perceived stereotyping and discrimination against athletes from our region in mainland India,' its chairperson, Raya Flago, said.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Austin Online Academy growth more than just the numbers
Jun. 6—In late May, the Austin Public Schools District released its latest numbers reflecting graduates from its Austin Online Academy (AOA). In just three short years the number of graduates has expanded from under 10 the first year, 2022-23, to 52 this year reflecting a growing popularity of the alternative learning style the AOA offers. Even though comparing the first and third year is akin to comparing the proverbial apples to oranges, it nevertheless speaks to what the AOA can do for students not wanting a traditional education template. "I think year one was just a lot of learning of who a successful student is," said AOA and Alternative Learning Center Principal Jessica Cabeen. "Based on that knowledge and obviously the dedicated, seasoned teachers we have in that program, it's really increased." A breakdown of the numbers shows continuing inclination to explore what the AOA has to offer students in four primary areas: non-Austin students, unique districts outside of Austin, supplemental students taking up to three courses and comprehensive students taking all courses. In 2022-23, the program had just seven non-Austin students, students from unique districts and comprehensive students and no supplemental students. In the next two years, those first three areas showed rapid growth and supplemental students, while not quite so steep, still showed growth. Even between the first and second semesters of this school year, there was solid growth: —Non-Austin: Semester 1 — 37; Semester 2 — 49 —Unique Districts: Semester 1 — 24; Semester 2 — 30 —Comprehensive Students: Semester 1 — 30; Semester 2 — 44 Cabeen said there are multiple layers to the growth, but primarily she narrows it down to two areas — word getting out and the teachers in the AOA. "That word of mouth and those relationships are really what's helping brand our program," Cabeen said. The AOA falls under the alternative umbrella model of education at the school, growing on the same tree as the ALC. Both are meeting students where they are and largely that's because of flexibility in the programming. Students generally choose the AOA because of its flexibility. "The flexibility is a big piece to it," Cabeen said. "We have a lot of fifth and sixth-year seniors that really want to get that diploma, but don't want to be in a brick and mortar setting." The reasons for this can be varying, but Cabeen said it's how the program recognizes these challenges that can make a difference. "They kind of like coming to us because our teachers are a clean slate," she said. "There's no judgment, there's no guilt. We're here to help you learn and we're really excited when they make that final walk." One of the areas that has helped the AOA grow has been the NCAA endorsement, which few online schools have. It plays into the plans of students hoping to continue playing athletics in college. An example of this has been Aidan Martinez, who will be playing soccer at the University of Wisconsin and currently playing for Minnesota United FC 2, a professional developmental team in the Twin Cities. Cabeen added that there is a possibility of reaching out even further to teams like the Austin Bruins if the interest is there. "I can see us starting to branch out into some of these other amateur athletics that students are looking for," Cabeen said. Ultimately, what the numbers reflect is a growing avenue for students looking for alternative routes or even second chances. Second chances that could be life-changing. "I think what I'm noticing is that some of these students, if they wouldn't come here they wouldn't graduate," Cabeen said, picking out one story to relate of a student outside of the district that nearly aged out of his school. "I wonder for a student like that, if he hadn't had this opportunity, would his next step look different? I think that's something I'm excited about is helping support students that maybe didn't see themselves as a graduate, graduating — in a non-traditional way, but still graduating."
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Multi-Asset ETF (AOA) Hits New 52-Week High
For investors seeking momentum, iShares Core 80/20 Aggressive Allocation ETF AOA is probably on the radar. The fund just hit a 52-week high and is up 17.65% from its 52-week low price of $68.45/share. But are more gains in store for this ETF? Let's take a quick look at the fund and the near-term outlook on it to get a better idea of where it might be headed: The underlying S&P Target Risk Aggressive Index seeks to measure the performance of an asset allocation strategy targeted to an aggressive risk profile. The product charges 15 bps in annual fees (See: All Total Portfolio ETFs). The multi-asset corner of the market has been an area to watch given the rising uncertainty driven by the Trump administration's chaotic tariffs policies. According to the minutes from the Fed's meeting in early May, inflation and rising unemployment are headwinds to the economy's growth outlook. Additionally, mounting concerns over U.S. debt levels make multi-asset ETFs a good investment option. AOA might continue its strong performance in the near term, with a positive weighted alpha of 8.9 (as per which gives cues of a further rally. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report iShares Core 80/20 Aggressive Allocation ETF (AOA): ETF Research Reports This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Austin Online Academy celebrates record-breaking number of graduates
May 26—Austin Online Academy (AOA) has announced a record-breaking year for student graduation. As enrollment steadily increases, so does the number of students achieving their academic goals. In 2023, AOA graduated eight, a number doubled in 2024 to 17, and projections for 2025 indicate over 40 students are on track to earn their diplomas marking the highest number of graduates in the school's history. Students choose AOA for its flexibility, accessibility, and commitment to personalized learning pathways. This year's graduates include part-time students also participating in Post-Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO), future NCAA Division I athletes taking advantage of AOA's rare NCAA eligibility for online programs in Minnesota, and students for whom online learning provided the necessary structure and support to cross the graduation finish line. "Our mission is to meet students where they are and help them get where they want to go," said Jessica Cabeen, AOA principal. "These graduates reflect the diverse goals and stories of our students—and we're proud to be a part of their journey." AOA's approach includes one-on-one mentorship, interactive tools, and a curriculum designed to support individual learning styles. Academic Coordinator Kim Goblirsch emphasized the diverse needs of their student body "At Austin Online Academy, our students come from all walks of life and are pursuing education in various chapters of their journey—from Division I athletes and PSEO participants to full-time employees and young parents," she said. "Our dedicated staff goes above and beyond to provide resources, guidance, and positive reinforcement — ensuring every student feels supported and has the opportunity to thrive," said Jessica Stanley, Teacher and Senior Advisor. "Their success is a testament to their persistence, resilience, and the unwavering support provided by AOA." To learn more about Austin Online Academy and its enrollment options, visit
Time of India
24-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Towering nightmare: NCR Residents marooned as lifts of highrise out of order for 6 days
NOIDA: Forty families are living a nightmare in a 22-storey tower at La Residentia with both its lifts out of order, leaving them with two choices - stay indoors and put everything else on hold or make the arduous trek up and down the stairs daily. This is the second time this month that this nasty shock of highrise living has stared at NCR residents. In the first week of May, flooding of the basement at Prateek Grand City in Ghaziabad had crippled elevators across all its 24 towers, each 28 floors high, forcing over 12,000 residents, children, elderly, and the pregnant among them, to negotiate endless flights of stairs. Tower 29 of La Residentia in Greater Noida West is a standalone building, so unlike in condominiums where two or more towers are connected by pathways precisely in anticipation of such emergencies, residents can't switch to lifts in another tower. Among the families who live here are elderly people, working professionals and at least one resident who is pregnant. Residents told TOI the lifts have been out of service since May 17. The purported reason is faulty cables that need replacing. La Residentia does not have an AOA and is managed by the developer. It has 3,256 flats across 39 towers. Possession for around 1,800 flats has been given since 2017 across towers 1 to 29. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Secure Your Child's Future with Strong English Fluency Planet Spark Learn More Undo The other towers are under construction. La Residentia's maintenance team claimed the lifts aren't completely dysfunctional and work intermittently. Residents, however, countered this, saying the lifts have been inactive and prone to snags even when functional. One of the reasons for the problems, they alleged, is that the lifts are underloaded with a supply of 350V when they need 400V. Sumil Jalota, a resident, said because of the defunct lifts, children have been forced to miss school, domestic helps aren't coming and deliveries have stopped, leaving families marooned in their flats and cutting them off from access to essentials like medicines and groceries. Amitabh Jha, 52, a 9th floor resident with a respiratory ailment, had to move to his sister's apartment in Sector 71 to attend court. "I was compelled to do it because neither lift is working," said Jha, who is an advocate. He said this was waiting to happen as the developer had not addressed repeated complaints about lift snags and voltage fluctuations. Aditya Srivastava, who lives in an apartment on the 15th floor, is appearing for his fourth semester BCom exams at Delhi University, also shifted to a relative's flat in Sector 75. Aditya (21) has a slipped disk and is not allowed to climb more than three floors at a time. Ravi Raj Singh, maintenance manager of the society, told TOI on Friday the lifts had a "technical problem" with the cable. He said new cables were procured and, because of the storm, had reached the society only on Thursday evening. "The new cables are being installed and both lifts are expected to be operational from tonight." Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Brother's Day wishes , messages and quotes !
