Latest news with #Honors
The Hill
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hill
Trump, Vance to attend ‘Les Misérables' opening at Kennedy Center
President Trump and Melania Trump, along with Vice President Vance and Usha Vance, are all poised to attend the opening night performance of 'Les Misérables' at the Kennedy Center next week. The musical, based on Victor Hugo's novel, is scheduled to start its month-long run at the Kennedy Center on Wednesday. A White House official confirmed to The Hill on Wednesday a Fox News report that the first family and the Vances would be among the audience members at the show's opening night. 'I love the songs, I love the play,' Trump told Fox News. 'I think it's great — we may extend it,' the president said. 'Les Misérables' is one of the first major productions to be performed on one of the Kennedy Center's stages since Trump overhauled the performing arts institution's board in February and named himself its chairman. The president, who had accused the Kennedy Center of being too 'woke,' appointed his envoy for special missions Richard Grenell as its interim executive director. Trump vowed to 'fix' the Kennedy Center after touring it in March. The president didn't step foot in the Kennedy Center during his first term in office, bucking tradition and declining to attend its annual Honors event after several of the award's recipients criticized him. Vance attended a National Symphony Orchestra performance in March and was met with a chorus of boos from the audience, according to a video posted on social media. On Tuesday, the Kennedy Center denied reports that it allegedly saw a 36-percent decline in sales subscriptions following Trump's takeover of the arts hub. Trump has expressed his fondness for 'Les Misérables' before, often playing 'Do You Hear the People Sing?' during his presidential campaign rallies. –Brett Samuels contributed.
Business Wire
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Wire
Boston Arts Academy Foundation's 2025 Honors will Celebrate Visionary Leaders in Visual Arts, Design, Film, Fashion, Music and Civic Responsibility
BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Boston Arts Academy Foundation, a vital 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit organization, proudly presents its annual star-studded BAAF Honors event with the theme "The Power of Art to Transform Well-Being." The event will be held on Thursday, Oct. 23, at MGM Music Hall at Fenway. Legendary musician, actor and Boston native Donnie Wahlberg will receive the lifetime achievement award and notables such as Eliza Dushkin Palandjian will receive the TV + Film recognition, and New Edition singer and songwriter Johnny Gill will receive the music award and treat the crowd to a live performance! "While talent is evenly distributed in Boston, opportunity is not. We are so grateful to all of our donors and supporters who help make opportunities and experiences possible for the students of Boston Arts Academy,' says BAAF CEO Denella Clark Share BAAF President and CEO Denella Clark will serve as co-chair along with Pam Reeve, Boston Arts Academy Foundation Board Member, Former CEO, current Director of publicly traded and non-profit companies, and passionate supporter of women and diversity progress. This signature event is the largest annual single funding source for the Boston Arts Academy, the city's only public high school for the visual and performing arts. Guests will enjoy live performances by BAA students and alumni. "While talent is evenly distributed in Boston, opportunity is not. We are so grateful to all of our donors and supporters who help make opportunities and experiences possible for the students of Boston Arts Academy,' says BAAF President and CEO Denella Clark. 'Honors is a truly magical night where we celebrate the arts and spotlight the incredible professionals who demonstrate talent and leadership for our vibrant youth community.' 2025 Honorees: Dance Honoree - Dianne Walker - also known as Lady Di, is an American tap dancer. Her thirty-year career spans Broadway, television, film, and international dance concerts. Walker is the artistic director of TapDancin, Inc. in Boston, Massachusetts. Fashion Honoree - David Josef - From Debbie Reynolds to Raquel Welch, Boston fashion designer David Josef has dressed the best. His expertise has allowed him to give back in many ways and foster the growth of new designers. He is recognized internationally and his atelier is located in Waltham, MA. Visual Art Honoree - Ieasha James is a premiere event designer creating jaw-dropping events, experiences and visual wonders throughout Boston and New England. She is the owner of Endless Flair Events and works passionately to make client dreams come true and supports her community through many philanthropic endeavors. Each of her events emphasizes the main purpose and she also works as a coach and mentor to others in the industry. TV + Film Honoree - Eliza Dushku Palandjian is a mother, philanthropist, wellness specialist and former actress and producer. She has studied the piano, drums, and several types of dance (jazz, tap, and ballet). She began performing at the Watertown Children's Theater in her youth and went on to have a successful career in Hollywood. She is now an active wellness professional, philanthropist and activist living in Boston. Music Honoree - Johnny Gill is a singer songwriter and two-time Soul-Train award winner. He has two Grammy nominations and is the 2019 winner of the SoulTracks Readers' Choice Award for Album of the Year (for Game Changer II). He recently enjoyed a resurgence of popularity with his song, "Rub You the Right Way" on the popular social media app TikTok, with various influencers using the song for their videos. He is well known for being a part of New Edition, the American R&B/pop group from the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. Civic Responsibility Honoree - Grace Lee is a Philanthropist and the Massachusetts Regional President, Executive Vice President at M&T Bank. Lee has combined over twenty-five years of public and private leadership. She is passionate about showing how money can fund arts, culture and inspire a lifetime of joy and purpose. She recently inspired a fundraising group in support of BAA with, 'If ever a time we needed the arts, it is now.' Lifetime Achievement Honoree: Donnie Wahlberg is an American singer, actor, and producer. He gained fame as a founding member of the boy band New Kids on the Block. He later transitioned to acting, starring in films like "The Sixth Sense" and "Saw" and the TV series "Blue Bloods.' He is currently filming 'Boston Blue' in and around town. Donnie is one of nine children from Dorchester, Massachusetts. For additional information about the Boston Arts Academy, Boston Arts Academy Foundation, the 2025 Honors Event on October 23rd, or to purchase tickets, sponsorships, or place an ad, visit
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Marra Young: JCC's featured Honors Program student for May 2025
WATERTOWN, N.Y. (WWTI) – Jefferson Community College's featured Honors Program student for the month of May 2025 is Marra Young from Philadelphia. Young is majoring in early childhood education. She wrote a creative composition based on a class reading as one of her Honors Program options. Raven Streebel: JCC's featured Honors Program student for April 2025 The Jefferson Community College Honors Program offers students with exceptional academic skills the opportunity to receive enriched instruction. Honors students select three courses within their curriculum and enhance them as Honors Options, which are based on a project agreed on by the student and a faculty member working closely with the student. Students also take the Honors Seminar, an interdisciplinary course open only to program participants that examines a single theme every semester, featuring guest speakers from various disciplines and can include field experience. Successful program students earn an Honors Graduate designation on their academic transcript for each Honors Option course. Students who demonstrate excellent academic achievement in high school or who have completed 12 credit hours of college coursework can apply for admission to the Honors Program. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Final Four: Why this 'uncommon' UCLA team has worked out (and dominated) this college basketball season
Final Four: Why this 'uncommon' UCLA team has worked out (and dominated) this college basketball season TAMPA — One by one, they filed off the bus up the walkway. Their police escort encased them as they packed in for a player-only team photo framed by their brightly colored 'UCLA and 'Final Four' wrapped transportation. Inside the Embarc Collective near the burgeoning Water Street district of downtown Tampa, the blue and gold crew took up most of the room on Wednesday afternoon. At every utterance of those four letters, the team built into a crescendo of cheers, booming the loudest when its own player and coach won two of the three Naismith women's Honors on Wednesday afternoon. Advertisement There was Naismith Coach of the Year winner Cori Close, the self-described 'uncommon coach' who praised her group of 'uncommon women willing to make uncommon choices and eventually yielding an uncommon result.' Then Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Lauren Betts, also a finalist for player of the year who credited teammates for boosting her confidence to perform at her career best. And collectively, the Bruins, the No. 1 overall seed bubbling under the surface of attention bestowed on giants South Carolina and Connecticut, the national title clash many surmised when the bracket came out on Selection Sunday. 'We are expectant,' Close said on Thursday at Amalie Arena. 'This is not a surprise for us to be here. We expected and believed that we would be in Tampa.' Lauren Betts and the UCLA Bruins are the closest they've ever been to a college basketball title. () (Steph Chambers via Getty Images) The 'uncommon' claim dates back to Close's first season at UCLA in 2011-12 and has her 14th UCLA roster in the uncommon position of an NCAA Final Four. The Bruins reached the Elite Eight twice, including Close's 2018 squad, but never reached the final weekend in the NCAA era. The school won the AIAW national title in 1978. Advertisement 'What else is uncommon of this group … I've never had a roster this star-studded,' Close said. 'And it's uncommon to have this many stars be willing to give up individual things for a more powerful collective thing.' The 'top to bottom' level this group works at is also the most uncommon of Close's tenure, she said. And it starts with junior point guard Kiki Rice, who later on Wednesday was named the NCAA Elite 90 award winner for highest cumulative GPA of any player at the 2025 Final Four. 'She has set the cultural standard of work that is contagious and pervasive,' Close said. 'She deserves so much credit in that.' Rice always led that standard by example. But when UCLA lost to rival USC at home a month ago, her approach had to change. The day after the 'embarrassment' of being "punked in our own gym in front of 15,000 fans,' Rice said she, junior Gabriela Jaquez and graduate student Charlisse Leger-Walker held a players-only meeting before their 7 a.m. practice. They all felt as though Close and the coaches prepared them with the right tools, Rice said, but they couldn't get it done. It was their second loss to USC; the first two weeks prior snapped the Bruins' 23-game undefeated start. With at-best four weeks left in the season, the players spoke of how they could make the best of it. Advertisement 'Our shift from that moment, to from our coach-led team to a player-led team that happened after was probably the biggest thing that we needed to then go on to win the conference championship and to be where we are right now,' Rice said. UCLA (34-2) steamrolled through the Big Ten tournament to set up a third meeting with USC and this time delivered with a title in its inaugural season in the conference. They've taken care of business in the NCAA tournament, averaging a 19-point winning margin knocking out No. 16 Southern, No. 8 Richmond, No. 5 Ole Miss and No. 3 LSU. Though their seven-point Elite Eight margin against the Tigers was their closest, it was also their most impressive. The rest of the roster stood up around Rice when Betts, their 6-foot-7 leading scorer, sat the bench with foul trouble most of the game. 'I'm really proud of [Rice] because I know it's not easy at times to hold people accountable and be the mean one, but at this point, it's taken us so far,' Betts said. The quiet seven points on 50% shooting by Betts ended her back-to-back 30-point double-double streak. Rice said she noticed a different confidence about Betts in the preseason that blossomed into the POY finalist honor. Advertisement 'I think I've even seen another step in that [confidence] over the past few weeks towards the end of the season,' Rice said. UCLA's Final Four opponent is not uncommon or unfamiliar to the setting. UConn is an 11-time national champion making its 24th Final Four appearance, and its fourth led by former national player of the year Paige Bueckers. She's chasing her lone national title before entering the WNBA, and the program's first since winning four consecutive from 2013-16. The season prior to that streak, Close sat on the outside looking in when her first UCLA roster missed the NCAA tournament field. She knew she didn't want to be like everyone else in the field, and so she did the uncommon and asked championship coaches Muffet McGraw of Notre Dame and Auriemma if she could come watch their postseason practices. Advertisement The first round, she watched how Notre Dame prepped. In a full-circle moment, she accepted her Naismith award on Wednesday in front of McGraw, who was honored with the outstanding contributor award by the Atlanta Tip-Off club. The second round, she went to Connecticut and spent four 'tremendous' days watching how the Huskies practiced and prepared. The following October, she brought her entire staff to watch a coach she calls a 'master teacher.' They'll meet on Friday with a historic national title-game berth on the line.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Top Producers of 2024 Honored at Intero's Annual Corporate Awards Event
Two Outstanding Agents also Inducted into the Intero Hall of Fame CUPERTINO, Calif., March 27, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Intero, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate and wholly owned subsidiary of HomeServices of America, Inc. is pleased to announce recognition of its top individual agents and teams for 2024. Held at the Hotel Valencia at Santana Row, the annual Honors event has become a highly anticipated and coveted tradition. "While we came together with the typical warm-hearted camaraderie amongst Intero friends and family that is 'ordinary,' we celebrated the 'extraordinary' combined power of our people," said Terry Meyer, Co-founder and President of Intero. "Based on 2024 production, 20 individual agents and teams in the Chairman's Circle (top 1%), 65 in the President's Circle (top 5%), and 82 in the Executive's Circle (top 10%) were named to the Intero Honors Awards." In addition to 2024 Production awards, special awards were given to the following individuals and teams: Monica Hanover – Rookie of the Year Award (GCI) Vincent Abecendario – Rookie of the Year Award (Units) Jordan Mott – Top Individual Award (GCI) Jason Lococo – Top Individual Award (Units) The Tse Group – Top Team Award (GCI) The Tse Group – Top Team Award (Units) Eddie Oberoi – Top Intero Foundation Contributor Award Stephanie Hicks – Denise Pearson Service Award Roger Malech – Bob Kaufman Value Award Mia Park – Intero Leadership Award "This year, the prestigious Bob Kaufman Value Award, which is given to the agent who best exemplifies the Intero values, is presented to Roger Malech," said Chris Moles, Vice President and Managing Officer of Intero Silver Creek and Morgan Hill. "As a trusted counselor, leader, mentor, and family man, Roger's impact extends far beyond real estate, exemplifying everything that Intero aspires to represent. And as one of the founding agents of Intero's first office, he has not only shaped the success of his clients throughout his career but also the very foundation of Intero's culture and values." Gino Blefari, CEO of HomeServices of America and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, presented the Leadership Award to Mia Park, Intero's Broker of Record. "Focus and dedication brings opportunities to you, and Mia's career is a testament to her work ethic and ability to develop relationships," said Blefari. "Having known Mia since the early 2000s when she worked with me in developing the curriculum for my real estate courses at De Anza College, and through the years as she led an office, the relocation department and Intero Academy, we are both fortunate, and delighted, to have Mia now taking on the role of Intero's Broker of Record." Joe Velasco and Eddie Oberoi were also inducted into the Intero Hall of Fame, as announced by Blefari. "Congratulations to our agents, teams, and nationally recognized experts for another successful year," concluded Scott Chase, President of Intero. "Your accomplishments demonstrate your top-tier knowledge and abilities, as well as the unique spectrum of services that you are able to offer to your clients; we are not only proud of you, but also proud to support you and your clients in achieving everyone's real estate goals." About Intero Intero, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate and wholly owned subsidiary of HomeServices of America Inc., serves Northern California and Nevada with 16 offices throughout the greater Silicon Valley, San Francisco, Western Nevada, and the Greater Lake Tahoe Region. The Intero Franchise network comprises 23 affiliates located in California, Nevada, Tennessee, and Texas. The company is headquartered in the heart of California's Silicon Valley. Find more information about Intero at Find more information about HomeServices of America at View source version on Contacts Derek Overbey – Intero – A Berkshire Hathaway Affiliatedoverbey@ Sign in to access your portfolio
