Latest news with #TheLearningExperience
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
NJ toddler with heart condition receives wish to go to St. Thomas
CEDAR GROVE, N.J. (PIX11) — 3-year-old Oliver found out he's going to paradise. St. Thomas, that is, where the sun loves to shine, and the water is 82 degrees. A place far better than any hospital room he's spent much of his young life in. More Local News 'This means more than anyone here knows,' said Oliver's mom, Emily Powell. 'When Oliver was born, we moved to Philadelphia for 6 months to go to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia,' said Oliver's dad, Danny Powell. Oliver, who lives with his family in Warren County, has Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome and a traumatic brain injury. He's had two major surgeries already, with one still to go. But instead of a hospital room, it's the warm waters of the Caribbean that will welcome him and his family as they depart on Saturday. 'Ollie and his siblings, Summer and Bodie, were welcomed by Make-A-Wish and friends at The Learning Experience in Cedar Grove, which showered him with some of his favorite things, from animals to the sand. A wish granted for a courageous 3-year-old. 'We weren't sure of what his future looked like, and he's made so much progress since he's been home,' said Emily Powell. 'Despite being paralyzed on the left side, he's started to take his first steps, and he's getting stronger, and I just think this trip is going to be a blast for him, especially before he's going to be back in the hospital probably for another few months. I'm just blown away by the generosity and just the love of strangers, and it means so much to everyone.' More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State Oliver's wish is one of 500 wishes that Make-A-Wish is on track to grant this year in New Jersey. 'It's so rewarding to be able to put these wishes together and have the whole community come together,' said Dominique Gleason of Make-A-Wish New Jersey. Now, there's only one thing left to do: 'Probably crawl around the beach and eat ice cream,' said Danny Powell. 'We couldn't ask for anything more. We're blessed that this happened to us.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Yahoo
Young Inventor from Winter Park Wins International Competition with Groundbreaking Idea
It was just another Wednesday morning in Winter Park—until a knock at the door turned it into something unforgettable. For 12-year-old Arabella Romsa, that knock brought life-changing news: she'd won the USA grand prize in MED-EL 's IDEASforEARS international invention competition. The contest, run by one of the world's top hearing technology companies, challenges kids with hearing loss to develop creative solutions to everyday challenges. Read: Childcare chain The Learning Experience plans major Central Florida expansion So, what was Arabella's big idea? She dreamed up a USB device that plugs right into a cochlear implant processor. It records everything a teacher says during class; later, you can plug it into your computer to transcribe the notes. Simple, right? But for students like Arabella who deal with hearing loss, this little gadget could make a huge difference. No more struggling to listen and take notes at the same time—it's a game-changer. Read: BREAKING: New York double homicide suspect captured in Volusia County The best part? Arabella had no idea she'd won until two representatives from MED-EL showed up at her house. They came bearing balloons, congratulations, and the kind of news that makes your jaw drop. Not only did Arabella win the top spot in the U.S., but she also gets an all-expenses-paid trip to Innsbruck, Austria, to meet other young inventors from around the world who took home prizes in their countries. 'I couldn't believe it!' Arabella said, beaming from ear to ear. 'I just wanted to help people like me, but I never thought my idea would actually win.' Arabella's invention stood out among 355 entries from 24 countries. She was the sole grand prize winner from the U.S., joining winners from places like Australia, Argentina, Peru, India, Indonesia, Italy, Portugal, Poland, and Greece. Talk about standing out on a global stage! Read: Firefighters: 1 severely burned, 2 others hurt after cars catch fire during crash in Orlando Here's the thing about Arabella: her invention isn't just clever—it's personal. When she was born in December 2012, she seemed perfectly healthy. But when she failed her newborn hearing screening, further tests revealed some tough news: Arabella had severe-to-profound hearing loss. Arabella had surgery as an infant and spent years in therapy to get the most out of her implants. Fast forward to today, and Arabella is thriving. She's a sixth-grader at The Geneva School, rocking her classes while balancing passions like archery and aerial silks. But even though she's doing amazing, she still faces hurdles—especially in the classroom, where listening takes extra energy. That's exactly why she came up with her invention: to make life easier not just for herself, but for others facing similar challenges. For Arabella's parents, this win is proof of how far she's come. 'We're so proud of her,' said Sarah Romsa. 'She's always been determined, and this just shows how much she's capable of.' Lauren Beatty, Consumer Engagement Manager at MED-EL , echoed that sentiment. 'Arabella's invention shows incredible empathy and problem-solving skills,' Beatty said. 'It's not just about helping herself—it's about making life better for others with hearing loss.' Now, Arabella's headed to MED-EL 's headquarters in Innsbruck, Austria, where she'll meet other young inventors from across the globe. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to share her idea, learn from others, and soak in the experience of being recognized on an international level. For now, Arabella's basking in the joy of her hard-earned win. Her story reminds us all that no obstacle is too big when you've got determination, creativity, and a heart full of hope. And who knows? Maybe her USB device will inspire even more ideas to help people with hearing loss in the future. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Childcare chain The Learning Experience plans major Central Florida expansion
Editor's note: This story is available as a result of a content partnership between WFTV and the Orlando Business Journal. A national daycare chain is making a big investment in metro Orlando. Deerfield Beach-based The Learning Experience recently announced it plans to open 10 new locations in Central Florida over the next three years. They are: Read: Walt Disney World to expand manatee critical care facility at EPCOT in St. Cloud, at 4930 E. Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy., in March 2025 in Longwood, at 387 Wekiva Springs Road, in Q2 2025 in Clermont, at 3444 S. U.S. Hwy. 27, in Q3 2025 in Palm Coast, at 19 Market Ave., in Q4 2025 in Davenport, at 6215 U.S. Hwy. 17-92 N., in Q4 2025 in Sanford, at 3284 W. 1st St., in Q1 2026 in Clermont, at U.S. Highway 27 and Golden Eagle Boulevard, in Q3 2026 in Minneola, at 18130 U.S. Hwy. 27, in Q3 2026 in Casselberry, at 1533 Seminola Blvd., in Q3 2026 in Winter Springs, near Michael Blake Boulevard, in Q3 2027 Click here to read the full story on the Orlando Business Journal's website. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
