Students present their ideas about public school funding
Philadelphia, PA – Independence Blue Cross (IBC) is supporting the Philadelphia Academies, Inc. speech contest for the 20th consecutive year. The event will be held today from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at IBC headquarters at 1901 Market Street. The 12 competing freshmen from six Philadelphia public high schools will present their thoughts on this question: Why should public schools get more funding than prisons?
The contest gives students the opportunity to speak on timely and thought-provoking topics to a diverse group of business leaders. Students are judged on their presentation, control, articulation, volume, energy, and poise. Prior to the competition, the students will participate in a coaching session with Toastmasters International on “The Art of Public Speaking.” Prizes, including a laptop computer and an iPad mini, will be awarded to the top five students.
Several prominent area business leaders will attend today’s contest including Lisa Nutter, president of the Philadelphia Academies, Inc. The judges represent an array of local organizations including the ACE Charitable Foundation; Bittenbender Construction, LLP; City of Philadelphia Law Department; Drexel University; IBM; PECO, An Exelon Company; Replica; State Farm; and University of the Arts.
For more information: Philadelphia Academies press release
About Independence Blue Cross
Independence Blue Cross is the leading health insurer in southeastern Pennsylvania. With our affiliates, we serve more than 7.5 million people nationwide, including 2.2 million in the region. For more than 75 years, we have been enhancing the health and wellness of the people and communities we serve by delivering innovative and competitively priced health care products and services; pioneering new ways to reward doctors, hospitals, and other health care professionals for coordinated, quality care; and supporting programs and events that promote wellness. To learn more about how we’re changing the game, visit www.ibx.com. Connect with us on Facebook at ibx.com/facebook and on Twitter at @ibx. Independence Blue Cross is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
About Philadelphia Academies, Inc.
Philadelphia Academies, Inc. is a nonprofit youth development organization working to change life outcomes for kids using first-of-its-kind career academies. The mission of Philadelphia Academies, Inc. expands life and economic options for Philadelphia public school students through career-focused programming that prepares them for employment and post-secondary education. Philadelphia Academies, Inc. is the founder of the Academy model, which was created in Philadelphia in 1969, and has been replicated in more than 2,500 schools throughout the country. For more information, visit www.academiesinc.org
Media Contact
Ruth Stoolman
Independence Blue Cross
215-241-4807(office)
215-280-3335(cell)
Ruth.Stoolman@ibx.com