Wet Seal clothing company hires special needs fan as model
Karrie Brown’s dream came true last month when her favorite clothing company, Wet Seal, asked her to model for them. The 17-year-old high school junior isn’t like most other models – she has Down Syndrome. “It was really fun,” said Karrie, who describes her style as “biker chick.”Karrie’s mom hasContinue Reading
“Pictures of Hope” project helps homeless youth’s dreams come true
Most teenagers probably wouldn’t look back fondly on a year spent in a homeless shelter, but Brittnie Pemberton sees the time as a good year, a year with strong sense of family, of learning, and of hope, and her story should inspire others. While at a living center forContinue Reading
Stranger pays dinner bill for family with epileptic child
(China Grove, NC) – Ashley England was was having a rough dinner at Stag-N-Doe pizza with her 8 year old son. Her son, Riley has epilepsy and is nonverbal. He gets frustrated when he cannot speak and decided to throw a tantrum. One stranger turned the England family’s day completelyContinue Reading
New vaccine clears monkeys of HIV equivalent
New research published on nature.com shows promising evidence for a future vaccine for HIV. In the study, monkeys were given a vaccine developed from the cytomegalovirus (CMV). Later, they were infected with the Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV) which is a more deadly form of HIV found in monkeys. The vaccineContinue Reading
Sophomore gives epic motivational speech to freshman at Georgia Tech
Nicholas Selby, a sophomore at Georgia Tech, gave incoming freshman a welcoming speech that they will never forget. His speech amped up the crowd as the “2001: A Space Odyssey” theme music played in the background. Nicholas received a well deserved standing ovation. So go on and watch the videoContinue Reading
Sports for social change: School’s revolutionary curriculum helps at risk kids
At this new charter school the students play seasonal sports (as well as weight training, cardio, yoga and core strengthening) for the first three hours each day! The goal of this very unique high school is to use sports as an academic-engagement tool to drag the highest of the high-riskContinue Reading
Lenovo’s CEO shares his $3 million bonus with employees again
For the second year in a row, Yang Yuanqing, computer maker Lenovo’s CEO distributed his $3 million bonus to 10,000 junior level employees. These employees are located in 20 different countries, but mostly (85%) in China. The payout is about $325 which is a typical month’s pay for a workerContinue Reading
Man with Down’s Syndrome becomes weightlifting champion
One Down’s Syndrome man has overcome the odds to become a champion weightlifter. Not just in special Olympics competitions – Jon Stoklosa regularly beats the best of his non-disabled opponents!When he was 12-years-old Jon started lifting weights in the basement with his brothers. A year later he was benching 185Continue Reading
Bradley University signs youngest and shortest basketball player in school history
The Bradley University basketball program signed 3-foot-4 inch guard Johnah Sahrs of Dunlap Grade School and his 4-foot-5 inch brother, Jarrett, to national letters of intent, the school announced, Friday. Johnah, 5, suffers from a life threatening brain condition known as neuroblastoma. Jarrett, 9, is the big brother that helps keepContinue Reading
96 yr old man makes touching billboard hit song for late wife
“Oh sweet Lorraine,” the song begins. “I wish we could do all the good times over again.”Fred Stobaugh, from Peoria, Ill., wrote lyrics to what he called “Oh Sweet Lorraine” after his 91-year-old wife passed away last April. In 1938 the couple met and fell in love at an A&WContinue Reading