July 1, 2015 – Peace Corps Worldwide

Winner of the 2015 Award for Best Children’s Book — A HITCH AT THE FAIRMONT by Jim Averbeck

Jul 01 2015

The Peace Corps Writers Award for Best Children’s Book was first presented in 2001. Each award is given the year following its the publishing. This year we have something special — for the first time since Peace Corps Writers has been presenting book awards in 1990 we have a repeat winner. Just last year Jim Averbeck won the same award for his book The Market Bowl that was published in 2013. • The 2015 Award for Best Children’s Book goes to — A Hitch at the Fairmont by Jim Averbeck (Cameroon 1990–94) . In 1956 at the fabulous San Francisco Fairmont Hotel, 11-year-old Jack teams up with the famous movie director Alfred Hitchcock to uncover a plot involving drugged chocolates, mistaken identities, kidnapping, disguises, and close escapes. References to actual Hitchcock films and anecdotes abound throughout, in chapter headings, settings, and focused descriptions reminiscent of camera pan-ins. Congratulations again, Jim! . . .

180 Submissions for Peace Corps Commemorative Design Competition. 3 Stage II Finalists

Jul 01 2015

The Peace Corps Commemorative national design competition received 180 submissions on June 12, 2015. From June 13 until Friday June 26, the 12 members of our distinguished Stage I Jury reviewed, 180 design concepts. This first round of reviews yielded a short list of 40 submissions. The Jury then convened in Washington this past weekend to review the short list, deliberate and recommend Finalists and honorable mentions to the PCCF board. https://www.peacecorpsdesign.net/ The Stage I Jury has recommended three Stage II Finalists: * Jonathan Benner & John Bassett (BassettBenner) * Laurel McSherry, Nathan Heavers & Rebecca May (VPI) * Travis Price, Amir Ebadi & Kelly Davies Grace (Travis Price Architects) Recommended by the Jury for honorable mention are the following: * Benjamin Cadena (Studio Cadena) * Jane Weinzapfel & Yu-Liang Hsu (Leers Weinzapfel Associates) * Janet Bloomberg, Richard Loosle-Ortega, Matthew Dougherty, Jorge Concepcion & Andrew Baldwin (KUBE architecture) * William . . .

Another "B" Student Makes in the Peace Corps–Barbara Hunt, 71, Gets her PhD

Jul 01 2015

Working for the Peace Corps inspired Playa del Rey’s Barbara Hunt, 71, to get her doctorate (thanks to William Evensen for the ‘Heads Up’ on this story from Cal State L.A.) Playa del Rey resident Barbara Hunt, 71, received her doctorate in educational leadership from Cal State L.A. on June 12, 2015. Hunt’s doctoral degree gives her the academic equivalent of a trifecta at the school, where she previously earned her bachelor’s degree in biological sciences and a master’s degree in health and safety. Currently a professor of environmental science and biology at Woodbury University in Burbank, Hunt said she hopes her latest academic achievement will inspire and motivate her twin grandsons and other young people. “This shows that you can always reach out for that brass ring no matter how old you are, no matter your emotional or physical circumstances, no matter where you find yourself in life,” Hunt . . .

Archive - July 1, 2015