ValleyStar Credit Union has partnered with Patrick & Henry Community College to offer “Financial Fundamentals for Beginners,” a six-week financial literacy program for student-athletes. The program will cover budgeting, debt management, and more through engaging online sessions.

MARTINSVILLE, Va., Sept. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — ValleyStar Credit Union is proud to announce a new partnership with Patrick & Henry Community College to offer a financial literacy program tailored specifically for student-athletes. The program, “Financial Fundamentals for Beginners,” aims to equip these young adults with essential financial knowledge and skills to support their academic and athletic careers.

The six-week sessions will comprehensively introduce critical financial concepts and practices, including banking basics, budgeting, debt management, credit scores, online banking, and financial aid. Designed to be accessible and engaging, the sessions will feature online presentations and quizzes to ensure participants gain practical skills and confidence in managing their finances.

“Partnering with Patrick & Henry Community College to offer this financial literacy program represents a significant step in our commitment to supporting the community,” said Mike Warrell, ValleyStar Credit Union CEO. “We believe that by empowering these students with financial knowledge, we are helping them build a strong foundation for their future.”

Dr. Greg Hodges, President of Patrick & Henry Community College, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration. “This initiative aligns perfectly with our mission to provide students with valuable resources. We are excited to see how this program will benefit our student-athletes, helping them navigate their financial futures more easily and confidently.”

Student-athletes today are expected to make decisions at an early age that can have a significant impact on their lives,” said Brian Henderson, P&HCC Assistant Vice President of Student Engagement and Athletic Director. “That is why creating this partnership with ValleyStar Credit Union is so important and timely. It offers students and their parents the education and resources to help them make informed financial decisions now that will be crucial to their futures.

Enrollment details will be provided soon, and the sessions will be available to all Patrick & Henry Community College student-athletes.

About ValleyStar Credit Union:

Since 1953, the ValleyStar team has guided, educated, and stood by its members to make banking and managing your finances as easy and convenient as possible. ValleyStar is a full-service financial institution that offers consumer and commercial products and services. Headquartered in Martinsville, Virginia, ValleyStar operates digital banking services and six physical locations. For more information, visit valleystar.org.

About Patrick & Henry Community College:

For more than 60 years, P&HCC has been changing lives and lifting students and their families into a better life. Whether students attend for a short-term certification, a career and technical education associates degree, or a credential that allows them to transfer to a four-year university, they are instructed by an innovative team of nationally recognized educators utilizing the latest instructional techniques and technology. P&HCC is much more than just a place to learn. Students will find clubs, service organizations, and other activities that will help them grow, feel connected, and have a valuable college experience. P&HCC partners with numerous community organizations that provide students the opportunity to network with potential future employers even before program completion. The community is in the midst of an economic renaissance, and P&HCC staff wants to make sure students have every opportunity to realize the many employment opportunities in our region.

Media Contact

Jonathan Martin, ValleyStar Credit Union, 1 (540)393-1682, jonathanm@valleystar.org, www.valleystar.org

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SOURCE ValleyStar Credit Union

Collaboration to Catalyze Innovation in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Quantum Computing, Starting with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)

WASHINGTON, Sept. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Flapmax, in collaboration with Intel, today announced the launch of the Quantum AI Challenge, an initiative designed to foster innovation and collaboration among Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The challenge invites students, faculty, and researchers to solve real-world problems using quantum computing and AI technologies. Applications open on September 20, 2024.

“Sustainability is a growing challenge as AI becomes ubiquitous, and quantum computing offers promising solutions for optimizing problem-solving capabilities in a more sustainable way,” said Dr. Dave Ojika, CEO of Flapmax. “By partnering with Intel and HBCUs, we are providing the next generation of students and researchers with the tools and resources to explore AI and quantum computing, push the boundaries of scientific discovery, and drive meaningful impact across industries.”

Building on the collaboration with Intel to accelerate AI innovation in underserved populations, the Quantum AI Challenge brings quantum computing to the mix. The challenge invites participants to define and solve complex optimization problems that have the potential to transform industries like healthcare, energy, material science, and supply chain. Selected teams will gain exclusive access to quantum computing hardware, AI tools, and mentorship from global experts, offering a unique platform for hands-on learning and innovation.

“AI and quantum computing represent the next frontiers in solving some of the world’s most pressing challenges, and we’re excited to support this initiative that empowers HBCU students to lead in this space,” said Michael Campbell, General Manager, Education Client Division, Intel Corporation. “By providing access to Intel’s cutting-edge AI hardware and tools, we hope to accelerate innovation and inclusion within the quantum community.”

Participants will collaborate with AI and quantum computing experts to tackle global challenges and develop practical applications across key industries. Teams will define real-world optimization problems—such as healthcare resource allocation or energy grid optimization—and translate them into quantum algorithms and circuits. Selected teams will receive Intel AI PC to run Python-based quantum simulations enhanced with AI. Winning teams will present their solutions to a global audience, earning prizes, mentorship, and more.

Flapmax is committed to fostering partnerships that ignite technological growth across industries, strengthen local economies, and expand the local tech ecosystem. The Flapmax FAI Institute advances human potential with cutting-edge research and educational programs designed to prepare the workforce of the future. Through FAST Accelerator, in partnership with Microsoft, Flapmax empowers local entrepreneurs, small businesses, and startups with state-of-the-art technology and funding opportunities.

Participants of the Quantum AI Challenge will also benefit from access to FAST Accelerator as well as the HPC AI Forum— an event organized by Flapmax to bring together High-Performance Computing (HPC) centers across Africa to discuss advancements in HPC, AI and quantum computing. For more information or to participate in the event please contact @HPCAI.

The Quantum AI Challenge 2024 prioritizes HBCU students, faculty, and researchers working in teams of 2-5 members. Projects focused on healthcare, education, energy, material science, or other social-impact fields are of particular interest. For more information and to apply, visit www.flapmax.link/QAI-challenge.

About Intel

Intel (Nasdaq: INTC) is an industry leader, creating world-changing technology that enables global progress and enriches lives. Inspired by Moore’s Law, we continuously work to advance the design and manufacturing of semiconductors to help address our customers’ greatest challenges. By embedding intelligence in the cloud, network, edge and every kind of computing device, we unleash the potential of data to transform business and society for the better. To learn more about Intel’s innovations, go to newsroom.intel.com and intel.com.

About Flapmax

Flapmax is a data and AI technology company partnering with leading technology providers around the globe to identify and accelerate sustainable technology solutions to improve communities worldwide. Our mission is to empower and transform lives through the widespread adoption of AI technology. Flapmax is scaling collaboration across borders and connecting entrepreneurs and innovators with digital transformation solutions, advanced AI models, and global partnerships.

Contact: contact@flapmax.com

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SOURCE Flapmax

Fewer permanent injuries and decreased incident rates reported amidst Ontario’s population growth

TORONTO, Sept. 20, 2024 /CNW/ – While Ontario’s population continues to grow, the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) has reported improvements in safety outcomes over the past decade. The latest safety results, highlighted in TSSA’s Public Safety Report 2024, underscore decreased permanent injuries and incident rates within TSSA’s regulated sectors. Released during TSSA’s Annual Public Meeting alongside its 2024 Annual Report, the safety report highlights an improving safety environment across the province.

“Ontario’s population has seen significant growth in the past 10 years, and our regulated industries have been working hard to improve safety. TSSA is committed to ensuring that public safety continues to be a priority by partnering with regulated parties to reduce the risk of harm for people in Ontario. This year’s safety results demonstrate this continued commitment is delivering its intended outcome,” said Viola Dessanti, Director of Strategic Analytics, TSSA.

As Ontario’s public safety regulator, TSSA oversees technical safety regulations in key sectors, including amusement devices, boilers, pressure vessels, elevating devices, fuels, operating engineers, and ski lifts. TSSA’s Public Safety Report provides comprehensive metrics and data insights to inform its strategies to enhance public safety in the province.

For the reporting period (May 1, 2023, to April 30, 2024, which will be referred to as 2024 hereinafter), the number of permanent injuries on regulated devices in Ontario has dropped notably. In 2024, there were 32 per cent fewer permanent injuries reported compared to 2015, after adjusting for population growth.

The rate of incidents per million people has also improved compared to 10 years ago. Despite a 16 per cent growth in Ontario’s population from 2015 to 2024, the incident rate decreased from 389 incidents per million people in 2015 to 384 incidents per million people in 2024.

The reduction of harm is most notable in fuels, where the number of fuels-related incidents, excluding pipeline strikes, have decreased from 81 incidents per million people in 2015 to 59 incidents per million people in 2024.

TSSA’s Outcome-Based Regulator (OBR) approach is central to advancing safety and compliance, with compliance standards as a key tool to target areas of high risk and prioritize regulatory efforts. In May 2023, TSSA introduced new compliance standards for escalators, with pass rate reaching 64 per cent over the year. The compliance standards for heating contractors, also implemented over the past year, recorded a 90 per cent pass rate of audits performed.

“TSSA is proud to report improved safety outcomes while executing our new Strategic Plan. These results demonstrate that our outcome-focused vision is effective and reaffirm the value of our collaborative approach in working towards a safer Ontario,” said Bonnie Rose, President and CEO, TSSA.

“Our new strategy will continue to guide us toward better safety outcomes, building on the significant progress TSSA has made in recent years. Our team’s hard work in implementing new IT systems and addressing recommendations from the Auditor General is paying off. We now have a much stronger foundation to improve customer service and safety results,” added Rose.

For a full picture of the state of public safety in Ontario, access TSSA’s 2024 Public Safety Report at www.tssa.org. The report also includes case studies depicting some of the harmful incidents that occurred in Ontario in the past year, as well as actions taken and lessons learned.

The Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) is one of Ontario’s public safety regulators mandated by the Government of Ontario to enforce provincial safety regulations and enhance public safety. Throughout Ontario, TSSA regulates the safety of amusement devices, boilers and pressure vessels, elevating devices, fuels, operating engineers, and ski lifts. Its range of safety services include public education and consumer information, certification, licensing and registration, engineering design review, inspections, investigations, safety management consultation, compliance support and enforcement and prosecution activities. The organization’s vision is to be a valued advocate and recognized authority in public safety.

SOURCE Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA)