Opportunity #1
Title: Central Florida student bullied for homemade University of Tennessee T-shirt, so UT Volunteers made it their official shirt.
Link: https://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/gone-viral/os-ne-florida-student-bullied-homemade-tennessee-t-shirt-20190909-h4isqfqzvve3va2bpdil4ncfyi-story.html
Description of Story: An elementary Florida student was bullied for making a homemade University of Tennessee shirt for Spirit Day at his school. UT was moved by his story that they starting selling T-shirts inspired by his original design. The t-shirts were such a hit that it caused the school's shop website to crash and over 50,000 shirts have already been preordered.
Description of Problem: Bullying present in our school's today.
Description of Who Has The Problem: A student was bullied because he didn't wear a real University of Tennesee T-shirt.
Opportunity #2
Title: Tropical Storm Humberto close to forming as storm targets Florida
Link: https://www.orlandosentinel.com/weather/hurricane/os-ne-tropical-storm-humbeto-hitting-bahamas-florida-saturday-20190913-hvnywhptfvdnrc5tisurbdcjba-story.html
Description of Story: Tropical Storm Humberto projected to hit Florida by this weekend. Even though it's not a hurricane, caution should be taken. The storm is expected to make landfall in the Fort Pierce area around 8am Saturday morning with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph and gusts up to 55 mph, before moving along the east coast and bringing heavy rainfall for most of eastern Florida. Central and Eastern Florida is expected to receive between 2 and 4 inches of rain Saturday and Sunday, which could produce flash flooding.
Description of Problem: Florida is preparing for another storm.
Description of Who Has The Problem: Florida residents, especially those living on the east coast.
Opportunity #3
Title: Nursing home mogul Philip Esformes sentenced to 20 years for $1.3 billion Medicaid fraud
Link: https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/florida/fl-ne-philip-esformes-sentenced-nursing-home-fraud-20190913-wh4aoeirenfghkd446wnpnhdri-story.html
Description of Story: Phillip Esformes garnered $1.3 billion Medicaid revenues by bribing medical professionals who referred patients to his Florida healthcare facilities then paid off government regulators. He housed elderly patients alongside younger adults who suffered from mental illness and drug addiction, sometimes with fatal results. In one of his facilities, an elderly patient was attacked and beaten to death by a younger mental health patient who never should have been at a nursing facility in the first place. His fraud involved thousands of patients, 16 nursing homes, bribery payments, a complex web of bank accounts, and brazen obstruction of justice in trying to prevent it all from coming to light. He was just sentenced to 20 years in prison for what the U.S. Justice Department called the largest single health care bribery and kickback scheme in American history.
Description of Problem: Healthcare fraud going in our country that puts people's lives at risk.
Description of Who Has The Problem: Elderly patients who suffered injury or even death from the negligence of Philip Esformes' facilities.
Opportunity #4
Title: Florida public schools may require ‘panic buttons’ if new bill is passed
Link: https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/education/os-ne-florida-public-schools-panic-button-alyssas-law-20190913-6jj7z36e4rgtrgsmfxdhxuulxm-story.html
Description of Story: The plan, known as House Bill 23, would require elementary, middle, and high schools to install panic buttons in all of their buildings. If Florida lawmakers pass the law, it could be named “Alyssa’s Law" and would take effect on July 1, 2020. The name honors Alyssa Alhadeff, a 14-year-old student who was killed in the 2018 school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. The button would help keep students safe and would be used for evacuations, lockdowns, and active shooters.
Description of Problem: Keeping students safe on campus
Description of Who Has The Problem: Elementary, middle and high schools who have to worry about potential shooters in their schools.
Opportunity #5
Title: Florida sea turtle found with spear lodged through its neck
Link: https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/environment/os-ne-florida-sea-turtle-found-with-spear-through-its-neck-20190911-vfvjx22ju5bg3jprs2ac5lulhe-story.html
Description of Story: A boater spotted a 150-pound sea turtle near Key Largo, Florida with a spear lodged through its neck. The spear went deep into the reptile’s frame. Veterinarians at the Turtle Hospital in Marathon, Florida found in an X-Ray that the spear spanned more than half the turtle’s body. Whoever is responsible for spearing the turtle could face civil penalties or criminal charges resulting in fines and prison time. A $5,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible.
Description of Problem: Animals being harmed by irresponsible humans.
Description of Who Has The Problem: Florida sea turtle who was found with a spear in its neck.
Hi Fiorella,
ReplyDeleteYou did a great job depicting the information in each article. I found each of your five local opportunity articles really interesting to read. I loved hearing about the little boy making his own University of Tennessee shirt. The bullying problem has definitely increased throughout the years, but stories like this gives hope. Great job!
Hi Fiorella,
ReplyDeleteGreat job with your articles! I found them very interesting and important. I loved the article about bullying. We have to put an end to bullying by stand up to all of the bullies. I love that the shirt that was made fun of was turned into an official volunteering shirt. Keep up the good work!
The first story was so heart warming! I am so happy that the University decided to back the boys creativity and thus encouraged him to not be ashamed for being artistic. Bullying in schools is a very important problem and I am glad you found a story that addressed it. Each article was interesting and summarized well.
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteI like that your stories are very broad and a proposed solution to one of these problems can help many people. I like that you saw the innovative way that (1) UT t-shirt was flipped from a bully situation to a gold mine. Similarly, by noticing the current legislation (4), you can identify a potential growth in the school security systems field. Most likely schools will being implement this now that it has been proposed simply because parents will demand it on the district level. You have many good ideas to choose from.
Hi,
ReplyDeleteI loved all of your opportunities! My favorite one was the first one. This was coincidentally one of my opportunities as well! A student that got bullied for a tshirt and then it becoming the official volunteering shirt is amazing. It really spread a message to all the bullies out there. Great work!