Follow the climb ...: February 2011

Monday, February 28, 2011

Opening Video - Alpine Youth Challenge Summit

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIxse893KWY

Thank you to Cliff WILSON - Video director and editor

Video Script from Jonathan Clay and Sophie Denis

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Conference at Columbia

link : http://calendar.columbia.edu/sundial/webapi/get.php?vt=detail&id=47807&con=standalone&br=ei_brand

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Alpine Youth Challenge Summit - Great Success

Alpine Youth Challenge Summit

hosted by Sophie Denis

- Highly inspiring and empowering event -

- Filled with outstanding stories -

Thank YOU

Keynote speakers

left to right back roll: Mark Breland ; Keeth Smart ;

Sauveur Soriano ; Ian MacDonald-Smith ; Vanessa Greeley

left to front front roll: Luciano Lamonarca ; Goma Mabika ;

Sophie Denis ; Jason d'Amelio ; Michele Vella ; Patrick Ip

Sophie's Interns

Left to right : Rachel McCroy ; Pascal Schmidt ;

Jonathan Clay ; Roxane Turner (behind me) ;

Sophie Denis ; Kerri Fortier ; Subarna Saha ;

Andra Tomsa ; Bailey Evans ; Cliff Wilson

Courtesy of Lindsay Taryn Photography

Friday, February 25, 2011

Alpine Youth Challenge Summit - Agenda

Alpine Youth Challenge Summit

Agenda

Sophie Denis

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Mark BRELAND - AYCs keynote speaker

Alpine Youth Challenge Summit

keynote speaker

Mark Breland

http://sophiedenis.com/ayc/berland/mark_breland.html

Mark Anthony Breland (born May 11, 1963 in Brooklyn, New York) is a former world champion boxer, who won five New York Golden Gloves Titles and a gold medal at the 1984 Olympics. He is also an actor with a wide range of movie and television credits, having made his debut in The Lords of Discipline.

Amateur Boxing CareerBreland compiled an impressive amateur record of 110-1.

Highlights of which were:

Five-Time New York Golden Gloves Champion (1980-84), his record in this competition was 21-0 (19 KO's), with 14 knockouts coming in the 1st round.
1981 – United States Amateur Welterweight competition, lost to Darryl Anthony on points. This would be Breland's only loss as an amateur.
1981 – won Intercity Golden Gloves in the welterweight division, stopped Efrain Bennett in the first.
1982 – United States Amateur Welterweight Champion
1982 – Gold Medal (Welterweight) at the World Championships in Munich, West Germany
1983 – United States Amateur Welterweight Champion
1984 – Gold Medal (Welterweight) at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California

In 1997, Breland retired with a professional record of 35-3-1 (25 KOs).

Breland is currently a boxing trainer, having trained Vernon Forrest among other notable boxers.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Vanessa Greeley - AYCs keynote speaker

Alpine Youth Challenge Summit

keynote speaker

Vanessa Greeley

http://sophiedenis.com/ayc/greeley/vanessa_greeley.html

Vanessa Greeley is a native of Lima, Peru. Growing up in a military environment, she had the opportunity to travel around the country and experience a diversity of flavors that marked her childhood with fond memories. Her father was a decorated high ranking Peruvian officer who imparted to her the determination and drive to succeed. The women in her house were amazingly artistic and experienced bakers, and while she shared this experience, it was the computer world that captured her attention. At 21, she moved to USA where she continued her studies at Columbia University and at NYU in the computer field.

But it wasn’t until the age of 34, that she would have an experience that forever turned her world around. During her fight with cancer and realizing that her life would not be the same, she found comfort in the most unexpected of places, the kitchen. Inspired by her upbringing and some of the most talented chefs in the business, Vanessa went to The French Culinary Institute in New York where she earned a degree in Classic Pastry Arts.

Today, Vanessa designs cakes for a growing list of clients. Her work can be seen at some of the most prestigious cake competitions throughout the country. Her recent accolades include a gold medal at the 2008 American Bakery Expo, Best in Show trophy at the 2009 National Capital Area Cake Show and First Place and Divisional medals at the 2009 Great American Cake Show . Vanessa and her partner designed and created a chocolate dress for the 11th Annual Chocolate Fashion Show in NY which aired on the Food Network earlier this year. She was featured on the WE TV Channel’s “Wedding Cake Wars” competition broadcasted in September 2009.

Vanessa’s creations have been featured on CBS, NBC, NY1, WE, Reuters, as well as in the Washington Post, the Bergen Record and the Glen Rock Gazette.

in 2010

• New York Cake Convention, NJ – First place at the Live Cake Challenge

• Connecticut Cake Show, CT – Second Place at the Live Cake Challenge

• National Capital Area Cake Show, VA – Second Place at the Live Cake Challenge

• Great American Cake Show, MD – First Place at the Live Cake Challenge

• Served as judge along TV celebrities such as Zac Young (from FoodNetwork’s Top Chef) for The Record in NJ for their Cookie competition

• Did the Chocolate Fashion Show in NYC

• Did demos in Telemundo TV show “Cocinando con Suso”

http://www.vanessascakedesigns.com/

http://followtheclimb.blogspot.com/2010/11/video-la-sirene-chocolate-fashion.html

Trailer #2 - Alpine Youth Challenge Summit

Trailer #2

Alpine Youth Challenge Summit

Click on the picure to play video

Monday, February 21, 2011

Jason d'Amelio - AYCs keynote speaker

Alpine Youth Challenge Summit

keynote speaker

Jason d'Amelio

http://sophiedenis.com/ayc/amelio/jason_d_amelio.html

D'Amelio, embarked upon his athletic training and sports medicine career during his undergraduate studies with the New York Football Giants organization where he was a seasonal intern from 1996-99 and in 2002-03. He was a member of the 1997 NFC East Divisional Champions medical staff and had the opportunity to work with the likes of future hall of famer, Michael Strahan, all-pros Amani Toomer, Plaxico Burress and Jessie Armstead and many others.

During his time away from the Giants in 2001-2002, D'Amelio was in Tampa, Florida as an assistant athletic trainer in the New York Yankees organization where he worked with the director of major camp; minor league rehabilitation assignments and oversaw the medical care of the Gulf Coast rookie league team. He had the opportunity to work closely with players such as Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettite, Roger Clemens and Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez throughout their injury rehabilitation. Following his graduate studies at Michigan State University, where he worked with the nationally ranked wrestling and football teams and was a member of the 2000 Citrus Bowl Champions medical staff, Jason accepted a seasonal assistant athletic trainer position with the Cleveland Browns Football Organization.

In 2001, Jason was an assistant athletic trainer for the National Football League of Europe, working with the Dusseldorf-Rhein Fire team in Germany. In 2001, D'Amelio also spent time at the collegiate level as an assistant athletic trainer at both Columbia University from 2003-2007 and St. John's University in New York where is had the opportunity to also volunteer his time as a healthcare and safety supervisor for rescue workers at Ground Zero immediately following September 11th. Jason has also had the unique pleasure of travelling to Havana, Cuba with USA Fencing Association for the Grand Prix World Championships in both 2005 and 2006.

www.fusion-pt.com

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Keeth SMART - AYCs keynote speaker

Alpine Youth Challenge Summit

keynote speaker

Keeth SMART

http://sophiedenis.com/ayc/smart/keeth_smart.html

Keeth Smart Silver Olympic Medalist

Early life and education

Smart was born in New York City, New York and grew up in Flatbush, Brooklyn, New York City. His parents were Thomas R. Smart Jr. (a production manager and later an economist) and Liz Smart (a teacher). At the urging of his parents, he and his younger sister Erinn began to learn fencing at the Peter Westbrook Foundation, whose founder, Olympic sabre bronze-medalist Peter Westbrook, was his mentor.

Smart graduated from Brooklyn Technical High School in 1996. He graduated from St. John's University in New York, majoring in finance. He received his MBA from Columbia University in 2010.

Fencing career

During college, he was the NCAA sabre champion in 1997 and 1999, and took second place in 2001.

He was a member of the 1999 Pan American Games bronze medal team. He has competed in three Olympic Games. In the individual Olympic men's sabre competition, he placed 30th in the 2000 Olympic Games, 15th in 2004, 4th in the team event, 6th in 2008, and he won the silver medal in the team event. His sister Erinn also earned a silver medal at the 2008 Olympics.

In 2002 and 2004, Smart won the US national sabre championship. In 2003, he became the first American to be named the top-ranked fencer internationally.

http://peterwestbrook.org/

http://keethanderinnsmart.com/

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Luciano LAMONARCA - AYCs keynote speaker

Alpine Youth Challenge Summit

keynote speaker

Luciano Lamonarca

http://sophiedenis.com/ayc/lamonarca/luciano_lamonarca.html

Tenor Luciano Lamonarca was born in the Apulia Region of Italy and studied in Bari, Rome and Palermo, with such teachers as Gino Lorusso Toma, Franco Corelli and Salvatore Fisichella. Equipped with a powerful voice, with dark and confident inflexions, he is often associated with the greatest voices of Italian melodrama, such as Enrico Caruso. He has performed under the patronage of the highest national and international institutions: United Nations, European Union, the Italian Republic, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Youth, the Italian Consulate in New York, Italian Cultural Institute in New York, Regions of Puglia and Sicily. He was interviewed by numerous television networks such as Rai Uno, Rai Tre, Rai International, Tele Norba and TGS Sicily.

Articles about him were published in La Repubblica, America Oggi, Il Quotidiano.Net, Il Corriere del Mezzogiorno, La Gazzetta del Mezzogiorno, The Italian Times, The Italian Tribune and the Giornale di Sicilia. He performed in New York, Washington, Philadelphia, Milwaukee, Chicago, Madrid, Chisinau, Paris, Vienna, Palermo and Bari, to name but a few. He made his debut at the New York Theater for the Performing Arts (Bruno Walter Auditorium), in Lincoln Center, New York, last 1st of October and in Carnegie Hall, last 14th of December 2010.

Luciano is also the founder and president of the Puglia Center of America, organization created with the idea to promote the culture and arts, with the goal to organize events of artistic nature that will serve to support the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, various missionary projects centered on noble causes, especially those fighting against cancer.

Friday, February 18, 2011

United Nations Academic Impact in Action

I am pleased to inform that
the Alpine Youth Challenge Summit
supports
United Nations Academic Impact in Action

Academic Impact is a global initiative that aligns institutions of higher education with the United Nations in actively supporting ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, literacy, sustainability and conflict resolution.
http://academicimpact.org/index.php/

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Patrick IP - AYCs keynote speaker

Alpine Youth Challenge Summit

keynote speaker

Patrick IP

http://sophiedenis.com/ayc/ip/patrick_ip.html

Patrick Ip is a college sophomore at the University of Chicago studying Political Science. He graduated from Modesto High School in 2009. His work ranges from channeling student voice to a national scale, fostering environments for maximum innovation to public speaking. He currently works with the United Nations to actively support the United Nations Academic Impact and its Student Chapter ASPIRE, and served as Co-Chair of the UN Youth Committee Australia.
For more information: http://www.patrickip.com/

PRESS QUOTES'

“He was Barack Obama’s California State Director before he was even eligible to vote. Chicago University politics major Patrick Ip, who moves on the world stage, found himself in Melbourne earlier this year for the 63rd United Nations Conference on Global Health. He is looking to return in the future as a graduate student.”
-VOICE

http://voice.unimelb.edu.au/volume-6/number-10/making-difference-melbourne-way

“He lives out what he says and I think he’s going to be very successful at the University of Chicago.,” Ramos said. “The world is going to be better off because Pat lived in it.”
-ABC
http://www.news10.net/news/education/story.aspx?storyid=59603

“Patrick Ip, from California, was the inspiring guest speaker at the event.”
-Star News Group

http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/news/berwick/261/story/94764.html

“Modesto High School graduate Patrick Ip has been appointed co-chair of the United Nations Youth Committee of Australia.”
-Modesto Bee
http://www.modbee.com/2010/09/01/1320052/wuzzz-up.html#ixzz1DIu9eGqy

VIDEO (click on links to watch videos)
- United Nations Academic Impact Press Conference

- ABC-Student Scholar of the Month
- ABC News-Washington DC Inauguration
- CBS New York-Rethink Learning Now

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Live from Guiana space center

Live from Guiana space center

http://www.videocorner.tv/index.htm

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Press Release

HOPE - INITIATIVE - ACTION

“EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE!”

Sophie Denis and the Foundation for Post Conflict Development (FPCD) have developed the "Alpine Youth Challenge." This inspirational program proposes to create 6 youth centers in post-conflict communities and educate kids about the values of peace, friendship and hope. In line with Sophie’s motto “Everything is Possible” and to help bring awareness to this project, Sophie will climb five peaks above 26,000ft in six months.
http://followtheclimb.blogspot.com/2010/11/dream-dare-do-everything-is-possible.html

Please join Sophie on Thursday, February 24th for a panel discussion at the United Nations on the theme of “Taking Initiative.” She will be the accompanied by distinguished speakers with unique and inspirational stories, including:

Athletes

Keeth Smart – USA sabre fencer, Olympic Silver Medalist
Mark Breland - USA boxer, Olympic Gold Medalist, Won five New York Golden Gloves Titles
Sauveur Soriano - USA judo coach, Olympian, 6th Dan
Sophie Denis - Everest Summiteer, world record holder

Artists

Luciano Lamonarca – Acclaimed Italian Tenor (will perform at the event)
Vanessa Greeley - Prize Winner Chocolatier, can be seen in “Food Network”
Ian Macdonald-Smith - Prize Winner Photographer

Give Back Program

Patrick Ip - California’s Youngest Assembly District Delegate
Jason D'Amelio - Performance professional athlete trainer
Michele Vella - CSW Girls' Statement Facilitator
Goma Mabika - Founder of the Congo, Education and Development
David Gethings - The Foundation for Post Conflict Director

This event supports the United Nations International Year of Youth 2011 and United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) in Action

For more information or to set up an interview with Sophie Denis, the event moderator, please contact : sophie.denis@yahoo.com