COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. & DOWNERS GROVE, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The United States Olympic Committee announced today that DeVry Inc., a global provider of educational services, has been named an official education provider of Team USA. As part of the agreement, initially DeVry University and its Keller Graduate School of Management will provide higher education opportunities at undergraduate and graduate levels, including scholarships and a dedicated DeVry staff, for U.S. Olympic and Paralympic athletes and training hopefuls through 2016. In subsequent years, DeVry will have the opportunity to offer the athletes scholarship opportunities to attend its other institutions.
“Through this partnership with DeVry, U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Team members who give so much time and effort to the pursuit of their sporting goals will have access to quality education,” said Scott Blackmun, chief executive officer of the USOC. “The career-oriented, flexible course scheduling and commitment to students that DeVry and its family of education providers have demonstrated align well with the USOC’s goal of providing the resources to help Team USA athletes achieve success on and off the field of play.”
DeVry University has more than 95 locations nationwide and a robust online environment for delivering quality academic instruction. This combination of onsite and online delivery methods will offer Team USA athletes flexible access to career-oriented associate, bachelor’s and master’s degree programs. U.S. Olympians and Paralympians will have the freedom and flexibility to take advantage of a parallel path of athletic and college preparedness, so they can be ready for the Games and the transition from Olympic and Paralympic sport.
“We take great pride in this opportunity to serve Team USA scholar athletes,” said Daniel Hamburger, president and CEO of DeVry Inc. “Many of these athletes want to pursue their athletic and career dreams at the same time – DeVry’s educational institutions can make that happen. We are committed to providing the highest level of quality academic instruction with the flexible scheduling necessary so athletes can balance training and studying in pursuit of their goals.”
The first class of Team USA athletes has already been accepted and will start classes through DeVry University this month. The participating athletes include undergraduate students Samantha Achterberg (modern pentathlon), Wilfred “BJ” Blanchard (shooting), Will Brady (modern pentathlon), Donovan Ford (weightlifting) and Aaron Trent (Paralympic cycling). Moza Fay (wrestling) has enrolled as a graduate student seeking an MBA in marketing.
“This opportunity with DeVry has allowed me to get back into school and working toward my master's degree," said Fay, Team USA wrestling athlete and London 2012 Olympic hopeful. “I am currently training full-time toward the goal of competing in London so the thing that really helps me is the convenience of the program, which gives me great flexibility and the ability to continue my education on my schedule.”
About USOC
The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) is recognized by the International Olympic Committee as the sole entity in the United States whose mission involves training, entering and underwriting the full expenses for the U.S. teams in the Olympic, Paralympic, Pan American and Parapan American Games. In addition to being the steward of the U.S. Olympic Movement, the USOC is the moving force for support of sports in the United States that are on the program of the Olympic, Paralympic, Pan American and Parapan American Games. For more information, please contact USOC Communications at (719) 866-4529 or visit www.TeamUSA.org.
About DeVry Inc.
DeVry's purpose is to empower its students to achieve their educational and career goals. DeVry (NYSE: DV, member S&P 500 Index) is a global provider of educational services and the parent organization of Advanced Academics, American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine, Becker Professional Education, Carrington College, Carrington College California, Chamberlain College of Nursing, DeVry Brasil, DeVry University, and Ross University Schools of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine. These institutions offer a wide array of programs in business, healthcare and technology. DeVry’s institutions serve students in secondary through postsecondary education and professionals in accounting and finance. For more information, visit www.devryinc.com.
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