Tag: 3BL

By Alex Teper

About Globe
Globe Telecom is a Fortune Southeast Asia 500 company and the leading digital platform in the Philippines, serving over 62 million mobile customers and driving AI-powered innovation and sustainability. Globe manages an increasingly complex network due to the introduction of new technologies, new spectrum and multiple vendors, and centralized nationwide initiatives, such as coverage of its radio access network (RAN).

Use Case Spotlight
By deploying Dragonwing RAN Automation Suite, Globe reduced nationwide RAN energy consumption by up to 5.5% in seven months, accelerating multi-vendor network modernization, delivering advanced, efficient connectivity for the Philippine market.

Qualcomm Innovation
Globe leverages the Qualcomm Dragonwing RAN Automation Suite, an AI-driven solution that optimizes multi-vendor, multi-generation cellular networks, enabling rapid, near real-time network audits and seamless modernization.

A leading digital platform in the Philippines and a pioneering force in the telecommunications industry, Globe Telecom boasts more than 62 million mobile customers. Beyond being a major player in the country’s telecom sector, they are also a frontrunner in embracing AI-driven digital innovation and sustainability. For example, they have set an ambitious goal to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, demonstrating their commitment to reducing their environmental footprint, while continuing to drive technological advancements in the industry and better serving the growing Philippine economy.

Of course, serving more than 62 million mobile customers is not without challenges. With a network comprising multiple generations of cellular network technology (e.g., 4G and 5G) and multiple network equipment vendors, Globe faced an exponential rise in network configurations needed across their thousands of cell sites. To address this challenge and harness AI’s enormous potential to enhance RAN operations, Globe turned to Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. deepening a valuable collaboration that began in 2020. 

Working together with Qualcomm Technologies, Globe deployed the Dragonwing RAN Automation Suite, an AI-driven solution that stands out for its ability to seamlessly synthesize and optimize cell sites spanning multiple vendors and technology generations. Leveraging the Suite’s AI-powered Service Management and Orchestration (SMO) platform, tasks that once took months now run in days and near real-time, driving a new standard of efficiency and interoperability across Globe’s complex network landscape.

Further, Globe informed us that they have reduced their nationwide RAN energy consumption by up to 5.5% in just seven months of implementation of this AI-driven optimization program. This is a significant milestone which accelerates Globe’s journey toward net-zero emissions, while continuing to deliver advanced experiences for their customers.

In speaking about these results, Joel Agustin, SVP and Head of Service Planning and Engineering at Globe said, “AI is now embedded in every layer of our network — from intelligent power management to predictive network analytics. Our collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies lets us operate an intelligent and self-managing RAN that delights customers, while contributing toward our goal of creating a more energy-efficient network.”

Yoly Crisanto, Chief Sustainability and Corporate Communications Officer at Globe added, “This collaboration reaffirms our resolve to further improve our network and facilities by lessening our carbon footprint, reducing operational expenditure (OPEX) and collaborating with companies able to support our energy efficiency goals.”

To achieve these results, the Dragonwing RAN Automation Suite’s SMO utilizes real time KPIs and configuration data from multi-vendor equipment, applies AI and machine learning models to optimize parameters, and then executes changes via open OSS connectors — all on a flexible cloud architecture.

Globe’s bold adoption of AI demonstrates the opportunity for telcos to improve operational efficiency and energy consumption, while reducing OPEX. We are very honored to be the intelligence engine behind this transformative, AI-driven deployment.

And this is just the beginning of our AI-focused collaboration with Globe. We are working together to harness agentic AI capabilities for further enhancements, including forecasting traffic surges, self-healing network anomalies and enabling new enterprise services, such as carbon-aware connectivity tiers.

Learn more about Globe
Explore the Qualcomm Dragonwing RAN Automation Suite
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Las Vegas Sands

In March, 13 students from the College of Merchandising, Hospitality and Tourism at the University of North Texas visited Las Vegas for week-long study tour to learn about the hospitality industry. As with UNT’s previous trip in 2024, the visit was underwritten by Sands Cares as part of Sands’ focus on workforce development in the hospitality industry and cultivating its future leaders.

^{UNT hospitality students arrived in Las Vegas on Mar. 7 to embark on the week-long study tour.}
“Once again, Sands made possible a learning experience for our students in one of the world’s top hospitality centers,” Harold Lee, Ph.D., clinical associate professor at UNT’s College of Merchandising, Hospitality and Tourism and vice president, West Federation Council on Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Education, said. “The in-depth look they received from this trip, coupled with the interactions with leaders who generously gave their time, expertise and advice, made for incredible learning to help them plan their careers.”

^{Students visited Sands’ corporate offices to learn about professional service career tracks in the hospitality industry.}
In addition to underwriting the week, Sands hosted students at its headquarters on Mar. 10 for a career roundtable with company leaders, who shared insights about their responsibilities and experience to showcase the variety of non-operational career tracks in the industry.

Speakers included Ron Reese, senior vice president of corporate communications and global affairs; Ray Neal, executive director of corporate development, architecture and planning; Georgina Moreno, executive director of procurement; Melissa Grande, director of corporate sustainability; Mike Echols, vice president of global cyber security; Lauralee Antiporta, human resources specialist, and Danielle Buckner, human resources manager.

“My biggest takeaway from hearing from the Sands leaders was just how involved everything is,” Matthew Watry, a UNT senior, said. “We started off with the corporate development team and heard about how some of the projects start getting planned 10 years out and how much goes into that planning and development process, which was really interesting. We also learned how involved operations can be, such as with procurement and having to solve problems on the spot. I heard about creative solutions.”

^{Reese spoke to students about facets of communications, reputation and corporate giving.}
Kara Williams, a UNT senior, also appreciated the wide variety of areas that were discussed during the Sands visit. “Seeing so many sides of what hospitality could be was really cool. What stuck out to me the most was the discussion about cybersecurity because it was never something I had considered being a part of hospitality, especially as the company is headquartered in Las Vegas and working for properties in Macao and Singapore. It really showed me how broad hospitality can be.”

The study tour also included visits to and tours of integrated resorts and hospitality venues, such as The Venetian Resort Las Vegas, Caesars Palace, Bellagio, Park MGM and The Wynn Las Vegas, where students received additional on-site learning opportunities.

“This week definitely changed my perspective of hospitality,” Williams said. “There are just so many avenues and aspects that you can go into it. It’s about putting yourself out there and getting to know as many people as you can. Be a sponge, there’s so much you can learn from someone else. It opened a lot of opportunities with connections, including getting practice with networking. At school, you get practice with your professors or at career fairs, but this gave us an opportunity to talk to people who knew we were just starting out.”

^{Students got a behind-the-scenes look at integrated resort operations.}
The UNT group also visited the University of Nevada, Las Vegas William F. Harrah College of Hospitality as well as its Konami Gaming Lab to experience its state-of-the-art casino simulation.

“I was eager to take this trip because I wanted to open up my perspective about what I want to do in my career,” Emily Gonzalez, a UNT junior, said. “After this experience, I realized there’s so much more than managing hotels.”

^{A highlight of the UNLV visit was delving into casino operations at the Konami Gaming Lab.}
“The study tour gave us connections and opportunities for networking,” Chinelo Ileje, a UNT junior, said. “It showed us many job opportunities in the hospitality field. There are so many stepping stones.”

Supporting the UNT Las Vegas Study Tour is one of Sands’ many workforce development initiatives to advance hospitality education and build a strong talent pool for the industry.

To learn more about Sands’ workforce development efforts in the hospitality industry, read the company’s latest ESG report: https://www.sands.com/resources/reports/

Las Vegas Sands

In March, 13 students from the College of Merchandising, Hospitality and Tourism at the University of North Texas visited Las Vegas for week-long study tour to learn about the hospitality industry. As with UNT’s previous trip in 2024, the visit was underwritten by Sands Cares as part of Sands’ focus on workforce development in the hospitality industry and cultivating its future leaders.

^{UNT hospitality students arrived in Las Vegas on Mar. 7 to embark on the week-long study tour.}
“Once again, Sands made possible a learning experience for our students in one of the world’s top hospitality centers,” Harold Lee, Ph.D., clinical associate professor at UNT’s College of Merchandising, Hospitality and Tourism and vice president, West Federation Council on Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Education, said. “The in-depth look they received from this trip, coupled with the interactions with leaders who generously gave their time, expertise and advice, made for incredible learning to help them plan their careers.”

^{Students visited Sands’ corporate offices to learn about professional service career tracks in the hospitality industry.}
In addition to underwriting the week, Sands hosted students at its headquarters on Mar. 10 for a career roundtable with company leaders, who shared insights about their responsibilities and experience to showcase the variety of non-operational career tracks in the industry.

Speakers included Ron Reese, senior vice president of corporate communications and global affairs; Ray Neal, executive director of corporate development, architecture and planning; Georgina Moreno, executive director of procurement; Melissa Grande, director of corporate sustainability; Mike Echols, vice president of global cyber security; Lauralee Antiporta, human resources specialist, and Danielle Buckner, human resources manager.

“My biggest takeaway from hearing from the Sands leaders was just how involved everything is,” Matthew Watry, a UNT senior, said. “We started off with the corporate development team and heard about how some of the projects start getting planned 10 years out and how much goes into that planning and development process, which was really interesting. We also learned how involved operations can be, such as with procurement and having to solve problems on the spot. I heard about creative solutions.”

^{Reese spoke to students about facets of communications, reputation and corporate giving.}
Kara Williams, a UNT senior, also appreciated the wide variety of areas that were discussed during the Sands visit. “Seeing so many sides of what hospitality could be was really cool. What stuck out to me the most was the discussion about cybersecurity because it was never something I had considered being a part of hospitality, especially as the company is headquartered in Las Vegas and working for properties in Macao and Singapore. It really showed me how broad hospitality can be.”

The study tour also included visits to and tours of integrated resorts and hospitality venues, such as The Venetian Resort Las Vegas, Caesars Palace, Bellagio, Park MGM and The Wynn Las Vegas, where students received additional on-site learning opportunities.

“This week definitely changed my perspective of hospitality,” Williams said. “There are just so many avenues and aspects that you can go into it. It’s about putting yourself out there and getting to know as many people as you can. Be a sponge, there’s so much you can learn from someone else. It opened a lot of opportunities with connections, including getting practice with networking. At school, you get practice with your professors or at career fairs, but this gave us an opportunity to talk to people who knew we were just starting out.”

^{Students got a behind-the-scenes look at integrated resort operations.}
The UNT group also visited the University of Nevada, Las Vegas William F. Harrah College of Hospitality as well as its Konami Gaming Lab to experience its state-of-the-art casino simulation.

“I was eager to take this trip because I wanted to open up my perspective about what I want to do in my career,” Emily Gonzalez, a UNT junior, said. “After this experience, I realized there’s so much more than managing hotels.”

^{A highlight of the UNLV visit was delving into casino operations at the Konami Gaming Lab.}
“The study tour gave us connections and opportunities for networking,” Chinelo Ileje, a UNT junior, said. “It showed us many job opportunities in the hospitality field. There are so many stepping stones.”

Supporting the UNT Las Vegas Study Tour is one of Sands’ many workforce development initiatives to advance hospitality education and build a strong talent pool for the industry.

To learn more about Sands’ workforce development efforts in the hospitality industry, read the company’s latest ESG report: https://www.sands.com/resources/reports/

LINCOLN, Neb., May 4, 2026 /3BL/ – The Arbor Day Foundation and Funga are expanding their strategic collaboration to broaden market access for Funga’s biodiversity-powered forest carbon project. This go-to-market partnership builds on the catalytic capital investment made by the Arbor Day Impact Fund in 2025, now evolving into a joint effort with the Foundation, with a shared goal of expanding market access for Funga’s soil restoration work across U.S. forests.

The partnership brings together Funga’s science-driven carbon removals and the Foundation’s corporate partner and buyer network to solve a persistent challenge in the voluntary carbon market: connecting high-integrity carbon removals with companies building credible climate strategies at scale.

“This partnership with Funga aims to demonstrate how reforestation projects can function as durable climate infrastructure—delivering trees planted, land restored, and economic benefits today, while building the financial foundations needed to sustain impact for decades to come,” said Pete Davis, Managing Director of the Arbor Day Impact Fund.

This partnership expands the Foundation’s portfolio with a scientifically rigorous, nature-based removal that meets what their partners are increasingly looking for. For Funga, it creates a meaningful path to scale, expanding native soil restoration across more forests, alongside partners who share that ambition.

“We are proud to expand our collaboration with the Arbor Day Foundation. Their endorsement of Funga’s innovative tech and carbon program traction is a powerful signal to the market, helping us leverage the Foundation’s longstanding relationships to connect our projects with buyers looking to lead on climate and biodiversity,” Colin Averill, Founder and CEO of Funga.

Together, the Arbor Day Foundation and Funga are demonstrating how technical innovation and established market credibility can work in tandem to drive ecosystem restoration and climate impact at scale.

About the Arbor Day Foundation

The Arbor Day Foundation is a global nonprofit inspiring people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees. They foster a growing community of more than 1 million leaders, innovators, planters, and supporters united by their bold belief that a more hopeful future can be shaped through the power of trees. For more than 50 years, they’ve answered critical need with action, planting more than half a billion trees alongside their partners. And this is only the beginning.

The Arbor Day Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit pursuing a future where all life flourishes through the power of trees. Learn more at arborday.org.

About Funga

Funga is restoring soil biodiversity to address the climate crisis. By reintroducing native, growth-promoting fungal communities to soils, they are working to accelerate one of the biggest carbon-storing mechanisms on the planet: forests. Trees inoculated with a healthy soil microbiome are reunited with critical symbiotic partners, allowing them to grow faster and stronger — sequestering significantly more carbon in the process.

Funga is a Public Benefit Corporation (PBC) that is dedicated to delivering measurable environmental outcomes and durable economic value through the power of the microbiome. To learn more, go to funga.earth.

###

LINCOLN, Neb., May 4, 2026 /3BL/ – The Arbor Day Foundation and Funga are expanding their strategic collaboration to broaden market access for Funga’s biodiversity-powered forest carbon project. This go-to-market partnership builds on the catalytic capital investment made by the Arbor Day Impact Fund in 2025, now evolving into a joint effort with the Foundation, with a shared goal of expanding market access for Funga’s soil restoration work across U.S. forests.

The partnership brings together Funga’s science-driven carbon removals and the Foundation’s corporate partner and buyer network to solve a persistent challenge in the voluntary carbon market: connecting high-integrity carbon removals with companies building credible climate strategies at scale.

“This partnership with Funga aims to demonstrate how reforestation projects can function as durable climate infrastructure—delivering trees planted, land restored, and economic benefits today, while building the financial foundations needed to sustain impact for decades to come,” said Pete Davis, Managing Director of the Arbor Day Impact Fund.

This partnership expands the Foundation’s portfolio with a scientifically rigorous, nature-based removal that meets what their partners are increasingly looking for. For Funga, it creates a meaningful path to scale, expanding native soil restoration across more forests, alongside partners who share that ambition.

“We are proud to expand our collaboration with the Arbor Day Foundation. Their endorsement of Funga’s innovative tech and carbon program traction is a powerful signal to the market, helping us leverage the Foundation’s longstanding relationships to connect our projects with buyers looking to lead on climate and biodiversity,” Colin Averill, Founder and CEO of Funga.

Together, the Arbor Day Foundation and Funga are demonstrating how technical innovation and established market credibility can work in tandem to drive ecosystem restoration and climate impact at scale.

About the Arbor Day Foundation

The Arbor Day Foundation is a global nonprofit inspiring people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees. They foster a growing community of more than 1 million leaders, innovators, planters, and supporters united by their bold belief that a more hopeful future can be shaped through the power of trees. For more than 50 years, they’ve answered critical need with action, planting more than half a billion trees alongside their partners. And this is only the beginning.

The Arbor Day Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit pursuing a future where all life flourishes through the power of trees. Learn more at arborday.org.

About Funga

Funga is restoring soil biodiversity to address the climate crisis. By reintroducing native, growth-promoting fungal communities to soils, they are working to accelerate one of the biggest carbon-storing mechanisms on the planet: forests. Trees inoculated with a healthy soil microbiome are reunited with critical symbiotic partners, allowing them to grow faster and stronger — sequestering significantly more carbon in the process.

Funga is a Public Benefit Corporation (PBC) that is dedicated to delivering measurable environmental outcomes and durable economic value through the power of the microbiome. To learn more, go to funga.earth.

###

By: Vicki Hyman
Director, Global Communications, Mastercard

Global development priorities, fast-advancing technologies and shifting consumer behavior are reshaping what financial health looks like and how digital innovations can reach small businesses and those traditionally left behind. At the 2026 Global Inclusive Growth Forum, hosted by the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, leaders from across the public, private and social sectors dug into how digital economies can expand opportunity and deepen resilience. Here are six takeaways from the day.

“If AI is allowing us to rethink how everything works, that actually means there are no legacy limitations for us. We can design new systems that work for the future, that work for today, using 2026 tools. We do not have to use yesterday’s programs and tools and try to retrofit them into today’s system.”

Shamina Singh, the founder and president of the Center for Inclusive Growth, on AI as an opportunity to redesign how markets and institutions work, particularly for those left behind.

“At these events, we all talk about really big figures, but behind every figure is a life, and how they feel about their future. While we know a job on its own is not a guarantee for everything else we want to achieve, we do know that with the absence of that job we can’t make the progress we want to achieve.”

Paschal Donohoe, managing director and chief knowledge officer, World Bank Group, on how understanding personal experiences behind macroeconomic data helps achieve inclusive growth.

Global development priorities, fast-advancing technologies and shifting consumer behavior are reshaping what financial health looks like and how digital innovations can reach small businesses and those traditionally left behind. At the 2026 Global Inclusive Growth Forum, hosted by the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, leaders from across the public, private and social sectors dug into how digital economies can expand opportunity and deepen resilience. Here are six takeaways from the day.

“If AI is allowing us to rethink how everything works, that actually means there are no legacy limitations for us. We can design new systems that work for the future, that work for today, using 2026 tools. We do not have to use yesterday’s programs and tools and try to retrofit them into today’s system.”

Shamina Singh, the founder and president of the Center for Inclusive Growth, on AI as an opportunity to redesign how markets and institutions work, particularly for those left behind.

“At these events, we all talk about really big figures, but behind every figure is a life, and how they feel about their future. While we know a job on its own is not a guarantee for everything else we want to achieve, we do know that with the absence of that job we can’t make the progress we want to achieve.”

Paschal Donohoe, managing director and chief knowledge officer, World Bank Group, on how understanding personal experiences behind macroeconomic data helps achieve inclusive growth.

“All too often, the rise of digital currencies and stablecoins and blockchains and alternative payment systems are treated as a substitute for cash. But if you want a fast, secure, resilient, 21st-century-ready payment system, you have to also include the preservation of cash and then support widespread payment systems optionality.”

Dante Disparte, chief strategy officer and head of Global Policy and Operations at the stablecoin giant Circle, on building better payment systems. 

“We want to support those people who are out there who are going to say, ‘I’m going to take the hit first. My personal financial stability is not as important as my business becoming more stable.’”

Tim Ogden, managing director of the Financial Access Initiative at NYU Wagner, on the findings of his Small Firm Diaries research, which shows most entrepreneurs aren’t chasing hypergrowth but are seeking resiliency.

“It’s about sustaining, but not necessarily taking over the world. I want to make sure that my uniquely American craft continues to thrive, and that comes through slow, intentional work.”

Morgan Buckert, a custom artisan bootmaker based in Idaho and Texas, about being deliberate about growing her small business.

“How do you take the friction down of the reuse moment? The reason we love disposability is it’s so easy to throw something away. So if we’re going to ask someone to bring it back and take that extra effort, we’ve got to take all the friction out of it, because that’s what we’re competing against.”

Tom Szaky, founder and CEO of TerraCycle, a global leader in recycling, recycled content, and reuse, on one of the keys to scaling circular systems. 

Continue reading here

Follow along Mastercard’s journey to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere.
 

 

 

By: Vicki Hyman
Director, Global Communications, Mastercard

Global development priorities, fast-advancing technologies and shifting consumer behavior are reshaping what financial health looks like and how digital innovations can reach small businesses and those traditionally left behind. At the 2026 Global Inclusive Growth Forum, hosted by the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, leaders from across the public, private and social sectors dug into how digital economies can expand opportunity and deepen resilience. Here are six takeaways from the day.

“If AI is allowing us to rethink how everything works, that actually means there are no legacy limitations for us. We can design new systems that work for the future, that work for today, using 2026 tools. We do not have to use yesterday’s programs and tools and try to retrofit them into today’s system.”

Shamina Singh, the founder and president of the Center for Inclusive Growth, on AI as an opportunity to redesign how markets and institutions work, particularly for those left behind.

“At these events, we all talk about really big figures, but behind every figure is a life, and how they feel about their future. While we know a job on its own is not a guarantee for everything else we want to achieve, we do know that with the absence of that job we can’t make the progress we want to achieve.”

Paschal Donohoe, managing director and chief knowledge officer, World Bank Group, on how understanding personal experiences behind macroeconomic data helps achieve inclusive growth.

Global development priorities, fast-advancing technologies and shifting consumer behavior are reshaping what financial health looks like and how digital innovations can reach small businesses and those traditionally left behind. At the 2026 Global Inclusive Growth Forum, hosted by the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, leaders from across the public, private and social sectors dug into how digital economies can expand opportunity and deepen resilience. Here are six takeaways from the day.

“If AI is allowing us to rethink how everything works, that actually means there are no legacy limitations for us. We can design new systems that work for the future, that work for today, using 2026 tools. We do not have to use yesterday’s programs and tools and try to retrofit them into today’s system.”

Shamina Singh, the founder and president of the Center for Inclusive Growth, on AI as an opportunity to redesign how markets and institutions work, particularly for those left behind.

“At these events, we all talk about really big figures, but behind every figure is a life, and how they feel about their future. While we know a job on its own is not a guarantee for everything else we want to achieve, we do know that with the absence of that job we can’t make the progress we want to achieve.”

Paschal Donohoe, managing director and chief knowledge officer, World Bank Group, on how understanding personal experiences behind macroeconomic data helps achieve inclusive growth.

“All too often, the rise of digital currencies and stablecoins and blockchains and alternative payment systems are treated as a substitute for cash. But if you want a fast, secure, resilient, 21st-century-ready payment system, you have to also include the preservation of cash and then support widespread payment systems optionality.”

Dante Disparte, chief strategy officer and head of Global Policy and Operations at the stablecoin giant Circle, on building better payment systems. 

“We want to support those people who are out there who are going to say, ‘I’m going to take the hit first. My personal financial stability is not as important as my business becoming more stable.’”

Tim Ogden, managing director of the Financial Access Initiative at NYU Wagner, on the findings of his Small Firm Diaries research, which shows most entrepreneurs aren’t chasing hypergrowth but are seeking resiliency.

“It’s about sustaining, but not necessarily taking over the world. I want to make sure that my uniquely American craft continues to thrive, and that comes through slow, intentional work.”

Morgan Buckert, a custom artisan bootmaker based in Idaho and Texas, about being deliberate about growing her small business.

“How do you take the friction down of the reuse moment? The reason we love disposability is it’s so easy to throw something away. So if we’re going to ask someone to bring it back and take that extra effort, we’ve got to take all the friction out of it, because that’s what we’re competing against.”

Tom Szaky, founder and CEO of TerraCycle, a global leader in recycling, recycled content, and reuse, on one of the keys to scaling circular systems. 

Continue reading here

Follow along Mastercard’s journey to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere.
 

 

 

CHARLOTTE, N.C., May 4, 2026 /3BL/ – Discovery Education today announced the recipients of its third annual Discovery Education Awards, recognizing districts, schools, and educators who are redefining what impactful teaching and learning look like in today’s classrooms.

As a trusted partner supporting teaching and learning in nearly half of U.S. K-12 schools, Discovery Education established these awards to elevate education leaders addressing education challenges through innovative, student-centered instruction. Award recipients were selected through a competitive national nomination and application process that evaluates evidence of academic growth and the effective use of instructional solutions to meet the evolving needs of students.

At a time when educators are being asked to improve outcomes while engaging learners despite resource constraints and student attention gaps, the 2026 honorees demonstrate how thoughtful design and real-world relevance translate into measurable impact. Together, this year’s winners span eight states and share a commitment to creating learning experiences that are results-focused and relevant. The 2026 Discovery Education Awards recipients are:

Districts of the Year

• Barbers Hill Independent School District – Texas
• Waterford School District – Michigan
• Westinghouse Arts Academy Charter School – Pennsylvania

Schools of the Year

• Alexander D. Henderson University School, FAU Lab Schools – Florida
• Alternative Paths Training School – Virginia
• Armwood High School, Hillsborough County Public Schools – Florida
• Checotah Intermediate School, Checotah School District – Oklahoma
• Florida Atlantic University High School, FAU Lab Schools – Florida
• Phillis Wheatley Elementary School, Woodbridge School District – Delaware

Educators of the Year

• Dr. Amber Dumbuya, School for Arts Infused Learning – Georgia
• Milton Fernandez, Miami-Dade County Public Schools – Florida
• Mayank Handa, Arizona Autism Charter Schools – Arizona
• Melissa Myer, Lancaster-Lebanon Intermediate Unit 13 – Pennsylvania
• Holly Thomas, Burke County Public Schools – North Carolina
• Samantha Westerlind, Cherokee County School District – Georgia

“The recipients of the 2026 Discovery Education Awards represent what’s possible when K-12 learning is grounded in intention and impact,” said Brian Shaw, Chief Executive Officer of Discovery Education. “Across districts and classrooms nationwide, this year’s honorees demonstrate that when instruction is relevant, rigorous, and connected to the real world, engagement deepens and academic growth follows. We established these awards to recognize that commitment, and we applaud how this cohort of leaders and educators turns student potential into progress every day.”

Learn more about the 2026 Discovery Education Awards recipients at www.discoveryeducation.com/de-awards.

###

About Discovery Education
Discovery Education is a global education technology leader whose innovative solutions empower educators and advance student learning. Discovery Education’s solutions have served more than 100 million students globally, supporting effective teaching and learning in 45% of U.S. K-12 schools and in 100+ countries and territories. The company’s portfolio includes award-winning core and supplemental curriculum, high-quality standards-aligned content, and AI-enabled teaching and learning tools. Solutions span math, science, literacy, social studies, and career-connected learning, including instructionally-aligned content developed through one-of-a-kind partnerships with industry leaders to bring real-world relevance into every lesson. Learn more at www.DiscoveryEducation.com.

Contacts
Ali Koper
Discovery Education
Akoper@discoveryed.com

CHARLOTTE, N.C., May 4, 2026 /3BL/ – Discovery Education today announced the recipients of its third annual Discovery Education Awards, recognizing districts, schools, and educators who are redefining what impactful teaching and learning look like in today’s classrooms.

As a trusted partner supporting teaching and learning in nearly half of U.S. K-12 schools, Discovery Education established these awards to elevate education leaders addressing education challenges through innovative, student-centered instruction. Award recipients were selected through a competitive national nomination and application process that evaluates evidence of academic growth and the effective use of instructional solutions to meet the evolving needs of students.

At a time when educators are being asked to improve outcomes while engaging learners despite resource constraints and student attention gaps, the 2026 honorees demonstrate how thoughtful design and real-world relevance translate into measurable impact. Together, this year’s winners span eight states and share a commitment to creating learning experiences that are results-focused and relevant. The 2026 Discovery Education Awards recipients are:

Districts of the Year

• Barbers Hill Independent School District – Texas
• Waterford School District – Michigan
• Westinghouse Arts Academy Charter School – Pennsylvania

Schools of the Year

• Alexander D. Henderson University School, FAU Lab Schools – Florida
• Alternative Paths Training School – Virginia
• Armwood High School, Hillsborough County Public Schools – Florida
• Checotah Intermediate School, Checotah School District – Oklahoma
• Florida Atlantic University High School, FAU Lab Schools – Florida
• Phillis Wheatley Elementary School, Woodbridge School District – Delaware

Educators of the Year

• Dr. Amber Dumbuya, School for Arts Infused Learning – Georgia
• Milton Fernandez, Miami-Dade County Public Schools – Florida
• Mayank Handa, Arizona Autism Charter Schools – Arizona
• Melissa Myer, Lancaster-Lebanon Intermediate Unit 13 – Pennsylvania
• Holly Thomas, Burke County Public Schools – North Carolina
• Samantha Westerlind, Cherokee County School District – Georgia

“The recipients of the 2026 Discovery Education Awards represent what’s possible when K-12 learning is grounded in intention and impact,” said Brian Shaw, Chief Executive Officer of Discovery Education. “Across districts and classrooms nationwide, this year’s honorees demonstrate that when instruction is relevant, rigorous, and connected to the real world, engagement deepens and academic growth follows. We established these awards to recognize that commitment, and we applaud how this cohort of leaders and educators turns student potential into progress every day.”

Learn more about the 2026 Discovery Education Awards recipients at www.discoveryeducation.com/de-awards.

###

About Discovery Education
Discovery Education is a global education technology leader whose innovative solutions empower educators and advance student learning. Discovery Education’s solutions have served more than 100 million students globally, supporting effective teaching and learning in 45% of U.S. K-12 schools and in 100+ countries and territories. The company’s portfolio includes award-winning core and supplemental curriculum, high-quality standards-aligned content, and AI-enabled teaching and learning tools. Solutions span math, science, literacy, social studies, and career-connected learning, including instructionally-aligned content developed through one-of-a-kind partnerships with industry leaders to bring real-world relevance into every lesson. Learn more at www.DiscoveryEducation.com.

Contacts
Ali Koper
Discovery Education
Akoper@discoveryed.com

Key Points

• In 2025, Marathon Petroleum teams helped deliver coats to more than 4,000 children in communities across the country.
• Through its partnership with Operation Warm, Marathon employees volunteered at events that helped kids feel confident, supported and ready to succeed.
• Since 2021, Marathon and Operation Warm have provided coats for more than 21,000 children, with expanded efforts and events already underway across the country this year.

---

For thousands of kids across the country, a warm winter coat means more than just staying comfortable. It means showing up to school with confidence. It means feeling seen and knowing the community has their back, long after the season ends.

That’s exactly what continues to take shape through Marathon Petroleum’s growing partnership with Operation Warm. Together, Marathon and Operation Warm are helping provide new winter coats to children in communities where Marathon employees live and work.

“When companies like Marathon step in, it creates lasting impact,” said Jean Burnett, Volunteer Engagement Manager at Operation Warm. “You’re not just handing out jackets. You’re helping kids feel supported, valued and prepared for whatever lies ahead.”

From small towns to big cities, Marathon teams helped provide warm winter coats to children in need.

^{More than two dozen volunteers from Marathon’s Garyville refinery helped more than 100 children find and fit new coats at a local Operation Warm event.}
“This partnership really reflects who we are,” said Ashley Goecke, Community Relations Representative at Marathon Petroleum. “It’s about showing up for our communities and making a real difference, especially for families who need it most.”

In 2025 alone, Marathon teams helped deliver coats to more than 4,000 children across the country, from Louisiana to Alaska, with employees volunteering their time to help kids select a brand-new coat of their own.

You see the smiles, you hear the thank-yous, and you recognize you’re part of something bigger than yourself. It’s incredibly rewarding.

“Winter stays a long time here in Fairbanks, Alaska, so this generous donation means a great deal to our students and families,” said Dr. Luke Meinert, Superintendent of the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District. “Our schools rely on community partners like Marathon and Operation Warm. You could say it doesn’t get much better or warmer than this.”

^{Marathon volunteers at an Operation Warm event in St. Paul Park, Minnesota, where they helped fit dozens of local students with new coats.}
For many of these children and their families, everyday essentials like a new winter jacket can be hard to come by, making these moments about much more than the warmth a coat provides for both the kids and the volunteers.

“It’s honestly incredible to watch their faces light up,” said Danny Oubre, Marathon Pipe Line Area Manager in Garyville and St. James, Louisiana, and a volunteer at an Operation Warm event. “Seeing a child find the coat they love and try it on for the first time never gets old.”

That feeling was shared again and again by volunteers across Marathon’s footprint, including Chrissy Castle, a Senior Maintenance Planner at Marathon Petroleum’s Kenova Terminal in South Shore, Kentucky, who said the experience quickly puts things into perspective.

^{Marathon volunteers at an Operation Warm event in Anchorage, Alaska, in 2025.}
“You realize pretty quickly it’s about so much more than a jacket,” Castle said. “It’s about helping them feel seen, valued and cared for. And it doesn’t get much better than that.”

These moments don’t end when the weather warms. The confidence and connection built at each event carry forward, well beyond a single day or season.

“You see the difference you’re making in real time,” said Jay Richert, Vice President of Refining at Marathon Petroleum’s Garyville refinery in Louisiana, where his team saw strong volunteer turnout at a local Operation Warm event. “You see the smiles, you hear the thank-yous, and you recognize you’re part of something bigger than yourself. It’s incredibly rewarding.”

^{Marathon employee volunteer shares a moment with a student after she tries on a new coat at an Operation Warm event in North Pole, Alaska.}

^{Marathon volunteers at a 2025 Operation Warm event at a local school in North Pole, Alaska.}

Since the partnership began in 2021, Marathon teams, alongside Operation Warm, have helped provide coats to more than 21,000 children across the country. The nonprofit has also expanded its reach in recent years to include shoes and athletic gear.

As 2026 continues, Marathon teams are already working closely with Operation Warm to plan and coordinate events in communities across the country. With growing momentum and continued collaboration, this partnership is only getting stronger, creating even more opportunities to show up, give and make a lasting difference.

^{Marathon employee volunteer poses for a photo with a student he helped fit with a new coat at an Operation Warm event in South Shore, Kentucky.}

^{At each Operation Warm event, students signed a “Thank You” banner that was presented to Marathon volunteers.}