Kia America's most-awarded vehicle ever, the Telluride SUV, is the star of a new creative campaign that debuts tonight during the opening game of the 2023-2024 NBA season on ESPN. Developed by Kia's newest technology and creative partner, OPUS, the 30-second spot "Loose Ball" features Golden State Warriors power forward Draymond Green and his daughter, Olive, and serves as the official tip off of Kia's "Legends in the Making" campaign which is designed to further strengthen the brand's association with the NBA and its fans.

The spot opens with Draymond Green in a way that audiences have never seen him before, deep in the woods with a Wolf Gray 2024 Telluride X-Pro SUV in the background. As Green turns to walk back to the Telluride, he's greeted by an unexpected guest. Up for any challenge, Green jumps in his Telluride to make a quick getaway before returning home to hoop with his daughter.

"The rugged and capable Kia Telluride took the brand to new heights, all the while besting some of the toughest and most formidable SUVs on the market to become a legend in its own right," said Russell Wager, vice president, marketing, Kia America. "'Loose Ball' is the perfect metaphor to that story with Draymond Green teaching his daughter to become legendary herself, and it was brilliantly brought to life by our new partners at OPUS."

Founded by former Beats by Dr Dre CMO and Apple Vice-President, Omar Johnson, OPUS leverages its proprietary analytics & insights platform to help brands connect to audiences in authentic ways.

"Kia wanted the perfect partner, and we recommended an athlete who captures the spirit of the Telluride: rugged, durable and multidimensional," commented Johnson. "That guy is Draymond, and our analytics agreed. Draymond's scores were through the roof. And then Draymond, the super-dad that he is, invited his own legend in the making, his daughter Olive, to feature in the campaign." Observed Johnson, "We loved Draymond's idea, and we're proud to show the world the Draymond we know and love, but the world doesn't get to see."

NBA star, commentator and podcast host Draymond Green had fun making the spot in the Kia Telluride, a striking blend of great style and ruggedness. "I'm excited to embark on this partnership with Kia," said Green. "And getting to work with my daughter, Olive, in the spot is a real career highlight." As he and his wife prepare to welcome a new addition to their family soon, Green continued, "and the Telluride's spacious interior and 3rd row are clutch right now."

In addition to the 30-second broadcast spot, the campaign includes 15- and 6-second cut downs, social media elements and a charitable component through a partnership with Draymond Green's selected charity, The Family Basketball Organization. Founded by his beloved coach and mentor, Durand "Speedy" Walker, The Family Basketball Organization uses basketball to teach life lessons that translate beyond the court in an effort to foster confident leaders and disciplined professionals.

"Kia is proud to partner with Draymond Green and OPUS on this new campaign," continued Wager. "Together, we were able to tell an exciting, heroic story that celebrates family, basketball and the legendary Telluride SUV. Our partnership with OPUS allows us to connect with our audience with speed and precision. We can't wait to unveil even more surprises for fans as the season unfolds."

In addition to being the Official Automotive Partner of the NBA, Kia America is also the Title Partner of the All-Star Game MVP Award and All-Star MVP fan vote.

Kia has served as the "Official Automotive Partner of the NBA" for 16 seasons and the 2023 Kia Telluride X-Pro is the Official Vehicle of the NBA, WNBA and NBA G League. In addition, Kia has relationships with 13 NBA teams including: Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat, New Orleans Pelicans, New York Knicks, Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers and Phoenix Suns.

Kia America – about us

Headquartered in Irvine, California, Kia America continues to top automotive quality surveys. Kia is recognized as one of the TIME100 Most Influential Companies of 2023. Kia serves as the "Official Automotive Partner" of the NBA and offers a range of gasoline, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles sold through a network of over 775 dealers in the U.S., including several cars and SUVs proudly assembled in America. The K5, Sportage, Sorento, and Telluride (excludes HEV and PHEV models) are assembled in the United States from U.S. and globally sourced parts. For more information visit www.kia.com.

An astounding 97.8 percent of graduates from the Class of 2022 at Florida Southern College found a positive outcome within the first six months after graduating. A new report, the Class of 2022 Annual Report, issued by The Peter C. Golotko '90 MBA '96 Office of Career Services at Florida Southern, details the success. The 2021-22 academic year is the most recent, with complete data available.

"The Florida Southern College Office of Career Services recognizes the importance of being career-ready," said Dr. Lauren Albaum, former Executive Director of Career Services and current Interim Vice President of Student Life. "The goal is to prepare our students to go into the real world and make a consequential impact as soon as possible."

Celebrated at two graduation ceremonies, one in December 2021 and one in May 2022, the Class of 2022 comprised of 608 undergraduates and 172 master's and doctoral students. Among these achievers, four students earned both bachelor's and master's degrees.

Able to respond with multiple outcomes, an overwhelming 73 percent indicated securing gainful employment, a testament to the College's commitment to cultivating job-ready graduates. Additionally, 21 percent of the Class of 2022 decided to continue their academic journey by enrolling in esteemed graduate or professional schools. Two percent chose to serve their country by entering the military.

Employment Outcomes

Of those who reported working, the top sectors included education, healthcare, and business, with top employers being Advent Health, Amazon, Auto-Owners Insurance, Deloitte, Disney, GEICO, Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, Lakeland Regional Health, Lockheed Martin, Mayo Clinic, Polk County Public Schools, Publix, and Summit Insurance.

The preparation of Florida Southern's students was underscored as graduates from 38 academic programs achieved a 100 percent positive outcome. This remarkable accomplishment extended across 30 undergraduate majors and eight advanced degree programs, highlighting the institution's commitment to providing a wide array of career-focused opportunities.

Graduate and Professional School Outcomes

From the undergraduate population, 156 students went on to further study at the graduate level at 60 institutions, including Georgetown University, Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University, the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine and College of Dentistry, the University of Maryland School of Law, and Washington University in St. Louis.

Globally, destinations included Linkoping University in Sweden, National and Kapodistrian University in Greece, and the Royal College of Veterinary Medicine in England.

Internships

Internships have long been a cornerstone of Florida Southern's experiential education pedagogy, and the 2021-2022 academic year proved no exception. More than 1,100 students seized experiential learning opportunities in diverse fields, interning at organizations such as the City of Lakeland, the FBI, JIS Orthopedics, Moffitt Cancer Center, NASA, and Under Armour. Internship experiences provide the exposure, training, and mentorship necessary for success in a competitive job market.

Students In-Demand

The success of the Class of 2022 can be attributed, in part, to the opportunities created by the Career Services office. An astounding 5,989 different organizations actively recruited students from Florida Southern during the 2021-22 academic year. The College facilitated 51,427 job postings through various channels . Furthermore, the team hosted more than 200 events, connecting students with prospective employers and fostering invaluable networking opportunities.

About Career Services at Florida Southern

The driving force behind graduates' exceptional outcomes is the belief that preparing for career success begins the moment a student steps foot on campus, setting the stage for a robust professional development curriculum. The dedicated career services team guides students in career exploration, coaching, professional examination prep, and many other areas.

The recently renovated office also reflects the College's commitment to setting students up for success. Equipped with dedicated interview suites, students can access private, undisturbed spaces to conduct virtual and in-person interviews with potential employers. The modern facilities create an atmosphere that fosters confidence and professionalism, enabling our students to make a lasting impression.

Through these initiatives, the Peter C. Golotko '90 MBA '96 Office of Career Services earned recognition from The Princeton Review, securing a spot in the Top 25 colleges in the nation with the "Best Career Services." Florida Southern College was the sole representative from the State of Florida on this prestigious list, further solidifying the College's position as a leader in career development.

As Florida Southern College continues to empower its students with outstanding career services, the Class of 2022 is a testament to its commitment to preparing graduates for a future of success and fulfillment. With such exceptional outcomes, Florida Southern College remains a top choice for students seeking a transformative education and a springboard into promising careers.

For more information on Florida Southern College, please visit flsouthern.edu

The U.S. Air Force and Raytheon, an RTX business, have successfully completed all developmental and operational testing of the AIM-120D-3, which concluded with an F-16 live-fire of the missile with production hardware and software.

"We are ramping AMRAAM production to a greater rate than ever before in the history of this program," said Paul Ferraro, president of Air Power at Raytheon. "With significantly increased functionality, performance and producibility, and the completion of the flight test program, we are ensuring warfighters can count on having the fifth generation of AMRAAM – and enough of them – in their arsenal."

The AIM-120D-3 is the most advanced variant of the AMRAAM ® missile developed under the Form, Fit, Function Refresh (F3R) program, which upgraded circuit cards in the guidance section of the missile and allows for continuous agile software improvements. The latest AMRAAM is capable of countering peer threats.

Developmental and operational test of the AIM-120D-3 included captive carry and live-fires from both U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force fourth and fifth generation platforms. The production ramp increases follow recent contracts, such as a $1.15 billion awarded in June 2023 and $972 million awarded in Sept 2022.

About RTX

RTX is the world's largest aerospace and defense company. With more than 180,000 global employees, we push the limits of technology and science to redefine how we connect and protect our world. Through industry-leading businesses – Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, and Raytheon – we are advancing aviation, engineering integrated defense systems for operational success, and developing next-generation technology solutions and manufacturing to help global customers address their most critical challenges. The company, with 2022 sales of $67 billion, is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.

Subaru of America, Inc. donated dozens of vehicles to the North American Vehicle Rescue Association (NAVRA) for their three-day rescue workshop session and competition, benefitting the training of emergency responders and offering a second life to pre-production cars that would have otherwise been crushed.

NAVRA provides education and training for firefighters, first responders, paramedics, nurses, physicians, manufacturers, and other related groups. The event took place from May 24th to 26th at Subaru Park in Chester, PA, and featured a two-day workshop on skills and tactics, as well as a mini rescue challenge. The event marked the first time that the training has taken place in the Northeast, providing a unique opportunity for local first responders to get involved and learn skills critical to patient rescue in vehicle accidents.

"Our mission is to reduce the number of motor-vehicle-related injuries and deaths by enhancing the skills and knowledge of expertly trained emergency professionals, and partners like Subaru are essential to this progress," said John-Paul Shirley, Chester Bureau of Fire Battalion Chief. "We normally only have the opportunity to train on older vehicles from junkyards, and it's important that we are familiar with newer vehicles with strong construction to help us better adapt lifesaving procedures and skills when dealing with accidents and emergency scenarios."

First responders from Chester, PA, Scranton, PA, Philadelphia, and Delaware attended the event which included live rescue scenarios with real "victims" using lifesaving tools including saws, cutters, spreaders, pneumatic chisels and more.

"We are so excited to be a part of this amazing event with NAVRA in Chester. This event marked the 145th vehicle that Subaru has donated to emergency rescue organizations across the country over the last few years to help with their training events," said Shira Haaz, Corporate Responsibility Manager at Subaru of America, Inc. "Not only are we helping to provide training that will allow first responders to improve lifesaving rescues across the region, but this donation also helps Subaru find new life for cars that can't be sold and would otherwise go unused."

In addition to the 40 trainees from six fire departments, members of the public and local community stopped by Subaru Park to view the trainings and competition and learn about how firefighters and emergency workers practice the lifesaving skills they use in their incredibly important jobs.

About Subaru of America, Inc. 

Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Subaru Corporation of Japan. Headquartered at a zero-landfill office in Camden, N.J., the company markets and distributes Subaru vehicles, parts and accessories through a network of more than 630 retailers across the United States. All Subaru products are manufactured in zero-landfill plants and Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. is the only U.S. automobile manufacturing plant to be designated a backyard wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. SOA is guided by the Subaru Love Promise, which is the company's vision to show love and respect to everyone, and to support its communities and customers nationwide. Over the past 20 years, SOA and the SOA Foundation have donated more than $300 million to causes the Subaru family cares about, and its employees have logged nearly 88,000 volunteer hours. As a company, Subaru believes it is important to do its part in making a positive impact in the world because it is the right thing to do. 

About NAVRA

Founded in 2008, the North American Vehicle Rescue Association (NAVRA) is a non-profit organization committed to preparing today's rescuers for tomorrow. To accomplish this, we focus on two key elements: the general population (that's you!) and all emergency medical, fire service, and law enforcement professionals.