Congratulations to our former FirstPoint USA clients who have received All-Region Awards for NJCAA! :

Whellyn Carroll

Northern Oklahoma College – Tonkawa

Anthony Kelsey

Ranger College

Jake Brooks

Cincinnati State Technical & CC

Colin Murray

Cincinnati State Technical & CC

Carl Peers

Cincinnati State Technical & CC

David Edwardson

Jackson CC

Emmanuel Awuku

Ancilla College

Jamie Skillen

East Central College

Jamie Carolissen

Cayuga Community College

We are all looking forward to the showcase event in the London Soccer Dome, and many of our staff members/coaches are already predicted winners……who are yours??

Vote in our poll for your favourite to win for each group at our upcoming Showcase event!

Congratulations to former FirstPoint USA client, Matthew Graham was named to the ALL-BIG-EAST team for the third straight year!

Article from depaulbluedemons.com

In Saturday’s BIG EAST Cross Country Championship races held at E.P. “Tom” Sawyer State Park in Louisville, it was again DePaul senior Matthew Graham who led the way for the Blue Demons. Graham placed fourth in the men’s race, earning him a spot on the All-BIG EAST team for the third year in a row.

As a team, the Blue Demon men placed ninth for the third consecutive season, tying their best overall program finish. The DePaul women took home 14th place overall in their 6K run.

In the men’s 8K race, the BIG EAST Championship’s top six runners were all seniors–separated by less than 25 seconds. Blue Demons senior Graham was edged out for third place in a photo finish with Louisville’s Matthew Hughes. Hughes’ 23:38.2 8K time was just two-hundredths of a second faster than Graham, who took fourth in his final conference championship. Running at a 4:46 pace, the Glasgow, Scotland, native’s finish was less than 20 seconds behind conference champion Eric Finan of Cincinnati (23:17.7).

Although Graham’s fourth place finish was one spot behind his third place result last season–Graham improved his time by 1:30 on Louisville’s fast-paced course. Of his four BIG EAST Championship races, Graham’s 2011 run marked his top time. In 2009, Graham became DePaul’s first All-Conference cross country runner when he placed 14th with a time of 25:17. In his first BIG EAST Championship race during his freshman season, Graham ran a 26:43 8K time.

The SAT Reasoning Test is a standardized test for college admissions in the United States. The SAT is owned, published, and developed by the College Board, a not-for-profit organization in the United States. It was formerly developed, published, and scored by the Educational Testing Service which still administers the exam. The test is intended to assess a student’s readiness for college.

FirstPoint USA is one of the only companies who actually host the SAT exams in the UK. With many of our clients taking their SAT exams just now, we thought we would bring you ten of our best tips to score high on those exams!

Best of luck!!

1. Be Equipped!

Make sure you have everything that you need the night before you sit your SAT exams.  You will need the admission ticket, a valid form of photo identification,  several #2 pencils, a calculator with fresh batteries, a watch, and snacks or refreshments for your breaks.

2. STUDY! STUDY! STUDY!

Try to study for your SAT under real testing conditions.  Make sure your study area is quiet and without distractions and try to aim to study for at least 1-2 hours each time.  Get used to taking a long exam!  The SAT is 3 hours and 45 minutes long, and it’s usually administered in the morning, so some good advice would be to recreate these conditions by taking several practice tests.

3. Eliminate!

Get rid of as many wrong choices as you can on the SAT before answering a question.  Wrong answers are often easier to find.  You are penalized 1/4 point when you get an answer wrong on the SAT test so the smartest thing to do is use the process of elimination to get rid of two or three answer choices first.  However, bear in mind that you will get zero points for a blank question, which is better than a quarter point reduction for guessing incorrectly so eliminate wisely and make educated guesses!

4. Choose which questions to answer first!

In every section, except for the Critical Reading section, the questions are ordered from easy to difficult.  Choose your own order of difficulty and answer the questions you find easiest first.  If you are in the final third of a section, beware of the obvious answer choices – they’re probably distracters!  Remember, each question is worth the same number of points – move on if you find a question too confusing or time consuming, you can always come back to it!

5. Scribble!

Write in the test booklet.  No one is going to read what you have written in the test booklet, so use this to your advantage to scribble out formulas, solve math problems, outline or paraphrase.

6. Learn the SAT Vocabulary!

Several months before you even look at a practice exam, begin learning the words on the lists of SAT vocabulary words.  You can find an SAT vocabulary application for your smartphone or ipod, and online programs to help create your own flashcards to help you learn.

7. Exercise and eat healthily

If a healthy body leads to a healthy mind, it would certainly make sense to prepare yourself for your SAT physically as well as mentally.  Make sure you exercise regularly and eat properly on the days, weeks and months leading up to your exam to ensure you are at your peak in terms of fitness and energy.

8. Transfer!

You could always write your answers in the test booklet and transfer them over at the end of every section/page.  This may save you time from going back and forth and reduce the amounts of mistakes you may make.

9. Take your time!

You will get a better score if you only answer 75% of the questions on the test if you take your time and answer them correctly, rather than if you rush through and guess.  Remember, a blank answer = 0 points, a wrong answer = -1/4 points!!!

10. Cross-Check!

Make sure you plan ahead in managing your time during the exam.  Allow yourself some time at the end of every section to cross-check all your answers to make sure you have not made any mistakes or missed any questions out!

It is an important exam and you should really work hard to achieve the best possible mark you can!   However, remember, it is an exam you can take again!

Best of luck to all those who are sitting their SAT’s

We would like to wish all of our former clients in the USA, and all of our American friends across the pond a very Happy Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving is a holiday celebrated primarily in the United States and Canada.  In the US, it falls on the fourth Thursday of November, on the same day as Columbus Day and often extends to the weekend that falls closest to the day it is celebrated.  You can find out more about the origins of Thanksgiving here.

This celebration will bring a whole new experience to those who are out in the states on a sports scholarship.  Many of our former clients and staff have reminisced about being welcomed in by their American friends and their families around this time of year, so we hope that everyone enjoys the same warm welcome.

Thanksgiving message from Nicole Montoya, the American (cookie maker!) in the FirstPoint USA office:

“Thanksgiving is an amazing time to be together with your family. It’s not really one of those holidays you spend with friends, but it can be especially if you are away from home during this time of the year which many international students will be. This year, 2011, will mark the 5^th year in a row that I have been away from my family in the States for Thanksgiving, which has been a bit tough. 

 Now living in the UK for just over a year now, when I try explaining what Thanksgiving is all about they usually say, “Aye, right…it’s like a Christmas dinner only in November. So, it’s like a warm-up to the real thing”.  I just laugh politely and agree, but it isn’t completely accurate.

 I do have the luxury of being with my extended family (the in-laws) this year as well as last, even though it’s not 100% the same they really do make the effort to make the holiday special for me. While I was at university in the States, I was 3,000 miles away from home and only made one trip home for this holiday (the first year). In the years following I had been taken in by my teammates and friends’ families to join them. I think that was the most special thing about being part of a team, they really did become your family away from home which many of our FPUSA clients will experience in their time. When you celebrate this holiday with an American family, you will be greeted with a giant turkey, cranberry sauce, sweet potato, stuffing, lots of various vegetables, perhaps a ham, a PUMPKIN pie, mashed potato and gravy, and maybe a wee drink (remember legal drinking age in the U.S. is 21+).

 To those clients who are currently out in the States, enjoy it and embrace it all. Make sure to tune in to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on NBC at 9:00a.m EST.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!”

We have also spoken to some of our other staff members who have spent Thanksgiving at University in the USA, to share their experiences with us:

“First thanksgiving in America I spent a week with my roommates family in Indianapolis/Indiana. I spent most of the week staying with my roommates family and hanging about the city. My roommate’s best friend from high school now plays in the NBA for the Indiana Pacers (Josh Mcroberts), so he got us VIP tickets for two Pacers games then took us out on the town all expenses paid. On thanksgiving day itself, we went to my roommates grandparents house and had a meal with the WHOLE family. There was honestly about 25 people there who had travelled from all over America. Everybody had to stand up and say what they are thankful for, hilariously cheesy. Very much a big family thing in America, similar to a family Christmas Dinner in the UK.”

Kevin McCann

“Thanksgiving was something I had NEVER experienced before so it was really exciting the first time round.  I went to Dellaware to spend Thanksgiving with one of my best friends on my team and her family.  We left campus and drove 12 hours to get home on the Thursday  afternoon once classes had stopped.  It was definitely a road trip that I will never forget.  When we arrived my friend’s mum was so lovely and welcoming and had prepared a feast.  They didn’t feel weird having another person sharing this celebration with them, in fact it was almost normal to bring someone home with you from college.  Thanksgiving day was mental so much cooking, drinking and general nonsense, there was just so much food.  We helped in the kitchen…checking the turkey, buttering the sweet potatoes and chopping up the salad.  Nobody was allowed to eat until the dinner table was set and then the rest of the family all came round.  I got a chance to meet the whole extended family and everyone was just so friendly, the strangest thing was that they had their Christmas tree up already.

By the end of the meal I was absolutely stuffed and everyone went to the living room and just chilled out and watched movies for the rest of the evening.  The next morning we go up at a ridiculous hour (5am!!!) and went to a big shopping mall to go shopping.  Dellaware is a tax-free state so shopping is very cheap.  I have never in my life seen crowds like it.  People had been queuing to get into the Nike store since 3 am.  Needless to say I got some bargains that day!!  We then stopped by grandma and grandpa’s house where I tried a famous cheesesteak sandwich. 

 Thanksgiving was a great experience and an extra holiday!!!!! “

Nicola Pitticas

“I loved Thanksgiving during my time in the states.  So many American families would invite the international students along to their homes to spend thanksgiving with them.  A long weekend off uni/training, lovely meal followed by a day in front of the TV watching the Thanksgiving American Football.”

Simone Enrici

“I celebrated Thanksgiving in a small town in Iowa called Stuart with my mates family and a few of the other Scottish guys. A friendly welcome, a turkey dinner, followed by watching some American football and a nap on the couch!”

Craig Hughes

“My first year in America, I was living in Brooklyn, New York.  It came to Thanksgiving and everyone was leaving for home.  I had become really good friends with a boy on my team, Lexton Moy, who was originally from China Town, New York.  Myself, and a Polish boy who also played on the team, were the only two boys who didn’t really have a clue what was going on and so Lexton invited us both over to his parents house for thanksgiving dinner.  His mum did not speak much English and all the players knew his Dad from coming to the games.  His mum had cooked up a storm! She made turkey, ham and beef, along with mash, stuffing and all the veg.  It was amazing, probably my first home cooked meal since moving to America, and one of the best home cooked meals I have ever had!  Lextons family welcomed us with open arms.  We ate, drank, watched American Football on TV and had a laugh.  Quality day all round.”

John Crawley

Hope you all enjoy your Thanksgiving break everyone! 

Check out our “Saves of the Month”!

This video highlights some of our Goalkeepers’ skills in September/October 2011 from our Soccer Client Games!

Goal of the Month!

September/October 2011

You can vote for your favourite on our Facebook Page

A : RICHARD HASSAN

B : TERENCE CARTER

C : AARON ROBERTSON

D : NATHAN KENT

E : DAMON O’NEIL

F : MAX BIDMEAD

We have an exclusive opportunity for you to WIN a SIGNED copy of the book “Saving the Albion” by FirstPoint USA Managing Director Paul Goodwin, and Tom Bowser.

Simply enter our Prize Draw for the chance to win this piece of football history and great Christmas gift, signed by the authors and Stirling Albion Manager, Jocky Scott!

You can enter by submitting your answer on our Facebook Page.

FirstPoint USA has two exclusive signed copies to give away so act fast to be entered into the draw!

Both winners will be announced on Friday 1st December at 12 noon.

Only one answer per person is submitted.

Names will be drawn at random by a FirstPoint USA representative on Friday 1st December at 10am. Any submissions after this time will not be included.

Not many companies have a Managing Director who have written a book…..

And not many companies have a Managing Director who have saved a Football (soccer) club!…..

Here at FirstPoint USA we are lucky enough that we can tick both of these boxes!…

We are very excited to present “Saving the Albion” by our very own Paul Goodwin which he has co-written with Tom Bowser.

If you want a piece of history AND the perfect Christmas present, you need to act fast to secure a limited edition copy of this great football read!

Reserve your copy today at ACASPORTS.co.uk

This is a great read for all football fans, so act fast to secure your limited edition copy!!

Also available on Amazon.co.uk, WH Smiths, HMV and Waterstones.

Saving the Albion

In May 2009, the tiny Scottish football club Stirling Albion became an overnight sensation. The Buy Stirling Albion campaign was launched, its organisers asking members of the public to help them to buy the club. From relative media obscurity, suddenly Stirling Albion were in the spotlight and on the verge of making history: were the campaign to succeed the Albion would become Scotland’s first-ever 100% supporter owned club.

Chasing the league title on the pitch, Stirling were in turmoil behind the scenes. Week after week fresh crises threatened to force the club into extinction. Would the campaign succeed in raising the funds in time or would the club go under?

“Saving the Albion”, tells the story of a remarkable chapter in the history of Scottish football. Written from two perspectives (that of Paul Goodwin, founder and spokesperson for the campaign, and Tom Bowser, a journalist and Stirling Albion supporter), the book is a tale of the hopes and fears. It is a story for every football supporter who has ever wondered how it might feel to watch their club challenge for the title whilst worrying that it might not be around tomorrow.

“A story that’s refreshingly honest when considering all that warps the modern game elsewhere.”

Graham Ruthven, The New York Times

“At some point we’ve all wanted to run our own club. This book shows you how uplifting, rewarding and despairing it can be.”

Phil Goodlad, BBC Scotland

 ” An absorbing account of how the fans took over Stirling Albion. This is a must read for ANY football supporter.”

 John Docherty, Sunday Mail

 “Scottish football has needed a cleansing, ‘year zero’ moment for
years and the fans’ buyout of Stirling Albion was quite possibly it.
It wouldn’t have happened without the energy, drive and vision of Paul
Goodwin and this book tells the story of the whole campaign in
fascinating detail. It shows that magic can happen when a worthy cause
is allied to an innovative and far-reaching PR campaign.”

Andrew McInnes, Freelance football journalist.

 ”The inside story of a special football takeover, told with skill, pace and dramatic tension. A readable and warts-and-all account of a huge period in a wee club’s history. Enthusiasm leaps from the pages, and so does the stress and frustration of dealing with a fog of characters, factions and conflicting interests. Here’s what it’s like to love and fight for a club when it’s on a life support machine.”

 Michael Grant, The  Sunday Herald

 ”A genuinely captivating book, which goes behind the scenes of the remarkable story to save a football club.
“It recounts the high and lows, the ups and downs, not only of the on-field battle for points, but the off-field battle for survival as well.
“It combines the heartfelt frustrations of being a dedicated fan over the course of a season alongside insights into a fascinating boardroom struggle effortlessly.”

Laurie Hanna The Mirror

 Further proof that supporters remain the most important people in football. The Buy Stirling Albion campaign was a victory for passion and perseverance.

Graeme MacPherson The Herald

 Who would have thought that a football club on its knees would have been the subject of such a protracted, and sometimes bitter, buyout? Paul and Tom have come at this saga from different angles, providing a fascinating account of the tensions and emotions which gripped all those connected with Stirling Albion.

Alan Campbell Freelance Sports Journalist