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#OUREntrepidNetwork – Introducing Kirstie Ennis and the Kirstie Ennis Foundation

Pushing to the limits. Breaking expectations. Giving.

Kirstie served as a door gunner and CH-53 Helicopter Mechanic in the US Marine Corps. When her aircraft crashed during combat operations in Afghanistan 2012 she was critically injured. In addition to the left leg amputation, she sustained full thickness facial trauma, spinal injuries, a traumatic brain injury, and shoulder injuries. After recovery, Kirstie became dedicated to exceeding expectations. She works as a stuntwoman in major motion pictures, a veterans’ advocate, and as an adaptive extreme athlete. In an effort to repurpose herself to continue serving people as she did in the military,

Kirstie established the Kirstie Ennis Foundation to provide education and opportunity in the outdoors and to support other non-profits dedicated to improving the quality of life of individuals and families.

Kirstie adopted extreme sports as a way to inspire men, women, and children, with or without adversity to use more of their potential. In order to raise awareness and fundraise, she has sought out to break several world records — the first being to summit the highest peak on each of the seven continents and the North and South Poles (also known as the grand slam of mountains). Kirstie’s passions for engaging women, veterans, and disabled populations in outdoor recreation and rehabilitation make her an excellent addition to any team.

Kirstie is competitor and finisher in Ironman and marathon races. Kirstie is a spokesperson for the nonprofit organization Building Homes for Heroes, which provides adapted mortgage free homes to critically injured veterans. Kirstie’s passions for engaging women, veterans, and wounded populations in outdoor recreation and rehabilitation make her an excellent addition to this team.

In the News

Going “Full Throttle” – Kirstie Ennis | U.S.VeteransMagazine.com, Feb 2018

The Heroes Project | USMC SGT. RETIRED KIRSTIE ENNIS

USMC Sergeant Kirstie Ennis | Building Homes For Heroes

Veteran and amputee inspires with each death-defying climb | USA TODAY-Oct 3, 2018

To find out more about what they’re up to at the Kirstie Ennis Foundation visit kirstieennisfoundation.com.

Please help support and spread the word about Kirstie Ennis and theKirstie Ennis Foundation team by giving this a LIKE, SHARING it with your wider networks and JOIN their communities on Linkedin, Facebook and Instagram.

Here WE Grow!

Doug Parker | #kickassdoug

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#OUREntrepidNetwork – Introducing Nancy Conrad and the Conrad Foundation

A Transformative Educational Experience

The Conrad Foundation honors the legacy of Apollo 12 astronaut, Pete Conrad, and his four-decade passion for innovation and entrepreneurship. Pete spent 20 years as a U.S. Navy Test Pilot and NASA Astronaut. In November 1969, he became the third man to walk on the Moon. After many years as an aerospace explorer, Pete’s entrepreneurial spirit took flight. He founded four companies devoted to the commercialization of space travel. Unfortunately, Pete’s pursuits were cut short with his passing in 1999.

Nancy Conrad, Pete’s wife, shared his passion for inspiring future explorers, often working hand-in-hand with him prior to his death to launch his numerous commercial space businesses. In his passing, Nancy knew she wanted to keep Pete’s spirit for innovation and entrepreneurship alive, but targeted to the next generation of explorers. Stemming from her experience as a high school teacher, Nancy began the Conrad Foundation in 2008 and launched its flagship program, the Conrad Challenge.

Today, the Conrad Foundation is the only organization of its kind whose programs combine science and technology-based education, innovation and entrepreneurship to inspire solutions for achieving global sustainability.

The Conrad Challenge

There are historically two fundamental ways to think: inside the box and outside of the box. At the Conrad Challenge we don’t believe in this philosophy, we encourage students to enjoy the freedom of thinking like there is no box. Because when it comes to innovation, who needs a box?

The Conrad Challenge is an annual, virtual innovation and entrepreneurial competition that encourages young adults to leave their mark on the world. Each year, teams of 2-5 students, ages 13-18, from around the globe create products and/or services that address some of the most pressing global challenges. Guided by teachers and industry experts, the competition becomes a master class in collaboration, creativity, critical thinking and communication. As a result, students develop skills needed to thrive in the 21st century workforce and bring to life commercially-viable innovations that have the potential to change life for the better on the individual, national and global levels. All of the Conrad participants own their ideas, and many go on to create companies, license their IP, and use their experience in their college applications.

The Conrad Challenge provides numerous opportunities for involvement from students and teachers, to professionals in industry and academia who serve as judges and subject matter experts, as well as organizations who serve as sponsors and partners.

 

To find out more about the Conrad Challenge and how you can get involved visit conradchallenge.org.

Please support founder/Chairman Nancy Conrad and the Conrad Foundation team by giving this a LIKE, SHARE it with your wider networks and JOIN their communities on Twitter and  Facebook.

Here WE Grow!

Doug Parker | #kickassdoug