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GREG FORBES SIEGMAN
COLLEGES / UNIVERSITIES
BACKGROUND: The First Thirty by Jillip Naysinthe Paxson is based on the true story of Greg Forbes Siegman, his efforts to make a difference, and the first thirty things learned along the way. This includes an extensive focus on his college experience: his initial reluctance to adjust to a new environment, his efforts to make a difference in the local community, his internship & fraternity experiences, his exploration of racial and cultural relations on campus, his experience as a transfer student, his reflections on finding his 'calling' (versus simply finding a 'career'), and what it means to 'cross the stage' and get a degree. Greg now spends much of his time speaking at schools - including Colleges and Universities - on a variety of topics (click Connections and see Section 3 for a list of some of those topics). The First Thirty and its companion workbook A Place To Sit are now used with, and by, students at colleges and universities around the country. Greg has also given college students an opportunity to intern for him on various projects.
BIO: Greg's Bio
WEBSITES: www.GregForbes.com -- www.TheFirstThirty.com
ONE PAGE SYNOPSIS OF THE BOOK (THE FIRST THIRTY): About the Story
MEDIA & HONORS:
== Washington Post Co did a feature story on Greg and Steven Spielberg, their college experiences and how that shaped their future paths
== College News, College Bound, Baltimore Sun, Newsweek Kaplan College Guide also among those who did feature stories on Greg's college experience
== Honors received include: Jefferson Award for Public Service, America's Daily Point of Light, Hasbro Real-Life American Hero, CBS Hometown Hero, Education Center Director's Award, honored at Princeton University as one of nation's top social entrepreneurs under 40.
== Honored by Zeta Beta Tau as its National Man of Distinction in 2001 (youngest person ever selected for the honor)
EXAMPLE OF RELEVANT SPEECHES & USES OF THE BOOKS:
== University of Wisconsin-Whitewater incorporated The First Thirty into a course on Race & Culture
== Invited to speak about making the most of your time in college at colleges and universities like George Washington University, Boston College, Princeton University, Univ of Texas-Austin, and University of Connecticut
== Keynoted Zeta Beta Tau's 2006 National Convention on Leadership & Philanthropy; in conjunction with the event, ZBT ordered copies of The First Thirty for everyone who would be in attendance
== After reading The First Thirty, the President of ZBT's Northwestern University chapter ordered 30 additional copies - donating them to the local YMCA for their Middle School program. Similarly, ZBT's Tufts University chapter ordered copies of The First Thirty to donate to a local Boys & Girls Club
== Guest Lecturer for Brooklyn College Race & Ethnicity course
== The Multicultural Development Office at TIU ordered copies of The First Thirty for all the students to read on the six hour bus ride en route to the Underground Railroad Freedom Center Museum - citing the story's look at the impact that Harriet Tubman and other historic leaders had on a college student
== Daniels College of Business incorporated The First Thirty into their social entrepreneurship course
== Asnuntuck Community College incorporated The First Thirty into its First Year Experience Program. Greg was then a guest speaker at Asnuntuck Community College
== CSU, Fresno and Fiedler Hillel incorporated The First Thirty into Leadership Programs
== Several Commencement speeches including Prairie State College
== MyTownHall.info teamed up with Suffield High School to get copies of The First Thirty for every student in the graduating class to read during the summer before they begin college
SAMPLE OF FEEDBACK TO SPEECHES:
"It was definitely a great day altogether! The feedback was great and I am glad it went so well..." -Emily, Rider University
"I listened to his speech and loved every minute of it!...I want to be an elementary school teacher and hope to make a difference in children's lives. I like to keep a notebook of all of the things that I want to do in my classroom and I added a bunch of stuff after his speech." -- Amanda, Boston College
"Greg's speech was great last night and I really enjoyed it. I liked how he made his speech more of an interactive discussion than just a speech like I'm used to hearing as a student. When speakers let others get involved, I'm able to pay much more attention that way and don't get bored like I'm listening to a lecture....also...I want to say how amazing his sketches are! I was in awe. I like to draw too and wish that I could be that good!" -- Michelle, student, Brooklyn College
"[Greg's talk] about philanthropy carried a special validity to my life in a fraternity....I am Community Service Chair [for my fraternity]. Greg's speech inspired me to get an early start on service in hope that my fraternity will be the most active fraternity in the community..." - Chris, University of Southern California
"The speech was...just what I needed" It really was the kick I needed to keep me scholastically focused. Due to the curriculum, this is kind of a soft time in my four years, and the speech really has gotten me to work harder. The book is really great, I'm just over half way through, and I wish I had read it before I started college." - Andy, Princeton University
"It's not every night that a guest speaker gets a standing ovation from an auditorium full of college students - seeing as we're at a cynical age and all - but the fact that Greg got one after his speech, I think that shows how much he reached us." - No name given, University of Connecticut
"I wrote an essay about Greg for a course I am taking -- comparing his story and what he's done with Ralph Waldo Emerson's book Experience, and one of Gandhi's philosophies about small actions leading to big things." - Andrew Schaffer, Boston College student
FOR MORE FEEDBACK FROM EVENTS, CLICK HERE
SAMPLE OF FEEDBACK TO THE BOOKS & WORKBOOKS:
"A remarkable story of strength filled with lessons that will take every student through the college years and beyond." - College News
"A poignant story that epitomizes the evolution of never-ending struggles into ever-lasting legacies." -Russell, Morehouse College Student
"...a high school and/or college student's 'must have' before entering the world with expectations and decisions riding on their shoulders...an interesting combination of Forrest Gump meets Good Will Hunting...The relationships Greg develops are ones that we can all easily relate to. A no-nonsense grandma, a good friend who is always ready with an opinion, a parent that would rather see us succeed in another way...". - Nicole, Loyola University of Chicago
"It's essential that college students make the connection between what they are doing now and what they want to achieve after they leave here. The First Thirty could not only help our students see that connection but also give them practical tools that they can start using right away." - Leah Jones, University of Missouri - St. Louis
"Greg's story ranks right up there with Rocky, Forrest Gump, and the other classic underdog stories of our time." - Brendan Sage, Boston College student
"A great story of redemption and determination...a virtual case study for First Year Experience programs...a blueprint for new college students." - Amy Pszczolkowski, Office of the President and First Year Experience professor, Asnuntuck Community College
"An inspiring reminder that, whether it's the other side of the world, the other side of the country, or just the other side of the tracks, if you end up in a place you never expected to be and dare to explore it, you just may find your passion in the process." - Jeanne-Marie, Student, Louisiana State University student
SAMPLE OF FEEDBACK ON INTERNSHIPS:
Melvyn, University of California - Berkeley: "...interning for Greg has been a great experience so far. Instead of doing meaningless tasks...the projects I am assigned are interesting...and they are actually put to good use, making me feel like a vital part of a team. Greg places a lot of trust and faith in me and also encourages any and all questions, things for which I am very grateful as they create a wonderful learning experience for me...he puts [trust] in me and my work and [shows] respect for me...he [also] understands the presence of time conflicts and my need to spend time with family and friends. His flexibility about hours, continual encouragement, polite manner, eagerness to teach, and excitement about life inspire me to work hard and achieve my goals, inside and outside the internship."
Jessica, DePaul University: "....I enjoyed the wide range of projects that I got to work on....Greg was very accomodating to personal life in regards to [two personal family issues that came up]....It is uncommon to find such a flexible internship that can fit in with school and a job. I know that my time management skills have much improved having to juggle three responsibilities. I appreciate everything Greg did to help the needs of myself, and I'm sure, future interns. Thank you for allowing me to work as an intern for him. I enjoyed my time over the last 10 weeks, and have plenty of positive experiences to look back on as I grow in the career world..."
Kris, Princeton University: "I interned with Mr. Siegman for two years...I'd like to stress that I said "interned with," rather than "interned for." The distinction is important because my work with Mr. Siegman was always a collaborative process in which I had an important voice. Rather than simply doing his bidding, the other interns and I were entrusted to take meaningful roles in planning and implementing projects for Mr. Siegman. For instance, we worked on everything from writing press releases to planning a benefit luncheon. Our work as interns even brought us into contact with the senior senator from Illinois, Richard Durbin. Above all else, Mr. Siegman was flexible and accommodating of our schedules as students. He trusted us to set our own hours and to take these projects in whatever way we all, collaboratively, felt was appropriate."
Katrina, Loyola University of Chicago (who renewed her internship for six semesters): "Working with Greg for years, there was always a lot of exciting and fun surprises. The one thing that set it aside from all other internships is the importance he gave to believing in me as a person. He believed that I was capable of doing "big" things and not just "getting coffee."...Through the internship, I learned that you can accomplish anything as long as you persevere and work hard."
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