The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) announced that the 17th annual F.L.A.M.E. (Finding Leaders Among Minorities Everywhere) program will be hosted at the Olympic Training Center (OTC) in Colorado Springs, Colo., July 24-27, 2010. For the past 16 years, the USOC and its family of dedicated Olympic sponsors have inspired minority students with this dynamic, educational program packed with leadership enhancement opportunities.

With the support of official presenting sponsor Tyson Foods, Inc., F.L.A.M.E. is designed to empower minority college students to cultivate their desire to succeed and rise above the ordinary. The young men and women selected to participate, who already demonstrate a pursuit of excellence within their own communities, have the opportunity to further their personal and professional growth through unique seminars and workshops led by Olympic and Paralympic athletes, USOC and National Governing Body (NGB) leaders, and others who have achieved personal, professional or athletic success in life.

During the four-day program, F.L.A.M.E. participants will reside in the Olympic Training Center dormitory, eat at the athlete dining hall, and have daily opportunities to interact with Olympians, Paralympians and hopefuls. The program’s itinerary includes motivational presentations by Olympians and Paralympians, leadership seminars conducted by USOC and NGB staff leaders, networking and financial literacy workshops, Olympic/Paralympic sport demonstrations, field trips to local attractions, and information on the USOC internship program.

Previous speakers at the F.L.A.M.E. program have included Olympians and Paralympians such as legendary Olympic track & field champion Billy Mills (1960); Olympic speedskating champion Derek Parra (1998, ’02); and Paralympic track & field champion April Holmes (2004, ‘08). Presenters for the 2010 session will be selected in the coming weeks.

How to Apply
Qualified applicants should be minority undergraduate or graduate students (ages 18-24) who have demonstrated leadership through academics, athletics and community involvement. Special consideration will be given to applicants pursuing a degree in the field of sport management. Additionally, applicants must have a minimum college grade point average (GPA) of 2.75. Applications are available online at www.teamusa.org or by calling USOC Associate Director of Community Relations Erica Hutchinson at 719-866-4604. The application deadline is May 21, 2010, and selection announcements will be made no later than June 18, 2010.

About Tyson Foods
Tyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE: TSN), founded in 1935 with headquarters in Springdale, Arkansas, is the world’s largest processor and marketer of chicken, beef, and pork, the second-largest food company in the Fortune 500 and a member of the S&P 500. The company produces a wide variety of protein-based and prepared food products and is the recognized market leader in the retail and food service markets it serves. Tyson provides products and service to customers throughout the Unites States and more than 80 countries. The company has approximately 107,000 Team Members employed at more than 300 facilities and offices in the United States and around the world. Through the Core Values, Code of Conduct and Team Member Bill of Rights, Tyson strives to operate with integrity and trust and is committed to creating value for its shareholders, customers and Team Members. The company also strives to be faith-friendly, provide a safe work environment and serve as stewards of the animals, land and environment entrusted to it.

About the USOC
The USOC is recognized by the International Olympic Committee as the sole entity in the United States whose mission involves training, entering and underwriting the full expenses for the U.S. teams in the Olympic, Paralympic, Pan American and Parapan American Games. In addition to being the steward of the U.S. Olympic Movement, the USOC is the moving force for support of sports in the United States that are on the program of the Olympic, Paralympic, Pan American and Parapan American Games.

For more information, please contact the USOC Communications Division at 719-866-4529 or visit www.teamusa.org. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.