Page 19 - The Edge - Back to School 2017

IMPROBABLE DREAM Carl Hayden won by a single point. ey competed again in the
next two years and nished third and then second. “ e best part,”
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17 said Lajvardi, “is that we beat MIT all three years.”

have a Power Point presentation. ey told the judges Power Points A er the school’s rst big win, Lajvardi expected a wave of
are for people who don’t have anything to say.” positive publicity, but nothing happened until a year later in 2004
At the awards ceremony, Carl Hayden was given a special prize when a magazine writer picked up on the story. e movie deal
for best technical writing. Lajvardi gured it was “a pity prize.” en came later.
came time for the award for the overall winner. Lajvardi said he e publicity generated support from around the world. About
knew his team had done well, but when they announced the second $100,000 in donations came in for the students. Each of the four,
place team was the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he held who all were immigrants, received $25,000 toward their college
his breath. education, Lajvardi said.
“MIT in second place?” Lajvardi said. “We’re thinking, who the ey didn’t rely on the old excuses, such as: we can’t do that
heck is rst?” because we’re poor, because our parents didn’t go to college, because
Back when they had rst decided to enter the competition, his we’re Mexican, Lajvardi said.
students had gotten him to promise that if they won he would take “Every excuse you can come up with, those kids had gone
them to Hooters. “I gured that was the safest bet on the planet,” he through it,” he said. “It wasn’t a uke or a one-time event. It changed
said. “It’s never going to come back to bite me.” their lives – they went to college. It takes a team to build a dream.”
As the judges were about to announce the overall winner, Lajvardi encouraged AASBO members: “Try to incorporate
Lajvardi told his team: “If what we think is going to happen, as much of the diversity in your population as possible. You don’t
happens, under no circumstances do I want you to announce that know where that next great idea is coming from. If life doesn’t give
we’re going to Hooters.” you a dream, build one.”

Smart financing for public education NATIONAL IPA BECOME A PARTICIPANT AND START SAVING
TIME AND MONEY TODAY.
CONTRACTS ARE
AMAZING IN ARIZONA
Leverage the Purchasing Power of more than 48,000 actively engaged
Stifel is proud to offer Arizona school districts comprehensive government and educational entities.
No Participation Fees
investment banking and finance consulting services. Registration is Fast and Free
Contracts Publicly Solicited By A Lead Government Agency

CONTRACT CATEGORIES INCLUDE:
Bob Casillas Grant Hamill Michael LaVallee Athletic Automotive Parts Equipment Rental
Facilities Flooring Food Furniture
Managing Director Managing Director Managing Director Grounds Keeping and Irrigation Heavy Equipment HVAC
Janitorial Maintenance & Operations Managed Print
Bryan Lundberg Mark Reader Randie Stein Office Supplies Oracle Playground Equipment
Roofing School Supplies Technology
Managing Director Managing Director Director Travel Management Uniforms
To Learn More, Visit nationalipa.org
Erika Coombs Sandra Day

Director Vice President Nick Grund – nick.grund@nationalipa.org or 520.203.4671

2325 East Camelback Road, Suite 750 Founding Member of NCPP
Phoenix, Arizona 85016 Proud AASBO Alliance Partners

(602) 794-4000 NIPA-0134_AZ EDGE Summer 2017 Insertion.indd 1 5/5/2017 11:31:06 AM

Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated | Member SIPC & NYSE | www.stifel.com/publicfinance 19