Deforestation, global infectious diseases, and intellectual property rights - it's just another day of problem solving in the Rivermont fifth grade!  Rivermont Collegiate is excited to announce the fifth grade class has been chosen for the fifth year in a row to participate in the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) 20/20 Challenge. The NAIS 20/20 Challenge brings together schools in the United States (public and private, elementary and secondary) with schools in other countries to identify local solutions to a global problem.  The Internet-based international education program partners schools to work together on one of 20 problems described by J.F. Rischard in his book, High Noon: 20 Global Problems, 20 Years to Solve Them.  Together, students identify solutions that can be implemented in their own schools and communities.

Schools apply for the 20/20 Challenge and if accepted, are partnered with schools in another country.  Once partnered, schools work together to define and research the problem, identify a workable solution for their school's community and context, and map out steps of an implementation plan.  The program is praised for allowing students to explore the complexities of global issues that are difficult for even many adults to comprehend and develop critical thinking skills they will use for a lifetime.

In the past, the fifth grade class has partnered with schools in Guatemala, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, and Africa on topics such as biodiversity and global warming.  This year's problem is peacekeeping, conflict prevention, and combating terrorism.  Rivermont students will be working with students in California and New Zealand and, due to past success with the 20/20 Challenge, the Rivermont class has been chosen as the team leader.  The 20/20 Challenge will begin in January and we eagerly anticipate the fifth grade's innovative solutions to address peacekeeping, conflict prevention, and terrorism right here at Rivermont and in the Quad City community!

Rivermont Collegiate, located in Bettendorf, is the Quad Cities' only private, independent, multicultural college preparatory school for students in preschool through twelfth grade.  Visit us online at www.rvmt.org!  For additional information on Rivermont, contact Brittany Marietta at (563) 359-1366 ext. 302 or marietta@rvmt.org

For additional information on the NAIS 20/20 Challenge, visit www.nais.org.

Though the start of the school year finds many students reminiscing about lazy summer days of sleeping in and working on their tan, 79 aspiring young scientists ended the summer of 2011 much more than tan and well-rested!  Participants in the STARS (Students and Teachers As Research Scientists) program spent their summer researching everything from neural circuits to human/robot interaction at the University of Missouri - St. Louis.  Student participants are paired with research mentors from the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center (Creve Coeur, MO), Saint Louis University, the Solae Company, Washington University in St. Louis, and the University of Missouri - St. Louis.  For six weeks, researchers take on student apprentices, who complete science research projects and gain real-world laboratory experience.  For many students, this experience is one of the most important in their decision to pursue a career in science.

Rivermont Collegiate is proud to announce senior Meghana Pagadala, daughter of Mr. Kishore and Dr. Padma Pagadala of Rock Island, is a scholar graduate of the 2011 STARS program!  Meghana's research project, "The Mechanism by Which CD8⁺FoxP3⁺T Cells Regulate Osteoclast Activity", was completed with Dr. Rajeev Aurora from Saint Louis University.  Of the 79 STARS participants from 36 schools, only 4 students, including Meghana, came from outside the St. Louis metro area.  Participants are selected based on GPA, test scores (PSAT, SAT, ACT, etc.), student essays, and letters of recommendation.  The entire Rivermont community is extremely proud of Meghana and looks forward to her future contributions to the world of science!

For additional information on the STARS program, visit the University of Missouri - St. Louis website at www.umsl.edu.

For additional information on Rivermont Collegiate, contact Cindy Murray at (563) 359-1366 ext. 302 or murray@rvmt.org and visit us on the web atwww.rvmt.org!

Rivermont Collegiate is pleased to announce the following students have been recognized on the Fourth Quarter Honor Roll:  

  Upper   School   Honor Roll (9^th-12^th)  

Headmaster's List (3.85-5.00)  

Michael Garneau  

Pavane Gorrepati  

Summer Lawrence  

Alejandra Martinez  

Christine Mbakwe  

Victoria Mbakwe  

Amanda McVey  

Matthew Newsome  

Meghana Pagadala  

Shravya Pothula  

Ramya Prabhu  

Kelsey Qu  

Ashish Tadepalli  

Distinction (3.50-3.84)  

Vishal Bobba  

Rebecca Cupp  

Karanveer Gill  

Tristan O'Harrow  

Darsani Reddy  

Joann Weeks  

Chi Ieong Wong  

Merit (3.00-3.49)  

Archana Chintalapani  

Souriyo Dishak  

Basilia Koster  

Christopher Mbakwe  

Darcy Ryan  

Meghana Yerrapothu  

Middle School Honor Roll (6^th-8^th)  

High Honors 

(All grades B+ or higher or B or higher for courses designated as Upper School level)

Helena Barber

Madeline Bowman

Sarah Bowman

Adam Dada

Brandon Eckhardt

Christian Elliott

Shivani Ganesh

Hannah Hansen

Grace Moran

Benjamin Nordick

Manasa Pagadala

Emilia Porubcin

Michal Porubcin

Suhas Seshadri

Alexander Skillin

Marta Storl-Desmond

Loring Telleen

Honors

(All grades B- or higher or C+ or higher for courses designated as Upper School level)

Collin Hunt

Samuel Lederman

Kaitlyn Mayfield

Hayley Moran

Bhavana Purighalla

Harrison Qu

Claire Wallace

Congratulations to Rivermont Collegiate junior Pavane Gorrepati, who has received the Herbert Hoover Uncommon Student Award!  This prestigious award is a project-based scholarship for Iowa high school juniors and is unique in the fact that grades, test scores, essays, and financial need are NOT evaluated.  Students are selected on the basis of submitted project proposals of their own choosing and design.  Pavane's outstanding proposal, Sending Seeds Overseas, has earned her a chance at a $5,000 scholarship.  Pavane will complete her project before October, when she will present it at the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library-Museum in West Branch, IA along with 14 other student finalists.  At that time, each finalist will receive $1,000 for participating in the program and a committee of accomplished Iowans will choose three students to win $5,000 college scholarships.

The award honors Iowa native and 31^st president Herbert Hoover - the name is taken from his "On the Uncommon Man" speech.  As part of the program, Pavane will spend a weekend in West Branch in June learning about President and Mrs. Herbert Hoover, including special tours of the Hoover Presidential Library-Museum and the Hoover National Historic Site.  This weekend offers finalists a framework to understand the inspiration for the award and to meet other student finalists.

In addition to being an Uncommon Student, Pavane was a Senior Champion at the 2010 Eastern Iowa Science & Engineering Fair (EISEF) for her project Warning about Warming: A Global Problem with a Fuel Cell Solution and presented fuel cell projects at the Intel International Science & Engineering Fair (ISEF) in both 2009 and 2010.  She is a recipient of a Borlaug-Ruan International Internship, which will take her to the China National Hybrid Rice Research & Development Center this summer to conduct research.  In addition, Pavane will travel to the National History Day Competition in Washington, D.C. in June as part of a group performance with fellow Rivermont juniors Joann Weeks, Meghana Pagadala, and Christine Mbakwe.

Though Pavane is the recipient of many honors, the Uncommon Student is unique in that it encourages young Iowans to invest their talents in their schools, communities, and beyond - to display the skills and talents that Herbert Hoover demonstrated to spot a problem, devise a solution, and make changes when needed.  In the words of a parent of an Uncommon Student, "The Herbert Hoover Uncommon Student project pushed my daughter out of her comfort zone and challenged her to pursue a project she could get excited about.  The Hoover project required her to test her passion and commitment, and to share it with strangers."  In the words of a past Uncommon Student, "This scholarship does not grade you on your grades, test scores, or essays - just the ability to put your mind to completing something.  Explore your interests or seek what needs change.  The project can be anything you are interested in.  Think big!"

Rivermont Collegiate, located in Bettendorf, is the Quad Cities' only private, independent college-prep school for students in preschool through twelfth grade.  For additional information on Rivermont Collegiate, contact Cindy Murray, Director of Admissions, at (563) 359-1366 ext. 302 or murray@rvmt.org.  Visit us online at www.rvmt.org!

For additional information on the Herbert Hoover Uncommon Student Award, visit www.hooverassociation.org

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