WQPT, in partnerships with regional media organizations and businesses, is hosting a community-wide effort to collect veteran experiences for inclusion in the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project.

"Our goal is to capture as many stories as possible to memorialize the experiences of our area's veterans," said Jamie Lange, who has been leading WQPT's Embracing Our Military initiative.
All veterans are invited to share their stories, which will be recorded Friday, Oct. 23 between 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. at the following locations:

Center for Active Seniors (CASI)
1035 W. Kimberly Road, Davenport, IA

Lutheran Social Services of Illinois
4011 Avenue of the Cities, Suite 102, Moline, IL

Moline Public Library
3210 41st St., Moline, IL

St. Ambrose University
518 W. Locust St., Davenport, IA

UnityPoint Health-Trinity
4500 Utica Ridge Rd., Bettendorf, IA

WVIK, Quad Cities NPR
3808 8th Ave., Rock Island, IL

WQPT-Quad Cities PBS at Western Illinois University
3300 River Dr., Moline, IL

Call WQPT at (309) 764-2400 to schedule an appointment at any of the site locations.  WQPT is a media service of Western Illinois University.

###

MOLINE, IL - WQPT, in partnerships with regional media organizations and businesses, is hosting a community-wide effort to collect veteran experiences for inclusion in the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project.

"Our goal is to capture as many stories as possible to memorialize the experiences of our area's veterans," said Jamie Lange, who has been leading WQPT's Embracing Our Military initiative.

All veterans are invited to share their stories, which will be recorded Friday, Oct. 23 between 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. at the following locations:

Center for Active Seniors (CASI)
1035 W. Kimberly Road, Davenport, IA

Lutheran Social Services of Illinois
4011 Avenue of the Cities, Suite 102, Moline, IL

Moline Public Library
3210 41st St., Moline, IL

St. Ambrose University
518 W. Locust St., Davenport, IA

UnityPoint Health-Trinity
4500 Utica Ridge Rd., Bettendorf, IA

WVIK, Quad Cities NPR
3808 8th Ave., Rock Island, IL

WQPT-Quad Cities PBS at Western Illinois University
3300 River Dr., Moline, IL

Call WQPT at (309) 764-2400 to schedule an appointment at any of the site locations.

WQPT is a media service of Western Illinois University.

###

1920s Female Detective Series Returns for Season Three

MOLINE, IL – WQPT will celebrate the premiere of the first episode of season three of the 1920s female detective series, "Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries," with a premiere party and screening.

The event, set from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 1, will kick off with heavy appetizers and a cash bar, along with a display of authentic 1920s fashions. The event will be held at City View Celebrations Trimble Pointe, (701 12th Street, Moline, IL). Attendees are encouraged to dress in 1920s attire, and a prize will be given for "best dressed."
The party is open free to WQPT members and is $15 for non-members. At 6 p.m., the episode's screening is open free to the public.

RSVP is required by contacting WQPT at (309) 764-2400.

For more information contact Lora Adams at (309) 764-2400.

WQPT is a media service of Western Illinois University.

###

MOLINE, IL - WQPT, the Quad Cities Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) station, has announced Michael Carton has joined the station as the new director of education and outreach.

Carton has been a teacher for seven years, most recently as a first grade teacher at Frances Willard Elementary. He is a graduate of Western Illinois University, with a degree in elementary education, and is the recipient of the 2015 Master Teacher Award from the Dispatch Argus Newspaper. He has also been honored by PBS with a Teachers Innovator Award.

Carton began his association with WQPT as a member of the first class of WQPT/PBS Ambassadors in 2004. Since that time, he has remained a committed volunteer, most recently earning the National Friends of Public Television Outstanding Volunteer of the Year Award for his work on WQPT's new special event for families, Imagination Station. WQPT chose Carton as its Volunteer of the Year in 2009.

"I am really looking forward to this opportunity to reach more students in my new role with WQPT," said Carton. "I have had the good fortune of teaching 30 first graders, but this job gives me the ability to make a difference to even more people, from pre-school through adults."

"Michael is a seasoned professional who will combine strengths of classroom teaching with the power of PBS programming for the benefit of all children in our region, expanding that vision to include learners of all ages," said Mary Pruess, WQPT general manager. "We are delighted to welcome him to our team."

Carton succeeds Ana Kehoe, who spent 20 years in the WQPT position, retiring last year.

WQPT is a media service of Western Illinois University. For more information, visit http://wqpt.org/.

MOLINE, ILLINOIS - WQPT, Quad Cities PBS is pleased to introduce its 2015 WQPT/PBS Ambassadors, an elite volunteer corps made up of college students.

 

Entering its 11th year, the program provides college students with the opportunity to represent their local public television station at a variety of events throughout eastern Iowa and western Illinois.

 

"Our Ambassadors are an extension of the staff, and the leadership skills they acquire, as a direct result of their experiences as Ambassadors in the program, have helped them move on to jobs," said WQPT Special Projects Coordinator Bea Brasel. "This year, our Ambassadors will be focused on reaching farther out into our viewing area."

 

In 2013, the WQPT/PBS Ambassador program was honored nationally with the "Grassroots Advocacy Award" from the National Friends of Public Broadcasting. This year, two former Ambassadors received individual awards for their volunteer work for WQPT, as well.

 

The 2015 class of WQPT/PBS Ambassadors are:  Cody Hageman (Western Illinois University-QC), Iame Rea (University of Iowa), Kasey Fish (WIU-QC), Grace Brasel (Augustana College), Christopher Black (Black Hawk College); John McAfoos (WIU-QC), Rich Yerington (WIU-QC), Lauren Tague (Illinois State University), Kathryn Reed (Illinois State University), Remona Laing (St. Ambrose University), Nicolas Riojas (Augustana College); Alexandra Lenger (Iowa State University) and Katherine Williams (St. Ambrose University).

 

WQPT is the public media service of Western Illinois University.

 

# # #

MOLINE, IL – WQPT received more than 310 stories from students in kindergarten through third grade for the annual PBS Kids Go Writers Contest. Educators and contest sponsors selected 16 winners (four from each grade). The winners and their families will be honored and awarded prizes at Deere-Wiman House at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 17.

"We are thrilled that so many teachers and parents encouraged their young authors and illustrators to participate," said Esther Smith, educational outreach WQPT.

Winners (for each grade level) are listed below.

Kindergarten

First Place, "Zoo Animals" by Josie Schlicksup, LeClaire (IA), Bridgeview Elementary School, LeClaire (IA)

Second Place, "The Lost Dog," by Kalie Tessen, Bettendorf (IA), Riverdale Heights Elementary School, Bettendorf (IA)

Third Place, "My T-Rexy," by Mahmood Baig, Bettendorf (IA), individual entry

Honorable Mention, "Teagan`s Greatest Dream," Teagan Dennis, Moline (IL), homeschooled

First Grade

First Place, "Could You Catch the Rainbow," Shalini Chandupatla, Bettendorf (IA), Hopewell Elementary School, Bettendorf (IA)

Second Place, "Daisy," by Madison Southwick, Bettendorf (IA), Rivermont Collegiate, Davenport (IA)

Third Place, "Pandy Visits the Rain Forest," Hunter Morrow, Davenport (IA), Harrison Elementary School, Davenport, Iowa

Honorable Mention, "How Jupiter Lost and Found Its Great Red Storm," Maya Boehle, Moline, Illinois, Washington Elementary School, Moline (IL)

Second Grade

First Place, "My Baby Brother," Tanya Rastogi, Bettendorf (IA), Riverdale Heights Elementary School, Bettendorf (IA)

Second Place, "Ruby," Camryn Veltrop, Morrison (IL), Northside Elementary School, Morrison (IL)

Third Place, "Jack`s Birthday Party," Kamiya Hill, Rock Island (IL), Longfellow Liberal Arts Academy, Rock Island (IL)

Honorable Mention, "My Horrible Trip to Indonesia," Dillon Baker, Moline (IL), Washington Elementary, Moline (IL)

Third Grade

First Place, "Together Again," Gianna Schwartz, Bettendorf (IA), Paul Norton Elementary School, Bettendorf (IA)

Second Place, "The Weird Chick," Alexa McDaniel, Eldridge (IA), Alan Shephard Elementary, Eldridge (IA)

Third Place, "Super Dog," McKenzie Mueller, Dixon (IL), St. Mary`s School, Dixon (IL)

Honorable Mention, "My Job is Best," Drew Eller, Eldridge (IA), Alan Shephard Elementary, Eldridge (IA)

All the entries will be returned, along with a certificate from PBS. Stories will be displayed at the Butterworth Center from May 19-29; Figge Art Museum from May 30 -June 13; and Family Museum from June 14-28.

The contest is supported by WQPT-Quad Cities PBS, the Butterworth Center, Deere-Wiman House, Family Museum in Bettendorf, Figge Art Museum and the Midwest Writing Center.

WQPT is a media service of Western Illinois University - Quad Cities.

###

MOLINE, IL -- WQPT and Fourth Wall Films production of the documentary, "Letters Home to Hero Street," recently won two awards at the Cedar Rapids Independent Film Festival. The film won a gold award for People's Choice and a silver award in the Professional Documentary Long category.

"Letters Home to Hero Street" tells the story of Frank Sandoval, one of the eight Mexican-American soldiers who lived on 2nd Street in Silvis to die in World War II and Korea, through the letters he sent home during his training to the time he was killed in Burma.

"We are thrilled that audiences responded to Frank's story, which is a universal tale experienced by every soldier and his or her family," said Lora Adams, co-producer of the film. "WQPT is honored to work with Fourth Wall Films on this important project."

The film was supported in part by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council.

WQPT is a media outlet of Western Illinois University.

###

MOLINE, IL -- WQPT can now be seen in full high definition (HD) on DirecTV. The change has been one year in the making and was started at the request of many DirecTV viewers.

In order to satisfy the requests for WQPT's main channel in HD, the station was required to trade in the standard definition (SD) carriage of both WQPT and our secondary channel, MHz Worldview.

"It takes more band width to broadcast in high definition," said WQPT General Manager Mary Pruess. "Therefore, our SD carriage of both WQPT and MHz Worldview were traded in order to accommodate the change to HD."

DirecTV viewers can still see MHz Worldview on DirecTV channel 2183 (with the appropriate equipment), or it remains free, over the air, anytime on WQPT-2 (24.2). Over-the-air and Mediacom viewers are not affected by this change.

WQPT is a media service of Western Illinois University.

 

###

WQPT SEEKING MUSIC VIDEOS FROM LOCAL PERFORMERS

 

MOLINE, ILLINOIS - WQPT, Quad Cities PBS is looking for music video submissions from area musicians for use in the music segment of "The Cities" with Jim Mertens.

 

"We have been highlighting local musicians since the show began five years ago," said Lora Adams producer of the public affairs program. "We know that many of our areas local musicians have created music videos, and we would like offer then a wider audience and share them on our air."

 

Videos should be shot in high definition (HD) and use an independent audio mix. WQPT reserves the right to reject songs that contain inappropriate language or images. Music videos may be dropped off at the WQPT offices at 3300 River Drive, Moline, IL 61265, or contact us for information on how to upload your materials at 309-764-2400 and ask for Chris Ryder.

 

WQPT is a media service of Western Illinois University.

 

###

MOLINE, IL -- WQPT, QUAD CITIES PBS and Fourth Wall Films will screen their documentary, "Letters Home to Hero Street," at 5 p.m. Sunday, March 22 at Hampton Grace United Methodist Church in Hampton, Illinois. The film screening is open free to the public.

 

The 30-minute film draws on the letters home from one of eight soldiers, who were lost to war, who lived on 2nd Street in Silvis, IL, which is now known as "Hero Street USA." Through the soldier's letters home to his family, the documentary provides a glimpse into the experiences of one of the heroes.

 

After the film, there will be an informal question-and-answer period.

 

The project was funded in part by the Illinois Arts Council.

 

WQPT is a media service of Western Illinois University.

 

###

Pages