MOLINE, IL -- "Letters Home to Hero Street" is now available to teachers nationwide through PBS LearningMedia, which provides access to thousands of free, innovative, standards-aligned and curriculum-targeted digital resources. The curriculum was ...

MOLINE, IL -- In October, more than 30 "Stories of Service" were collected at eight locations across the Quad Cities by WQPT at Western Illinois University as a part of the station's "Embracing Our Military" initiative, and today (Nov. 18) those stories were delivered to the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project by Congressman Dave Loebsack and Congresswoman Cheri Bustos in a ceremony attended by Paula Kerger, PBS president and CEO.

"WQPT's 'Stories of Service' is a wonderful collaboration between public television staff and local agencies, including libraries, veterans service providers and retirement communities. WQPT's staff created a thoughtful model which included easy-to-use recording equipment and community volunteers to preserve stories for future generations," Susan Eleuterio, Veterans History Project trainer on behalf of the Oral History Association and the American Folklore Society, which are partners with the Veterans History Project.

Twenty volunteers and 10 staff members collected stories from veterans of World War II and Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan at WQPT-Quad Cities PBS at Western Illinois University, the Center for Active Seniors (CASI), Lutheran Social Services of Illinois, Moline Public Library, St. Ambrose University, UnityPoint Health-Trinity and WVIK.

"We are thrilled that our representatives have presented these stories to the Library of Congress and we are proud of the impact that our 'Embracing Our Military' initiative has had on our veteran community," said Mary Pruess, WQPT general manager.

More information about "Embracing Our Military" and "Stories of Service" can be found at wqpt.org.

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.

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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/.