SPRINGFIELD, IL (12/08/2015)(readMedia)-- GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba - Ian Withrow, a native of Galesburg, Illinois, assigned to the Illinois Army National Guard's 139th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment (MPAD) based in Springfield, Illinois was promoted to the rank of sergeant during an underwater ceremony at U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba on Dec. 6.

Withrow, a 2009 graduate of Springfield Southeast High School in Springfield, Illinois has been part of the Illinois National Guard for more than five years. In June, Withrow and the 139th MPAD were mobilized for a nine-month deployment to Cuba.

Withrow said making sergeant is one of the biggest accomplishments of his military career and it validates his hard work. Some of the most unique opportunities he has experienced have come while wearing a uniform, he said.

"From flying in a helicopter, to traveling the world, to meeting interesting and unusual people, I owe the Army a great debt of gratitude for allowing me to do things I might never have done before," Withrow said. "Being promoted underwater is one of those wild, amazing opportunities."

Withrow lives with his wife Letisha in Springfield, Illinois.

The 139th MPAD is expected to return home in the spring of 2016.

Students from Moline High School received an inside look at Stefanini's Davenport facility and learned about how Stefanini helps its customers achieve its business goals

Davenport, IA December, 2015  - Stefanini ? recognized by IAOP as a Global Top Outsourcing Company, and a $1B global provider of IT outsourcing, applications management & consulting, and strategic staffing services, hosted a tour of its Davenport facility for 14 students from Moline High School. Students from Moline High school, one of the top schools in the region, toured Stefanini's facility in Davenport, IA on December 1st to see a "real" service desk in action, learn about a mature IT service organization, and gain insight into a career in IT.

During the outing, Stefanini representatives from each program provided an overview of their day-to-day regimen and educated students on the various career opportunities in the IT field. "Along with serving as an inside look at a mature IT service organization, the tour touched upon what skills recruiters look for when hiring IT resources and informed students of key topics regarding the IT industry such as the difference between insourcing vs. outsourcing," said Sean Nelson, Global Program Executive of Stefanini's Davenport facility.

The Moline High School students provide help desk services for their school as part of their Student Technology Integration class. On the Moline High School Help Desk website, students and teachers are given the option to open a ticket to request assistance for issues relating to hardware repair, WiFi, and log-in information. To obtain a position as a part of Moline's help desk staff, students must first go through an interview process and are expected to be knowledgeable in various operating systems.

The tour was an excellent opportunity for Stefanini to engage with the neighboring community of Moline and recruit qualified candidates from the area once they have graduated from school.

About Stefanini

Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa today made the following comment on the re-instatement of private firms to collect tax debt for the IRS.  The provision was enacted as part of the five-year highway bill given final congressional approval and signed into law late last week.  The provision takes effect immediately and requires the IRS to enter into qualified tax collection contracts within three months.  The official revenue estimate from the non-partisan congressional Joint Committee on Taxation on the new provision is available here.

MOUNT VERNON, IA (12/08/2015)-- The following area students have been admitted to Cornell College for the Fall 2016 semester and earned the Promise Scholarship for Iowans.

Claire Campbell of De Witt (52742)

Josh Janes of Davenport (52803)

Amber Jerson of Bettendorf (52722)

Cornell College offers qualified Iowa high school students entering Cornell in Fall 2016 the Promise Scholarship for Iowans, worth at least $20,000 per student. The scholarship is renewable for four years, bringing the total value to at least $80,000.

In addition to the grant, Iowa students may qualify for up to $5,000 annually from the state's Iowa Tuition Grant to attend an Iowa private college. Cornell College is using the scholarship to support homegrown talent in the state of Iowa. Cornell's student body currently represents 45 states and 18 foreign countries, with 17 percent from Iowa.

Cornell is nationally recognized for its value, including by Kiplinger's, which included Cornell on its list of the 100 best values in private colleges for 2015, and the Fiske Guide to Colleges, which named Cornell College one of the 24 "Best Buys" among private colleges. Cornell is also one the "Colleges that Change Lives," a select group of schools recognized for their academic quality and the exceptional opportunities they offer.

For more information, visit www.cornellcollege.edu.