ALLIANCE, OH (05/12/2015)(readMedia)-- Courtney Wachal, a senior French and international studies major of Betterdorf, Iowa, presented research on international governments at the Mid-East Honors Association (MEHA) Conference from April 10 to April 12 at Kent State University.

All Mount Union Honors students were invited to submit a proposal to the conference. The students and faculty who attended all had their proposals accepted for presentation.

"The presentations represented research and scholarship completed across the Honors program curriculum, including work done in Honors in the Major theses and projects and work done in University Honors courses, including the Honors FYS and the Honors theme course," said Dr. Nicole L. Johnson, assistant professor of philosophy and religious studies and interdisciplinary liberal studies and co-director of the Honors program at the University of Mount Union.

MEHA is a regional affiliate of the National Collegiate Honors Council, which encourages and supports honors programs in the region. Institutions of higher education from Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and West Virginia are welcome to participate. Approximately 300 students, faculty and administrators presented.

University of Mount Union The University of Mount Union, founded in 1846, is a four-year, private institution grounded in the liberal arts tradition. The University is located in Alliance, OH, 80 miles of both Cleveland and Pittsburgh. Mount Union offers an array of broad-based and career-specific undergraduate and graduate programs to its 2,200 students who experience outstanding opportunities for success after graduation. Among members of the 2012 graduating class, 98% of those self-reporting started a degree-required career or were accepted to graduate school, all in an average of 20 days after graduation. The University is committed to providing a student-centered approach and an exceptional educational experience. For more information, visit mountunion.edu.

DES MOINES, IA (05/12/2015)(readMedia)-- With graduation season upon us, there is no better time than now to start planning for the future. Whether your children are graduating from grade school or high school, a contribution to their College Savings Iowa account is a great way to show how proud you are.

While any form of saving for college is better than not saving at all, there are advantages to using a 529 plan, such as College Savings Iowa. With initial and ongoing contribution amounts as low as $25, College Savings Iowa is an affordable way for families to save in order to meet the rising costs of higher education. As a way to help families start saving, we are celebrating 529 College Savings Day on May 29 and giving away a $5,290 College Savings Iowa account. For more information and to enter the giveaway, please visit CollegeSavingsIowa.com any time before May 31.

Administered by my office, College Savings Iowa allows you to choose from multiple investment choices, including four age-based options that take into account the child's age and the account owner's tolerance for risk. As a general rule, age-based accounts opened for younger beneficiaries are heavily invested in stocks early on; these accounts try to maximize returns by taking advantage of the longer time horizon. As the beneficiary nears college age, the assets are automatically shifted to more conservative portfolios. This allows you to protect your capital and reduce the market risk before you begin making withdrawals for college expenses.

In addition, College Savings Iowa offers significant tax benefits to help your savings grow even more. Contributions and earnings grow free of federal and Iowa state income taxes while invested. They remain tax-free when they are used to pay for qualified higher education expenses at any eligible college, university, community college or accredited technical training school in the United States or abroad. Iowa taxpayers who participate in College Savings Iowa are also allowed to deduct up to $3,163 in contributions per beneficiary account from their 2015 adjusted gross income.*

While a college education is an investment that lasts for a lifetime, the season to save for it is a lot like summer vacation - much shorter than you think. Start saving today and help make college a reality for a child in your life.

. Also, be sure to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter (@Iowa529Plan) to stay up to date on all our current events and giveaways.

* Adjusted annually for inflation. If withdrawals are not qualified, the deductions must be added back to Iowa taxable income. The earnings portion of nonqualified withdrawals may be subject to federal income tax and a 10% federal penalty tax, as well as state and local income taxes. The availability of tax or other benefits may be contingent on meeting other requirements.

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Investment returns are not guaranteed and you could lose money by investing in the plan. Participants assume all investment risks as well as responsibility for any federal and state tax consequences. If you are not an Iowa taxpayer, consider before investing whether your or the designated beneficiary's home state offers any state tax or other benefits that are only available for investments in such state's qualified tuition program.

For more information about the College Savings Iowa 529 Plan, call 888-672-9116 or visit www.collegesavingsiowa.com to obtain a Program Description. Investment objectives, risks, charges, expenses, and other important information are included in the Program Description; read and consider it carefully before investing.

ROCK ISLAND, IL (05/12/2015)(readMedia)-- Samantha Turner, an Augustana senior from Rock Island majoring in history and anthropology, has been featured in the 2015 "More Than I Imagined" web series, where exceptional seniors from a wide variety of majors reflect on what they've accomplished at Augustana and discuss plans for their futures.

Turner's "More Than I Imagined" profile may be viewed at http://www.augustana.edu/x62414.xml.

To be included in "More than I Imagined," seniors must be nominated by an Augustana faculty member or coach as an outstanding student.

Founded in 1860, Augustana College is a selective four-year residential college of the liberal arts and sciences. The college is recognized for the innovative program Augie Choice, which provides each student up to $2,000 to pursue a high-impact learning experience such as study abroad, an internship or research with a professor. Current students and alumni include 155 Academic All-Americans, a Nobel laureate, 13 college presidents and other distinguished leaders. The college enrolls 2,500 students and is located along one of the world's most important waterways, the Mississippi River, in a community that reflects the diversity of the United States.