DEKALB, IL (04/21/2015)(readMedia)-- Nicholas Jansen of East Moline, Illinois has received the Dean's Award from the Northern Illinois University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Jansen is a Senior Meteorology major earning a B.S. degree.

The Dean's Award (a separate honor from the Dean's List) was designed to recognize Seniors who have made significant contributions to their academic departments. To qualify for this award, Jansen was required to have completed at least 90 semester hours, have a minimum 3.0 grade point average, and receive a nomination from a faculty member based on service to the department.

Chartered in 1895, NIU first opened its doors as the Northern Illinois State Normal School in 1899 as a teachers college. The university has grown since into a world-class, research-focused public institution that attracts students from across Illinois, the country and the world.

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.

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AMES, IA (04/21/2015)(readMedia)-- Brittany Uitermarkt was inducted into Eta Sigma Delta on Thursday, April 2, in a ceremony following dinner held in the Joan Bice Underwood Tearoom, in MacKay Hall. Uitermarkt, from Long Grove, Iowa, is a junior studying event management at Iowa State University in the College of Human Sciences.

Eta Sigma Delta is an international honor society that recognizes exceptional academic achievement among event and hospitality students. Undergraduate students who hold a 3.0 minimum grade point average or are in the top 20% of their class are eligible for this distinction. Uitermarkt was one of twenty-one undergraduates inducted this spring.