ROCK ISLAND, IL (05/02/2014)(readMedia)-- Jordan Kirkbride of Rock Island co-curated "Whistler and His Context" as part of her Senior Inquiry for art history. The exhibition examines the works of James McNeill Whistler and artists working before, during and after his career, in an effort to understand Whistler's life and art in their context.

This exhibition reflects the sustained research on Whistler from the Centre for Whistler Criticism. The center's mission is to promote scholarship related to Whistler, and to create a digital archive of lifetime criticism of Whistler and his art. Kirkbride was afforded the rare undergraduate opportunity to research original archival collections from such international centers as the Smithsonian Institution and the University of Glasgow.

Kirkbride will present her senior inquiry paper on May 13 at 7 p.m. in Room 12, Bergendoff Hall of Fine Arts (3701 7th Ave., Rock Island, Illinois).

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 149 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.

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack today announced that the City of Davenport will receive $418,918 in AmeriCorps funding from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS).

"As we have seen firsthand here in Iowa, AmeriCorps members are an indispensable resource for the communities and individuals they serve," said Loebsack. "We are fortunate here in Iowa where civic engagement and a sense of community are the norm. I am proud to support AmeriCorps and other programs that truly make a difference in our communities. I congratulate the City of Davenport for receiving this grant, and thank all those who have answered the call to serve others."

This competitively awarded grant will be used to put 73 AmeriCorps members on the ground in Davenport to help improve graduation rates across the city. At the end of the first program year, the AmeriCorps members will be responsible for raising the attendance rates and course grades, and decreasing the high-risk behaviors and disciplinary actions, for at least 1,000 at-risk youth in the Quad Cities region. In addition, the AmeriCorps members will leverage an additional 600 volunteers who will be engaged in one-to-one youth mentoring each year.

YOURTOPIA Frozen Yogurt Lounge is generously partnering with Churches United of the Quad City Area to help our local food pantries. Starting Monday, April 21 through Sunday, May 11, YOURTOPIA will donate $1.00 per transaction to Churches United to support the Bettendorf and NE Davenport food pantries.

We are very grateful to our friends at YOURTOPIA for their support in this endeavor.

###

WHAT:  The Epic Iowa Road Trip will stop in Scott County and state and regional tourism officials will recognize contributions to the Iowa Tourism Industry by the Iowa 80 Group and Quad Cities Convention and Visitors Bureau.

WHEN:  Monday, May 5, 11:15-11:45 a.m. at the World's Largest Truckstop, 755 W Iowa 80 Rd, Walcott

BACKGROUND:  The Epic Iowa Road Trip is a partnership among the Central Iowa Tourism Region, Eastern Iowa Tourism Association, Western Iowa Tourism Region and Iowa Tourism Office to promote tourism destinations in the state and raise awareness of tourism's impact on Iowa's economy. During the nine-day event (May 2-10), a specially wrapped motorcoach will travel nearly 2,100 miles promoting more than 60 tourism destinations in 33 counties and 46 communities.

State and regional tourism officials will recognize communities on the route for the contributions to Iowa Tourism Industry and the state's economy. In 2012, tourism-related expenditures in Scott County were $592.38 million.

VISUALS:  Photo of the motorcoach available at www.traveliowa.com/epiciowaroadtrip

INTERVIEWS:  Shawna Lode, Iowa Tourism Office Manager and Carrie Koelker, Eastern Iowa Tourism Association Executive Director