Wednesday, December 18, 2013

WASHINGTON - Senator Chuck Grassley has nominated 55 outstanding Iowa students for consideration for appointments to the U.S. service academies.

"Young Iowans who want to enter the academies and serve our country are remarkable for their accomplishments and leadership.  These candidates are an impressive reflection on our state and signal continued excellence in the U.S. armed forces," Grassley said.

Each year Grassley has the opportunity as a U.S. senator to nominate either current or future Iowa high school graduates for a select few service academy placements.  The Air Force, Military, and Naval academies all select at least one qualified student from Grassley's nominations.  The Merchant Marine Academy makes selections in proportion to states' representation in Congress.

Grassley said he encourages Iowa students to consider applying to more than one service academy due to the highly competitive nature of admissions.  "The academies offer some of the best options for higher education, and they offer an outstanding way to serve our country," Grassley said. "It's a tremendous opportunity for young Iowans."

Students interested in academy appointments should begin the application process in the spring of their junior year of high school.  The academies select students based on the number of vacancies available for the next school year.  Senator Tom Harkin and Iowa Representatives in the U.S. House of Representatives also make nominations.  Traditionally, the high quality of Iowa nominees results in several Iowa students being selected to attend each of the service academies.

Grassley said he will make announcements as appointments to the academies are offered to Iowans.

The lists below include the names, high schools and hometowns of Grassley's nominees for the 2014-2015 school year.

 

U.S. Air Force Academy
Clayton Beck, Bondurant-Farrar High School, Bondurant

Maija Bennett, Burlington High School, Burlington

Tyler Bennink, Thomas Jefferson High School, Cedar Rapids

Dalton Doom, Waukee High School, Urbandale

Ryan Finn, Hudson High School, Hudson

Katie Gibson, Sioux Central High School, Sioux Rapids*

Tyler Runyon, Van Buren High School, Keosauqua

Tyler Stewart, Springville High School, Marion

Conner Tillo, West Burlington High School, West Burlington

Jack Walker, Wapello High School, Wapello

 

U.S. Military Academy at West Point
Anamaria Angel, Van Meter High School, Waukee

Walter DeDoncker, Pleasant Valley High School, Davenport

Hannah Fairfield, Iowa City West High School, Coralville

Harrison Farrell, Dowling Catholic High School, Des Moines

Connor Gillette, Theodore Roosevelt High School, Des Moines

Matthew Haijsman, Lewis Central High School, McClelland

Neil Harte, Iowa City High School, Iowa City

Seth Horsley, Carroll High School, Carroll

Noah Irons, Lake Mills High School, Lake Mills*

Emily Junker, Van Meter High School, West Des Moines*

Cameron Lawler, Southeast Polk, Mitchellville

Peter Meyers, Gladbrook Reinbeck High School, Reinbeck*

Jose Olivo, Griswold High School, Griswold

Ethan Pieper, Norwalk High School, Johnston

Drew Piersma, North High School, Sioux City

Phillip Ramirez, Vilseck High School, Germany

Devinder Sandhu, Valley High School, Clive

Roy Schindler, Davenport Central High School, Davenport

Thomas Wilgenbusch, Roland-Story High School, Story City

Christian Zvokel, Bondurant-Farrar High School, Bondurant

 

U.S. Naval Academy
Joshua Bailey, Heritage Christian Academy (Home School), Otley

Jacob Baur, Winterset Senior High School, Van Meter

Trevor Bounds, South Central Calhoun High School, Lytton

Jeffrey Bright, Home School, Ames

Maeve Broeg, Williamsburg High School, Parnell

Keaton Carter, Southeast Polk High School, Altoona

Erin Evans, Solon High School, Solon

Micaela Finney, Bettendorf High School, Bettendorf*

Shannon Gorman, George Washington High School, Springville

Benjamin Halley, Waukee High School, Clive

Kyle Hollenback, Pleasant Valley High School, Bettendorf

Nick Krone, Holy Trinity Catholic High School, Fort Madison

Jacob Matthies, OA-BCIG High School, Ida Grove

Henry Oberman, Waukee High School, Clive

Jacob Pence, Cedar Falls High School, Cedar Falls

Alex Reed, Davenport West High School, Blue Grass

Kennedy Salow, Center Point-Urbana High School, Walker

Luke Schmitz, Harlan High School, Harlan

Connor Schueler, Iowa City West High School, Coralville

Zachary Weston, George Washington High School, Cedar Rapids

 

U.S. Merchant Marine Academy

Jacob Cline, Grinnell-Newburg High School, Grinnell

Gustave Doll, St. Albert High School, Council Bluffs

John Gorman, Marion High School, Marion

Rhett Nowotny, HLV High School, Brooklyn

Nicholas Swartz, John F. Kennedy High School, Cedar Rapids

 

Students denoted with an asterisks(*) were also nominated for appointments to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in addition to the Air Force, Military or Naval Academies.

 

-30-

Do Your Worst for Ugly Holiday Sweater Contest

 

MOLINE, Ill. (December 17, 2013) - When the Quad City Mallards return to action on home ice this Saturday at 7:05 p.m. against the St. Charles Chill, the first 1,000 fans through the doors of the iWireless Center will receive free Mallards knit caps courtesy of CBS 4 and the Bier Stube  Saturday night will also see the the Mallards join the spirit of the season by holding an ugly holiday sweater contest.

The knit cap giveaway will help Mallards fans combat the winter cold while the ugly sweater contest will no doubt warm the hearts of even the biggest of Grinches. Fans donning their most charmingly hideous holiday sweaters Saturday night will have the chance to win four glass seats to an upcoming game!

Contestants can enter the contest by stopping by the Drake Club to have their sweater judged at any point beginning ten minutes before the game up until seven minutes are left in the first period. The Drake Club is adjacent to section 116. Not only will the winner receive four seats on the glass to the Mallards' home game of their choice, but, in addition, all entrants will receive a $10 ticket voucher good toward the purchase of tickets to any future Mallards home game.

Tickets for Saturday night's game can be purchased at the iWireless Center ticket office, Ticketmaster outlets, through ticketmaster.com or through Ticketmaster charge-by-phone toll free at 1-800-745-3000. The ticket office is open weekdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and on game days from 10:00 a.m. until the start of the second period.

CBS 4 is committed to delivering the most accurate and comprehensive look at the day's news weekedays from 5:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m., at 5:00 p.m. and at 6:00 p.m., Saturday at 6:00 p.m., Sunday at 5:00 p.m. and every night during Ten at 10:00.

The Bier Stube is a German American Bar and Grill "where everyone can get a little German in them." Conveniently located just blocks from the iWireless Center at 415 15th Street in Moline, the Bier Stube is a perfect place to stop for refreshment on the way to or from a Mallards home game.

About the Quad City Mallards
A proud affiliate of the National Hockey League's Minnesota Wild and the American Hockey League's Iowa Wild, the Quad City Mallards are in the midst of their seventeenth season and their fourth in the Central Hockey League.  One of the winningest teams in all of minor league hockey, the Mallards competed in the United Hockey League from 1995 through 2007 and in the International Hockey League in 2009-10.  The Mallards' proud history has seen them capture the UHL's Colonial Cup Championship three times (1997, 1998, 2001) and secure that league's Tarry Cup four times (1998, 2000, 2001, 2002) for the best overall regular season record.  In 2001, the Mallards made professional hockey history, recording their sixth consecutive season with 50 or more wins, a feat that has yet to be matched.  The i wireless Center provides a unique environment for hockey and features one-of-a-kind seating areas such as the Nest for groups and functions and the exclusive Drake Club.  For more information on the Quad City Mallards or for Mallards tickets go to www.myqcmallards.com.  Fans can also follow the Mallards via Twitter at twitter.com/myqcmallards and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/quadcitymallards.

'Find Time to Pursue Your Passion!'
Says Moonlighting Toyota Attorney

In January, the job search websites go crazy as people start the new year resolved to find work that's more satisfying.

"While thousands of people are dealing with the tragedy of unemployment, many others are looking for jobs that are more fulfilling than the ones they have," says attorney and author Pamela Samuels Young, www.pamelasamuelsyoung.com.

In January 2013, job search website Indeed.com had a record 17.3 million unique visitors?a 24-percent jump, and January 2014 will likely see a similar increase. Many of those job seekers won't be looking for just a job, but one they're passionate about.

"It's great if your day job is your passion," Young says. "But if it's not, you don't have to give up a position that pays the bills in order to pursue your dream. You can do both."

Since 2006, Young has pursued her passion?writing legal thrillers?as well as her day job as Managing Counsel for Labor and Employment Law for Toyota Motors Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

"I enjoy practicing law and I didn't want to leave Toyota, nor could I afford to. But I also had a burning desire to write mystery novels," says Young. She recently released her sixth novel, "Anybody's Daughter." Described by Kirkus Reviews as a "fast-paced, well-written thriller that's grounded in social issues," the book takes readers inside the shocking world of child sex trafficking in the United States.

"I've always believed that if you have a dream, you should formulate a plan and make it happen. So that's what I did."

Young's plan included rising at 4 a.m. to squeeze in some writing time before heading off to work, and turning weekends and vacation time into creation time.

"Sometimes it's hard to believe that I've published six novels, while still practicing law," she says. "The hard work and commitment have definitely paid off."

Young offers these tips for busy professionals itching to pursue their own passions.

· Schedule time to devote to your passion. "On my calendar, you'll find a few hours or full days blocked out as 'Writing Time' every week," Young says. "You have to schedule time for your passion. If you don't, the day-to-day demands of life will get in the way."

· Put "passion" time ahead of "pleasure" time. If you're working full-time and pursuing another "job," you won't have a lot of free time. "You'll have to cut back on watching television, socializing with friends and even family time," Young says. "Explain your goals to friends and family. People who have your best interests at heart will support you. "But do take an occasional break to relax.  Otherwise, you'll burn yourself out by working around the clock."

· Learn from others. Surround yourself with people who share your passion. Sign up for newsletters, read books and join communities of other like-minded people, Young says. "There are tons of professional groups whose sole function is to help their members develop their creative talents and business goals." Young is a diehard member of Sisters in Crime, an organization that promotes the advancement of women mystery writers. "Not only will you get energy and inspiration from networking with others, you'll grow."

· Don't put your day job on the backburner. Young says it's important to give your day job 100 percent. "I never want my co-workers to think I'm phoning it in because I also have a writing career." That attitude has paid off. "I have a strong support system at work. My co-workers read my books, critique my manuscripts and come to book signings." Many of the people Young thanks in the Acknowledgements in each of her books are co-workers. Her fourth novel is even dedicated to another Toyota attorney.

"Don't just dream about pursuing your passion," Young says, "make it happen!"

About Samuels Young

Pamela Samuels Young is a novelist, motivational speaker and Managing Counsel for Labor and Employment Law for Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., the sales and distribution arm for Toyota and Lexus vehicles in North America. She published the first of her six legal thrillers in 2006.  "Anybody's Daughter" is her latest. Young worked as a news writer and associate producer for KCBS-TV in Los Angeles before leaving that career to attend UC Berkeley School of Law, where, in her thirties, she pursued her dream of becoming a lawyer. To contact Young or read an excerpt of her novels, visit www.pamelasamuelsyoung.com.