STORM LAKE, IA (08/15/2011)(readMedia)-- Buena Vista University junior, Austin Baker from Blue Grass, has been selected as a UPS Scholar and recipient of a scholarship through the Iowa College Foundation, an organization which raises funds for its 23 member independent colleges in Iowa.

The Iowa College Foundation, a Foundation of Independent Higher Education (FIHE) affiliated state association, distributed $62,100 in UPA Scholarship funds to its 23 member colleges in Iowa fro the 2011-2012 academic year.  FIHE awared more tne $1.5 million in scholarships from its UPS Educational Endowment Fund to private institutions of higher learning across the nation.  These scholarships are awarded annually to students selected as UPS Scholars.

The UPS Educational Foundation Endowment Fund, which is held and administered by FIHE, was initiated through endowment gifts from the UPS Foundation totaling $4 million and is now valued at $35 million.  Since its inception, this fund has awarded over $46 million in scholarship support to over 15,000 students nationwide.

In announcing this year's scholarships, Ken Sternad, president of The UPS Foundation, said, "A college degree opens the doors to countless opportunities.  UPS takes great pride in our long-standing partnership with FIHE and in our support of thousands of students over the years who have been able to pursue an education from our nation's private colleges."

Baker is majoring in psychology and criminology and criminal justice at BVU.

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Law Expands Options for Schools in Stocking, Administering Epi-Pens

CHICAGO - August 15, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today signed legislation to increase access to potentially life-saving medicine for children with severe allergies. House Bill 3294, the School Access to Emergency Epinephrine Act, allows schools to stock and utilize epinephrine auto-injectors (often known as 'epi-pens') in the case of life-threatening allergic reactions.

"When a child suffers a severe allergic reaction, every second counts," Governor Quinn said. "With food allergies on the rise, we take action to help children with dangerous allergies. This law allows our schools to be prepared and for school nurses to take the immediate action that could save a child's life."

Sponsored by Rep. Chris Nybo (R-Elmhurst) and Sen. Jeffrey Schoenberg (D-Evanston), the new law allows schools to keep a supply of emergency epinephrine auto-injectors for students. The supply can be used in an emergency if a child forgets their prescribed epi-pen, or when a severe reaction requires a second dose. In addition, the law allows school nurses to administer epi-pens to any child suspected of having an anaphylactic (life-threatening allergic) reaction, regardless of whether the child has been previously diagnosed with an allergy. The law also protects all school personnel from liability when an epi-pen is administered in good faith. It goes into effect immediately. 

A growing percentage of children in the United States are being diagnosed with food allergies. Recent studies suggest that one in 13 children are affected by food allergies. Nearly 40 percent of children with food allergies have a history of severe reaction, and 30 percent are allergic to multiple foods. The most common food allergen is peanuts, followed by milk and shellfish.

Under current law, students with severe allergies may carry their own personally-prescribed epi-pen at school and may allow specific school personnel to administer it in case of emergency. However, before House Bill 3294 was signed into law, schools were prohibited from administering epinephrine auto-injectors to children that had forgotten their epi-pens or to children that had never been diagnosed with a severe allergy. Schools were instead required to dial 911, potentially losing key moments during a life-threatening reaction.

A quarter of anaphylactic reactions amongst children involved individuals that had not been previously diagnosed with a severe allergy. Twenty-five percent of first-time reactions to peanuts or tree nuts among children occurred in a school setting. In instances of epi-pen administrations at schools, 20 percent involved students whose condition was unknown at the time.

"I keep an epi-pen with me because I have severe allergies," Sen. Schoenberg said. "Quite a few children have food allergies, and many have reactions at school if they are unknowingly exposed to an allergen that triggers an attack. Schools should be able to respond quickly and appropriately to increase the child's chance of survival in the case of a serious allergic reaction."

Symptoms of anaphylaxis include difficulty breathing due to swelling and/or spasm in the airways, loss of consciousness, and loss of heartbeat. Anaphylaxis results in the hospitalization of 300,000 children each year. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, administering an epinephrine auto-injector is the best response to a child having an anaphylactic reaction.

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Pointers and flushers welcome in two divisions for September 25th event to "Reload Iowa"

Riverside, Iowa - August 15, 2011- Calling all bird dogs and their owners! Pheasants Forever is hosting a Fall Fun Trail on Sunday, September 25th at Highland Hideaway Hunting in Riverside, Iowa. The trial is open to pointing and flushing breeds, with all proceeds going to Pheasants Forever's Reload Iowa effort to improve wildlife habitat and carry on Iowa's upland hunting tradition.

Pheasants Forever's Fall Fun Trial will include a singles (one hunter and one dog) and doubles (two hunters and one dog) division. In the singles division, hunter and dog will have 15 minutes to score on three quail, and in the doubles division, hunters and dog will have 20 minutes to score on five quail. The event is limited to the first 50 entries, and individuals and teams may enter multiple times. Prizes will be awarded for the first place winner in each division.

"The success of our Spring Fun Trial demonstrated how passionate hunters are about conservation," said Tom Fuller, Pheasants Forever's Regional Representative in eastern Iowa, "There is no other group more involved with hunting and conservation than bird dog owners, so this initiative is a perfect fit for them to be involved with." One hundred percent of proceeds from Pheasants Forever's Fall Fun Trial will go to the Reload Iowa effort, which is Pheasants Forever's aggressive strategy for establishing and improving 1 million acres of wildlife habitat, increasing the number of upland hunters and increasing hunting-related revenue to local communities.

The singles event is $30 per run and the doubles event is $50 per run. Clay shooting (5 stand) will be available between runs for $10. Lunch will also be available. Visit Highland Hideaway Hunting for directions. For more information about Pheasants Forever's Fall Fun Trial, including full rules, contact Tom at (319) 321-9775 / Email Tom.

Iowa is home to 101 Pheasants Forever chapters, 2 Quail Forever chapters and more than 20,000 Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever members. For more information on "The Habitat Organization" in Iowa, visit Iowa Pheasants Forever.

Pheasants Forever, including its quail conservation division, Quail Forever, is the nation's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to upland habitat conservation. Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever have more than 130,000 members and 700 local chapters across the United States and Canada. Chapters are empowered to determine how 100 percent of their locally raised conservation funds are spent - the only national conservation organization that operates through this truly grassroots structure.

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DES MOINES, IA (08/14/2011)(readMedia)-- This evening at the Indiana State Fair there was a weather-related tragedy during the Sugarland concert. As a result, the Sugarland/Sara Bareilles show planned for Sunday, August 14 at the Iowa State Fair will not take place as scheduled. There has been no decision if the concert will be rescheduled so ticketholders should retain their tickets.

Most importantly, our hearts and prayers go out to all people involved in the Indiana State Fair concert tragedy.

The Iowa State Fair will continue to release updates about the status of rescheduling the Sugarland show. Please check the Fair's websitewww.iowastatefair.org for important information.

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