Lecture highlights nineteenth-century artists including Edgar Degas, Mary Cassatt and James McNeill Whistler

The Figge Art Museum presents the first lecture in a four-part series entitled "Celebrating Ideas" at 7 pm Thursday, April 7. Dr. Catherine Carter Goebel, Paul A. Anderson Chair in the Arts and Professor of Art History at Augustana College will present the lecture "Framing Art in the Liberal Arts: Bridging Communities with Augustana's Liberal Arts through the AGES." The two-part lecture will begin with an introduction to the Augustana General Education Studies (AGES) program by Dr. Goebel and Dr. Ellen Hay, Interim Dean, Augustana College. The AGES program encourages Augustana faculty to use original works of art to teach a variety of disciplines.  Dr. Goebel will then lead a gallery talk on nineteenth-century works of art in the exhibition, highlighting works by Edgar Degas, Mary Cassatt, and James McNeill Whistler.

The lecture series is offered in conjunction with the special exhibition Celebrating Ideas, Bridging Communities with Augustana's: Liberal Arts through the AGES, on view at the Figge through May 29. The exhibition of 100 works is in celebration of Augustana's 150th anniversary, and presents a rich and diverse art historical overview of pieces from the Augustana College Art Collection that are used in the AGES program. The exhibition was co-curated by Dr. Goebel and Dr. Mary Em Kirn, Professor Emerita of Art History, Augustana College. Upcoming lectures by Augustana College faculty and staff include : "What are the Ideas and Where are the Bridges?," Sherry C. Maurer, Director of the Augustana College Art Museum, 7 pm Thursday, April 14; "Egypt, Athens, Rome?and Us: Five Millennia of Connections through Art, Dr. Emil Kramer, Associate Professor and Chair of Classics, 7pm Thursday, April 21; and "Linking the Verbal and the Visual Text," Dr. Taddy Kalas, Professor and Chair of French, 7 pm Thursday, April 28

The "Celebrating Ideas" series is part of the Figge's weekly Thursdays at the Figge programming. Admission to the museum and lecture is $7. Admission is free to Figge members and Figge institutional members. The Figge Arts Café and Bar will be open before and after the lecture.

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LOVES PARK, IL (04/04/2011)(readMedia)-- Several Loves Park VFW members had a chance to ride in an Illinois Army National Guard Blackhawk April 2. The event's timing held special significance, as the Department of Defense (DoD) has recognized this year as the 50-year anniversary of the start of the Vietnam War.

"This felt pretty familiar," said Jim Puckett of Loves Park, a member of the Loves Park VFW and former Marine Sgt. who served in Da Nang province, Vietnam, as a member of 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Division. Puckett said he spent his fair share of time in a helicopter.

"I was only eighteen at the time," he said. "It was an eye-opening experience."

Puckett, who is also the Loves Park police chief, served as a squad radio operator in the Infantry during Vietnam.

"It was scary, but I remember it being a beautiful country," he said.

Retired Army Spc. Marvin Matthees of Loves Park shared Puckett's feelings.

"It was a scary time; there were a lot of bad aspects," he said.

Matthees, who served as a crew chief and door gunner on a UH1D helicopter with the 336th Assault Helicopter Company, was responsible for putting Soldiers on the ground, making supply runs and performing maintenance on the aircraft.

"We were pretty busy," he said. "We got mortared a lot."

Matthees said his first night in Saigon was a memorable one.

"We had just laid down in our bunks when we got hit by a mortar attack," he recalled. "It was one heck of a wakeup call."

Matthees said he was amazed at how far the military's equipment had come.

"Things are a lot more advanced now," he said. "I think the training is a little more extensive too."

There have been other positive changes, Puckett said.

"Definitely being able to stay in touch more with loved ones was a major change," he said.

Matthees agreed.

"I was married right before I left and my daughter was born while I was overseas," he said.

While Matthees said it was very hard for him, his wife and daughter made it all worthwhile.

"Pamela stuck with me through the whole thing," he said.

Puckett said the day's activities reminded him of how much today's military men and women sacrifice, and how proud he is of them.

"My hat's off to them," he said. "They're doing a fantastic job. We support them 100 percent."

In fact, Puckett was recognized by the DoD as a Patriotic Employer for his treatment of National Guard Soldiers within his department.

"In our department right now we have a guy getting ready to go over," he said. "Nothing has changed; these guys are the ones in harm's way. I think the Guard is doing a great job. How can you not support your troops, when they're the ones keeping us free?"

Matthees agreed and said "We all go do our duty. I was proud to serve."

Puckett said he had nothing but good things to say about his time in service.

"I would have no problem going back in right now," he said. "I loved doing what I did and serving my country."

The flight also included several teachers from the area who will take their experiences back to the classroom, sharing the importance of military history with their students.

Photo 1/ Photo by U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Rob Fafoglia, 139th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment/

Several members of the Loves Park VFW wait to receive their pre-flight briefing before an orientation flight April 2. Several of the VFW's members are veterans of the Vietnam War. The Department of Defense is recognizing 2011 as the 50th anniversary of the start of the Vietnam War, as 1961 marks the year the first full units were deployed to Vietnam.

Photo 2/ Photo by U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Rob Fafoglia, 139th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

Members of the Loves Park VFW receive a pre-flight briefing before their orientation flight on April 2. Several members of the VFW are veterans of the Vietnam War. The Department of Defense is recognizing 2011 as the 50th anniversary of the start of the Vietnam War, as 1961 marks the year the first full units were deployed there.

For Video go to: http://www.dvidshub.net/video/111748/vietnam-veteran-flight

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ROCK ISLAND, IL (04/04/2011)(readMedia)-- 910 students have been named to the Dean's List at Augustana College for the 2010-11 winter term. Students who have earned this academic honor have maintained a grade point average of 3.5 or higher on a four-point scale for courses taken during the term.

From your area, students who have earned this honor include :

Katherine Voigt from Bettendorf, IA, a senior majoring in biology.

Emily Voigt from Bettendorf, IA, a senior majoring in business administration marketing.

Anna Tunnicliff from Bettendorf, IA, a sophomore majoring in history.

Tyler Cowherd from Bettendorf, IA, a first year majoring in liberal studies.

Fenner Hengst from Bettendorf, IA, a first year majoring in liberal studies.

Rayna Narvaez from Bettendorf, IA, a senior majoring in psychology and Spanish.

Peter Wessels from Bettendorf, IA, a junior majoring in business administration advising and accounting.

Moselle Singh from Le Claire, IA, a sophomore majoring in anthropology.

Regina Jarrell from Davenport, IA, a senior majoring in art.

Thomas Harris from Davenport, IA, a sophomore majoring in biochemistry and biology.

James Wiebler from Davenport, IA, a first year majoring in biology.

Kelsey Lovaas from Davenport, IA, a sophomore majoring in liberal studies.

Gaetano Iaccarino from Davenport, IA, a senior majoring in music general and anthropology.

Anthony Ash from Davenport, IA, a sophomore majoring in accounting and business administration advising.

Trevor Fennelly from Davenport, IA, a first year majoring in liberal studies.

Jasmine Brooks from Davenport, IA, a sophomore majoring in political science.

Audrey Waner from Davenport, IA, a senior majoring in art.

Anna Rusch from Davenport, IA, a first year majoring in business administration advising.

Nicholas Kendell from Davenport, IA, a first year majoring in liberal studies.

Owen Engstrom from Davenport, IA, a junior majoring in political science.

Jacob O'Rourke from Davenport, IA, a sophomore majoring in accounting and business administration advising.

Kylie Koger from Davenport, IA, a first year majoring in liberal studies.

Cristina Stan from Davenport, IA, a first year majoring in liberal studies.

Manisha Kumar from Davenport, IA, a sophomore majoring in pre-medicine and biology.

James Sales from Rock Island, IL, a senior majoring in biology.

Anna Letendre from Rock Island, IL, a sophomore majoring in business administration advising.

Matthew Nykaza from Rock Island, IL, a senior majoring in business administration marketing.

Wiktoria Pecak from Rock Island, IL, a senior majoring in chemistry.

Clare Kilbride from Rock Island, IL, a sophomore majoring in communication science and disorders.

Wesley Solether from Rock Island, IL, a senior majoring in English.

Katie Alms from Rock Island, IL, a senior majoring in English and music general.

Nathaniel McDowell from Rock Island, IL, a senior majoring in English and philosophy.

Timothy Gillman from Rock Island, IL, a junior majoring in geography.

Kathryn Pauls from Rock Island, IL, a senior majoring in geology and Spanish.

Andrew Shaffer from Rock Island, IL, a senior majoring in honors history major.

Sheila Ahuja from Rock Island, IL, a first year majoring in liberal studies.

Owen Pomije from Rock Island, IL, a first year majoring in liberal studies.

Katherine Rea from Rock Island, IL, a first year majoring in liberal studies.

Samuel Anderson from Rock Island, IL, a senior majoring in math and computer science.

Courtney Vandewiele from Rock Island, IL, a senior majoring in political science and accounting.

Sarah Potter from Rock Island, IL, a senior majoring in psychology.

Hannah Boyce from Rock Island, IL, a senior majoring in psychology and history.

Alexis Silvers from Rock Island, IL, a senior majoring in sociology.

Brianna Dyer from Rock Island, IL, a senior majoring in teaching English.

Christopher Hildreth from Rock Island, IL, a first year majoring in liberal studies.

Crystina Mayfield from Coal Valley, IL, a junior majoring in French and Africana studies.

Erica Aten from Coal Valley, IL, a junior majoring in psychology.

Michael Kautz from East Moline, IL, a sophomore majoring in accounting.

Conner Martinez from East Moline, IL, a junior majoring in accounting.

Matthew Kustes from East Moline, IL, a senior majoring in business management information systems.

Amber Soike from East Moline, IL, a junior majoring in elementary education.

Leart Neziroski from East Moline, IL, a sophomore majoring in pre-medicine and biology.

Astrid Tello-Rodriguez from Milan, IL, a sophomore majoring in psychology.

Kayla Papish from East Moline, IL, a senior majoring in teaching math and math.

Allison Brown from Milan, IL, a first year majoring in liberal studies.

Dalinda Widdop from Milan, IL, a first year majoring in liberal studies.

Brian Stone from Milan, IL, a senior majoring in teaching math and math.

Abdur Razzaque from Moline, IL, a senior majoring in accounting.

Michael Reeves from Moline, IL, a senior majoring in accounting.

Allison Hughes from Moline, IL, a senior majoring in accounting and business administration marketing.

Meghan Showers from Moline, IL, a senior majoring in Asian studies and political science.

Abigail House from Moline, IL, a junior majoring in biology.

Mark Stumphy from Moline, IL, a senior majoring in biology.

Anna Smith from Moline, IL, a senior majoring in biology and psychology.

Austin Boyle from Moline, IL, a sophomore majoring in business administration advising.

Felipe Aguilar from Moline, IL, a senior majoring in business administration management.

Amy Malmstead from Moline, IL, a junior majoring in business administration marketing.

Andrew Showers from Moline, IL, a sophomore majoring in computer science and philosophy.

Jasmin Landeros from Moline, IL, a senior majoring in elementary education.

Lauren Kirik from Moline, IL, a first year majoring in liberal studies.

Madison Logan from Moline, IL, a first year majoring in liberal studies.

Jonathan Smith from Moline, IL, a sophomore majoring in liberal studies.

Calvin Vo from Moline, IL, a sophomore majoring in liberal studies.

Martha Ade from Moline, IL, a senior majoring in music general and English.

Alyssa Harmon from Moline, IL, a senior majoring in political science.

Kalin Showers from Moline, IL, a senior majoring in political science.

Justine Nuguid from Moline, IL, a junior majoring in pre-medicine and biology.

Courtney Mitten from Moline, IL, a senior majoring in psychology.

Audrey Taylor from Moline, IL, a senior majoring in teaching biology and biology.

Nicole Johnson from Moline, IL, a senior majoring in teaching English.

Mary Lambrecht from Moline, IL, a sophomore majoring in sociology and psychology.

Kjerstin Hurty from Moline, IL, a sophomore majoring in business administration advising.

Theodore Teros from Moline, IL, a senior majoring in philosophy.

Mohammed Hussain from Moline, IL, a senior majoring in biology, religion and pre-medicine.

Darshan Hullon from Moline, IL, a first year majoring in biology and pre-medicine.

Ryan Hancock from Orion, IL, a senior majoring in geography.

Kayla Ferguson from Orion, IL, a sophomore majoring in liberal studies.

Alyssa Zwicker from Orion, IL, a first year majoring in liberal studies.

Jenna Nelson from Orion, IL, a sophomore majoring in math and teaching math.

Amber Anderson from Port Byron, IL, a sophomore majoring in accounting and math.

Courtney Brown from Port Byron, IL, a junior majoring in biology and pre-medicine.

Emma Thompson from Port Byron, IL, a first year majoring in liberal studies.

Douglas Peters from Port Byron, IL, a sophomore majoring in neuroscience.

Lauren Reid from Sherrard, IL, a junior majoring in business administration marketing and communication studies.

Alexandra Jones from Sherrard, IL, a first year majoring in liberal studies.

Megan Lecander from Sherrard, IL, a senior majoring in business administration management.

Chelsea Vickerman from Silvis, IL, a sophomore majoring in business administration advising.

Jennifer Youngs from Taylor Ridge, IL, a junior majoring in psychology and political science.

About Augustana: Founded in 1860 and situated on a 115-acre campus near the Mississippi River, Augustana College is a private, liberal arts institution affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The college enrolls 2,500 students from diverse geographic, social, ethnic and religious backgrounds and offers more than 70 majors and related areas of study. Augustana employs 287 faculty and has a student-faculty ratio of 11:1. Augustana continues to do what it has always done: challenge and prepare students for lives of leadership and service in our complex, ever-changing world.

FAYETTE, IA (04/01/2011)(readMedia)-- Upper Iowa University announced today that over 400 students have completed their degree requirements in December 2010, which makes them eligible to receive their UIU diploma during the official University commencement exercises. Three consecutive ceremonies will be held on the Fayette, Iowa campus on Saturday, May 7, 2011.

Students in your area include the following:

Luke Chester Hank, Davenport, Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice

John Javon-Perry Banks, Rock Island, Bachelor of Science, Community Recreation

Michael Aaron Cripps, Andalusia, Bachelor of Science, Social Science

For more information about Upper Iowa University's May commencement ceremonies, go to www.uiu.edu.

About Upper Iowa University

Founded in 1857, Upper Iowa University is a private, not-for-profit university providing undergraduate and graduate degree programs and leadership development opportunities to nearly 6,800 students-nationally and internationally-at its Fayette campus and learning centers worldwide. Upper Iowa University is a recognized innovator in offering accredited, quality programs through flexible, multiple delivery systems, including online and independent study. For more information, visit www.uiu.edu.

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