07 Sep 2012

Reginald Hurt Graduates from Grantham University

By Jessica Peak

KANSAS CITY, MO (09/04/2012)(readMedia)-- Reginald Hurt of Davenport, IA graduated from Grantham University on April 9, 2012. Hurt earned a/an Master of Business Administration - Project Management With Distinction.

Grantham University was founded in 1951 by Donald Grantham, a veteran of World War II, to help prepare veterans for new jobs in the electronics' industry and a better future upon their return to civilian life. Today, the University supports thousands of online students in 36 different associate, bachelor's and master's degree programs.

Grantham's courses are 100% online, allowing students to study at home, at work, on Temporary Duty (TDY) or from almost anywhere in the world. Accredited since 1961 by the Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council, Grantham University has compiled a distinguished record as a respected and accredited distance learning university spanning six decades of service to education. For more information about the University and its online degree programs, visit: http://www.grantham.edu.

07 Sep 2012

Branstad, Reynolds, Allen to hold 14 STEM community conversations

By Office of Governor Terry Branstad

(DES MOINES) -  Gov. Terry Branstad, Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds and University of Northern Iowa President Ben Allen today announced a series of community conversations featuring science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education and economic development that will take place across the state in September and October.

The community conversations are designed seek feedback from Iowans about what priorities the Governor's STEM Advisory Council should focus on as the STEM initiative continues to build across Iowa.

"We are determined to provide Iowa's young people with engaging STEM education opportunities, no matter where they live," said Reynolds, co-chair of the Governor's STEM Advisory Council. "That will help assure more students are well equipped to be knowledgeable citizens and to someday begin college or career training prepared for success. It also will help assure a stronger STEM employee pipeline for Iowa's businesses and industries."

All parents, grandparents, educators, business and civic leaders, legislators and other Iowans are invited to attend the hour-long, town hall style meetings.

"We are in the process of rolling out STEM programs through our scale-up initiative and these community conversations are a way to foster STEM relationships between local businesses, the regional STEM networks and area schools," said Allen, co-chair of the Governor's STEM Advisory Council.

The Governor's STEM Advisory Council is a public-private partnership whose overarching goal is creating greater student achievement in STEM subjects and a stronger STEM workforce.

"STEM jobs are projected to be among the fastest growing and best paying. Iowa's economy also will benefit if more young people are ready for STEM jobs. Employers routinely tell us they have difficulty filling STEM jobs that pay well because applicants lack the right skill set," said Branstad.

The following STEM Community Conversation events are open to the public:

Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2012

9:30 a.m. Gov. Branstad, Lt. Gov. Reynolds and President Allen hold Tama County STEM Community Conversation

Reinig Center

1007 Prospect Dr.

Toledo, IA

11:30 a.m. Gov. Branstad, Lt. Gov. Reynolds and President Allen hold Black Hawk County STEM Community Conversation

University of Northern Iowa - Center for Energy and Environmental Education - Main Lobby

1227 W 27th St.

Cedar Falls, IA

Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2012

9 a.m. Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds hold Greene County STEM Community Conversation

Greene County Community Center

204 W Harrison St.

Jefferson, IA

10:30 a.m. Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds hold Boone County STEM Community Conversation

DMACC Boone Campus - Auditorium

1125 Hancock Dr.

Boone, IA

12:30 p.m. Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds hold Marshall County STEM Community Conversation

Emerson Innovation Center, Fisher Technology

301 S 1st Ave.

Marshalltown, IA

Monday, Sept. 17, 2012

10 a.m. Lt. Gov. Reynolds and President Allen hold Polk County STEM Community Conversation

Drake Legal Clinic Courtroom

2400 University Ave.

Des Moines, IA

1:30 p.m. Lt. Gov. Reynolds holds Warren County STEM Community Conversation

Simpson College - McNeil Hall - Pioneer Conference Room

701 North C St.

Indianola, IA

Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012

1:30 p.m. Lt. Gov. Reynolds and President Allen hold Union County STEM Community Conversation

Southwestern Community College - Instructional Center Room 180

1501 W Townline St.

Creston, IA

4 p.m. Lt. Gov. Reynolds and President Allen hold Taylor County STEM Community Conversation

Bedford High School - Auditorium

906 Penn St.

Bedford, IA

Friday, Oct. 5, 2012

9 a.m. Lt. Gov. Reynolds holds Emmet County STEM Community Conversation

Iowa Lakes Community College - Wind Energy Facility

2021 7th Ave. S

Estherville, IA

2 p.m. Lt. Gov. Reynolds holds Webster County STEM Community Conversation

Iowa Central Community College - Bioscience and Health Services Auditorium (BHS105)

330 Ave. M

Fort Dodge, IA

Monday, Oct. 8, 2012

12:30 p.m. Lt. Gov. Reynolds holds Muscatine County STEM Community Conversation

Muscatine Community Schools Administrative Center - Conference Room

2900 Mulberry Ave.

Muscatine, IA

3:30 p.m. Lt. Gov. Reynolds holds Des Moines County STEM Community Conversation

Greater Burlington Partnership - Winegard Board Room

610 N 4th St., Suite 200

Burlington, IA

Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2012

2 p.m. Lt. Gov. Reynolds holds Linn County STEM Community Conversation

The Hotel at Kirkwood Community College - Ballroom

7725 Kirkwood Blvd. SW

Cedar Rapids, IA

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07 Sep 2012

TILE classrooms promote active, student-centered learning

By Hawkeye Caucus

What if students had classes that helped them earn better grades and that they liked better than traditional classes?  At the University of Iowa, thousands of students now have an opportunity to do just that as they experience a very active style of learning through tech-infused TILE classrooms.

TILE stands for Transform, Interact, Learn, Engage.  Since 2010, the UI has created five of these student-centered learning spaces, which support in-class collaboration, inquiry-based learning, peer instruction, and more interaction with faculty.  TILE rooms accommodate 27 to 81 students and are equipped with round tables, laptops, and whiteboards to facilitate hands-on projects and small-group discussions.  Multiple projectors and screens around the room allow them to share their work.

To date, instructors have taught 148 TILE courses in an array of fields, including STEM disciplines, foreign language, education, political science, theater arts, business, urban and regional planning, and more.

DID YOU KNOW?

ITS-Instructional Services is assessing the difference in learning outcomes in TILE and traditional classrooms.  All other things equal, students in TILE classrooms earned slightly higher grades than students taking the same courses in regular rooms?an outcome consistent with prior research about similar classrooms at M.I.T. and the University of Minnesota.

QUOTE/UNQUOTE

Sample comments from UI students who took TILE classes: "It compels collaboration." "It gives us a chance to learn from each other." "It's more of a facilitator's classroom versus a lecturer that holds all of the knowledge and bestows it on us."


05 Sep 2012

Skip-a-Long Child Development Services - Rock Island Campus - ALL staff now hold CDA Credential!

By Rick Martin
Skip-a-Long Child Development Services is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing high-quality, accessible care to all children, staff at the center regularly participate in training opportunities and continuing education. Today the staff at this center have reached a milestone!

EVERY staff member at the Rock Island Skip-a-Long Campus now holds a CDA (Child Development Associate) Credential! This means all staff who nurture and teach our children at this site are Teacher Qualified.

According to The Council for Professional Recognition, "The Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential™ is based on a core set of competency standards, which guide early care professionals as they work toward becoming qualified teachers of young children. The Council works to ensure that the nationally-transferable CDA is a credible and valid credential, recognized by the profession as a vital part of professional development."

We are very grateful and thankful for our dedicated staff who work to ensure excellence and quality in our child care center. Please celebrate this achievement with us, because it means that when you put your trust in Skip-a-Long to care for your child you can be assured that he or she is receiving the best care available from an organization whose mission is to provide "high-quality accessible child development services where learning is fun!"
30 Aug 2012

Rep. Morthland: WIU Breaking Ground on Future

By Rep. Rich Morthland

Moline, IL ... Today, Rep. Rich Morthland (R-Cordova) participated in the groundbreaking ceremony for Phase II of the new Western Illinois University Quad Cities Riverfront campus in Moline.

"I am grateful for all of the hard work that went into this worthwhile project," said Morthland. "With the opening of Phase I and now the groundbreaking of Phase II, the Quad Cities no longer has to hang its' head as the largest community in America without a public 4-year university."

Morthland says this is an important step towards the development of WIU and the Quad Cities.

"This is a tremendous day for WIU and our other institutions of higher education. We are not just breaking ground on a new building; we are breaking ground on the future of the Quad Cities. This is a wonderful example of what can be accomplished when leaders from both the public and private sector come together and work towards a common goal."

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30 Aug 2012

USDA Celebrates the Start of a Healthier School Year for America's Kids

By Rick Martin

New Standards Ensure Students are Offered Healthier, More Nutritious Foods in the Lunch Line

USDA.gov logo

WASHINGTON, August 29, 2012 - Agriculture Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services Kevin Concannon today announced that America's students will see healthier and more nutritious foods in the cafeteria as they return to school this year. The new nutrition standards for school meals, implemented as a result of the historic Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, will help to combat child hunger and obesity and improve the health and nutrition of the nation's children.

"Improving the nutrition of school meals is an important investment in the future of America's children," said Concannon. "We know that healthy food plays a vital role in strengthening a child's body and mind and the healthier school meals will help to ensure our children can learn, grow, and reach their full potential."

Starting this school year, schools will phase in the nutrition standards over a three-year period. Schools will focus on changes in the lunches in the first year, with most changes in breakfast to take place in future years. The new meal standards:

-          Ensure students are offered both fruits and vegetables every day of the week;

-          Substantially increase offerings of whole grain-rich foods and low-fat milk or fat-free milk varieties;

-          Limit calories based on the age of children being served to ensure proper portion size; and

-          Focus on reducing the amounts of saturated fat, trans fats and sodium.

The new meal requirements are raising standards for the first time in more than fifteen years and improving the health and nutrition of nearly 32 million kids that participate in school meal programs every school day. The healthier school meals are a key component of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, which was championed by the First Lady as part of her Let's Move! campaign and signed into law by President Obama.

Watch a special back to school welcome video from First Lady Michelle Obama.

USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) oversees the administration of 15 nutrition assistance programs, including school meals programs, that touch the lives of one in four Americans over the course of a year. These programs work in concert to form a national safety net against hunger. Visit www.fns.usda.gov for information about FNS and nutrition assistance programs. To learn about the meal standards, go to www.fns.usda.gov/healthierschoolday.

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30 Aug 2012

Governor Quinn Announces New Advanced Science Building at University of Illinois at Chicago

By Leslie Wertheimer

Project Expected to Create Nearly 300 Jobs and 
Boost Illinois Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing and Research

 

CHICAGO - August 29, 2012. As part of his commitment to putting people back to work and fueling economic growth, Governor Quinn today announced the construction of the Advanced Chemical Technology Building (ACTB) at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). The $104 million project will be supported by a $64 million investment from state capital funds and is expected to create more than 200 construction jobs, in addition to 81 permanent campus jobs once the project is completed. The ACTB will serve as a new hub for high-tech investment and cement UIC's position as one of the nation's leading research universities.

 

"The best investment a state can make is in education," Governor Quinn said. "Today's announcement means more jobs, more innovation and a stronger University of Illinois-Chicago that will support our students as they prepare to enter the 21st century workforce."

 

The ACTB will house select UIC faculty from chemistry, biology and physics and support cutting-edge research focused on connections between chemistry, physics and biology, such as tumor growth, HIV/AIDS, immunology, dental services, orthopedics, laser dynamics, nanoscience and environmental science.

Construction on the building is scheduled to begin after the end of the current school year and take approximately 30 months to complete.

 

"This state-of-the-art facility will bring together top researchers who will pool their expertise to develop pioneering solutions to society's most critical problems. By working together, they will forge cutting-edge approaches that might never have surfaced working alone. On behalf of the university, I'm deeply grateful to Governor Pat Quinn and the General Assembly for their generous financial support of this critical investment in Illinois' future," University of Illinois President Robert Easter said.

 

The new chemical technology building will be designed to increase collaboration between scientists and encourage greater sharing of technology and advanced research, which will increase productivity and research quality. The facility will contain state-of-the-art laboratories for chemical scientists and other researchers. The environmentally-friendly building will also be submitted for a minimum LEED Silver certification.

 

Research activity in the building will include drug discovery and development, neuroscience, nanoscience, bioscience and materials science, and is expected to generate new innovative commercialized technology, patent filings and start-up companies with substantial economic benefits to the city and state through job creation in biopharmaceuticals and other areas. The building also will enable UIC faculty to generate more competitive external research funding and intellectual projects.

 

Governor Quinn's Illinois Jobs Now! program includes $1.5 billion for higher education, including $788 million for public universities and $400 million for community colleges. The overall $31 billion program is creating and supporting an estimated 439,000 construction jobs and is the largest capital construction program in Illinois history.

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30 Aug 2012

Area Students named to Illinois College Dean's List

By Elizabeth Findley

JACKSONVILLE, IL (08/29/2012)(readMedia)-- The following students were named to Illinois College's spring semester dean's list:

Daniel Brasel is the son of Christopher and Beatriz Brasel of East Moline. He is a graduate of United High School .

Taylor Brien is the daughter of Barbara Mansholt of Bettendorf. She is a graduate of Bettendorf High School .

Elizabeth Manary is the daughter of Nancy Manary of Moline. She is a graduate of Moline High School and earned a straight A-average.

Kelsey McFarren is the daughter of Boyd and Sally McFarren of Fulton. She is a graduate of Fulton High School .

Mackenzie Oak is the daughter of Kevin and Cynthia Oak of Taylor Ridge. She is a graduate of Rockridge High School .

Hannah Oak is the daughter of Kevin and Cynthia Oak of Taylor Ridge. She is a graduate of Rockridge High School and earned a straight A-average.

Candidates for the dean's list must complete at least 14 semester hours and post a grade point average of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale. All grades must be C or better, and no more than one C grade is allowed.

Founded in 1829, Illinois College is a residential liberal arts college fostering academic excellence rooted in opportunities for experiential learning while preparing students for lifelong success.

30 Aug 2012

JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF THE HEARTLAND RECEIVES NATIONAL HONOR

By April Kathe

Moline, IL - Junior Achievement of the Heartland has been awarded one of Junior Achievement USA's (JA) highest honors, the Silver Summit Award. The award is given to local JA offices that have reached outstanding success in financial health, program quality, management effectiveness and program growth for three consecutive years.

"These Summit Award winners represent the best Junior Achievement has to offer," said Jack E. Kosakowski, president and chief executive officer of Junior Achievement USA. "They set the standard by which Junior Achievement's success is measured at the local level. Their commitment and dedication to young people is reflected in their achieving this honor."

"We are thrilled to receive the Silver Summit Award," said Barbara VenHorst, president of JA of the Heartland. "We would like to thank all the classroom volunteers and hundreds of corporate partners who joined with our board and staff to empower more than 55,000 young people in our 24-county area to own their economic success. We look forward to helping even more students develop the confidence they need to succeed in the 21st century workplace."

About Junior Achievement® (JA)

Junior Achievement is the world's largest organization dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their future, and make smart academic and economic choices.  JA programs are delivered by corporate and community volunteers, and provide relevant, hands-on experiences that give students from kindergarten through high school knowledge and skills in financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship.  Today, JA reaches four million students per year in more than 120 markets across the United States, with an additional six million students served by operations in 119 other countries worldwide.  Visit www.ja.org for more information.

Locally, Junior Achievement of the Heartland serves 24 countries in eastern Iowa, western Illinois and Grant County in Wisconsin. Approximately 55,000 kindergarten through high school students benefit from JA programs each year.  Visit www.jaheartland.org for local information.

 

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29 Aug 2012

JOHANNES BUS SERVICE, INC REMINDS THAT SCHOOL BUS SAFETY IS FOR EVERYONE

By Stephanie Johannes-Thomer
August 28, 2012

Rock Island, Illinois - With the current school year underway Johannes Bus Service, Inc. (JBS) would like to remind everyone to be watching out for the yellow bus and the children that are ever present when a school bus is around. "A study done by the U.S. Department of Transportation states that children are safer riding the school bus to and from school than being driven in a  car by an adult", says Stephanie Johannes-Thomer, JBS Marketing Director. "But, that doesn't mean we should relax when we see a yellow school bus approaching; here are some quick and easy lessons to remember when around a school bus."

Never pass a school bus on the right side, not only is it illegal, but it is extremely dangerous; students exit from the right and buses are not always able to move over to the curb.

Yellow means caution and SLOW DOWN; when you see a bus turn on their yellow flashers it means they will be stopping very soon to pick up or drop off a child, so be on ALERT.

Red means STOP; when the red flashers come and the stop arm comes out, a child will be entering or exiting the bus. And as a driver of a car, you need to be alert as to where that child is going. If a child is going to cross, they normally do so immediately after exiting, BUT please be aware where that child is at all times. You never know when a child is going to dart back out into  traffic. And a friendly reminder to those who try to pass while the red flashers are on and the stop arm is out; it is ILLEGAL and you could be ticketed, even if a police officer isn't present. Let's try to reduce those numbers and keep our children safe from harm.

Railroad crossings are also tricky; school buses MUST also stop and open their door to look and listen for on coming trains. Please pay attention so as not to rear end a bus that is stopped at the tracks.

The Danger Zone should be something all children and adults know, if you are within 10 giant steps of the school bus, the driver can not see you. So, it is important all children know this.

In general just be aware of school bus routes in your area; be patient when driving during the morning and afternoon hours when buses are running their routes. Most routes in the Rock Island/Milan and Moline areas are door to door, so there are a lot of stops that are taking place. And for our outlying areas in Mercer County, please be aware of school bus stops along the highways! We do have many of those stops as well. Just know when you see YELLOW (the school bus) slow down!

Other important items:

• National School Bus Safety Week is: October 22-26, 2012 hosted by National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT), National School Transportation Association (NSTA), National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS) and the American School Bus Council

• February is "Love the Bus" Month - a month dedicated to raise awareness and appreciation for the hundreds of thousands of school bus drivers who safely transport children to school and from school sponsored by the American School Bus Council www.lovethebus.com

• School Bus Safety Coloring Pages - click on the Bus Safety Tab  www.johannesbus.com

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