MOLINE, ILLINOIS - WQPT is proud to announce the winners of the 15th Annual Reading Rainbow Young Writers and Illustrators Contest. 282 children entered the contest and WQPT picked sixteen local winners (first, second, third and honorable mention) from kindergarten through third grade. Participants chose fact or fiction, prose or poetry.

Requirements included: original, single-authored stories with K - 1 students writing a minimum of 50 words and maximum of 200... and Grades 2 -3 writing a minimum of 100 words and maximum of 350. Each age group had to illustrate a minimum of 5 drawings.

Ten local readers, many retired teachers, picked their favorite stories which were then judged by five representatives from the sponsoring organizations. They selected the 16 local winners. "The judges had a difficult task picking the finalists because so many of the stories were fun and imaginative. The winning stories combined thoughtful storytelling with strong visuals to match," said WQPT Educational Outreach Director, Ana Kehoe. Sponsors for the contest were Butterworth Center & Deere-Wiman House, Family Museum, Figge Art Museum and WQPT, Quad Cities PBS.

Local winners will receive their awards at a ceremony on May 17th at 3:00 p.m. at the Deere-Wiman House. The winning stories will be on display at the Butterworth Center in Moline, May 17 - 29, at the Figge Art Museum in Davenport, June 1 - June 19 and at the Family Museum in Bettendorf, June 22 -July 6. First place winners will compete for prizes in the national Reading Rainbow competition. The winners will be announced in July. Last year Jayda Brunkan from Eldridge was a national third place winner.

WQPT is the local public television station located in Moline, Illinois on the campus of Black Hawk College.

READING RAINBOW WINNERS 2009

KINDERGARTEN

?First Place

Baylor Verbrugge, Edward White Elementary, Eldridge.

?Second Place

Ilese Rodeffer, Avon Elementary, Avon, IL.

?Third Place

Stephanie Ruiz, Longfellow School, Rock Island.

?Honorable Mention

Qy Burke, Homeschooled, Bettendorf.

FIRST GRADE

?First Place

Jayda Brunkan, Edward White Elementary, Eldridge.

?Second Place

Abby Devinney, Temple Christian School, Moline.

?Third Place

Ellie Huh, Rivermont Collegiate, Bettendorf.

?Honorable Mention

Blake Hasson, Alwood Elementary, Alpha, IL.

SECOND GRADE

?First Place

Grace Gugelmeyer, Longfellow School, Rock Island.

?Second Place

Mabel Losey, Alwood Elementary, Alpha, IL.

?Third Place

Nicholas Epplin, Winola Elementary, Viola, IL.

?Honorable Mention

Eunice Yoon, Prophetstown Elementary, Prophetstown, IL.

THIRD GRADE

?First Place

Giavanna Mariani, Pleasant View School, Bettendorf.

?Second Place

Olivia Nelson, Cody Elementary, LeClaire.

?Third Place

Wyatt Mohr, Mediapolis Community School, Mediapolis, IA.

?Honorable Mention

Katherine Moore, Earl Hanson Elementary, Rock Island.

Rock Island, Illinois - Saint Xavier University will host an information meeting on the Master of Arts in Teaching and Leadership degree program. This degree program is for practicing teachers who want to expand their teaching repertories and improve their students' achievement. The meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 21, from 4:00-5:00 p.m. at the Quad-Cities Graduate Study Center, 639 38th Street, Rock Island, Illinois. All information meeting attendees who enroll for the next term will receive a $100 discount on tuition. Teachers will be advised about group discounts.

Those who cannot attend may receive a packet of information on the program by calling the GradCenter at (309) 794-7376, toll free 888-331-4723 or by email QC@gradcenter.org.

The Quad-Cities Graduate Study Center, through its member institutions, facilitates access to local graduate degree and certificate programs. Students are able to choose from a diverse selection of over 80 graduate degree programs and certificate programs offered in convenient locations during evening and weekend hours and via the Internet. For more information visit our website at www.gradcenter.org.

Annual event adds undergraduate opportunities

Rock Island, IL - The Quad Cities Graduate Study Center (GradCenter) is pleased to announce the 2009 GradCenter Night, to be held on Tuesday, April 14 from 4:00pm to 6:00pm at the i wireless Center. The i wireless Center is located at 1201 River Drive in Moline.

GradCenter Night is an annual event that allows adults with varied work backgrounds to meet with representatives from member institutions to explore ways to acquire new skills, build on existing skills and learn about ways to make a career change. The event is geared toward working adults who are interested in learning about courses, certificates and programs that can build on their existing education and job experience to create new opportunities for career advancement.

"Having a number of institutions in one place makes it possible for Quad Cities residents to jumpstart the development process," notes Marti Clyde, GradCenter Director. "Our students typically have very full lives, and streamlining discovery can help them chart a clear path very quickly."

According to Clyde, this year's event features a first. "We're very pleased to announce that two additional colleges will be represented for the first time," she says. "Black Hawk College and Trinity College of Nursing and Health Sciences have agreed to participate. This allows us to present information for an expanded selection of undergraduate opportunities at a time when we see additional need."

The complete list of participating institutions includes: Drake University, Northern Illinois University, Saint Xavier University, St. Ambrose University, the University of Illinois, the University of Iowa, the University of Northern Iowa, Western Illinois University, Black Hawk College and Trinity College of Nursing and Health Sciences.

GradCenter Night is open to all adults on a walk-in basis. Questions should be directed to GradCenter Director Marti Clyde at (309) 794-7376 or by email at MC@gradcenter.org.

The Quad-Cities Graduate Study Center (GradCenter) is a publicly-funded academic consortium of 10 universities incorporated in 1969. The GradCenter supports its members in offering graduate degree programs, graduate non-degree courses, and continuing professional education in the Quad Cities.  Courses are offered at the GradCenter located on the Augustana College campus in Rock Island, Illinois as well as Western Illinois University-Quad Cities, St. Ambrose University, the Kahl Educational Center, the Figge Art Museum, the New Ventures Center, and numerous other convenient locations. Programs include an array of 80+ graduate degree programs, certificate programs, and professional update courses designed for students whose work and family responsibilities make full-time study difficult.

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Applicants are sought for the Moline High School Class of "59" Scholarship through The Moline Foundation with an application deadline of Wednesday, April 15, 2009.

• Applicants must:

  • • Be a 2009 Moline High School graduate

    • Have a GPA of 2.8 on a 4.0 scale

    • Provide a transcript and proof of class rank

    • Be involved in at least one community service activity

    • Submit an essay answer to the questions "What do you anticipate your life to be like in fifty years?" and "What prompts your interest in this scholarship?"

Applicants who want to pursue a college, university or trade/technical school education are encouraged to apply for this newly established scholarship.

The scholarship funds have been generated by alumni of the Moline High School Class of 1959. They have conducted hog roasts, participated in Birdies for Charity and received other donations. The initiation of this scholarship in 2009 will commemorate the MHS Class of 1959's fiftieth reunion and the golden anniversary of the current Moline High School campus located at 3600 Avenue of the Cities, Moline.

To obtain a copy of an application for the Class of "59" scholarship, please contact the counseling department at Moline High School or call Linda at The Moline Foundation at (309)764-4193.

Founded in 1953, The Moline Foundation is a community-based, non-profit organization which provides grants to health, human services, education, community development, the arts, and other charitable organizations which benefit the citizens of the Quad City region. The Moline Foundation receives and administers charitable gifts and has a current endowment fund of approximately $13 million. For more information contact Executive Director Joy Boruff at (309) 736-3800 or visit The Moline Foundation Web site at www.molinefoundation.org.

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