WALLA WALLA, Wa.  (May 12, 2015) ---Sarah Cronk of Bettendorf is graduating from Whitman College in Walla Walla, Wash.

Cronk is a 2011 graduate of Pleasant Valley High School and will receive a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology during the Whitman commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 24, 2015.

Founded in 1882, Whitman College is an independent, non-sectarian residential college fostering intellectual vitality, confidence and leadership in its 1,500 students. Also noted for its commitment to environmental principles, Whitman is characterized by intellect, down-to-earth sensibilities, collaboration over competition and an active lifestyle.

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Jordan Catholic School's 5th and 6th grade students participate in the EarlyAct Club. Jordan Catholic School's Rotary EarlyAct Club's goal is to benefit our school, community, and the world. To that end, the club conducted a week-long "Change for Change" fundraiser to support for the World Wildlife Federation.

All grade levels competed to collect the most pennies and choose an endangered animal that the school would adopt. The fundraiser brought in $638.79- much more than expected, so much that each grade will get to adopt an animal!

LINCOLN, NE (05/12/2015)(readMedia)-- Nearly 3,000 degrees were awarded during commencement exercises May 8 and 9 at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Patricia Crews, Willa Cather Professor of Textiles, Merchandising and Fashion Design and founding director of the International Quilt Student Center and Museum, gave the address at the May 8 graduate degree ceremony at Pinnacle Bank Arena, 400 Pinnacle Arena Drive; Barbara Hendricks, opera singer and UNL alumna, delivered the address at the undergraduate ceremony May 9 at Pinnacle Bank Arena; and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., author and environmental attorney, addressed law graduates May 9 in a ceremony at the Lied Center for Performing Arts, 301 N. 12th St.

The graduates were from 39 states and 28 countries. For a complete list of graduates, go to http://go.unl.edu/6i8a.

Geneseo: Garrett Philip Donaldson , College of Arts and Sciences, bachelor of sciencewith distinction

Rock Island: Laura Ann Zangori , Graduate Studies, doctor of philosophy

ALLIANCE, OH (05/12/2015)(readMedia)-- Courtney Wachal, a senior French and international studies major of Betterdorf, Iowa, presented research on international governments at the Mid-East Honors Association (MEHA) Conference from April 10 to April 12 at Kent State University.

All Mount Union Honors students were invited to submit a proposal to the conference. The students and faculty who attended all had their proposals accepted for presentation.

"The presentations represented research and scholarship completed across the Honors program curriculum, including work done in Honors in the Major theses and projects and work done in University Honors courses, including the Honors FYS and the Honors theme course," said Dr. Nicole L. Johnson, assistant professor of philosophy and religious studies and interdisciplinary liberal studies and co-director of the Honors program at the University of Mount Union.

MEHA is a regional affiliate of the National Collegiate Honors Council, which encourages and supports honors programs in the region. Institutions of higher education from Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and West Virginia are welcome to participate. Approximately 300 students, faculty and administrators presented.

University of Mount Union The University of Mount Union, founded in 1846, is a four-year, private institution grounded in the liberal arts tradition. The University is located in Alliance, OH, 80 miles of both Cleveland and Pittsburgh. Mount Union offers an array of broad-based and career-specific undergraduate and graduate programs to its 2,200 students who experience outstanding opportunities for success after graduation. Among members of the 2012 graduating class, 98% of those self-reporting started a degree-required career or were accepted to graduate school, all in an average of 20 days after graduation. The University is committed to providing a student-centered approach and an exceptional educational experience. For more information, visit mountunion.edu.

We got word today that Pleasant Valley High School is among the top High Schools in the nation, according to U.S. News and World Report.  Check out the report here à  http://bit.ly/1zVYB2q

ROCK ISLAND, IL (05/12/2015)(readMedia)-- Samantha Turner, an Augustana senior from Rock Island majoring in history and anthropology, has been featured in the 2015 "More Than I Imagined" web series, where exceptional seniors from a wide variety of majors reflect on what they've accomplished at Augustana and discuss plans for their futures.

Turner's "More Than I Imagined" profile may be viewed at http://www.augustana.edu/x62414.xml.

To be included in "More than I Imagined," seniors must be nominated by an Augustana faculty member or coach as an outstanding student.

Founded in 1860, Augustana College is a selective four-year residential college of the liberal arts and sciences. The college is recognized for the innovative program Augie Choice, which provides each student up to $2,000 to pursue a high-impact learning experience such as study abroad, an internship or research with a professor. Current students and alumni include 155 Academic All-Americans, a Nobel laureate, 13 college presidents and other distinguished leaders. The college enrolls 2,500 students and is located along one of the world's most important waterways, the Mississippi River, in a community that reflects the diversity of the United States.

GREELEY, COLO. (May 11, 2015) - Kathleen McNamara from Bettendorf was among about 2,000 undergraduate and graduate students who received degrees from the University of Northern Colorado during spring 2015 graduation ceremonies May 8-9. Ms. McNamara was honored with a Bachelor of Science - Nursing (Summa Cum Laude).

For more information about spring commencement ceremonies and a profile of the class of 2015, visit http://www.unco.edu/news/releases.aspx?id=8062.

GREENVILLE, SC (05/11/2015)(readMedia)-- Bettendorf resident Ruth Gunti was among the more than 700 students who graduated from Bob Jones University Fri., May 8.

Gunti graduated with a BS in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. During the 88th commencement exercises, 531 students received undergraduate degrees and 50 students received associate degrees. In addition, 129 students received master's degrees and 23 candidates received earned doctorates.

Since its founding in 1927, Bob Jones University has conferred over 45,000 degrees.

Located in Greenville, South Carolina, Bob Jones University is a biblically faithful, Christian liberal arts university focused on educating the whole person to reflect and serve Christ. BJU offers a unique blend of rigorous academic programs, discipleship, and character and leadership development. We are committed to the truth of Scripture and to pursuing excellence in all we do.

BJU provides over 100 undergraduate and graduate programs in religion, education, fine arts and communication, arts and science, and business. BJU has nearly 3,000 students from every state and more than 40 countries.

SEWARD, NE (05/11/2015)(readMedia)-- Concordia University, Nebraska awarded degrees to 316 graduates in May 2015. Graduates receiving a degree in December 2014, May 2015 or August 2015 were invited to participate in the university's 108th commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 9, 2015.

Honored students included:

Naomi Laurel Iltis, LeClaire, Iowa, B.S.

"How are you going to take this wonderful opportunity that you've worked so hard for and give back to your community, to your church, to your school? How are you going to be a part of making this a better place?" asked Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts during his commencement address.

Ricketts also challenged the graduates to be leaders in their communities. "Being a leader doesn't mean you have to be in charge, but it does mean you have to be engaged. You have to be a part of the solution. So as you leave here today ... find your passion. Find your mission--it may be a series of missions--to be involved. To be a part of helping out your neighbor. By being a part of that community, you help us create this great, strong state we live in and this great country. So go out, take risks, try to accomplish things. If you're not failing, you're not trying hard enough. But when you fail, remain in hope. Be that leader. Be that person who's part of something bigger. ... Consider the wonderful gifts God has given you, discern your mission and enjoy the journey."

Ricketts also received the honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Concordia Nebraska.

In addition to Ricketts, five other individuals received honorary degrees or awards during commencement. Those receiving the honors are Rev. David Bueltmann of Buffalo, Illinois, the Doctor of Letters degree; Esther Pfabe of Seward, Nebraska, the Crest of Christ Award; Susan Steege of Amherst, New York, the Master Educator Award; Dr. Dudley Wiest of Orange, California, the Doctor of Laws degree; and Phil Zielke of Glendale Heights, Illinois, the Distinguished Service Award.

Appearance of a name in this news release is not official acknowledgement of completion of the degree, certificate or diploma indicated.

About Concordia University, Nebraska

Concordia University, Nebraska, founded in 1894, is a fully accredited, coeducational university located in Seward, Nebraska, that currently serves more than 2,300 students. Concordia offers more than 70 undergraduate, graduate and professional programs in an excellent academic and Christ-centered community that equips men and women for lives of learning, service and leadership in the church and world. For more information, visit cune.edu.

(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry E. Branstad, Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds and Iowa Student Loan leaders recognized today 20 Iowa high school seniors who each won a $1,500 college scholarship through participation in the Iowa Financial Know-How Challenge: Senior Scholarship, administered by Iowa Student Loan. The high school seniors from across the state were recognized in a special award ceremony at the John and Mary Pappajohn Education Center.

This was the second year Iowa Student Loan offered the Iowa Financial Know-How Challenge: Senior Scholarship, which provided Iowa high school seniors the chance to win $1,500 for college while learning important financial literacy skills.

Between December 2014 and February 2015, registered high school seniors were asked to complete two online financial literacy tutorials ? Student Loan Game PlanSM and the ROCI Reality Check ? which Iowa Student Loan developed to help students understand the consequences of college borrowing and discover how to maximize their return on college investment, or ROCI. In addition, scholarship contenders were required to take an online financial literacy assessment test. The 20 winners were those who scored highest on the assessment or, in the case of a tie for top scores, received the highest scores on an independently judged essay.

At today's award ceremony, Branstad congratulated the students and thanked them for seeing the value in furthering their education and learning financial responsibility.

"It's crucial for students to minimize debt and for policymakers to find ways to try to hold down the cost of higher education," Branstad said. "Financial literacy is now part of our Iowa academic standards and colleges and organizations like Iowa Student Loan have increasingly have stepped up to help students understand the long-term implications of debt."

The Iowa Financial Know-How Challenge: Senior Scholarship was created to provide an additional funding source for college-bound students, as well as educate them on ways to minimize their borrowing for college and reach the financial potential of a college degree, said Christine Hensley, Iowa Student Loan board chair.

"We witness firsthand the pressures Iowa students and families are facing to finance higher education," Hensley said. "One of the goals for this program was to provide a scholarship that any Iowa high school senior could qualify for ? a scholarship that wasn't merit- or need-based. And we also wanted it to educate them on ways to minimize their borrowing and reach the financial potential of a college degree."

This past legislative session, Branstad and Reynolds stressed that more must be done to ease students' college debt burden. Branstad told the scholarship winners and their families that he and Reynolds worked to freeze tuition for Iowa students at the regent institutions and boost the Iowa Tuition Grant for students attending Iowa's private colleges and universities.

"Encouraging students to earn a college degree or other postsecondary credential is essential, but so is managing the cost," he said. "To truly address the high debt levels of our state's college students, it's going to take the efforts of everyone ? government, schools, nonprofit organizations, the private sector and families."

More than 45 people attended Friday's award ceremony, including 13 of the 20 scholarship winners and their families. Branstad presented each winner with an award certificate; the $1,500 scholarship money can be used at the college or university of the winner's choice in fall 2015. Prior to the presentation, the students and their families were hosted for lunch.

Hensley had the following congratulatory words for the scholarship winners. "All of you are sitting here today because you proved your financial literacy knowledge. On behalf of Iowa Student Loan, I thank you for taking your college education seriously, and because you do, I know your futures are bright," she said.

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