Congressman: For many schoolchildren, safety is more at risk coming and going from school than in the classroom or on the playground

Washington, D.C. - Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) today unveiled the most comprehensive overhaul of the nation's school bus safety system in over 15 years, the School Bus Safety Act. An average of 6 children are killed in school bus related accidents each year while an average of 12 children are killed each year in pedestrian deaths outside of the school bus.

"For many schoolchildren, their safety is more at risk coming and going from school than in the classroom or on the playground?and we can do something to change that," Braley said. "When my kids were getting on the bus to go to school I wanted every tool possible to keep them safe, and that's a feeling all parents share."

The School Bus Safety Act contains five titles:

• Title I: "Kadyn's Act"?named after Northwood student Kadyn Halverson, requires states to enact tough penalties for drivers who pass stopped schools buses. Kadyn's parents helped enact this portion of the law in Iowa, but in many other states, this activity, which puts children's lives in danger, is punishable by fines as low as 30 dollars.

• Title II creates grants for Motion Activated Detection Systems on the exterior of buses?these systems alert a driver when a moving target is detected within the danger zones near the front, rear and sides of the bus.

• Title III requires background checks on school bus drivers. In 2012, Iowa enacted such a law, but some states are still operating without this requirement.

• Title IV is a School Bus Seat Belt Demonstration Program. The Department of Transportation would create a Demonstration Program which would allow states to apply for funding to purchase new school buses with seat belts or to equip current ones with seat belts. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has estimated that deaths from frontal crashes could be significantly reduced with mandatory seatbelt use.

• The last portion of the law would direct the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to assess using technology to get drivers to stop for school buses. For example, studying how a particular lighting system might help prevent motorists from illegally passing stopped buses. This could also help with the situation that led to Kadyn Halverson's tragedy - utilizing technology that can get people to slow down and stop, in addition to increased penalties.

The bill has a self-funding mechanism. Two of the programs - Kadyn's Act (Tile I) and Bus Driver Background Checks (Title III) require states to implement standards similar to Iowa's or they lose 10 percent of their highway funds.  The other two programs in the bill, the motion sensors and seatbelts, are grant programs funded by the withheld funds from those states that fail to implement a Kadyn's Law and bus driver background checks.

Braley has a long history of advocacy on school bus safety, previously fighting to redirect resources to help states enforce traffic laws that punish reckless drivers for illegally passing stopped school buses. Braley was also a strong supporter of the passing of Kadyn's Law by the Iowa legislature.

A link to the School Bus Safety Act is available online HERE.

"My sophomore year at Luther, a service organization I was a part of was contacted by a neighboring IIAC college asking if Luther would like to start Dance Marathon on our campus. Myself and 3 other friends decided to spearhead establishing the organization after learning more about the scope of Dance Marathon and its influence at the University of Iowa Children's Hospital in Iowa City. For the next 2 years, we worked to construct a constitution, establish an executive board, organize fundraising events, and ultimately recruit 31 Morale Captains and over 400 Luther students to pledge to dance at the Big Event. On April 12th, these students along with Decorah community members united from noon to midnight to dance for those who can't, including local Children's Miracle Network families. The $38,612.01 raised is indeed a testament to the generosity and unity of the Luther community and this organization will continue to do good in the years to come, all for the kids," Gumpert said.

After a year-long commitment from more than 500 people, the year culminated in a 12-hour long event where students stayed on their feet through dancing, games and entertainment in celebration of the total amount raised.

After two years of careful planning Luther students Paul Esker, Chloe Gumpert, Jordan Jensen and Libby Logsden convened an executive board and coordinated the event.

The public campus fundraising goal was $15,000, but Gumpert said the executive board wanted to raise one more cent than the 2013 Wartburg College Dance Marathon goal of $32,000.

The two largest sponsorships came from the community businesses of Mabe's Pizza and the Magpie Coffeehouse. Other sponsors included Pizza Hut, Happy Joe's, Pizza Ranch, Mr. Groovy's, Kepharts, Coldwell Banker Hedges Realty, Fridley Theaters, Oneota Co-op, Decorah Veterinary Clinic and Love Your Melon.

SEWARD, NE (05/05/2014)(readMedia)-- The Department of Natural Sciences at Concordia University, Nebraska recognized exceptional work and contribution to the science department at its 13th annual awards banquet. Graduating seniors were also honored at the banquet.

Students from the local and/or surrounding areas who received awards or graduation recognition include :

Naomi Iltis, junior, Le Claire, Iowa, Natural Sciences Scholarship recipient

"Over the years we have been pleased with the successes of our students both in the classroom and after they complete their programs at Concordia. This year was no exception," Dr. Joseph Gubanyi, chair of the Natural Sciences department, said. "Once again a number of our students have been accepted into prestigious graduate schools, professional programs and summer internships."

The Natural Sciences Scholarship, funded by current and emeriti faculty, is considered the department's highest honor and is awarded to outstanding juniors who plan to return to Concordia their senior year. This year's recipients were Naomi Iltis of Le Claire, Iowa, Joshua Allwardt of Frederick, Maryland, and Lara Bergdolt of Grand Island, Nebraska.

Science Career Support Scholarships were awarded to freshman Brett James of Kearney, Nebraska, and sophomore Justin Lawrie of Headingley, Manitoba, Canada. These scholarships recognize students who have demonstrated great potential in the sciences early in their college education. The award is typically given to outstanding returning sophomores or juniors.

Joshua Allwardt received the Golden Scalpel award as the top student in Gross Anatomy, Concordia's human cadaver dissection course.

Mason Koeritz of Northrop, Minnesota, and Philip Yox of Mount Pleasant, Texas, were recognized as outstanding freshmen in chemistry for their superior first-year performances in chemistry courses.

The department also recognized outstanding lab assistants for the year. These included senior Jordan Donohoue of Manhattan, Kansas, in biology, Lara Bergdolt in chemistry and senior Erica Ellis of Plain City, Utah, in physics.

About Concordia University, Nebraska

Concordia University, Nebraska, founded in 1894, is a fully accredited, coeducational university located in Seward, Neb. that currently serves over 2,100 students. Concordia offers more than 50 professional and liberal arts 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.

IOWA CITY, IA (05/01/2014)(readMedia)-- The University of Iowa's Graduate College has awarded 35 doctoral students with Ballard and Seashore Dissertation Year Fellowships for 2014. Ballard and Seashore Fellowships are intended to help students in the social sciences and humanities complete their dissertations. This is a final year fellowship for students who expect to graduate by the end of the summer 2015 term.

Students are nominated by their departments or programs. The number of fellowships is limited and awards are highly competitive. Departments may nominate one student for every eight doctoral candidates, up to a maximum of three students.

Students from your area receiving the fellowship include :

Biljani Samoukovic of Bettendorf

Elizabeth Rathmann of Davenport

"The Graduate College is pleased to announce these highly competitive awards, which have proven to be critical for the success of the recipients," says John Keller, UI associate provost for graduate education and Graduate College dean. "In the past decade, over 90 percent of the recipients of the Ballard and Seashore Fellowships have gone on to complete their doctoral degrees."

The fellowship provides a stipend of $20,000 for the academic year, along with two credit hours of tuition per semester (but not mandatory fees) and a health/dental insurance allowance.

To be eligible, students must have successfully completed the comprehensive examination by the nomination deadline. During the fellowship period, recipients may not hold other paid positions, except in unique situations that contribute substantially to the student's academic development.

Funds for three Ada Louisa Ballard Fellowships were initially bequeathed by the late professor Clarence E. Cousins to honor his mother. Professor Cousins was a long-time faculty member in the Department of French and Italian. The Graduate College awards these fellowships, along with Seashore Fellowships in honor of former Graduate College Dean Carl Seashore.