MOLINE, Ill. - State Rep. Mike Smiddy, D-Hillsdale, visited with children and care givers from the Skip-a-Long Family and Community Services Center on June 25 to highlight the implications of Governor Rauner's proposed budget cuts.

"These children and their families depend on the state for care and support, and many will lose access to the services they depend on if this governor gets his way," Smiddy said. "I want to thank the children and staff at Skip-a-Long for helping me highlight the human costs of irresponsible cuts and rule changes."

Skip-a-Long is a non-profit childcare center serving approximately 1,100 children. Smiddy was joined by approximately 60 community members, children and staff from Skip-a-Long and other organizations for the press event held on June 25 in opposition to Governor Rauner's proposal to slash human services funding statewide. The families receive support from the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) to offset the cost of childcare and allow parents to continue working while their children are cared for. 80 percent of the families using care with Skip-a-Long utilize the CCAP program. Eligibility rule changes imposed by the governor, which took effect on July 1, will greatly diminish the number of families eligible for the program. Skip-a-Long has already been forced to reject 12 families who applied for enrollment through CCAP, according to Marcy Mendenhall, President & CEO of Skip-a-Long Family and Community Services.

"I want to thank Representative Smiddy for taking time to visit with our kids and helping draw attention to the thousands of Illinois families that depend on the state for child care assistance," said Mendenhall. "I hope there is budget resolution as families and children will have devastating consequences,  and I urge Governor Rauner to work with legislators to craft the responsible and compassionate budget Illinois needs."

BATON ROUGE, LA (07/08/2015)(readMedia)-- The following local residents recently were initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation's oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines.

Ashley Jipp of Bettendorf (52722) was initiated at Coe College

Lindsey Jipp of Bettendorf (52722) was initiated at Coe College

Ryan Lechtenberg of De Witt (52742) was initiated at Coe College

These residents are among approximately 32,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni to be initiated into Phi Kappa Phi each year. Membership is by invitation and requires nomination and approval by a chapter. Only the top 10 percent of seniors and 7.5 percent of juniors, having at least 72 semester hours, are eligible for membership. Graduate students in the top 10 percent of the number of candidates for graduate degrees may also qualify, as do faculty, professional staff, and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction.

Founded in 1897 at the University of Maine and headquartered in Baton Rouge, La., Phi Kappa Phi is the nation's oldest and most selective all-discipline honor society. The Society has chapters on more than 300 college and university campuses in North America and the Philippines. Its mission is "To recognize and promote academic excellence in all fields of higher education and to engage the community of scholars in service to others."

More About Phi Kappa Phi

Since its founding, more than 1.25 million members have been initiated. Some of the organization's more notable members include former President Jimmy Carter, NASA astronaut Wendy Lawrence, novelist David Baldacci and YouTube cofounder Chad Hurley. The Society has awarded approximately $15 million since the inception of its awards program in 1932. Today, more than $1 million is awarded each biennium to qualifying students and members through graduate fellowships, undergraduate study abroad grants, member and chapter awards and grants for local and national literacy initiatives. For more information, visit www.phikappaphi.org.

MILWAUKEE, Wis. (July 7, 2015) - Several local students have graduated from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wis. These four were among the approximately 2,000 undergraduate and graduate students who received their diplomas May 17, 2015 at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee.

Marquette University is a Catholic, Jesuit university that draws its more than 11,500 students from all 50 states and more than 75 different countries. In addition to its nationally recognized academic programs, Marquette is known for its service learning programs and internships as students are challenged to use what they learn to make a difference in the world. Find out more about Marquette at marquette.edu.

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Alexa Hackfort, Bachelor of Arts, Public Relations, Bettendorf, IA

Brianna Ross, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Davenport, IA

Caitlin Kakert, Bachelor of Science, Physiological Sciences, Moline, IL

Matthew Noe, MS in Accounting, Accounting, Rock Island, IL

ROCK ISLAND, IL (07/06/2015)(readMedia)-- Augustana College, Rock Island, Ill., held its spring commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 24. Executive director of Gallup Education, Brandon Busteed, delivered the commencement speech. Around 600 students participated in the ceremony.

Those graduating were given advice by Brandon Busteed, who said, "Talent is like a fingerprint, every human being has unique talents. The key is using yours to become the best you."

President of Augustana College, Steven Bahls, speaking on life after graduation, said, "Though you may be apprehensive about your future, you now have the skills and confidence to build rewarding lives of leadership and service." President Bahls added, "Augustana students do not shy away from deep intellectual conversations, nor are they afraid of great passion in their work. Augustana students are, in a word, awesome."

Representing the class of 2015, Ebony Allen spoke on what an education at Augustana has done for them. "The class of 2015 is full of rebels, class clowns, athletes -- intelligent, funny, caring and ambitious students," she said. "Students who have been accepted into grad programs nationwide. Students who have jobs waiting for them after we leave here today." In her final comments she said, "Though some of us may not know what we'll do after graduation, we face the future without fear, knowing Augustana -- our home, our alma mater -- has prepared us to be everything we want to be in life."

During the ceremonies, an honorary doctor of humane letters degree was presented to Brandon Busteed.

Among the graduates earning a bachelor of arts degree during the 2014-2015 academic year:

Leo Anderson of Rock Island (61201) graduated with a major(s) in business administration- management and accounting.

Megan Boedecker of Moline (61265) graduated with a major(s) in English and neuroscience.

Nichole Brammer of Davenport (52808) graduated with a major(s) in biology and pre-medicine.

Alexsis Brummet of Geneseo (61254) graduated cum laude with a major(s) in teaching math.

Carine Christal of Coal Valley (61264) graduated with a major(s) in business administration - marketing and communication studies.

Beth Cole of Muscatine (52761) graduated cum laude with a major(s) in chemistry.

Elizabeth Kuster of Bettendorf (52722) graduated with a major(s) in English- creative writing.

Collin Leigh of Hampton (61256) graduated with a major(s) in business administration - finance.

Angela Norton of Rock Island (61201) graduated with a major(s) in biology.

Erin White of Geneseo (61254) graduated cum laude with a major(s) in biology.

Katelyn Benge of Bettendorf (52722) graduated with a major(s) in biology and neuroscience.

Erin Gehn of Rock Island (61201) graduated with a major(s) in applied mathematics.

Shai Gonzales of Davenport (52804) graduated with a major(s) in political science.

Christopher Hildreth of Rock Island (61201) graduated with a major(s) in business administration - management.

Sarah Kerres of Taylor Ridge (61284) graduated with a major(s) in accounting and business administration- finance.

Nicholas Krantz of Moline (61265) graduated with a major(s) in graphic design.

Alison Niebuhr of Moline (61265) graduated with a major(s) in geography and environmental studies.

Michael Zeitler of East Moline (61244) graduated with a major(s) in teaching math.

Alexander Anderson of Geneseo (61254) graduated with a major(s) in business administration - finance and accounting.

April Anderson of Davenport (52803) graduated cum laude with a major(s) in Asian studies.

Jessica Bacon of Rock Island (61201) graduated magna cum laude with a major(s) in elementary education.

Hassan Baig of Moline (61265) graduated cum laude with a major(s) in religion.

Kyle Bennett of Davenport (52804) graduated with a major(s) in environmental studies and geography.

Courtney Camlin of Rock Island (61201) graduated with a major(s) in neuroscience.

Brandee Cole of Davenport (52722) graduated cum laude with a major(s) in pre-medicine and biology.

Alyssa Copeland of Davenport (52806) graduated with a major(s) in communication studies.

Gabrielle Council of Moline (61265) graduated with a major(s) in biology and pre-medicine.

Haley Fox of Davenport (52804) graduated with a major(s) in business administration - management.

Catherine Gehrmann of Bettendorf (52722) graduated with a major(s) in biochemistry.

Nicholas Hansen of Rock Island (61201) graduated with a major(s) in political science.

Christine Harb of Davenport (52807) graduated cum laude with a major(s) in biology and pre-medicine.

Nicholas Hoepfner of East Moline (61244) graduated with a major(s) in biology.

Brandon Jasper of De Witt (52742) graduated with a major(s) in business administration - management.

Samantha Kammerman of Milan (61264) graduated with a major(s) in psychology.

Katherine Karstens of Moline (61265) graduated cum laude with a major(s) in business administration - finance and accounting.

Reed Kottke of Davenport (52804) graduated cum laude with a major(s) in applied mathematics and computer science.

Elizabeth LaBotte of Moline (61265) graduated cum laude with a major(s) in political science.

Christopher Madison of Davenport (52804) graduated with a major(s) in graphic design.

Bailey McChesney of Rock Island (61201) graduated with a major(s) in communication studies.

Samantha McGreer of Illinois City (61259) graduated magna cum laude with a major(s) in pre-medicine and biochemistry.

Elyzia Powers of Silvis (61282) graduated with a major(s) in psychology.

Sarah Riedel of Long Grove (52756) graduated with a major(s) in creative writing.

Benjamin Rudy of Geneseo (61254) graduated with a major(s) in biology.

Cammie Ruhl of Moline (61265) graduated with a major(s) in biology and neuroscience.

Ingrid Schneider of Davenport (52804) graduated with a major(s) in music general and psychology.

Christian Schroeder of Coal Valley (61240) graduated with a major(s) in computer science and business administration - management information systems.

Andrew Shearouse of Coal Valley (61240) graduated summa cum laude with a major(s) in business administration - management information systems and computer science.

Roman Shepard of Rock Island (61201) graduated with a major(s) in anthropology.

Rosalie Starenko of Rock Island (61201) graduated cum laude with a major(s) in geography and Spanish.

Hali Strobel of Port Byron (61275) graduated with a major(s) in pre-medicine.

Anthony TouVelle of Bettendorf (52722) graduated cum laude with a major(s) in German and international business.

Jessica Tuckey of Moline (61265) graduated with a major(s) in biology.

Samantha Turner of Rock Island (61201) graduated with a major(s) in history and anthropology.

Rachel Vens of Bettendorf (52722) graduated with a major(s) in business administration - finance.

Daniel Zahn of Moline (61265) graduated with a major(s) in geography.

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 158 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.