BETTENDORF  - Another round of $10,000 was awarded to area students to help pay for their college costs as part of the Ascentra Credit Union Scholarship Competition.  There were five $1,000 scholarships available for high school students planning to enter college.  The other five $1,000 scholarships were for members age 19 or over, considered non-traditional or continuing education students.

The high school scholarship winners include :

·         Guadalupe Chavez, Davenport, Iowa

·         Arika Allen, Davenport, Iowa

·         Jennifer Baldwin, Eldridge, Iowa

·         Luke Giovanine, Moline, Illinois

·         Thomas Byrne, Bettendorf, Iowa

The non-traditional or continuing education winners include :

·         Bailey Ford, Bettendorf, Iowa

·         Adam Cline, Bettendorf, Iowa

·         Laura Kulp, LeClaire, Iowa

·         Dakota Keller, Iowa City, Illinois

·         Lindsey Figg, Wilton, Iowa

All entries are judged on their essay, resume, awards, extracurricular activities, volunteer services and work experience.  The competition is announced every October with the deadline in March of the following year. Official rules may be picked up at any of our branches or found online at www.ascentra.org/scholarships.

To kick off the "Every Hero Has a Story" Summer Reading Program, the Moline Public Library invites you to be a hero to our local schools by participating in our School Supply Drive, beginning Saturday, June 6.  The library will collect donations of much needed school supplies on behalf of the Moline-Coal Valley School District.  Items can be dropped off at any public service desk in the library by Saturday, August 1.

Supplies that are needed include :

wide ruled and college ruled notebook paper

wide ruled single subject spiral notebooks

solid color two pocket folders (without prongs)

3 ring binders

Post-it notes

3" x 5" lined index cards

graph paper

#2 pencils

black, blue, and red ink pens

highlighters

dry erase markers

colored pencils

crayons

erasers

12 inch ruler

glue sticks

tissues

hand sanitizer

Clorox wipes

Handi wipes

sandwich size Ziploc bags

gallon size Ziploc bags

earbuds or headphones

Supplies that are especially needed: markers, bottles of glue, scissors (child size).

The library is unable to accept financial contributions on behalf of the Moline-Coal Valley School District.  For more information about the School Supply Drive, visit the Moline Public Library (3210 41st Street) or call 309-524-2470.

# # #

ROCK ISLAND, IL (05/19/2015)(readMedia)-- Augustana College's Career Development Office announced the seniors with the highest ranking Viking Scores.

The Viking Score is Augustana's unique and valuable approach to helping students track their level of professional preparation. A voluntary program, the Viking Score is available for all students regardless of year or major.

Valerie (Lambert) Kroll '07, manager, digital analytics, American Medical Association says, "The Viking Score takes the ambiguity out of the steps students must take to acquire a full-time position following graduation. It also gives students an opportunity to learn about multiple career tracks, including non-traditional roles, that can leverage their strengths and interests. Now students will be equipped to be career-minded throughout their college experience versus waiting until their final year(s) to begin planning."

Those from your area achieving the highest Viking Scores are:

Samantha Turner of Rock Island majoring in Histroy and Anthropology.

Christine Harb of Davenport majoring in Biology and Pre-Medicine.

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.

Washington, D.C. - Congressmen Dave Loebsack (IA-02) and David Jolly (FL-13) introduced the Student Veterans Housing Support Act, legislation designed to improve housing opportunities for veterans pursuing education after serving their country. The bipartisan measure, H.R. 2465, makes improvements to the monthly housing stipend payable under the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

"As a former college educator, I know firsthand the positive impact post-secondary education and job training can have for our veterans. I am proud to join with Congressman Jolly to introduce this bill that will make improvements to the monthly housing stipend under the Post 9/11 GI Bill. By allowing our veterans to use their monthly stipend in a way that is a better fit for their individual schedules, it will help vets get the education they earned after serving our nation," Loebsack said.

"Currently, veteran students face lapses in their educational housing allowances when school is out and temporary employment to make up the difference is hard to come by on such an inconsistent basis. Veterans, particularly our combat veterans returning from war, face enough obstacles as they transition back into civilian life. For those trying to earn their degree, unstable housing allowances make it even harder," Jolly said. "In simple terms, this bill gives veterans the financial support they need to remain in school by extending their monthly housing stipend to cover semester breaks, including the summer months and the time immediately before and after a semester. It's a simple move that ensures veterans receive the support they deserve in return for all they have sacrificed."

The introduction of the Student Veterans Housing Support Act was quickly applauded by those in higher education.

"I applaud Representative Loebsack for introducing legislation that makes it easier for veterans to earn a degree. While their service to our nation can never be repaid, this proposal is a step in the right direction," said University of Iowa President Sally Mason. "The UI has consistently been recognized as one of the best schools in the nation for veterans and this change will make a UI degree even more attainable."

"This legislation would remove roadblocks for the more than 2,100 veterans, active military members and military dependents we proudly serve at St. Petersburg College, which has consistently been rated as one of the top colleges for veterans," said St. Petersburg College President Bill Law. "Earning a degree is life-changing event, and I commend Congressman Jolly for his efforts to assist our veterans in their educational pursuits."

"I would like to thank Congressman Jolly for sponsoring this important piece of legislation," added University of South Florida System President, Dr. Judy Genshaft.  "At the University of South Florida, we're proud of our standing as one of the most veteran-friendly universities in the country and being home to one of the nation's largest student veteran populations.  Military veterans deserve our support and this bill will help provide USF's 1,500 student veterans with additional opportunities to find educational success."

Specifically, the Student Veterans Housing Support Act would:

·         Rein­state liv­ing expense stipends dur­ing school breaks and extend the interval pay to include summer periods;

·         Provide a housing allowance for the month preceding the start of an educational program for veterans enrolled more than half-time; and

·         Provide full monthly housing allowance for veterans only enrolled in online classes.