WACO, Texas (June 19, 2015) - More than 3,100 Baylor University students were named to the Dean's Academic Honor Roll for the 2015 spring semester. To be named to the Dean's List, a student must be an undergraduate with a minimum grade-point average of 3.7, while enrolled in a minimum of 12 semester hours. A private Christian university and a nationally ranked liberal arts institution, Baylor is classified as a research university with "high research activity" by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. This blends with Baylor's international reputation for educational excellence built upon the faculty's commitment to teaching, scholarship and interdisciplinary research to produce outstanding graduates.

Among those honored was Shravya Reddy Pothula of Rock Island from the College of Arts and Sciences

The honor student news release and a complete listing of all honorees is available through the following link: http://www.baylor.edu/mediacommunications/index.php?id=87536.

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(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry E. Branstad today announced Emmet County has met the criteria to become designated as a Home Base Iowa Community. Today he also announced Iowa Lakes Community College has been designated as a Home Base Iowa Certified Higher Academic Military Partner (CHAMP).  A formal announcement and press conference will be held today in Estherville at the Iowa Lakes Community College at 4:30 p.m.

Emmet County joins eighteen existing communities in becoming a certified Home Base Iowa Communities. To become a Home Base Iowa Community, an area must meet the following criteria: 10% of its businesses with potential to hire sign on as Home Base Iowa Businesses; local government supports the effort; signage indicates the community is a Home Base Iowa Community and the community creates local incentives that offer additional benefits for Veterans and that complement those in the statewide Home Base Iowa Act.

"More than 1300 Veterans hired through Home Base Iowa effort now call Iowa home," said Branstad. "Iowans are embracing the Home Base Iowa initiative to create communities that are welcoming and attractive to Veterans and to provide transitioning military members with every opportunity for success."

"We've seen the momentum build with this program," said Lt Governor Kim Reynolds. "With the support of over 900 businesses, education CHAMPS, our Iowa communities and the aggressive career and recruitment efforts of the program, we are both pleased and excited to know what began as a great idea is now becoming a program recognized as a national model."

Iowa Lakes Community College joins the existing HBI CHAMPs?Upper Iowa University, Mount Mercy University, University of Dubuque, Mercy College of Health Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa State University, University of Northern Iowa, Des Moines Area Community College, Hawkeye Community College, Iowa Central Community College, Eastern Iowa Community College, Western Iowa Tech Community College, Kirkwood Community College and Northern Iowa Area Community College.  The Home Base Iowa CHAMP program allows Iowa colleges and universities to become certified for their ability to educate and assist Veterans on campus. The certification will help attract Veterans and transitioning Service Members to Iowa. It also helps academic institutions market their campus as Veteran-friendly. To become a Home Base Iowa CHAMP, education institutions must meet criteria in each of the three categories: On-Campus Veteran Resources, Mindfulness of Service Member Transitions and Financial Considerations.

There are over 57 businesses who have committed to hire veterans as part of Emmet County's Home Base Iowa efforts.  Emmet County offers incentives for veterans visiting the county for job interviews and additional incentives for those who choose to relocate to Emmet County. That is in addition to the $5,000 offered through the Home Ownership Assistance Program statewide.

BACKGROUND ON THE HOME BASE IOWA ACT 

Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds launched the Home Base Iowa initiative in November of 2013 at the Iowa Gold Star Military Museum at Camp Dodge. Branstad and Reynolds named Congressman Leonard Boswell and Casey's CEO Bob Myers the co-chairs of the initiative.

The Home Base Iowa Act was signed into law on May 26, 2014. It passed the Iowa Senate 46-0 and the Iowa House 94-2. The Home Base Iowa initiative does the following:

• Fully exempts military pensions from state income tax.
• Gives veterans, their spouses and dependents in-state tuition at Iowa's colleges and universities.
• Allows Iowa's licensing boards to adopt rules allowing credit for military training and experience in the licensing process.
• Allows private-sector companies to follow the public sector's lead by allowing a preference in hiring and promoting veterans.
• Eliminates the special plate issuance fees charged for plates associated with military service.
• Expands eligibility for the Military Homeownership Assistance Program, which provides $5,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance.  Additional funding for the program is provided in a separate appropriations bill.

In addition to the Home Base Iowa Act, Branstad also signed Senate File 2352 in 2014.

Senate File 2352 an Act relating to the additional homestead credit for certain disabled veterans and including effective date and applicability provisions.

For more information on Home Base Iowa, please visit www.HomeBaseIowa.org. Those interested in becoming a Home Base Iowa Business, a Home Base Iowa Community or a Home Base Iowa CHAMP should contact Kathy Anderson at Kathy.anderson@iowa.gov or homebase@iowa.gov.

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Area Student Graduates from Clarke University

Dubuque, Iowa (June 18, 2015) - Clarke University in Dubuque, Iowa, awarded degrees and honors at its 172th Commencement Ceremony on May 9, 2015.  One area students was honored at the ceremony: Timothy M. Murga II, DPT, Physical Therapy from Rock Island, Illinois.

Clarke University is a Catholic, liberal arts and sciences university dedicated to preparing students to make an impact. Known for superb teaching and academics, Clarke offers more than 30 undergraduate liberal arts and pre-professional programs and six graduate degree programs. Founded in 1843 by the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Clarke is located near the Mississippi River in Dubuque, Iowa. Clarke's 55-acre campus is a blend of historic buildings and new, state-of-the-art facilities.

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AMES, Iowa (June 16, 2015) - More than 7,560 Iowa State University undergraduates have been recognized for outstanding academic achievement by being named to the 2015 spring semester Dean's List. Students named to the Dean's List must have earned a grade point average of at least 3.50 on a 4.00 scale while carrying a minimum of 12 credit hours of graded course work.

Students listed below who qualified for the Dean's List are from your area.

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NOTE: Class Year '5' denotes a non-degree seeking candidate.

from Bettendorf, IA

Michelle Lee Anderson, 4, Child, Adult, and Family Services
Hannah Kristine Bankson, 3, Elementary Education
Andrew Patrick Barnes, 4, Kinesiology and Health
Elizabeth Claire Bartlett, 2, Animal Ecology
Megan Lynn Beck, 2, Kinesiology and Health
Katelyn M. Bell, 4, Industrial Engineering
Alaina Marie Berkenbosch, 2, Accounting
Jamie Marie Blaser, 4, Event Management
Laura K. Blaser, 2, Biology (AGLS)
Kellen Matthew Bohn, 3, Kinesiology and Health
Zachary P. Bowerman, 4, Political Science
Isaac G. Bries, 2, Electrical Engineering
Jared Michael Brown, 2, Marketing
Maria Frances Brown, 2, Industrial Engineering
Kailey Victoria Bueker, 4, Elementary Education
Kelly Marie Butcher, 4, Psychology
Dallas Donnell Carter, 3, Mechanical Engineering
Nicholas Lee Cervantes, 4, Computer Engineering
Kathleen Dilley, 4, Elementary Education
Rachel Erin Dolehanty, 4, Elementary Education
Kaitlyn Marie Dvorak, 3, Kinesiology and Health
Eric Anthony Edwards, 4, Software Engineering
Safwan Elkhatib, 4, Kinesiology and Health
James Matthew Entwistle, 3, Mechanical Engineering
Kayla Marie Finn, 3, Event Management
Evan Nolan Foley, 3, Computer Engineering
Christopher Joseph Foss, 4, Mechanical Engineering
Taylor Marie Gibney, 4, Mechanical Engineering
Jeffrey Curtis Haacke, 4, Management Information Systems
Andrew J. Hartman, 4, Computer Engineering
Lucy Gladwin Heiderscheit, 4, Psychology
Philip R. Kranovich, 1, Pre-Business
Michelle J. Larsen, 2, Industrial Engineering
Paul Andrew Larsen, 3, Mechanical Engineering
Anne Elyse Leners, 3, Mechanical Engineering
Kera Linn, 4, Dietetics (H SCI)
Sarah Maikon, 1, Open Option (LAS)
Margaret Maneca Martens, 2, Apparel, Merchandising, and Design
Jennifer Lynn Martin, 3, Psychology
Samantha Ann Matt, 4, Pre-Diet and Exercise (H SCI)
Maxwell Ryan McDaniel, 3, History
Jill Christine Mekalson, 2, Hospitality Management
Aaron T. Mendel, 3, Psychology
Tyler Benjamin Meseke, 4, Biology
Amanda Lauren Miller, 4, Kinesiology and Health
Austin J. Miller, 2, Mechanical Engineering
Matthew Henderson Miller, 4, Political Science
Mary Kate Misak, 4, Event Management
Levi A. Moser, 4, Mechanical Engineering
Catherine Helen Mullen, 4, Biology (AGLS)
John Allen Noftsker, 1, Pre-Industrial Design
Mary Nuernberger, 2, Veterinary Medicine
Andrew M. Oswald, 4, Kinesiology and Health
James Vance Park, 4, Biology
Ashley Marie Parry, 2, Open Option (LAS)
Regina Annette Pauly, 4, English
Camille Elizabeth Perk, 4, Industrial Engineering
Kyle Robert Perkins, 3, Psychology
Erica Mae Peterson, 2, Chemical Engineering
Katelynn E. Piotter, 4, Early Childhood Education
Tobey Charles Pribyl, 2, Mechanical Engineering
Sam J. Ruchotzke, 3, Pre-Business
Holly Marie Schroeder, 3, Kinesiology and Health
Caleb D. Schulze, 4, Electrical Engineering
Emily Jean Schwake, 3, Animal Science
Amrinder Singh, 4, Biology (AGLS)
Jacob Oliver Smidt, 2, Aerospace Engineering
Patrick Hadley Smith, 4, Biology
Dylan Andrew Snyder, 3, Materials Engineering
Sarah Fae Tank, 4, History
Brian Joseph Thomas, 4, Construction Engineering
Mallory Michelle Till, 3, Marketing
Erin Cathleen Toohey, 4, Biology (AGLS)
Emory Stephen Traicoff, 4, Mechanical Engineering
Heather M. Vandewostine, 4, Veterinary Medicine
Emma Johanna Vansickle, 3, Kinesiology and Health
Mengyu Wang, 3, Aerospace Engineering
Amy Elizabeth Whiteman, 3, Pre-Biological/Pre-Medical Illustration
Hannah Lyn Whitty, 3, Kinesiology and Health
Robert W. Wright, 4, Industrial Engineering
Tyler Joseph Zerbonia, 1, Open Option (LAS)
Samantha Christine Zust, 4, Kinesiology and Health

from Davenport, IA

Grant L. Albansoder, 4, Civil Engineering
Ellen Kathleen Argo, 4, Child, Adult, and Family Services
Jessica Lynne Bennett, 2, Journalism and Mass Communication
Bethanie Marie Blake, 4, Architecture-Professional Degree
Kayla Marie Boche, 2, Interdisciplinary Studies
Molly E. Bridges, 4, Elementary Education
Alissa Calsyn, 2, Genetics (LAS)
Abigail Nicole Clevenger, 4, Animal Science
Kaitlin Rose Clevenger, 4, Event Management
Elizabeth Marie Doebel, 4, Mathematics
Ronald Dean Frantz, 4, Biology
Jason Lee Fredericks, 3, Management Information Systems
Mackenzie M. Garlock, 3, Chemical Engineering
Derek Roger Geiken, 2, Mechanical Engineering
Alyssa Nicole Goldermann, 2, Kinesiology and Health
Kylie Kathleen Hamerlinck, 3, Pre-Business
Travis John Hattery, 4, Chemical Engineering
Matthew Joseph Heinrichs, 2, World Languages and Cultures
Jiselle Alexa Henderkott, 2, Public Relations
Samuel M. Hipple, 2, Mechanical Engineering
Destinie Joy Hsu, 4, Elementary Education
Jocelyn Lachelle Jackson, 3, Mechanical Engineering
Reed Andrew Jennings, 2, Civil Engineering
Sarah Marie Jensen, 4, Landscape Architecture
Jacqueline Blake Johnson, 2, Pre-Computer Science
Jamesia Nicole Johnson, 2, Elementary Education
Malcolm Andrew Kelly, 4, Mechanical Engineering
Joseph Valarius Kern, 4, Construction Engineering
Jennifer Adele Keys, 4, Music
Anthony Bounkham Khounlo, 3, Computer Engineering
Mary Katherine Kirk, 2, Child, Adult, and Family Services
Emerald Patricia Klauer, 4, Graphic Design
Joseph Edward Kopacz, 4, Mechanical Engineering
Basilia Mercedes Koster, 4, Apparel, Merchandising, and Design
Matthew John Luebbe, 2, Materials Engineering
Amanda Margaret Malin, 4, Political Science
Joseph McGovern, 3, Computer Engineering
Vanessa Lynn McNeal, 5, Child, Adult, and Family Services
Danielle Robin Moore, 3, Biological Systems Engineering
David Edward Moore, 4, Supply Chain Management
Kenny Thien Nguyen, 4, Industrial Design
Shawn Nguyen, 4, Industrial Engineering
Claudia Nicole Nuci, 4, Early Childhood Education
Balthazar Aaron Peroutka, 4, Physics
Elspeth Morgan Petersen, 4, Chemical Engineering
Valerie Lynn Pierce, 4, Architecture-Professional Degree
Alex James Pogue, 4, Computer Science
Brylee S. Raupp-Timmons, 4, Computer Engineering
Caleb Anthony Redman, 3, Computer Engineering
Louis Alonzo Redmond, 3, Software Engineering
Brad James Ryan, 4, Chemical Engineering
Hope Elizabeth Scheffert, 3, Software Engineering
Kristina Seier, 2, Biology (AGLS)
David Michael Severson, 2, Electrical Engineering
Nicholas Patrick Shepard, 3, Dietetics (H SCI)
Aaron Wayne Stechmann, 4, Industrial Technology
Melanie Stoss, 3, Chemistry
Seth Andrew Stoube, 3, Mechanical Engineering
Jessica Nichole Thomas, 3, Graphic Design
Nguyen Le Tran, 3, Electrical Engineering
Thao Tam Tran, 4, Interior Design
Jesse Benjamin Trujillo, 2, Mechanical Engineering
Sarah Jane Vance, 4, Graphic Design
Madison K. Walker, 2, Biology (AGLS)
Katherine Michelle Walton, 4, Psychology
Gina Whitehead, 3, Event Management
Kelsie Deanne Witt, 4, Apparel, Merchandising, and Design
Connor S. Young, 4, Psychology
Stephanie Ann Zeidler, 3, Landscape Architecture

from Moline, IL

Evan Daniel Aubry, 4, Landscape Architecture
Matthew Robert Blair, 1, Industrial Technology
Allison Michelle Boyle, 4, Elementary Education
Ashley Michelle Dodson, 3, Psychology
Aubrey Elizabeth Foulk, 4, Environmental Science (AGLS)
Kara Elizabeth Hutton, 2, Communication Studies
Emily Jean Knight, 3, Industrial Engineering
Rajath Krishnan, 4, Pre-Computer Science
Morgan Taylor McCarthy, 4, Mechanical Engineering
Miguel A. Peralta Flores, 4, Pre-Computer Science
Amy Lee Rogers, 4, Biology (AGLS)
Hans William Schaeffer, 4, Mechanical Engineering
Scott Charles Schilb, 2, Agricultural Systems Technology
Caleb Jack Spiegel, 4, Architecture-Professional Degree
Daniel C. Trone, 2, Community and Regional Planning
Claire Wolbers, 3, Interior Design

from Rock Island, IL

Derrick J. Anderson, 4, Electrical Engineering
Julianna C. Jespersen, 2, Animal Science
Sydnie Odel McNeal, 3, English
Andria Marie Mendoza, 5, Kinesiology and Health
Breayona Elantra Reed, 2, Software Engineering
Jordan Chase Turnbull, 3, Statistics