AMES, IA (04/13/2015)(readMedia)-- Kaitlin Clevenger, a junior studying event management in the College of Human Sciences at Iowa State University, was inducted into Phil Upsilon Omicron on April 12, 2015. Clevenger is a Davenport, Iowa (52803) native.

Phi Upsilon Omicron is a national honor society in family and consumer sciences that promotes academic excellence, develops professional leadership, and encourages professional and personal integrity.

On April 12 the organization inducted eighteen undergraduate College of Human Sciences students. The speaker for the initiation ceremony was Dr. Barbara Woods, College of Human Sciences' Extension and Outreach.

MOLINE, Ill. - A number of area high school students received recognition and cash prizes for their welding skills at the annual Midwest Technical Institute High School Welding Competition Thursday and Friday at the school's Moline campus.

The two-day competition featured more than 70 participants from 17 QCA high schools and career centers, including Moline High School; Clinton High School; Muscatine High School; Kewanee High School; Davenport West and Davenport Central high schools; Mercer County High School; and Whiteside Area Career Center.

Students were tested on a wide range of welding skills and theories, including live welding challenges as well as classroom-based testing. Ten students were recognized in each day of competition for their work with first place winners receiving cash prizes of $500 - second and third place winners received $250 and $100, respectively, and the top ten finalists were awarded commemorative medals for their efforts.

Thursday's first place honors went to Michael Koster of Whiteside Area Career Center, while Steven Comeaux of Davenport West High School took the top prize at Friday's competition. Thursday's top three finishers also included Drew Burger and Sam Wike, also from Whiteside, while Nate Anderson, of Davenport Central High School, and Victor Mendoza, of Davenport West, rounded out Friday's top three students.

Established in 2007, the competition offers high school students more than an opportunity to simply showcase their welding talents. Participants also had the chance to tour the Moline campus, meet with faculty and staff and receive valuable information on how to turn their passion into a lifelong, lucrative career.

MTI's Director of High School Development Eric Gleason believes the competition provides students with a well-rounded look at the skills and work ethic required to be a professional welder.

"The weld competition is designed to allow area high school students to not only showcase their skillset, but also to get a feel for the MTI environment and experience welding at the next level."

The Moline campus offers MTI's Journeyman Welder I and II Program to train students for employment as professional welders in as little as seven months.

(DES MOINES) - Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad today signed Senate File 227 into law. The bill states, "...the school calendar shall begin no sooner than August 23."

The bill passed the Iowa House 71-29 on March 24, 2015. The bill passed the Iowa Senate 28-22 on March 25, 2015.

Photos from the bill signing can be downloaded at the links below. The photos can be attributed to the Governor's Office. Students photographed are from Indianola, Iowa.

1.       Gov. Branstad speaks prior to signing the bill into law.

2.       Prior to signing the bill, Gov. Branstad shows the students from Indianola, Iowa, where the Senate President, House Speaker and he sign the bill making it a law.

3.       Students from Indianola, Iowa, lean in to get a close view of Gov. Branstad signing the law.

4.       After signing the bill, Lt. Gov. Reynolds and students applaud the signage.

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MOUNT VERNON, IA (04/09/2015)(readMedia)-- Aubrey Kohl of Bettendorf (52722) is one of more than 60 students who will present their independent research at Cornell College's 19th Annual Student Symposium on April 25.

Kohl is giving an oral presentation on "What Do You Do When Life Give You Lemons?"

Students will present independent research on topics ranging from Pablo Neruda's poetry and politics and Beyonce's status as a feminist icon to an examination of ACL tears in female athletes and a look at the climate of ancient Iberia at the symposium, which has been an academic highlight at Cornell College since 1997 and features students' original research through oral and poster presentations. Each student participant works closely with a faculty sponsor in developing the presentations. The projects, many of which are initiated by students, generally take several months to prepare.

One of the 40 "Colleges That Change Lives," Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa, is a national liberal arts college with a distinctive One Course At A Time curriculum. The One Course schedule provides students the chance to dive into their studies, focus more intensely on the disciplines of their choice, and learn authentically with the unique freedom to shed the confines of the traditional classroom to study off-campus, pursue research, or accept an internship - all without missing out on other classes.

Cornell has been recognized by numerous publications for the value its education offers and for academic excellence. This year it was named of the 100 best values in liberal arts education by Kiplinger's, one of the "Best Value Schools" among national liberal arts colleges by U.S. News and World Report, and one of the 100 Affordable Elite Colleges by Washington Monthly. Ninety-three percent of Cornell graduates earn their degrees in four years. In 2013 Cornell was named one of the 25 colleges with the best professors by the Center for College Affordability and Productivity.

For more information, visit www.cornellcollege.edu.