ROMEOVILLE, IL (01/07/2015)(readMedia)-- Lewis University announces Dean's List honorees.These following students were among those honored on the Lewis University Dean's List for fall semester 2014.

Aaron Wilson of Rock Island (61201) was studying Sport Management at Lewis University.

Sean Lillis of Geneseo (61254) was studying Physics at Lewis University.

Julia Dawson of Moline (61265) was studying Radiation Therapy at Lewis University.

Jacob Dopler of East Moline (61244) was studying Finance at Lewis University.

Paige Gatter of Geneseo (61254) was studying Early Childhood Education Special Education at Lewis University.

To be eligible for this honor, students must have completed a minimum of 12 semester hours of credit with a grade point average of 3.5 out of a possible 4.0 and with no "D" or "F" grades.

Lewis University is a Catholic university in the Lasallian tradition offering distinctive undergraduate and graduate programs to more than 6,700 traditional and adult students. Lewis offers multiple campus locations, online degree programs, and a variety of formats that provide accessibility and convenience to a growing student population. Sponsored by the De La Salle Christian Brothers, Lewis prepares intellectually engaged, ethically grounded, globally connected, and socially responsible graduates. The seventh largest private not-for-profit university in Illinois, Lewis has been nationally recognized by The Princeton Review and U.S. News & World Report. Visit www.lewisu.edu for further information.

Quad City Arts partners with the Illinois Arts Council inviting Illinois High Schools to participate in a free national program- Poetry Out Loud created by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation

Poetry Out Loud has served as an inspiration for hundreds of thousands of students. Now entering its 10th year of national competition, POL has helped students to develop skills in public speaking, self-confidence, and poise while interpreting great poetry through memorization and performance.

POL may be implemented in the classroom or as an after school program in as little as 2 to 3 weeks and does not require full class periods. Students are only required to memorize and recite 2 poems at the school and regional level. This program also meets most of the NCTE English Language Arts Standards and Illinois English Language Arts Standards.

State Awards: Each winner at the state level will receive $200 and an all-expenses-paid trip (with an adult chaperone) to Washington, DC, to compete at the National Finals. The state winner's school will receive a $500 stipend for the purchase of poetry books. One runner-up in each state will receive $100; his or her school will receive $200 for the purchase of poetry books. National Awards: A total of $50,000 in awards and school stipends will be given at the Poetry Out Loud National Finals, including a $20,000 award for the National Champion.

Please call Poetry Out Loud Coordinator, Tracy Alan White at (563) 579-7630 or email tracyalanwhite@gmail.com to register. Tracy will provide any materials you will need, answer any questions you may have, and support you in implementing this program in your school. Other information and materials are available on the Poetry Out Loud website: www.poetryoutloud.org .

This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

DES MOINES, IA (01/02/2015)(readMedia)-- State Treasurer Michael L. Fitzgerald announced today that the Iowa income tax deduction has once again been raised for those saving with College Savings Iowa.* "Iowa taxpayers can deduct the first $3,163 they contribute per beneficiary account from their state taxable income," Fitzgerald said. "This means a married couple with two children will be able to deduct up to $12,652 in College Savings Iowa contributions on their 2015 state taxes."

"One of the best features of College Savings Iowa is how easy it is to get started," Fitzgerald added. "All you need is $25 and ten minutes of your time to start saving for a loved one's future educational expenses. I encourage all families to save whatever they can today to help offset what has to be borrowed in the future."

College Savings Iowa lets parents, grandparents, friends and relatives invest for college on behalf of a future scholar. Investors in the plan can withdraw their investment tax-free to pay for qualified higher education expenses, which include tuition, books, supplies and room and board at any eligible college, university, community college or accredited technical training school in the United States or abroad.** While participants do not need to be an Iowa resident to invest in the plan, they do need to be an Iowa taxpayer to take advantage of the Iowa income tax deduction.

or visit CollegeSavingsIowa.com and connect with the plan on Facebook and Twitter (@Iowa529Plan) to stay up to date on current giveaways and events.

*If withdrawals are not qualified, the deductions must be added back to Iowa taxable income. Amount adjusted annually for inflation.

** Earnings on non-qualified withdrawals may be subject to federal income tax and a 10% federal penalty tax on the earnings, as well as state income taxes. The availability of tax or other benefits may be contingent on meeting other requirements.

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Investment returns are not guaranteed and you could lose money by investing in the plan. Participants assume all investment risks as well as the responsibility for any federal and state tax consequences. If you are not an Iowa taxpayer, consider before investing whether your or the designated beneficiary's home state offers any state tax or other benefits that are only available for investments in such state's qualified tuition program.

For more information about the College Savings Iowa 529 Plan, call 888-672-9116, or visit collegesavingsiowa.com to obtain a Program Description. Investment objectives, risks, charges, expenses and other important information are included in the Program Description; read and consider it carefully before investing. Vanguard Marketing Corporation, Distributor.

College Savings Iowa is an Iowa trust sponsored by the Iowa state treasurer's office. The treasurer of the state of Iowa sponsors and is responsible for overseeing the administration of the College Savings Iowa 529 Plan. The Vanguard Group, Inc., serves as Investment Manager and Vanguard Marketing Corporation, an affiliate of The Vanguard Group, Inc., assists the treasurer with marketing and distributing the plan. Ascensus Investment Advisors, LLC, provides records administration services. The plan's portfolios, although they invest in Vanguard mutual funds, are not mutual funds.

View Online: http://readme.readmedia.com/State-Treasurer-Fitzgerald-Announces-2015-College-Savings-Iowa-Deduction-Amount/10049908

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IOWA CITY, IA (12/30/2014)(readMedia)-- Kelly Van Acker, a native of Muscatine, IA, has graduated with High Distinction from the University of Iowa College of Education.

The College awards degrees "with highest distinction" to students in the highest 2 percent of the graduating class, "with high distinction" to students in the next highest 3 percent, and "with distinction" to the next highest 5 percent. Ranking is based on students' grade point averages for all college level study undertaken before the final registration.

To be eligible for graduation with distinction, students must complete a minimum of 60 s.h. in residence in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, of which at least 45 must have been completed before the student's final registration.