KENOSHA, WI (02/05/2015)(readMedia)-- Erin Holst of Bettendorf, IA participated in a J-Term study tour to Nicaragua with Carthage College.

"Biology and Geography of Nicaragua" focused on how physical geographic factors and human intervention have affected the flora and fauna of the world's largest freshwater tropical island. The tour included a trip to the island of Ometepe in Lake Nicaragua. Students were required to engage in significant research about the varied landscape and history of Nicaragua before leaving the campus.

J-Term is a special month-long period of study in which Carthage students explore subjects outside their majors or minors, discover new interests, and test their creativity through classes held both on campus and around the world. It's a month to experiment, create and dream. Carthage is ranked No. 7 in the nation among baccalaureate institutions for student participation in short-term study abroad.

Carthage College combines an environment of reflection and self-discovery with a culture of high expectation so our students uncover and ignite their true potential. A four-year, private liberal arts college with roots in the Lutheran tradition, the campus has a prime location in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The campus, an 80-acre arboretum on the shore of Lake Michigan, is home to 150 scholars, 2,500 full-time students, and 400 part-time students.

DAVENPORT, Iowa - Feb. 4, 2015 -- Genesis Health System is not only hiring nurses, but also has scholarship opportunities for employed nurses who want to further their educations and for college students who are pursuing BSN educations.

The Genesis Health Services Foundation, DeWitt Community Hospital Foundation and Illini Hospital Foundation jointly will award a total of $120,000 in scholarships. Scholarship programs are available not only for college students in nursing programs, but also for employed Genesis nurses who would like to advance their nursing educations.

Deadlines are approaching for applications. Here is more about the nursing scholarship programs available from Genesis:

BSN NURSING SCHOLARSHIP - This scholarship is for full-time college students only. This unique program provides $10,000 scholarships for students who have been accepted into a baccalaureate program in nursing or are seeking admission. It also provides for repayment to be waived once the recipient has completed a period of employment with Genesis. Application Deadline: March 27, 2015.

NURSING DEGREE COMPLETION SCHOLARSHIP - This scholarship is for Genesis Health System employees only. As much as $10,000 will be awarded to Genesis nurses for BSN completion and up to $2,500 to Genesis nurses for MSN completion. Nurse practitioner programs do not qualify for this scholarship. Application Deadline: March 20, 2015.

VIRGINIA L. PILCHER SCHOLARSHIP -- GMC, Davenport, nurses only

Application Deadline: March 27, 2015.

ASSET SCHOLARSHIPS - Applicants can be a child, grandchild or legal dependent of a qualified Genesis employee. Application Deadline: April 1, 2015.

Go to www.genesishealth.com/scholarships for more information and to review eligibility requirements. If you have questions, please email us at scholarships@genesishealth.com.

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WAUKESHA, Wis. (February 3, 2015) - (insert student name here) was named to the dean's list at Carroll University for the fall 2014 semester. To be named to the dean's list, students must have a grade point average for the semester of at least 3.5 on a 4-point scale.

Congratulations to Katie Noble of Bettendorf and Allison Courville of Davenport.

Carroll University was incorporated in 1846, making it Wisconsin's first four-year institution of higher learning. The independent, co-educational university is grounded in the liberal arts tradition, and offers 80 undergraduate programs, eight graduate programs, and a clinical doctorate in physical therapy. For more information, visit www.carrollu.edu, and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

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DES MOINES, IA (02/03/2015)(readMedia)-- State Treasurer Michael L. Fitzgerald is advocating Iowans to take advantage of the benefits of College Savings Iowa to save for future education expenses. "We want parents to know it is never too soon or too late to start planning for their children's education," Fitzgerald said. "As a way to encourage families to take the first step towards saving, College Savings Iowa is giving away a $5,290 account this spring." Visit CollegeSavingsIowa.com to enter the giveaway and see official rules.

College Savings Iowa offers families a tax advantaged way to save money for their children's higher education. It only takes $25 to open an account, and anyone - parents, grandparents, friends and relatives - can invest in College Savings Iowa on behalf of a child. Iowa taxpayers have the additional benefit of being able to deduct contributions up to $3,163 per beneficiary account from their 2015 Iowa adjusted gross income.*

. For more information about future giveaways and events find College Savings Iowa on Facebook and Twitter (@Iowa529Plan).

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

**The Earnings portion of nonqualified withdrawals may be subject to federal income tax and a 10% federal penalty tax, as well as state and local 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 1-888-672-9116, 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.