DES MOINES, IA (01/13/2015)(readMedia)-- The Iowa State Education Association's (ISEA) priorities for Iowa students have always been clear. Every student, regardless of ZIP code is entitled to a secure, healthy and robust educational environment so they are able to learn. This means funding must be adequate, equitable and sustainable and 6 percent State Supplemental Aid (SSA) for the FY 2016-17 and FY 2017-18 school years is absolutely necessary to meet this goal.

While we applaud the Governor for making anti-bullying legislation a priority, we deeply regret he has ignored the details in how he is proposing to fund Iowa's K-12 public education system. Currently, Iowa ranks 35th in the nation in educational funding per student which is $1,612 below the national average.

Iowa's schools cannot function on a wing and a prayer. We have seen the results of a slight-of-hand approach when the Governor claims he wants our public schools to be the best, yet still underfunds them. It seems to us that he can only tout our 1:1 technology schools and their opportunities for advanced student learning if he funds them properly so they have up- to-date equipment; he can only support our STEM program if he provides the program with enough tools in the labs to teach; and he can only brag about our Advanced Placement classes if he provides the funds for new text books which reflect the current world around us. Our leaders must realize that many Iowa classrooms are operating with outdated equipment, with history books that are over a decade old, technology that predates our students, and crowding with not a desk or square inch of space to spare.

We simply must fund our schools with adequate cost of living adjustments if we want to be competitive. Our hope today was that the Governor would not play politics and claim to support our schools with too little funding. Unfortunately, that is exactly what he has done.

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The ISEA is a professional organization made up of more than 34,000 educators who are dedicated to supporting and protecting a quality education for all Iowa students.

MOLINE, IL - WQPT-Quad Cities PBS invites young authors and illustrators in kindergarten-third grade to submit their original stories to the PBS Kids Writing Contest.

Stories, which must be the original work of the child, may be non-fiction, fiction, prose or poetry. Entries, postmarked by Thursday, April 9, can be dropped off at WQPT's office at Western Illinois University's riverfront campus, or mailed to WQPT, 3300 River Drive, Moline, Illinois 61265.

Sixteen local winners (four from each grade) will be honored with prizes at a ceremony held at the Butterworth Center in May and will appear on-air in a promotion for PBS Kids programs on WQPT. First place winners will compete for national prizes and their stories will appear on the WQPT website. Finalists and participating classrooms will also receive free books. Each participant will receive a Certificate of Achievement. Finalists and participating classrooms will receive free books.

For more information, along with guidelines and entry forms, visit wqpt.org/storycontest or contact Esther Smith at (309) 764-2400 or EB-Smith@wiu.edu.

Funding and support for the writing contest has been provided in part by the Butterworth Center and Deere-Wiman House, Family Museum, Figge Art Museum, Midwest Writing Center and WQPT.

WQPT is a public media service of Western Illinois University-Quad Cities.

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Erika Fairman of Davenport, IA, Bachelor of Science: Nursing in Nursing , Cum Laude from UIU Nursing-Cedar Rapids;

Gina Fox of Bettendorf, IA, Bachelor of Science: Nursing in Nursing , Cum Laude from UIU Nursing-Cedar Rapids;

Tiffany Jones of Davenport, IA, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration , from UIU Quad Cities;

Jose Lopez of Bettendorf, IA, Bachelor of Science in Human Resources Management , from UIU Quad Cities;

Peter Mullarkey of Bettendorf, IA, Bachelor of Science in Accounting , Cum Laude from UIU Quad Cities;

Marissa Reese of Bettendorf, IA, Bachelor of Science in Human Services , Cum Laude from UIU Quad Cities;

Jessica Buntemeyer of Davenport, IA, Bachelor of Science in Psychology , Cum Laude from UIU Quad Cities;

Honors qualifications as follows: Summa cum laude is awarded to those with at least a 3.9 GPA; magna cum laude (3.7-3.9 GPA), and cum laude (3.5-3.7 GPA). A total of 60 graded semester credits must be earned at Upper Iowa University before magna cum laude or summa cum laude honors may be granted.

About Upper Iowa University Founded in 1857, Upper Iowa University is a private, not-for-profit university providing undergraduate and graduate degree programs to more than 5,800 students-nationally and internationally-at its Fayette campus, 25 U.S. education centers, as well as centers in Malaysia and Hong Kong. Upper Iowa University is a recognized innovator in offering accredited, quality programs through flexible, multiple delivery systems, including online and self-paced degree programs. With a focus on developing leaders and lifelong learners, UIU provides dual enrollment programs for high school students as well as continuing education and professional development opportunities for learners of any age. For more information, visit www.uiu.edu.

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (01/08/2015)(readMedia)-- Oklahoma City University is proud to announce that Shannon Beshears of Milan, IL (61264) has been named to the fall 2014 Dean's Honor Roll.

Dean's Honor Roll status is awarded to students who successfully complete a minimum of 12 credit hours and maintain a grade point average of 3.5 or higher.

Founded in 1904, Oklahoma City University is a non-profit, comprehensive, private United Methodist university that is consistently ranked among the best in its category. OCU students pursue academic excellence through a rigorous liberal arts & sciences core curriculum that focuses on their intellectual, moral and spiritual development.

For more information visit www.okcu.edu

Oklahoma City University is a coeducational, urban private university located in Oklahoma City, in the Uptown district. The university is affiliated with the United Methodist Church and offers a wide variety of degrees in the liberal arts, fine arts, sciences and business. The only Oklahoma institution listed in the top tier of the regional, master's-level university category by U.S. News and World Report, Oklahoma City University is also listed in Forbes' "Best Christian Colleges" & "100 Best College Buys." OCU offers more than 70 undergraduate majors and 23 graduate degrees (including a law degree, MBA and doctoral programs in nursing).