BELOIT, WI (06/05/2014)(readMedia)-- Devin Lundy of Davenport, IA graduated from Beloit College on Sunday, May 18. Lundy, earned a BA, majored in Art History.

Beloit College is a leading liberal arts college founded on the Wisconsin frontier in 1846. Hailed as one of the "Colleges That Change Lives," Beloit presents students with a Liberal Arts in Practice curriculum offering more than 50 majors and hundreds of internship, study abroad, and field experience opportunities. The college draws students from 48 states and 30 countries to its campus along the Rock River on the Illinois-Wisconsin stateline. For more visit www.beloit.edu.

FAYETTE, IA (06/05/2014)(readMedia)-- Upper Iowa University names its 2013-14 Dean's List. To be honored, the undergraduate must have earned a minimum 3.50 GPA for the semester and be enrolled as a full-time student.

Amanda Smith, a Athletic Training major from Moline, IL

Samantha Thrapp, a Psychology major from Davenport, IA

Gina Fox, a Nursing major from Bettendorf, IA

Nicole Belz, a Business Administration major from Davenport, IA

William Stellmach, a Accounting major from Davenport, IA

Adam Chitwood, a Accounting major from Davenport, IA

Shawn Cotton, a Criminal Justice major from LeClaire, IA

Jann Hebrank, a Psychology major from Park View, IA

Tara Harmon, a Psychology major from Long Grove, IA

Gene Lucas, a Psychology major from Bettendorf, IA

Peter Mullarkey, a Accounting major from Bettendorf, IA

Kathryn Troendle, a Human Services major from Bettendorf, IA

Samantha Barber, a Accounting major from Long Grove, IA

Jessica Buntemeyer, a Psychology major from Davenport, IA

Shannon Heck, a Business Administration major from Davenport, IA

Britta Ogden, a Human Resources Management major from Davenport, IA

Nicholas Pillard, a Business Administration major from Davenport, IA

Marissa Reese, a Human Services major from Bettendorf, IA

Travis Zurcher, a Financial Management major from Moline, IL

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 6,200 students-nationally and internationally-at its Fayette campus and learning centers worldwide. 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

SIOUX CITY, IA (06/04/2014)(readMedia)-- Samuel Cunningham from Bettendorf, Iowa, was named a Dimmitt Scholar at Morningside College in recognition of high academic distinction for the 2013-2014 academic year.

Dimmitt Scholars must be full-time students who have completed at least 45 credits of college work with a cumulative grade point average between 3.50 and 3.75. The award is named in honor of the late Lillian Dimmitt, who served as a teacher and administrator at Morningside College for more than 60 years.

Morningside College is a small, private college in Sioux City, Iowa. Morningside has been designated one of the Midwest's "Best Regional Colleges" in the U.S. News & World Report's college rankings since 2005 and has been designated a "Best Midwestern College" by The Princeton Review since 2003. For more information, visit the college's website at www.morningside.edu.

MOUNT VERNON, IA (06/04/2014)(readMedia)-- Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa, conferred degrees on 250 students on May 11, 2014.

Leanna Doyle of Davenport graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology-Psychology Specialist Concentration and Sociology and Anthropology and a minor in Civic Engagement.

Linda Nguyen of Davenport graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Anthropology and Biology.

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 one of the 20 "Best Buys" in higher education by the "Fiske Guide to Colleges," and one of the 100 best values in liberal arts education by Kiplinger's. It has also been called a "Great School at a Great Price" by U.S. News and World Report. Ninety-three percent of Cornell graduates earn their degrees in four years, compared to the national average of slightly more than five 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.

NEW LONDON, CT (06/04/2014)(readMedia)-- Meghan Olt, a member of the class of 2016 at Connecticut College and a resident of Bettendorf, has been named to the Dean's Honors list for the 2014 spring semester.

At Connecticut College, Dean's Honors is a recognition for students who have earned a grade point average of at least 3.65, and Dean's High Honors is a recognition for students who have earned a grade point average of at least 3.77.

About Connecticut College

Situated on the coast of southern New England, Connecticut College is a highly selective private liberal arts college with 1900 students from all across the country and throughout the world. On the college's 750-acre arboretum campus overlooking Long Island Sound, students and faculty create a vibrant social, cultural and intellectual community enriched by diverse perspectives. The college, founded in 1911, is known for its unique combination of interdisciplinary studies, international programs, funded internships, student-faculty research and service learning. For more information, visit www.connecticutcollege.edu.

Black Hawk College students, do you have your financial aid done for the upcoming school year? All financial aid forms and documents for the 2014-15 school year must be completed by Tuesday, July 1. Documents received after July 1 may not be processed on time. For more information, visit www.fafsa.gov or contact the Black Hawk College Financial Aid Office at 309-796-5400 or finaid@bhc.edu or visit www.bhc.edu/financialaid.

SPEARFISH, SD (06/04/2014)(readMedia)-- Stephanie Wiegel, of Illinois City, IL, was named by the Office of Academic Affairs at Black Hills State University to the spring 2014 dean's list. A total of 734 students maintained a grade point average of 3.5 or above while taking at least 12 credit hours to be named to the list this semester.

Founded in 1883, Black Hills State University is a master's level University that promotes excellence in teaching and learning; supports research, creative and scholarly activities and provides service to the state, region, nation and global community. The third-largest University in South Dakota, BHSU enrolls nearly 4,500 students from each of the 66 counties in South Dakota, 44 states, and 29 different countries. Located in Spearfish, S.D., BHSU's location in the beautiful Black Hills offers students endless options for recreation, unique research opportunities and a vibrant community.

LAMONI, IA (06/03/2014)(readMedia)-- The honor roll lists for Graceland University's 2014 Spring Term have been announced and Olivia St Claire of Bettendorf, IA, has been named to the Dean's List. Graceland commends Olivia and all GU students who have devoted their efforts and talents to their academic success.

Graceland University students with a perfect 4.0 grade point average are named to the President's List. Students with a GPA between 3.65 and 3.99 are named to the Honors List. Students with a GPA between 3.25 and 3.64 are named to the Dean's List.

Graceland University is a liberal arts university located in Lamoni, IA, and is sponsored by Community of Christ. It has been recognized by the Princeton Review as a top school in the Midwest and fosters academic excellence in a caring community with over 50 academic programs and a 15:1 student to faculty ratio. The warm community of inspired faculty, caring staff and remarkable people believes in educating the whole student. For more information visit www.graceland.edu and find Graceland University on Facebook and Twitter to follow additional student achievements.

INDIANAPOLIS, IN (06/03/2014)(readMedia)-- Allison Shanks, a Biology B.S. major and a resident of Bettendorf, IA, was one of 824 Butler University students who completed degree requirements in May 2014. Allison also is on Butler University's Dean's List for the spring semester of the 2013-2014 academic year. Recipients range from freshman to sixth-year pharmacy students. Degree-seeking undergraduate students at Butler who carry at least 12 academic hours in a given semester are eligible for the Dean's List in the college in which they are enrolled. Students on the list are in the top 20 percent of their college, as determined by the semester grade point average of all eligible students in each college.

Urges Critical Investment in Education to Give Every Child the Opportunity for Success

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today visited students and teachers at the Jane Addams Elementary School in Chicago to continue his push to properly fund education in Illinois. In March, Governor Quinn proposed an honest and responsible budget that made historic investments in education. Last week the Illinois General Assembly instead chose to send the Governor an incomplete budget that delays the important fiscal decisions.

"I will never stop fighting for public education," Governor Quinn said. "Our children deserve access to a great education. No matter where they live. No matter who they are. Every child deserves an opportunity to learn and succeed."

In his budget address this year, Governor Quinn laid out an honest and responsible budget for the next fiscal year along with a five-year blueprint to secure the state's finances for the long-term and invest like never before in education and early childhood. The Governor's budget was lauded by all three bond-rating agencies for its comprehensive approach to paying down bills, enhancing revenue and enacting spending restraints.

The Governor's 5-year blueprint includes a historic $6 billion increase in classroom spending over the next five years, doubling the investment in college scholarships for students in need and increasing access to higher education through dual enrollment and early college programs. Over the next five years, the Governor's plan would bring classroom funding to the highest levels in Illinois history.

###

Pages