IOWA CITY, IA (04/11/2014)(readMedia)-- Seven University of Iowa students have been recognized for reliability, quality of work initiative, professionalism, and uniqueness of their contributions as student employees. They will be honored during an April 22 luncheon with UI President Sally Mason.

Dave Bein, a third-year student in mechanical engineering from Silvis, IL, received State of Iowa and UI campus student employee of the year honors. Beinhas worked with the UI College of Engineering's Center for Computer Aided Design and the Virtual Soldier Research lab since 2011, parlaying his personal experience as a U.S. Marine into his role as resident military advisor. He helped create more than 100 detailed 3D models of Marine Corps weapons and gear, a key component in the lab's successful bid for a contract to optimize the equipment loads soldiers carry. He's since expanded into avatar design, software testing, motion capture, and other elements that go into creating the world's most advanced virtual soldier, Santos. Bein has traveled to Quantico, Virginia, to meet with software end users and collect date for Marine equipment and procedures. He is liaison to program managers at the Quantico and coordinates much of the communication between the UI team and the base.

Dan Morse, a fourth-year student in English, computer science, and physics from Bettendorf, IA, received certificate of appreciation honors. Morseworks with Integrated Strategic Planning and Business Development in the Office of Physician Relations. He's applied knowledge from his computer science courses to improve efficiency and accuracy on the job, helping colleagues manage contact information for some 20,000 doctors who refer patients to the UI, and reducing hands-on time from hundreds of hours to a matter of minutes.

The National Student Employment Association establishes criteria for the UI awards, which are presented every spring.

ROCK ISLAND, IL (04/11/2014)(readMedia)-- Augustana College announced 858 students were named to the Dean's List for the 2013 winter term. Students who have earned this academic honor have maintained a grade-point average of 3.5 or higher on a four-point scale for courses taken during the term.

From your area:

April Anderson, from Davenport, Iowa, was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Anderson is a senior at Augustana majoring in Asian studies.

Hiba Ansari, from Clinton, Iowa, was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Ansari is a senior at Augustana majoring in business administration-international business.

Christopher Atha, from Rock Island, Ill., was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Atha is a senior at Augustana majoring in business administration-management and accounting.

Jessica Bacon, from Rock Island, Ill., was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Bacon is a senior at Augustana majoring in elementary education.

Adam Bengfort, from Davenport, Iowa, was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Bengfort is a senior at Augustana majoring in engineering physics and applied mathematics.

Amelia Beveroth, from Sterling, Ill., was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Beveroth is a senior at Augustana majoring in elementary education.

Andrew Beveroth, from Sterling, Ill., was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Beveroth is a junior at Augustana majoring in history and accounting.

Allison Brown, from Milan, Ill., was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Brown is a senior at Augustana majoring in language arts/English education.

Samantha Bull, from Davenport, Iowa, was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Bull is a senior at Augustana majoring in communication sciences and disorders.

Jason Byro, from Rock Island, Ill., was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Byro is a senior at Augustana majoring in biology.

Katherine Chojnacki, from Rock Island, Ill., was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Chojnacki is a senior at Augustana majoring in biology.

David Cook, from Silvis, Ill., was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Cook is a senior at Augustana majoring in history.

Tyler Cowherd, from Bettendorf, Iowa, was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Cowherd is a senior at Augustana majoring in business administration-finance and accounting.

Rosa De La Torre, from Rock Falls, Ill., was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. De La Torre is a junior at Augustana majoring in pre-medicine and biology.

Katelin Durham, from Sterling, Ill., was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Durham is a junior at Augustana majoring in biology and pre-medicine.

Tonnie Farwell, from Rock Island, Ill., was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Farwell is a senior at Augustana majoring in accounting.

Brenna German, from Bettendorf, Iowa, was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. German is a freshman at Augustana majoring in undecided.

Lizandra Gomez-Ramirez, from Rock Island, Ill., was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Gomez-Ramirez is a freshman at Augustana majoring in undecided.

Emily Grooms, from Coal Valley, Ill., was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Grooms is a freshman at Augustana majoring in psychology and art.

Christine Harb, from Davenport, Iowa, was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Harb is a senior at Augustana majoring in biology and pre-medicine.

Caitlin Henkel, from Davenport, Iowa, was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Henkel is a freshman at Augustana majoring in undecided.

Taelar Hillyer, from Bettendorf, Iowa, was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Hillyer is a senior at Augustana majoring in language arts/English education.

Michael Hoover, from Bettendorf, Iowa, was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Hoover is a sophomore at Augustana majoring in political science.

Darshan Hullon, from Moline, Ill., was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Hullon is a senior at Augustana majoring in biology and pre-medicine.

Andrea Hult, from Moline, Ill., was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Hult is a junior at Augustana majoring in accounting and business administration-advising.

Jens Hurty, from Moline, Ill., was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Hurty is a senior at Augustana majoring in music education-vocal and music performance-voice.

Kayla Jackson, from Rock Island, Ill., was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Jackson is a freshman at Augustana majoring in undecided.

Tyler James, from Davenport, Iowa, was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. James is a sophomore at Augustana majoring in graphic design and English.

Jillian Jespersen, from Rock Island, Ill., was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Jespersen is a sophomore at Augustana majoring in biology and pre-medicine.

Zoee Johnson, from Rock Falls, Ill., was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Johnson is a junior at Augustana majoring in classics and philosophy.

Victoria Jones, from Rock Falls, Ill., was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Jones is a junior at Augustana majoring in language arts/English education.

Katherine Karstens, from Moline, Ill., was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Karstens is a senior at Augustana majoring in business administration-finance and accounting.

Alyssa Kendell, from Davenport, Iowa, was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Kendell is a junior at Augustana majoring in biology and pre-medicine.

Nicholas Kendell, from Davenport, Iowa, was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Kendell is a senior at Augustana majoring in biology and pre-medicine.

Sarah Kerres, from Taylor Ridge, Ill., was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Kerres is a junior at Augustana majoring in accounting and business administration-finance.

Jacob Kilburg, from Goose Lake, Iowa, was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Kilburg is a freshman at Augustana majoring in undecided.

Benjamin Knapper, from Davenport, Iowa, was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Knapper is a senior at Augustana majoring in applied mathematics and computer science.

Rebecca Knapper, from Davenport, Iowa, was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Knapper is a freshman at Augustana majoring in creative writing and English.

Kylie Koger, from Davenport, Iowa, was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Koger is a senior at Augustana majoring in classics and philosophy.

Elizabeth LaBotte, from Moline, Ill., was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. LaBotte is a junior at Augustana majoring in political science.

Jamie Lawrence, from Moline, Ill., was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Lawrence is a senior at Augustana majoring in language arts/English education.

Abigail Ledford, from Rock Island, Ill., was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Ledford is a senior at Augustana majoring in biology and pre-medicine.

Kera Linn, from Bettendorf, Iowa, was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Linn is a junior at Augustana majoring in biology.

Madison Logan, from Moline, Ill., was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Logan is a senior at Augustana majoring in communication sciences and disorders and psychology.

Makenzie Logan, from Moline, Ill., was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Logan is a sophomore at Augustana majoring in psychology and communication sciences and disorders.

Chad Martens, from Erie, Ill., was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Martens is a junior at Augustana majoring in pre-medicine.

Eli McDonald, from Bettendorf, Iowa, was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. McDonald is a freshman at Augustana majoring in physics.

Samantha McGreer, from Illinois City, Ill., was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. McGreer is a senior at Augustana majoring in pre-medicine and biochemistry.

Benjamin McKay, from Rock Island, Ill., was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. McKay is a freshman at Augustana majoring in undecided.

Christopher McLaughlin, from Bettendorf, Iowa, was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. McLaughlin is a freshman at Augustana majoring in undecided.

Irene Mekus, from East Moline, Ill., was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Mekus is a freshman at Augustana majoring in undecided.

Chelsea Mentado, from Moline, Ill., was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Mentado is a freshman at Augustana majoring in undecided.

Garrett Miner, from Moline, Ill., was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Miner is a sophomore at Augustana majoring in graphic design and business administration-advising.

Sean Mulholland, from Clinton, Iowa, was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Mulholland is a senior at Augustana majoring in applied mathematics and accounting.

Jean Bosco Munyengabe, from Rock Island, Ill., was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Munyengabe is a senior at Augustana majoring in biology and pre-medicine.

Sara Naftzger, from Albany, Ill., was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Naftzger is a freshman at Augustana majoring in pre-music education-vocal.

Landon Neese, from Davenport, Iowa, was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Neese is a junior at Augustana majoring in pre-medicine.

Breann Nelson, from Moline, Ill., was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Nelson is a senior at Augustana majoring in psychology and sociology-social welfare.

Long Nguyen, from Rock Island, Ill., was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Nguyen is a sophomore at Augustana majoring in applied mathematics and economics.

Muna Omar, from Bettendorf, Iowa, was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Omar is a senior at Augustana majoring in biology.

Jenna Orabutt, from Rock Island, Ill., was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Orabutt is a senior at Augustana majoring in business administration-management.

Owen Pomije, from Rock Island, Ill., was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Pomije is a senior at Augustana majoring in computer science.

Layne Porembski, from Moline, Ill., was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Porembski is a sophomore at Augustana majoring in accounting.

Phillip Powell, from Bettendorf, Iowa, was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Powell is a sophomore at Augustana majoring in English.

Anna Rusch, from Davenport, Iowa, was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Rusch is a senior at Augustana majoring in business administration-marketing.

Abigail Ryser, from Moline, Ill., was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Ryser is a sophomore at Augustana majoring in biology.

Alan Sabat, from Moline, Ill., was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Sabat is a senior at Augustana majoring in geography.

Keith Sands, from Silvis, Ill., was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Sands is a sophomore at Augustana majoring in mathematics and math education.

Ingrid Schneider, from Davenport, Iowa, was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Schneider is a senior at Augustana majoring in music general and psychology.

Austin Schoeck, from Rock Island, Ill., was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Schoeck is a sophomore at Augustana majoring in political science.

Breanna Schuetz, from Sterling, Ill., was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Schuetz is a sophomore at Augustana majoring in communication sciences and disorders.

Andrew Shearouse, from Coal Valley, Ill., was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Shearouse is a senior at Augustana majoring in business administration-management information system and computer science.

Emma Shie, from Davenport, Iowa, was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Shie is a freshman at Augustana majoring in undecided.

Malcolm Simon, from Bettendorf, Iowa, was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Simon is a senior at Augustana majoring in English.

Andrew Smith, from Rock Island, Ill., was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Smith is a senior at Augustana majoring in accounting and business administration-advising.

Cristina Stan, from Davenport, Iowa, was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Stan is a senior at Augustana majoring in biology and pre-medicine.

Rosalie Starenko, from Rock Island, Ill., was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Starenko is a senior at Augustana majoring in geography and Spanish.

Grant Stewart, from Sterling, Ill., was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Stewart is a senior at Augustana majoring in elementary education.

Danya Tazyeen, from Bettendorf, Iowa, was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Tazyeen is a junior at Augustana majoring in graphic design and computer science.

Sergio Tekeli, from Bettendorf, Iowa, was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Tekeli is a sophomore at Augustana majoring in pre-medicine.

Emma Thompson, from Port Byron, Ill., was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Thompson is a senior at Augustana majoring in psychology.

Jaykob Tisdale, from Moline, Ill., was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Tisdale is a senior at Augustana majoring in Spanish.

Will Tolmie, from Moline, Ill., was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Tolmie is a senior at Augustana majoring in accounting.

Samantha Tonn, from Moline, Ill., was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Tonn is a senior at Augustana majoring in religion.

Anthony TouVelle, from Bettendorf, Iowa, was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. TouVelle is a senior at Augustana majoring in German studies and international business.

Matthew Tuttle-Timm, from Moline, Ill., was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Tuttle-Timm is a freshman at Augustana majoring in undecided.

Michael Warhank, from Davenport, Iowa, was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Warhank is a freshman at Augustana majoring in pre-medicine and business administration-advising.

Michelle Wells, from Davenport, Iowa, was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Wells is a senior at Augustana majoring in biology.

Haley West, from Rapids City, Ill., was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. West is a sophomore at Augustana majoring in psychology and Spanish.

James Wiebler, from Davenport, Iowa, was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Wiebler is a senior at Augustana majoring in biology.

Shelby Womack, from Davenport, Iowa, was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Womack is a senior at Augustana majoring in biology.

Rong Zheng, from Silvis, Ill., was among the students named to winter term Dean's List. Zheng is a sophomore at Augustana majoring in biochemistry.

Founded in 1860, Augustana College is a selective four-year residential college of the liberal arts and sciences. The college is recognized for the innovative program Augie Choice, which provides each student up to $2,000 to pursue a high-impact learning experience such as study abroad, an internship or research with a professor. Current students and alumni include 149 Academic All-Americans, a Nobel laureate, 13 college presidents and other distinguished leaders. The college enrolls 2,500 students and is located along one of the world's most important waterways, the Mississippi River, in a community that reflects the diversity of the United States.

Do You Need to Rethink Your First-Choice College?
Study Shows Less than 60 Percent Enroll in Top Option; Expert Provides 3 Criteria to Consider

Tens of thousands of high school students will be receiving their college acceptance letters in April. It's an anxious time - students, and their parents, want to believe their school holds the promise that attendance will be their "Golden Ticket" to eventual financial success.  So, if they are trying to get from "Point A" (here and now) to "Point B" (financial independence), how do they select the school that will deliver that return on their investment?

"Young people tend to quickly fall in love with a school, and parents tend to quickly wear their son's or daughter's acceptance as a badge of honor, or at least validation as a successful parent,'' says David Porter, social architect, consultant to colleges and universities throughout North America and author of "The Porter Principles," a guide to college success through social engineering, (www.porterkhouwconsulting.com).

"Students and parents should be skeptical and consider all of what a college has offer, and how it will deliver on the implicit promise of financial independence. Which school will nurture and grow the prerequisite face-to-face problem-solving skills required to secure gainful employment and financial independence upon graduation?"

According to the most recent study from the University of California, Los Angeles's Higher Education Research Institute, only 58 percent of the surveyed 204,000 college freshmen enrolled at their first-choice college, the lowest percentage to do so since the question was first asked in 1974.

The major factors behind the decline are cost and financial aid. A 2012 study by the research group Ipsos and the student loan giant, Sallie Mae, indicates that roughly 70 percent of families are ruling out colleges based on cost.

First choice or otherwise, Porter says students and their families should consider a variety of factors in estimating the most value to be had at a campus. Some are more relevant than others:

• A school's ranking: According to one of the world's leading public intellects who regularly weighs in on academic issues, Malcom Gladwell, the national ranking a school receives doesn't necessarily reflect the needs of individual students. Just like an expensive sports car is valued, in part, from an arbitrary, expensive price tag, so too are colleges. The various needs a young adult will have are by no means fully represented by the seven variables used by the U.S. News rankings, run by Robert Morse. The variables include undergraduate academic reputation, financial resources and alumni giving.

• On-Campus culture and community: In addition to academics and the rigors thereof, a college offers (or fails to offer) a unique on-campus college experience.  Will the environment foster success (post-graduate financial independence) or, will it essentially be a few more years of high school under the guise of "college"?  Look for safe, wholesome campus venues, like a student union or a next generation dining learning commons that invites student interaction, collaboration, problem-solving, and dining 24/7.  Social architecture - the conscious design of an environment to encourage social behaviors that lead toward a goal - is a ground-breaking approach that social architecture visionary Porter is successfully introducing to more campuses across North America every day.

• Parent-student understanding: Move out and stay out (because you can). Mom and dad, we want a nice home, a nice car, nice vacations, nice stuff, nice meals, etc. etc. etc.  It costs tens of thousands of dollars per year to attend most colleges. Whether or not a student assumes massive debt to follow her dreams, or a parent shares the burden should be moot if the student can identify, pursue and secure gainful employment upon graduation. Having debt is an enourmous burden at any stage of life if you are unemployed. Choosing a school is a great opportunity for parents to lead by example on how to make a purchase decision for any "big ticket" item.  Do your homework.  Buyer beware. Coach them using some of the same skills you would use to buy a house or purchase a car or invest in a new business.

About David Porter

David Porter, author and social architect, is CEO and president of Porter Khouw Consulting, Inc., a foodservice master planning and design firm based in Crofton, Maryland. David has more than 40 years of hands-on food service operations and consulting experience and is a professional member of the Foodservice Consultants Society International. He is the author of "The Porter Principles, Retain & Recruit Students & Alumni, Save Millions on Dining and Stop Letting Food Service Contractors Eat Your Lunch," (www.porterkhouwconsulting.com). Porter Khouw Consulting has worked with more than 350 clients to conduct market research and develop strategic plans, master plans and designs for the college and university market. Porter is a graduate of the prestigious hospitality program at Michigan State University and has been recognized repeatedly as a leader in his field.

INDIANAPOLIS, IN (04/07/2014)(readMedia)-- Allison Shanks from Bettendorf, Iowa, is among the Top 100 Students at Butler University. Shanks, a biology major, expects to graduate in 2014.

The Butler Alumni Association sponsors Top 100 Student Recognition to pay tribute to the talent and dedication of outstanding Butler students. The recipients are nominated by students, faculty, and staff members for their outstanding character, scholarship, and leadership. The recognition honors those who give unselfishly of themselves and who are highly regarded by the entire University community.

Challenging and enabling students to meet their personal and professional goals has guided Butler University since 1855. Today, Butler is a nationally recognized comprehensive university that blends the liberal arts with first-rate pre-professional programs. It seeks to prepare each graduate not simply to make a living but to make a life of purpose, in which personal flourishing is intertwined with the welfare of others. Butler is known for its vibrant campus, superior academics and dedicated faculty. The University enrolls more than 4,700 undergraduate and graduate students in six academic colleges: Arts, Business, Communication, Education, Liberal Arts and Sciences, and Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Located just six miles from downtown Indianapolis, Butler's urban setting affords students internship opportunities that provide excellent graduate school and career preparation.