BATON ROUGE, LA (06/18/2014)(readMedia)-- The following local residents recently were initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation's oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines.

Peter Pentland of Davenport initiated at DePaul University

Ann Tessier of Davenport initiated at Western Illinois University

These residents are among approximately 32,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni to be initiated into Phi Kappa Phi each year. Membership is by invitation and requires nomination and approval by a chapter. Only the top 10 percent of seniors and 7.5 percent of juniors, having at least 72 semester hours, are eligible for membership. Graduate students in the top 10 percent of the number of candidates for graduate degrees may also qualify, as do faculty, professional staff, and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction.

Founded in 1897 at the University of Maine and headquartered in Baton Rouge, La., Phi Kappa Phi is the nation's oldest and most selective all-discipline honor society. The Society has chapters on more than 300 college and university campuses in North America and the Philippines. Its mission is "To recognize and promote academic excellence in all fields of higher education and to engage the community of scholars in service to others."

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Since its founding, more than 1.25 million members have been initiated. Some of the organization's more notable members include former President Jimmy Carter, NASA astronaut Wendy Lawrence, novelist David Baldacci and YouTube cofounder Chad Hurley. The Society has awarded approximately $15 million since the inception of its awards program in 1932. Today, $1 million is awarded each biennium to qualifying students and members through graduate fellowships, undergraduate study abroad grants, member and chapter awards and grants for local and national literacy initiatives.

DECORAH, IA (06/17/2014)(readMedia)-- 752 Luther students were named to the spring 2014 dean's list. To be named to Luther's dean's list, a student must earn a semester grade point average of 3.5 or better on a 4.0 scale and must complete at least 12 credit hours with 10 hours of conventional grades (A, B, C, D).

Audrey Bird, Luther College junior of Rapids City, Illinois, has been named to the 2014 spring semester dean's list. Bird is the daughter of Steven and Susan Bird.

Emily Crowe, Luther College freshman of Davenport, Iowa, has been named to the 2014 spring semester dean's list. Crowe is the daughter of Catherine Hanson and David Crowe.

Tyler Crowe, Luther College senior of Davenport, Iowa, has been named to the 2014 spring semester dean's list. Crowe is the son of Catherine Hanson and David Crowe.

Kelli Golinghorst, Luther College senior of Dixon, Iowa, has been named to the 2014 spring semester dean's list. Golinghorst is the daughter of David and Linda Golinghorst.

Lauren Gonyier, Luther College junior of East Moline, Illinois, has been named to the 2014 spring semester dean's list. Gonyier is the daughter of Kirk Gonyier and Sheryl Kotula.

Chloe Gumpert, Luther College senior of Eldridge, Iowa, has been named to the 2014 spring semester dean's list. Gumpert is the daughter of Joseph and Tamra Gumpert.

Miranda Gumpert, Luther College sophomore of Eldridge, Iowa, has been named to the 2014 spring semester dean's list. Gumpert is the daughter of Joseph and Tamra Gumpert.

Carrie Kilen, Luther College senior of Eldridge, Iowa, has been named to the 2014 spring semester dean's list. Kilen is the daughter of Kathryn and David Kilen.

Justin Kreiter, Luther College freshman of Davenport, Iowa, has been named to the 2014 spring semester dean's list. Kreiter is the son of Nancy and Eugene Kreiter.

Blake Letney, Luther College sophomore of Bettendorf, Iowa, has been named to the 2014 spring semester dean's list. Letney is the son of Todd and Robin Letney.

Melissa Lockwood, Luther College junior of Bettendorf, Iowa, has been named to the 2014 spring semester dean's list. Lockwood is the daughter of Jeff and Lora Lockwook.

Lindsay Lovaas, Luther College sophomore of Davenport, Iowa, has been named to the 2014 spring semester dean's list. Lovaas is the daughter of Jeffrey and Judy Lovaas.

Kayla Naber, Luther College senior of Eldridge, Iowa, has been named to the 2014 spring semester dean's list. Naber is the daughter of Glan and Jacqueline Naber.

Kylie Romeo, Luther College junior of Moline, Illinois, has been named to the 2014 spring semester dean's list. Romeo is the daughter of Kelly and Anthony Romeo.

Kelsey Rose, Luther College senior of Bettendorf, Iowa, has been named to the 2014 spring semester dean's list. Rose is the daughter of Kevin and Mary Ann Rose.

Lucille Vens, Luther College senior of Bettendorf, Iowa, has been named to the 2014 spring semester dean's list. Vens is the daughter of Christine Little and Gregory Vens.

Luther is a selective four-year college located in northeast Iowa. The college has an enrollment of 2,500 students and offers a liberal arts education leading to the bachelor of arts degree in 60 majors and pre-professional programs.

STANDISH, ME (06/16/2014)(readMedia)-- Deborah McClellan of Moline graduated from Saint Joseph's College of Maine with a Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Science Administration.

Saint Joseph's College is Maine's only Catholic college, providing a supportive, personalized, and career-focused education for more than 100 years. From its 430-acre campus on the shore of Sebago Lake, the College offers undergraduate degrees to on-campus students, and certificates, undergraduate, and advanced degrees for working adults through Saint Joseph's College Online. For more, visit www.sjcme.edu.

ROCK ISLAND, IL (06/16/2014)(readMedia)-- Augustana College, Rock Island, Ill., held its spring commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 25. Congresswoman Cheri Bustos delivered the commencement speech, and more than 600 students participated in the ceremony.

Among the graduates:

Temilade Adejumo, from Rock Island, graduated with a major(s) in Sociology.

Sheila Ahuja, from Rock Island, graduated with a major(s) in Teaching Lang. Arts-English.

Carlie Allison, from Moline, graduated with a major(s) in Theatre Arts.

Sarah Althaus, from Moline, graduated with a major(s) in Political Science.

Allison Brown, from Milan, graduated with a major(s) in Teaching Lang. Arts - English.

SamAnthropologya Bull, from Davenport, graduated with a major(s) in Comm. Sciences & Disorders.

Ryan Chaney, from Bettendorf, graduated with a major(s) in Psychology.

David Cook, from Silvis, graduated with a major(s) in History.

Tyler Cowherd, from Bettendorf, graduated with a major(s) in Business Admin.-Finance, Accounting.

Bowen Dang, from Xi'an China, graduated with a major(s) in Accounting, Business Admin.-Finance.

Ashley DeVolder, from Moline, graduated with a major(s) in Accounting, Business Admin.-Finance.

Gregory Donley, from Silvis, graduated with a major(s) in Theatre Arts, Classics- Greek Emphasis.

Hannah Estes, from Moline, graduated with a major(s) in Business Admin.-Management, Communication Studies.

Tonnie Farwell, from Rock Island, graduated with a major(s) in Accounting.

Alvin Fonseca, from Moline, graduated with a major(s) in Multimedia Journalism & Mass Comm..

Fenner Hengst, from Bettendorf, graduated with a major(s) in Graphic Design.

Taelar Hillyer, from Bettendorf, graduated with a major(s) in Teaching Lang. Arts - English.

Xuwei Huang, from Chengdu, graduated with a major(s) in Business Admin.-Finance, Economics.

Darshan Hullon, from Moline, graduated with a major(s) in Biology, Pre-Medicine.

Nicholas Kendell, from Davenport, graduated with a major(s) in Biology, Pre-Medicine.

Lauren Kirik, from Moline, graduated with a major(s) in Geology.

Megan Kirik, from Moline, graduated with a major(s) in Political Science, Communication Studies.

Kylie Koger, from Davenport, graduated with a major(s) in Classics, Philosophy.

Jason Koski, from Eldridge, graduated with a major(s) in Business Admin.-Management.

Khant Latt, from Yangon, Myanmar, graduated with a major(s) in Political Science, Business Admin.- Management Info. Systems.

Jamie Lawrence, from Moline, graduated with a major(s) in Teaching Lang. Arts - English.

Abigail Ledford, from Rock Island, graduated with a major(s) in Biology, Pre-Medicine.

Angela Ledford, from Rock Island, graduated with a major(s) in Pre-Medicine, Biology.

Madison Logan, from Moline, graduated with a major(s) in Comm. Sciences & Disorders, Psychology.

Eryn Maccabee, from East Moline, graduated with a major(s) in English, Scandinavian Studies.

Catherine Margenthaler, from Moline, graduated with a major(s) in Comm. Sciences & Disorders.

Breeanna McCaw, from Silvis, graduated with a major(s) in Psychology.

Mallory McLain, from Rock Island, graduated with a major(s) in Biology.

Jean Bosco Munyengabe, from Rock Island, graduated with a major(s) in BiologyPre-Medicine.

Breann Nelson, from Moline, graduated with a major(s) in PsychologySociology, Social Welfare.

Muna Omar, from Bettendorf, graduated with a major(s) in Biology.

Elias Oseni, from Romeoville, graduated with a major(s) in Psychology.

Amanda Pease, from East Moline, graduated with a major(s) in Sociology.

Owen Pomije, from Rock Island, graduated with a major(s) in Computer Science.

Tyler Richards, from Port Byron, graduated with a major(s) in Business Admin.-Management.

Alexandria Riordan, from Davenport, graduated with a major(s) in Business Admin.-Management.

Anna Rusch, from Davenport, graduated with a major(s) in Business Admin.-Marketing.

Markaye Semmens, from Moline, graduated with a major(s) in Elementary Education.

Malcolm Simon, from Bettendorf, graduated with a major(s) in English.

Alexandra Skinner, from Bettendorf, graduated with a major(s) in Theatre Arts, Psychology.

Amanda Smet, from Moline, graduated with a major(s) in Sociology- Social Welfare, Philosophy.

Tyler Spellious, from Moline, graduated with a major(s) in English, Creative Writing.

Cristina Stan, from Davenport, graduated with a major(s) in Biology, Pre-Medicine.

Sven Steller, from Augsburg Bavaria 86169, graduated with a major(s) in Engineering Physics, Environmental Studies.

John Stone, from Reynolds, graduated with a major(s) in Computer Science.

Jonathan Tapia, from Hampton, graduated with a major(s) in Business Admin.-Marketing.

Jaykob Tisdale, from Moline, graduated with a major(s) in Spanish.

SamAnthropologya Tonn, from Moline, graduated with a major(s) in Religion.

Steven Trent, from Eldridge, graduated with a major(s) in Geology.

Michelle Wells, from Davenport, graduated with a major(s) in Biology.

Dalinda Widdop, from Milan, graduated with a major(s) in Biology.

James Wiebler, from Davenport, graduated with a major(s) in Biology.

Kelsey Winter, from East Moline, graduated with a major(s) in Biology, Pre-Medicine.

Shelby Womack, from Bettendorf, graduated with a major(s) in Biology.

Those graduating were given advice by Congresswoman Bustos, who said, "Challenge yourself to get outside your comfort zone."

President of Augustana College, Steven Bahls, speaking on life after graduation, said, "It is about leading a meaningful and purposeful life, well-lived." He encouraged graduates to "continue to take the road less traveled, and trust it will make all the difference in the world."

Representing the class of 2014, Carlisle Evans Peck spoke about the importance of a liberal arts education in living a fulfilling life, "These four beautiful years of liberal arts college were not to prepare us for security and dependability in a single, stable career," he said. "They have been to prepare us for life in the forest. The purpose of this education is to create adventurous, creative, intelligent individuals who will shake that machine to its foundations."

During the ceremonies, honorary degrees were presented to two individuals: Congresswoman Cheri Bustos and Robert Ontiveros, founder and chairman of Group O.

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.