OMAHA, NE (02/12/2015)(readMedia)-- Full-time students who earn a 3.5 grade-point average or better on a 4.0 scale are eligible for the Dean's List. The following students from your area were named to the fall 2014 Dean's List:

Samantha Staver of Bettendorf (52722), a senior in the College of Nursing

Thomas Bush of Davenport (52807), a sophomore in the Heider College of Business

Allison Hanser of Davenport (52807), a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences

James Huiskamp of Davenport (52803), a freshman in the Heider College of Business

Katherine Huiskamp of Davenport (52803), a junior in the Heider College of Business

Christina Laubenthal of Davenport (52807), a junior in the Heider College of Business

Andrew Wilson of Eldridge (52748), a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences

Natalie Lang of Le Claire (52753), a freshman in the College of Nursing

Molly McPherson of Moline (61265), a freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences

Creighton University in Omaha, Neb., enrolls 4,000 undergraduates and 4,200 graduate and professional students among nine schools and colleges. No other university its size offers students such a comprehensive academic environment with personal attention from faculty-mentors. Jesuit and Catholic, it affords incomparable interprofessional education, bridging health professions programs with law, business and arts and sciences' all on one walkable campus. Creighton has been top-ranked by U.S. News & World Report for 20 years. For more information visit: www.creighton.edu.

Washington, DC - Congressman Dave Loebsack (IA-02) was joined today by Congressman Tim Ryan (OH-13), Congresswoman Susan Davis (CA-53), Congressman Matt Cartwright (PA-17), and Congressman John Yarmuth (KY-3) in introducing the Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Act. This legislation supports teacher training in SEL to help young people better handle societal issues thus boosting their academic potential. Students receiving an education that includes SEL programs do better on tests, show greater social behaviors, and less emotional stress. Furthermore, students are far less likely to engage in problem behavior like alcohol and drug use, violence, truancy, and bullying.

"As a former educator, I know there are many factors outside of the classroom that contribute to students' academic success. That is why we must focus on the needs of the "whole child" and ensure students have the social and emotional capabilities to solve problems and work effectively in group settings that will prepare them for jobs in the 21st century global economy," said Rep. Dave Loebsack. "In order to accomplish this, we must provide teachers with the necessary training and resources to effectively educate our students and prepare them for success in postsecondary education and the workforce. I look forward to working with Representatives Ryan and Davis on this important piece of legislation."

"I have seen firsthand what teaching social and emotional learning can do for students and their classrooms in Ohio and across the nation," said Rep. Tim Ryan. "These programs are scientifically proven to help students increase skills in problem-solving, conflict resolution, responsible decision-making and relationship building - these are the skills that will build the foundation for students to better perform academically and throughout their lives. Now is the time to promote programs that create a safer and more secure school culture in America."

If there's one thing that unites Republicans and Democrats, it's the belief that America is about both mind and heart--that our great national commitment to citizenship and character are as important as our commitment to competition and growth," said Tim Shriver, Board Chair of the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL). "For too long, schools have been told to separate the head from the heart--to separate the social and emotional development of children from their cognitive learning. We know that's the wrong way to teach and the wrong way to learn. This bill will help our schools get it right by using the best evidence based programs to optimize our children's chances of learning how to be as smart and as good as they can be."

"Decades of research show that well-implemented social and emotional learning (SEL) programming improves students' behavior and academic performance," said Roger Weissberg, Board Vice-Chair of CASEL. "Recent national polls indicate that educators and parents believe that SEL should be an educational priority. It is critical to provide quality professional development for administrators and teachers so they provide the most beneficial programming for students."

A landmark meta-analysis of 213 SEL programs with a combined sample of more than 270,000 students clearly established the effectiveness of SEL programs across a number of areas critical to the success of students. Students scored 11 percentile points higher on standardized achievement tests, a significant improvement relative to peers not receiving SEL programming. The Academic, Social and Emotional Learning Act builds on this report and a large body of research proving that social and emotional programming has a positive impact on student learning.

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), students who feel more connected to school are more likely to have positive health and education outcomes and that a close relationship between the emotional welfare and health of the student can create a safer and more secure environment for learning. The CDC recommends that schools "provide students with the academic, emotional, and social skills necessary to be actively engaged in school."

This legislation defines social and emotional learning (SEL) and amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) to allow funding for teacher and principal training and professional development to be used for SEL programming.

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ROCKFORD, IL (02/10/2015)(readMedia)-- Dashawn Banks, a resident of Rock Island, IL, was announced as a Distinguished Scholar at Rockford University.

Full-time students attending Rockford University were named Distinguished Scholars for the fall 2014 semester who earned at least a 3.75 GPA with no grades below "C" and having completed all requirements for the semester.

Rockford University is a four-year, co-educational institution founded in 1847 offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in traditional liberal arts and professional fields. The University offers approximately 80 majors, minors and concentrations, including the adult accelerated degree completion program for a B.S. in Management Studies. Through its Graduate Studies department, degrees are extended to include the Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT). Rockford University is home to one of only 11 Phi Beta Kappa (PBK) chapters in Illinois, the most prestigious honor society in the United States. Named by The Princeton Review as a Best Midwestern College and one of only 81 colleges in the nation as a "College with a Conscience," Rockford University currently serves approximately 1,280 full-and part-time students.

MOUNT VERNON, IA (02/10/2015)(readMedia)-- Cornell College named 215 students, or approximately 20 percent of its student body. to the Dean's List for the Fall 2014 semester.

Stephanie Campbell of Bettendorf (52722) earned High Honors.

Aubrey Kohl of Bettendorf (52722) earned Honors.

Rachel Henning of De Witt (52742) earned High Honors.

Kaylin Voss of Davenport (52804) earned Highest Honors.

Andrew Klocke of Coal Valley (61240) earned High Honors.

Honors signifies a semester grade point average of 3.6 to 3.79; High Honors signifies an average of 3.8 to 3.99; and Highest Honors signifies a 4.0 grade point average.

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 of the 100 best values in liberal arts education by Kiplinger's, one of the "Best Value Schools" among national liberal arts colleges by U.S. News and World Report, and one of the 100 Affordable Elite Colleges by Washington Monthly. Ninety-three percent of Cornell graduates earn their degrees in four 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.