CANTON, MO (10/02/2013)(readMedia)-- The following students who have been accepted into Culver-Stockton's incoming class of fall 2014:

Margaret Murphy of Alleman High School in Rock Island, Ill., has been accepted and awarded the Hilltop Scholarship. Murphy's anticipated major is communication.

Andrea Schanfish of United Township H S in East Moline, Ill., has been accepted and awarded the Hilltop Scholarship. Schanfish's anticipated major is crimnal justice.

Culver-Stockton College, located in Canton, Mo., is a four-year residential institution in affiliation with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). C-SC specializes in experiential education and is one of only two colleges in the nation to offer the 12/3 semester calendar, where the typical 15 week semester is divided into two terms, a 12-week term and a 3-week term.

MOLINE, IL - Faculty, staff and community members are invited to celebrate the history of Western Illinois University at the WIU-QC Founders' Day event beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 24 in rooms 103/104 at the WIU-QC Riverfront Campus.

A light breakfast will be served prior to the ceremony. Individuals may register for the event by contacting Chris Brown at (309) 762-9481 or at MC-Brown2@wiu.edu. 

The program, including President Jack Thomas's State of the University address, will begin at 9 a.m. and the ceremonial bell will be rung to signal the start of classes at Western Illinois State Normal School.

Students do better in school when their parents are involved in their learning. In October, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach is sponsoring an interactive webinar for parents, grandparents and teachers with tips on how to help children and youth be successful learners.

The free webinar is Tuesday, Oct. 15, from noon to 1 p.m. and features ISU Extension and Outreach family life specialists Donna Donald and Lori Hayungs. Advance registration is not required.

"We'll discuss proven practices surrounding nutrition, physical activity, sleep, routines, learning at home, and love and limits and what we know from research right now about how to help kids learn," said Donald.

The webinar is part of the Science of Parenting, www.scienceofparenting.org, a resource from ISU Extension and Outreach sharing research-based information to help parents rear their children.

Participation in the webinar is easy and convenient, Hayungs said. Webinar attendees may participate from any computer with Internet access. Participants will hear the presenters through their computer speakers and will have the opportunity to interact with the presenters and other attendees using a chat box in the webinar meeting room.

Prior to the webinar, participants should make sure their computer meets the minimum computer requirements, Hayungs said. "Visit our webinar connection page to test your computer's ability to participate in the webinar. If the diagnostic test finds that you don't have the required software, you will be automatically provided with a link to the free download."

For computer requirements and how to connect to the webinar, visit http://

www.extension.iastate.edu/families/page/sop-webinar.

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Launch 'Friends of Magic' to Provide At-Risk Students with Resources to Get Back on Track and Build a Bright Future

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today joined Earvin "Magic" Johnson to launch the NBA Hall-of-Famer's new organization, "Friends of Magic." The movement aims to provide at-risk students with the tools they need to graduate high school and have a successful future. The Governor's participation in the launch is part of his agenda to prepare every child for success in college, career and beyond.

"It means a lot to have someone like Magic Johnson make this important investment in the students of Illinois," Governor Quinn said. "We must remember that it is everyone's responsibility to help students who are  struggling by keeping them in school or on the road to recovery. I thank Magic for bringing attention to this cause, especially as someone who knows that - either on the court or in the classroom - you can accomplish great things if you never give up."

Friends of Magic is a new organization that brings together a network of individuals, foundations and companies whose mission is to provide students who are at risk or have dropped out the resources and assistance they need to not only graduate high school, but the opportunity to build their future through educational resources, internships and real-world experiences.

"As many as one quarter of our nation's students are not finishing high school, our goal is to ensure that no student falls through the cracks, and that all students have the opportunity to receive their high school diplomas and be fully prepared for college or the workplace," Johnson said. "We are pleased to have the opportunity to bring our Bridgescape program to Chicago, and greatly appreciate the support we have received from the community."

Today's announcement takes place at the newly established North/South Lawndale Magic Johnson Bridgescape Academy, one of two Chicago-area blended-learning programs that provides students who have dropped out or are at risk of dropping out of school with a free alternative path to earn a high school diploma in an environment that fits their schedule, life circumstances and learning needs. Magic Johnson Bridgescape Academies are currently in six states with a total enrollment of 1,675.

Governor Quinn has been leading a strong education agenda to build a brighter future for all Illinois students. The Governor signed landmark education reform laws in 2011 that gained national attention and in August enacted a new law that lowers the compulsory school age for students in Illinois in order to ensure all children have the opportunity to build a solid foundation for academic achievement and to help combat truancy. Research shows that children who start school at an earlier age are more likely to attend college and less likely to drop out of school, be placed in special education or commit crime.

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