"FPSPI  selected Ames and Iowa State University because it is a beautiful, safe and welcoming community that has a variety of facilities, entertainment options and the support of both the university and the community, to make our international conference a success," said Marianne Solomon, executive director for the Future Problem Solving Program International. "Ames and Iowa State also have the professional event staff and volunteers who will take care of all the details and provide the services that will make our event run smoothly and be an enjoyable experience for everyone."

The Future Problem Solving Program International gives thousands of students the opportunity to practice creative problem solving within the given curriculum and develop leadership and creative thinking skills. The event will bring students from across the United States and from countries around the world to Iowa State University to compete in the event. The participating countries include Australia, Canada, Great Britain, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Portugal, Russia, Singapore, Turkey and the United States.

Students in grades 4 through 12 will compete within three components including Global Issues Problem Solving, Community Problem Solving and Scenario Writing, competing either as individuals or as teams. Each component gives students the opportunity to apply research, writing skills, academics, research and problem solving skills to hypothetical and real life scenarios and issues. During this event, there will be opportunities for the community to enjoy the students' hard work. There will be a community fair and a variety show that the public is encouraged to attend.

"As a youth-focused educational conference, the Future Problem Solving International Conference is an event we are very excited to host in Ames and at Iowa State University," said Julie Weeks, director of the Ames Convention & Visitors Bureau and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Conference Planning and Management. "The event is expected to bring 2,000 attendees and hundreds of additional visitors to the Ames community for an average of five nights each year during June 2014 and 2015."

"We are very excited that Iowa State University and Ames will be the host for the international conference in 2014 and 2015," said Karen Dadisman, affiliate director, Iowa Future Problem Solving Program." It is very fitting that we celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Future Problem Solving Program International in Iowa in 2014, since Iowa was one of the original states to participate in this program."

For more information, visit www.fpspi.org or www.iowafutureproblemsolving.com

For more information, please contact:

Julie Weeks                          Shawne Ungs

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach,                             Ames Convention & Visitors Bureau

Conference Planning and Management and                                Communications Manager

Ames Convention & Visitors Bureau                         515.956.4602

Director                       shawneu@amescvb.com

515.956.4600

WEST LAFAYETTE, IN (08/29/2013)(readMedia)-- About 13,600 Purdue University students earned semester honors for the spring 2013 semester.

To earn semester honors, students must be attending at least half-time, have at least a 3.5 semester grade point average and at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA.

Students earning semester honors include :

Daniel Romano of Bettendorf, Iowa

Jodi K LeMaster of East Moline, Illinois

Roy Fisher of Taylor Ridge, Illinois

Rachel Muur of Sterling, Illinois

Kimberly Ann Gass of Moline, Illinois

Purdue University is a vast laboratory for discovery. The university is known not only for science, technology, engineering, and math programs, but also for our imagination, ingenuity, and innovation. Founded in 1869 in West Lafayette, Indiana, the university proudly serves its state as well as the nation and the world. Academically, Purdue's role as a major research institution is supported by top-ranking disciplines in pharmacy, business, engineering, and agriculture. More than 39,000 students are enrolled here. All 50 states and 130 countries are represented. Add about 850 student organizations and Big Ten Boilermaker athletics, and you get a college atmosphere that's without rival.

CANTON, MO (08/28/2013)(readMedia)-- Morgan Allen of Rock Island, Ill., was among Culver-Stockton College's students, alumni, faculty, staff and community members who spent Saturday, Aug. 24 volunteering for the fifth annual Extreme Dome Makeover. Over 400 volunteers participated in the event, sprucing up 13 work sites in the town of Canton, Mo.

Volunteers spent the day doing various activities like painting, landscaping and cleaning. Project sites included both public areas and private residences. Public sites included Canton Senior Housing, City Hall, Martin Park, the Mississippi River Park, the Canton Community Garden and more.

Extreme Dome Makeover provides the opportunity to introduce incoming students to the community of Canton, as well as to their classmates, advisors and neighbors. "We want our students to know that being a servant leader is important. Hopefully by the time they graduate they will know that importance and they'll be able to lead service projects in their own community after they graduate," said Dean of Students Chris Gill.

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.

The C-SC Wildcats are members of the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).

Funds Will Create Jobs; Renovate Existing Building to Finish One of the Midwest's Top Higher Education Science Facilities 

EDWARDSVILLE - Governor Pat Quinn today was joined by local and university officials to announce an Illinois Jobs Now! capital construction program investment of $23 million to complete the Science Building at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE). The funds will completely renovate an existing building, and along with a brand-new, already finished facility will complete one of the Midwest's top higher education science centers. The Science Building project advances Governor Quinn's agenda to give every child the opportunity for a high-quality education, while creating jobs to drive Illinois' economy forward.

"This building will keep SIUE at the forefront of science education and offer students even better training for careers in the sciences," Governor Quinn said. "Numerous construction jobs will be created on this project, which will boost local economic growth."

The $23 million project will involve renovating and reconfiguring approximately 80,000 square feet in the existing Science Laboratory for offices, classrooms and laboratories, including upgrading the climate control, mechanical, plumbing and electrical systems and replacing the existing windows with more energy-efficient designs. The construction project will be overseen by the Illinois Capital Development Board, with construction bids to be sought in the near future.

"In addition to the construction of the new science building, the renovation of the existing structure with updated classrooms and office space will ensure that SIUE remains on the cutting edge of science research and education," SIUE President Glenn Poshard said. "We appreciate the Governor releasing these funds."

The $23 million renovation will complement the already completed, $52 million, 107,000-square-foot new facility, which boasts classrooms and laboratories in a state-of-the-art learning environment. The new building uses the latest energy-efficient, environmentally-friendly building technology, and the renovated building will use many of these features as well.

Both SIUE projects are part of Governor Quinn's $31 billion Illinois Jobs Now! program, which will support more than 400,000 jobs over six years. Illinois Jobs Now! is the largest capital construction program in Illinois history, and is one of the largest capital construction programs in the nation.