Lindsay Anderson to Succeed Carrie Hightman

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today announced that Lindsay Anderson, a senior advisor for his administration, will succeed Carrie Hightman as chair of the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE). Anderson brings extensive legal and governmental experience, including the coordination and oversight of legislative agendas for state agencies such as the Illinois State Board of Education and the Illinois Student Assistance Commission. Today's announcement continues the governor's commitment to making Illinois government more accountable, transparent and effective.

"Carrie Hightman has contributed a significant amount to thousands of students and I thank her for her service to the state of Illinois," Governor Quinn said. "Lindsay Anderson is a talented public servant who will work hard to improve higher education in Illinois, and encourage our young residents to pursue post secondary schooling, which will strengthen Illinois' economy."

Anderson most recently served as a Senior Advisor to Governor Quinn and as Chair of the Illinois Campaign finance Reform Task Force. Prior to those roles, Anderson acted as legislative director and counsel to Governor Quinn, working directly with the members of the Illinois General Assembly on targeted issues facing state government, including education.

Prior to joining the Quinn Administration in February 2009, Anderson worked at McGuireWoods as an Attorney in the State Government Relations practice group where she provided clients with lobbying assistance and insight on the development and execution of strategic legislative plans. Prior to joining McGuireWoods, Lindsay worked as an Assistant Counsel to the Illinois Speaker of the House. In that capacity, she served as counsel and parliamentarian for committees on revenue and local government. Anderson also worked in the Mayor of Chicago's Office of Intergovernmental Affairs.

Under Hightman's leadership as Chair of the IBHE, the state of Illinois adopted a 10-year master plan for higher education, the Public Agenda for College and Career Success, and made significant progress towards achieving its goals of affordability, accessibility and degree completion. The state is on track to meet its goal of 60 percent of the adult population having post secondary degrees by 2025. Hightman created a collaborative environment for all higher education stakeholders during her six years leading IBHE.

The IHBE oversees the programs, activities and policies related to higher education within the state and is responsible for planning and policy development; budgetary and fiscal affairs; academic program reviews and approval; and higher education grant administration and evaluation.  The four primary components of the Illinois' blueprint for higher education include :

• Increase educational attainment to match the best-performing states and world countries;
• Ensure college affordability for students, families, and taxpayers;
• Increase production of high-quality postsecondary credentials to meet the demands of the economy and an increasingly global society; and
• Better integrate Illinois' educational, research, and innovation assets to meet the economic needs of the state and its regions.

Anderson's new position as Chair of IBHE will be effective beginning on June 5, 2013.

ST. LOUIS, MO (06/04/2013)(readMedia)-- These students earned Deans List honors for the Spring Semester 2013 at Maryville University in St. Louis.

The honorees include :

Stacy Clark of Riverdale, IA; studying in Maryville's School of Education.

Mark Struve of Davenport, IA; studying in Maryville's College of Arts and Sciences.

Maryville University congratulates these students on achieving academic excellence for the spring semester. Undergraduate students are eligible for the Dean's List when they complete at least 12 Maryville University credit hours in a semester with a minimum of a 3.5 grade-point average on a 4.0 (pefect) scale..

About Maryville University

Founded in 1872, Maryville University is an independent, four-year, private university located in St. Louis, Missouri. Designated by US News & World Report as the nation's top overperforming university, Maryville University offers more than 50 undergraduate majors, and many master's and doctoral degrees.

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack today called on House leaders, Speaker John Boehner and Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, to work to bring legislation to the floor that can be passed by both Chambers and signed into law to prevent student loan rates from doubling.  Student loan interest rates are currently 3.4 percent, but are set to double to 6.8 percent on July 1^st.  If Congress does not act, that average borrower's debt would increase by $1,000.  As the only member of the Iowa delegation to serve on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, Loebsack, a cosponsor of the Student Loan Relief Act of 2013 (H.R. 1595), has helped lead the fight to ensure students do not see a raise in interest rates.

"If the interest rates are allowed to rise, the average borrower's debt would increase by $1,000.  As Iowa borrowers have some of the highest student loan debt in the nation, this increase will have a disproportionate effect on the students and families I represent," Loebsack wrote to House Leaders. "We need to address student loan debt in the interest of our economy.  We must prepare our students for the kind of middle class jobs that will drive our economic recovery forward.  Our graduates are not able to fully participate in our economy by purchasing cars or homes or starting a family when they are saddled with insurmountable student loan debt."

A copy of the letter can be found here.

As a member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, Loebsack has championed numerous pieces of legislation to increase access to higher education, including:

·         College Cost Reduction and Access Act (CCRAA) Loebsack helped craft and pass this legislation, which makes college more affordable and accessible for all Iowans by increasing the maximum Pell Grant scholarship and expanding eligibility;

·         Year Round Pell Grants Loebsack authored a provision that created year-round Pell grants in the Higher Education Opportunity Act, which was signed into law in 2008.  However, the year-round Pell grant was unfortunately eliminated in 2011.  In response to the ongoing need for more flexibility, Loebsack partnered with Rep. Cheri Bustos (IL-17) to introduce legislation which would reinstate the flexibility that was provided by Loebsack's provision in 2008.

·         Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act Loebsack was a cosponsor of this bill, which will save American taxpayers $61 billion by making the student loan process more efficient.  The bill further expanded the maximum Pell Grant available from $5,550 in 2010 to $5,975 in 2017, granting Iowa students more than $291 million for higher education. This bill was the largest single investment in student aid in America's history, and will make college more accessible, transform the way student loan programs operate and strengthens community colleges

The Moline Foundation awarded almost $20,000.00 in scholarships to 20 college-bound students this spring. The following scholarships were awarded:

Dolores A. Hulse-DiIulio Scholarship: Tracy Pollock, Moline High School, $1,000.00. The scholarship provides funds to a deserving female student graduating from Moline High School who plans to pursue a bachelor's degree in chemistry, physics, engineering or pre-medicine. Pollock plans to attend Loyola University, Chicago, IL to pursue a degree in Chemistry. Hulse-DiIulio was a chemistry teacher at Moline High School for 36 years, retiring in 1994.

Lee Womack Memorial Scholarship: Brandon Sanchez, Moline High School, $1,000.00. The scholarship provides funds to a Moline High School graduate who plans to obtain a degree in education. Sanchez plans to study History at Carthage College, Kenosha, WI. The scholarship was established by Womack's wife, Peggy and the Lee Womack Memorial Golf Outing Steering Committee. Annually since his death, a golf outing has been held in his memory to raise funds for a local charity. In 2004, the scholarship fund was established and is now administered by the Moline Foundation.

Moline High School Class of '59: Aubrey Foulk and Abigail Ryser, both graduates of Moline High School, $1,000.00 each. Foulk plans to major in Environmental Science at Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa. Ryser plans to major in Biology/Pre-Medicine at Augustana College, Rock Island, IL. The fund was established by the Class of '59 as a way to commemorate their 50^th class reunion. Funds are raised by class member and volunteers through various fundraisers.

Maggie Webb Scholarship: Alejandro Raya, Moline High School, $1,500.00. Raya plans to major in Acting at Illinois State University, Normal, IL. The fund was established as a memorial to Maggie Webb, a 2001 graduate of Moline High School who was killed in December 2007 in a mass shooting at an Omaha Mall.

Clem T. Hanson Scholarship: Karim Hosameldin, Amanda Johnson and Brandon Sanchez, all graduates of Moline High School, $1,500.00 annually for the next four years. Hosameldin plans to major in Civil Engineering at Bradley University, Peoria, IL. Johnson plans to major in Deaf Education/Sign Language Interpretation at MacMurray College, Jacksonville, IL. and Sanchez plans to major in History at Carthage College, Kenosha, WI. The fund was established through the generosity of Clem T. Hanson (1901-1985), a former Moline businessman and community leader.

DARE Scholarship: Becky Lankford, Aubrey Foulk and Jared Larson , $1,000.00. . The scholarship provides funds to a Moline High School graduate based on academic merit, good citizenship, attendance, and active involvement in school and community. Lankford plans to major in Materials Engineering at University of IL, Champaign-Urbana, IL. Foulk plans to major in Environmental Science at Iowa State University in Ames, IA. Larson plans to attend Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, OH. The DARE scholarship is based upon the principles of the former DARE anti-drugs program in Moline-Coal Valley elementary schools.

Lee McAllister Scholarship: Taylor VanHyfte and Amanda Johnson, $1,000.00 each. The scholarship provides funds to a Moline High School graduate planning to major in education. VanHyfte plans to major in Psychology at BlackHawk College, Moline, IL and Johnson plans to major in Deaf Education/Sign Language Interpretation at MacMurray Colllege, Jacksonville, IL. This scholarship was established in memory of Lee McAllister who taught in the Moline Schools from 1948 to 1981.

Stan Woods Scholarship: Allison Condit, $1,000.00. The scholarship provides funds to a Moline High School graduate based on community involvement and leadership and academic achievement. Condit is majoring in American Sign Language Interpreting at Bethel College in Mishawaka, IN. This scholarship was established in memory of Stan Woods who was a teacher, guidance counselor and dean of students in Moline School District No. 40. Former students, co-workers, parents, and the community have contributed to the Woods Scholarship Fund.

Srikanth Yerra Scholarship: Karim Hosameldin, $500.00. This scholarship provides funds to a Moline School District graduate or community college student based on financial need and potential for future personal achievement. Hosameldin is majoring in Civil Engineering at Bradley University, Peoria, IL. The family established this scholarship in memory of Srikanth Yerra, a 2005 graduate of Moline High School.

Moline Kiwanis Scholarship: Aubrey Foulk, Michael J. Ryan and Becky Lankford, $1,000.00 each. Foulk plans to major in Environmental Science at Iowa State University, Ames, IA. Ryan plans to major in Psychology at Bethel University at St. Paul, MN and Lankford plans to major in Materials Engineering at University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana, IL.

The Moline Foundation, founded in 1953, is a community foundation which provides grants to benefit health, human services, education, community development, the arts and other charitable organizations which help the citizens of Moline and the surrounding area, including the Quad Cities. The Moline Foundation receives and administers charitable gifts in Scott County, Iowa, and Rock Island, Henry, Mercer, Warren, Henderson and McDonough counties in Illinois. The Moline Foundation has a current endowment of approximately $17 million.

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