SPRINGFIELD - Lt. Governor Sheila Simon will give the commencement address on Thursday for the Carl Sandburg College Class of 2013.

Simon will highlight the accomplishments of eight graduates who overcame obstacles to earn associate degrees that link them to in-demand jobs or bachelor's degree programs. Her featured students include a student who enrolled at Sandburg a week before classes began, a soccer player who wants to be the next Bill Gates, and a graduate who entered Sandburg with 29 college credits.

"I'm thrilled to celebrate this milestone with the Sandburg Class of 2013," said Simon, the state's point person on education reform. "As these graduates transition to bachelors programs and into the workforce, it's important to recognize their accomplishments."

In her first year in office, Simon visited each of the state's 48 community colleges in an effort to increase the proportion of adults with a college credential to 60 percent, up from the current 41 percent, by 2025.

DATE: Thursday, May 16

TIME: 7:30 p.m.

LOCATION: Galesburg High School, Hegg Auditorium, 1135 W. Freemont St., Galesburg

Moline, Illinois--Jefferson Early Childhood Center is holding a Spring Event celebrating the achievements of the youngest learners in Moline District # 40 on Friday, May 17th during both the morning and afternoon sessions. Morning- 9:00- 11:30 and Afternoon- 12:15- 2:45.  

We are a program that serves the 3, 4, 5 year old At Risk students in Moline.  Lots of cute kids celebrating the end of the school year with caps, gowns, diplomas in beautiful gardenlike (lots of spring flowers, green grass) setting.  Various community leaders have also been invited. 

EXTRA INCENTIVE--there will be homemade cookies for all to enjoy!  We'd love to show the community how the Moline Schools are in the business of serving students-even in times of cuts and reductions.

May 14, 2013

WASHINGTON - Senator Chuck Grassley said today that Olivia Fairfield of Coralville has received an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point for the 2013-2014 school year.

Fairfield is the daughter of Cathy and Clare John Fairfield.  She graduated last May from Iowa City West High School and has been attending the U.S. Military Academy Preparatory School.  Fairfield is a volleyball player and participated in tennis and Students Against Destructive Decisions.

"Students work very hard for an opportunity to attend the service academies, and I wish Olivia Fairfield continued success," Grassley said.

Fairfield joins a number of other Iowa students who have been selected this year for admission to the U.S. service academies.  They are:

·         Nicholas Heth of Cedar Falls, Taylor Pluim of Sioux City, Jacob Romitti of Madrid, Cody Winkler of Keokuk, and Christopher M. Haijsman of McClelland have been appointed to the U.S. Air Force Academy.

·         Orion Boylston and Bernard Forney of Ames and Matthew Lee and Jackson Peplow of Iowa City have been appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy.

·         Adam Bradley of Dubuque, Brett Morales of Davenport, Patrick Mullin of Cedar Rapids, Wilson Pingrey of Coon Rapids, and William Krone of Johnston have been appointed to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

·         Michael Miller of Fairfield has been appointed to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.

All of these students were among the Iowans Grassley nominated this year for appointments to the U.S. service academies.  Information about seeking nominations is posted at http://grassley.senate.gov/info/academy_nominations.cfm.

For more than 200 years, these academies have educated and trained individuals to lead and command the U.S. armed forces.

Bell earns bachelor of science in business administration

ANNVILLE, PA (05/14/2013)(readMedia)-- Cole J. Bell of Davenport, Iowa, was among more than 370 students to graduate from Lebanon Valley College, Annville, Pa., Saturday, May 11. Commencement ceremonies, held in the LVC Gymnasium, included an address by Dr. Philip Benesch, associate professor of political science and winner of the 2012 Thomas Rhys Vickroy Award for teaching.

Benesch encouraged graduates to take hold of the courage that is instilled by a liberal arts education-courage in inquiry, courage in self-transformation, and political courage. "We should embolden [students] to question their teachers and to endeavor to contribute to a discipline that remains open to growth and open to innovation. This requires an intellectually courageous approach by the student for which a liberal-arts education...provides an ideal preparation... A liberal arts education must enhance the independent capacity of each student to situate him or herself in the world, transforming it while performing within it... Democracy necessitates the education of each citizen, so that he or she may play a part in checking the power of leaders and evaluating the multiple viewpoints available. It is here that a liberal art education is so useful."

Bell earned a bachelor of science degree in business administration. Bell is a graduate of North High School.

Lebanon Valley College® in Annville, Pa., welcomes 1,630 full-time undergraduates studying more than 30 majors, as well as self-designed majors. Founded in 1866, LVC has graduate programs in physical therapy, business, music education, and science education. Annville is 15 minutes east of Hershey and 35 minutes east of Harrisburg; Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and Baltimore are within two hours. On the web at www.lvc.edu.