BOURBONNAIS, IL (05/13/2011)(readMedia)-- Katelyn J. Flynn, an English major from Davenport, graduated magna cum laude with Olivet Nazarene University's first cohort of 14 students in the undergraduate Honors Program. She has been accepted at Regent University School of Law, Virginia Beach, Va.

Honors Program graduates received their degrees along with 1,683 other graduates during the 2011 Commencement convocations Saturday, May 7, in the Betty and Kenneth Hawkins Centennial Chapel.

"Our Honors students are bright young adults who give me faith for the future of our country," said Dr. Sue Williams, director of Olivet's Honors Program. "They are going out to serve others, not just to acquire. I'm proud of them. Several of them are going either to graduate school or taking jobs right out of college due, in part, to their scholarship and being in this program."

Launched in 2007, Olivet's Centennial year, the Honors Program immediately attracted academically talented students with unique interests and special academic ambitions. The goal of the program is to encourage and nurture the students in the integration of Christian faith and scholarship, preparing them for servant leadership in the Church and the world.

Each student was accepted into the program based on his/her ACT score, application, essay and an on-campus interview. During their years at Olivet, each completed a rigorous program of specially designed honors-level courses in addition to fulfilling all academic requirements for their majors. They also completed many community service opportunities and attended several cultural events. The culmination of their work was their mentored research and presentation of that research at an honors research symposium.

Olivet Nazarene University is an accredited Christian, liberal arts university offering over 120 areas of study. It is centrally located in the historic village of Bourbonnais, Illinois - just 50 miles south of Chicago's loop - with additional School of Graduate and Continuing Studies locations in Rolling Meadows and Oak Brook, Ill. and throughout Chicagoland.

U of I interim vice president, chancellor to address nearly 1,000 graduates

CHAMPAIGN, IL (05/10/2011)(readMedia)-- Area students will participate in Parkland College's 44th Commencement Exercises on Friday, May 13 at 8 p.m. at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. The public may watch the graduation ceremony live by going online to www.parkland.edu/commencement for the live video stream or by tuning in to the Parkland channel (PCTV), which will broadcast the ceremony live. PCTV is available on Comcast channel 9, Mediacom channel 10, and U-verse channel 99.

Nearly 1,000 candidates for graduation will be earning an associate's degree or certificate this year. Keynote speaker for the event will be Robert A. Easter, Ph.D., interim vice president, chancellor, and professor of Animal Sciences and Nutritional Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. During the ceremony, Dr. Easter will receive an honorary associate's degree for outstanding community service and appreciation of higher education, and local entrepreneur Darrin Peters ('96, A.A.S., Agricultural Business Management), founder and president of Midwest Underground Technology, Inc. (MUTI) of Champaign, will receive Parkland's Distinguished Alumnus Award.

Participating area students include :

Charles King of Davenport

Jessica Bounds of Silvis

Parkland's commencement will include selections by the Parkland College Wind Ensemble, directed by Verlin Richardson, as well as an invocation and benediction by Rev. Jong Heon Ham of The Korean Presbyterian Church of Champaign-Urbana. A reception will be held immediately following the recessional in the Krannert Center lobby. Tickets are required.

Congratulations to Rivermont Collegiate junior Pavane Gorrepati, who has received a Borlaug-Ruan International Internship!  This prestigious internship provides an all-expenses-paid, eight-week hands-on experiencing working with world-renowned scientists and policymakers at research centers around the world.  The internship is a program of The World Food Prize, which, since 1986, has honored individuals who have made vital contributions to improving the quality, quantity, or availability of food throughout the world.  The unique opportunity is different from other study abroad internships in that students participate in original research projects with acclaimed scientists, while getting a firsthand view of pressing food security issues and nutritional problems in poverty-stricken areas of the developing world.  Since 1998, over 140 interns have traveled to Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Kenya, Peru, and the Philippines - to name a few!

Pavane will be at the China National Hybrid Rice Research & Development Center (CNHRRDC) in Changsha, China.  Pavane will spend time in the lab, as well as days or weeks at a time in the field, conducting research and gathering data.  Upon return, Pavane will submit a research report and reflection paper documenting her personal experience and the outcome of her research project.

Pavane's many science awards include Champion rankings at the 2009 and 2010 Eastern Iowa Science and Engineering Fairs for projects on alternative energy, winning her trips to the International Science and Engineering Fairs in Nevada in May 2009 and California in May 2010.  Pavane's talents extend beyond the scientific realm - she recently earned a trip to the National History Day Competition in Washington, D.C. this summer with a performance about the Nuremburg Trials with fellow Rivermont students Joann Weeks, Meghana Pagadala, and Christine Mbakwe.  Pavane is a member of the National Honor Society as well as the Rivermont Environmental Club, and intends to devote her life to the study of alternative energy.

The World Food Prize was conceived by Dr. Norman E. Borlaug, recipient of the 1970 Nobel Peace Price.  In 1990, Des Moines businessman and philanthropist John Ruan assumed sponsorship of The Prize and established The World Food Prize Foundation, located in Des Moines, IA.  For additional information on The World Food Prize and the Borlaug-Ruan International Internship, visit www.worldfoodprize.org.

Rivermont Collegiate, located in Bettendorf, is the Quad Cities' only private, independent college-prep school for students in preschool through twelfth grade.  For additional information on Rivermont Collegiate, contact Cindy Murray, Director of Admissions, at (563) 359-1366 ext. 302 or murray@rvmt.org.  Visit us online at www.rvmt.org!

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ROCK ISLAND, IL (05/05/2011)(readMedia)-- Augustana College has recently selected 51 students from its 2011 graduating class for induction into Phi Beta Kappa, the oldest and most selective honor society in American higher education. The inductees include the following students from the local area:

  • Debra Butler from Bettendorf, IA, majoring in psychology.
  • Samuel Anderson from Rock Island, IL, majoring in mathematics and computer science.
  • Andrew Shaffer from Rock Island, IL, majoring in history.
  • Courtney VandeWiele from Rock Island, IL, majoring in political science and accounting.
  • Michael Seevers from Cordova, IL, majoring in geography.
  • Anna Smith from Moline, IL, majoring in biology and psychology.
  • Mark Stumphy from Moline, IL, majoring in biology.

Augustana numbers among a select 10% of American colleges and universities that have met the criteria for having a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa. Each year, the college elects approximately 8% of its graduating class for induction into the honor society. Students are selected based on a set of rigorous, nationally-prescribed guidelines, including a record of academic excellence, tolerance for diverse views and a strong commitment to the liberal arts and sciences.

Phi Beta Kappa was founded at the College of William and Mary in 1776. The Greek letters Phi Beta Kappa represent the initials of the society's motto: "Love of learning is the guide of life." Originally created as a secret society-the members wanted to preserve their freedom to discuss any topic they chose-Phi Beta Kappa is now openly recognized as one of the most prestigious honor societies in American education.

Sarah Horowitz, the Phi Beta Kappa chapter secretary at Augustana, is proud that the college is able to recognize the inductees' accomplishments with such a prestigious honor. "These students have fulfilled Augustana's mission of developing the mind, body and spirit in an exemplary manner. They are now part of a long tradition of excellence at Augustana and other Phi Beta Kappa chapters across the country. We expect great things from them in years to come."

About Augustana: Founded in 1860 and situated on a 115-acre campus near the Mississippi River, Augustana College is a private, liberal arts institution affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The college enrolls 2,500 students from diverse geographic, social, ethnic and religious backgrounds and offers more than 70 majors and related areas of study. Augustana employs 287 faculty members and has a student-faculty ratio of 11:1. Augustana continues to do what it has always done: challenge and prepare students for lives of leadership and service in our complex, ever-changing world.

Keep young minds sharp over the summer with educational programs at Rivermont Collegiate! Rivermont is offering an assortment of Summer Adventures for children from preschool age and up.  Programs cover a wide variety of interests - from cooking to poetry - to French and microbiology. Children from any school may register. Sessions run for one week from 8:30 - 11:30 a.m. or from 12:00 - 3:00 p.m.; each session cost $110 and some require an additional $25 lab fee. Students attending two classes per day need to bring a sack lunch. Lunch time will be from 11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Rivermont strives to prepare students who are grounded in the basics, yet able to think analytically and creatively, to confidently meet the challenges of the 21st century.  Check out full class descriptions and obtain a registration form at www.rvmt.org.

 

Preschool - Junior Kindergarten - Kindergarten

June 20-24          Mad Science! (8:30 - 11:30 a.m.)

June 20-24          Stories & More (12:00 - 3:00 p.m.)

June 27-July 1     Cooking Class     (8:30 - 11:30 a.m.)

July 18-22            Take Me Out to the Ballgame (8:30 - 11:30 a.m.)

Grades K - 2

July 18-22        Dig Into Dinosaurs (8:30 - 11:30 a.m.)

Grades 1 - 5

June 20-24        Bits, Bytes and Hopefully NO Bugs! (8:30 - 11:30 a.m.)

June 27-July 1     Poetry, The Symphony of Words (8:30 - 11:30 a.m.)

June 27-July 1     Got Game? (12:00 - 3:00 p.m.)

Grades 3 - 12

June 27-July 1     Une Semaine à Paris! (8:30 - 11:30 a.m.)

July 18-22            Scrapadoodle (8:30 - 11:30 a.m.)

Grades 8 - 10

July 18-22            Seeing the Unseen: Basic Microbiology Techniques (8:30 - 11:30 a.m.)

July 25-30            Plagues & Poxes & Pestilence - Oh, My! (8:30 - 11:30 a.m.)

 

For enrollment information on Rivermont Collegiate contact Cindy Murray at 563-359-1366 ext. 302 or murray@rvmt.org.

For additional information on Summer Adventures at Rivermont Collegiate contact Tammi Burrell at 563-359-1366 ext. 337 or burrell@rvmt.org.

Rivermont Collegiate is the Quad Cities' only independent, non-sectarian, PS-12 college preparatory school, ranked #1 on Iowa's AP Index.

 

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DES MOINES, IA (05/03/2011)(readMedia)-- Iowa's community colleges are celebrating 45 years of educating students, so it is fitting the Governor recently signed into law Senate File 209 restoring $5.9 million in cuts made in FY 2010.

"We couldn't be happier with this bipartisan effort to support Iowa's community colleges. Restoring the $5.9 million in cuts made in FY 2010 makes good economic sense," said Chris Bern, president of the ISEA. "This is an especially critical time for Iowa's workforce, and our community colleges meet the myriad needs of unemployed workers as they seek job retraining and further education. Community colleges have a powerful role in helping grow our economy so our continued investment is critical to economic recovery in Iowa," added Bern.

The ISEA supports legislation to increase community college funding from the Iowa House $144 million to the Senate $169 million.

The Iowa State Education Association is a professional association made up of more than 34,000 educators who are dedicated to promoting and preserving quality public education for all students. Great Education. It's an Iowa Basic!

DES MOINES, IA (05/03/2011)(readMedia)-- State Treasurer Michael L. Fitzgerald is asking Iowans to celebrate 529 College Savings Day on May 29 by exploring the benefits of using a 529 plan, such as College Savings Iowa, to save for their loved ones future higher education expenses. "We want parents to know it's never too early to start planning for their child's education," Fitzgerald said. "As a way to raise awareness about 529 plans, families are able to gain a jump start on saving for their child's future education by registering, during the month of May, for the chance to win a free $529 College Savings Iowa account." For more information and to enter the giveaway, please visit www.my529iowaplan.com.

May 29 was nationally declared 529 College Savings Day in order to help bring attention to the fact that saving for college is one of the most significant things families can do for the children in their lives. Those who begin putting away money early and save little by little can, over time, make their college savings add up to a significant amount. Because saving for future educational expenses is so important, everyone is encouraged to open a College Savings Iowa account for a special child in their life.

College Savings Iowa offers families a tax advantaged way to save money for their children's higher education. It only takes $25 to open an account, and anyone - parents, grandparents, friends and relatives - can invest in College Savings Iowa on behalf of a child. Participants who are Iowa taxpayers can deduct contributions up to $2,865 per beneficiary from their 2011 adjusted gross income, and there are no income or residency restrictions.* Investors can withdraw their investment federally tax-free to pay for qualified higher education expenses including tuition, books, supplies and certain room and board costs at any eligible college, university, community college or accredited technical training school in the United States or abroad.** To learn more about College Savings Iowa, please visit www.collegesavingsiowa.com or call 1-888-672-9116.

*Adjusted annually for inflation. If withdrawals are not qualified, the deductions must be added back to Iowa taxable income.

**Earnings on non-qualified withdrawals may be subject to federal income tax and a 10% federal penalty tax, as well as state income taxes. The availability of tax or other benefits may be contingent on meeting other requirements.

For more information about the College Savings Iowa 529 Plan, call 888-672-9116 or visit www.collegesavingsiowa.com to obtain a Program Description. Investment objectives, risks, charges, expenses, and other important information are included in the Program Description; read and consider it carefully before investing.

MOLINE, ILLINOIS - May 2, 2011 - WQPT received 378 stories from students in kindergarten through third grade for their annual PBS Kids Go Writers Contest. Sixteen winners (four from each grade) were recently selected by educators and sponsors of the contest. The winners and their families will be honored and awarded prizes at Deere-Wiman House on Sunday, May 22 at 3 pm.

Stories were judged on such criteria as: Is the story written clearly? Does it have interesting details? Is there a conflict, lesson or information learned? Do the illustrations enhance the story? How well did the author follow the guidelines?

"It's evident that many of these young authors spent a great deal of time and effort on their stories and illustrations," said Ana Kehoe, WQPT Educational Outreach Director. "The judges were pleased there were so many excellent stories, and it was a challenge to select the final 16 winners."

Sponsors for the contest were Butterworth Center & Deere-Wiman House, Family Museum, Figge Art Museum, Midwest Writing Center and WQPT, Quad Cities PBS. Winning stories will be on display from May 22 - June 5 at the Butterworth Center in Moline, Illinois; from June 6 to June 21 at the Figge Art Museum in Davenport, Iowa; from June 22 to July 5 at the Midwest Writing Center; and from July 6 to July 20 at the Family Museum in Bettendorf, Iowa.

WQPT is a media service of Western Illinois University - Quad Cities located in Moline, Illinois.

PBS KIDS GO WRITERS CONTEST WINNERS 2011

Kindergarten

First Place: Andrew Skinner, Alan Shepard Elementary, Eldridge, IA

Second Place: Isabel Kann, Winfield-Mt. Union School, Winfield, IA

Third Place: Juanita Lopez, Longfellow Elementary, Rock Island, IL

Honorable Mention: Aneesa Saldivar, Longfellow Elementary, Rock Island, IL

 

First Grade

First Place: Calla Brunkan, Ed White Elementary, Eldridge, IA

Second Place: Allen Catour, C.R. Hanna Elementary, Orion, IL

Third Place: Dalton Morrow, Harrison Elementary, Davenport, IA

Honorable Mention: Riley Packer, Erie Elementary, Erie, IL

 

Second Grade

First Place: Baylor Verbrugge, Ed White Elementary, Eldridge, IA

Second Place: Angela Jones, Rivermont Collegiate, Bettendorf, IA

Third Place: Ilese Rodeffer, Bushnell Elementary, Bushnell, IL

Honorable Mention: Ezra Olson, Homeschooled, East Moline, IL

 

Third Grade

First Place: Jayda Brunkan, Ed White Elementary, Eldridge, IA

Second Place: Faith Catour, C.R. Hanna Elementary, Orion, IL

Third Place: Liberio Mukdani, Jane Addams Elementary, Moline, IL

Honorable Mention: Nichole Taets, C.R. Hanna Elementary, Orion, IL

Jordan Catholic School has been fund raising for several months to build a classroom addition to the elementary school building at 2901 24th Street, Rock Island, housing all Jordan students (PreK-8) on one campus. $1.8 million dollars of the $2.6 million goal has been raised to date.

This is an exciting time for the entire Jordan community, as well as the surrounding area, as the dream of an expanded, unified campus becomes a reality! The school addition plan includes:

Phase 1 - School Addition & Renovation - $2.6 million
• Four new Middle School Classrooms added, wired for technology teaching
• Computer Technology, Engineering, and Science Labs
• New Music and Art Rooms with Instrument/Supply Storage
• New Multi-Purpose Room for Early Childhood PE and sports practice
• Renovation of former Kindergarten for an expanded Library
• Courtyard with rain garden for enhanced outdoor education
• New building access security system and fire alarm system, throughout all school buildings

Construction will begin in May with an estimated completion date of January, 2012.

A Ground-breaking Ceremony will be held at 1:00pm on Friday May 6th in front of the school at 2901 24th St., RI, immediately preceding the school Walk-a-thon. Students & Staff will be dressed in brightly colored walk-a-thon t-shirts.

Groundbreaking program: 
Welcome:  Mike Daly, Principal
Opening Prayer:  Rev. Tony Ego, St. Ambrose, Milan
"I Could Sing Of Your Love Forever": Led by Julie Bushre, Music Teacher
Recognition of Naming Rights:  Rev. Michael Schaab, St. Pius X, RI
Remarks:  Bob & Marilyn Noe, General Chairs 
Blessing of the Site:  Rev. Greg Jozifiak, St. Mary/Sacred Heart, RI
Remarks:  Vern Wegerer, General Chair
Groundbreaking:  Mike Daly
Remarks:  Mike & Karen Mihm, Parent Committee
Closing Prayer:  Rev. Stephen Engelbrecht, St. Patrick, Andalusia
AMERICA (My Country Tis Of Thee):  All (one verse)












CANTON, MO. (04/29/2011)(readMedia)-- Culver-Stockton College is proud to announce Kate Gutheil, senior English and history major from Bettendorf, Iowa, was recently inducted into the Missouri Beta chapter of the Alpha Chi National College Honor Society.

The ceremony was held Thursday, April 28 inside Johnson Hall Parlor on the campus of Culver-Stockton College. Faculty co-sponsors Scott Giltner and Lauren Schellenberger welcomed 18 new members into the society, which honors those juniors and seniors in the top ten percent of their class. Dr. David Wilson, interim dean of Culver-Stockton College, delivered this year's charge to initiates, family and friends.

Culver-Stockton College offers students the advantages of a quality comprehensive education with practical learning experiences. Culver-Stockton is a private, residential, four-year college in a beautiful setting on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River. Located in Canton, Mo., the historic campus is nestled into 140 acres of gently rolling countryside.

On the web: http://readme.readmedia.com/hometown-news/Kate-Gutheil-inducted-into-Alpha-Chi-National-College-Honor-Society/2284882.

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