Brent Shedd, Moline High School, was chosen to receive a scholarship from the Womack Memorial Scholarship Fund,

The fund provides scholarships to deserving Moline High School graduates who plan to obtain a degree in education. Shedd was chosen by a local selection committee to receive a scholarship of $1,000.00 He plans to study secondary education at Bradley University.

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.

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Davenport, IA - The Quad City Symphony Orchestra's annual Listening Olympics was held on Friday, April 24, at Asbury United Methodist Church. Nearly 50 fifth grade students, in teams of three from Quad City area schools, competed for gold, silver and bronze medals at this friendly competition that challenges students' knowledge of classical music.

Schools participating in this year's competition included Butterworth, Hamilton, Franklin, and Jane Addams from Moline; Matherville from Sherrard, and Colorado and Madison from Muscatine.

This year's winners were:

Gold (Pictured left to right; click on photo for print quality version.):
Franklin School, Moline
Emily Johnson
Noah Fabiano
Alexis Willey
Classroom Teacher: Maureen Dittmer
Music Specialist: Emily Roberts

Silver:
Butterworth Elementary, Moline
Quinn Daley
Michael Dombrock
Zane Nelson
Music Specialist: Valeree Pieper

Bronze:
Jane Addams Elementary, Moline
Chase Austin
Divya Badri
Megan Medinger
Music Specialist: Valeree Pieper

"Listening Olympics" is offered annually at no cost to schools and participants and is supported by funding from Volunteers for Symphony.

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Rock Island, Illinois - The University of Iowa School of Social Work, in cooperation with the GradCenter, is providing an information session for those interested in applying to the next cohort or students interested in taking elective courses prior to admission. The information session will be held on Wednesday, May 20 at the GradCenter, 639 38th Street, Rock Island, IL from 5:00-6:00 p.m. The information session will be conducted by Bob Jackson, Distance Education Coordinator, and Mary Newcomb, Quad City Practicum Administrator. For more information contact Bob Jackson at 319-335-1331 (robert-jackson@uiowa.edu), Mary Newcomb at 309-794-7619 (mary-newcomb@uiowa.edu), visit the web site at http://www.uiowa.edu/~socialwk, contact the GradCenter at (309) 794-7376, or visit the website at www.gradcenter.org.
The University of Iowa School of Social Work had been offering the MSW in the Quad-Cities for over 35 years. Since 1988, the Quad Cities program has been a part-time program for a cohort that is admitted once every three years. Students can complete all the requirements for the degree through the University of Iowa Quad City program.
The Quad-Cities Graduate Study Center, through its member institutions, facilitates access to local graduate degree and certificate programs. Students are able to choose from a diverse selection of over 80 graduate degree programs and certificate programs offered in convenient locations during evening and weekend hours and via the Internet. For more information, visit the website at www.gradcenter.org.
Rock Island, Illinois - Saint Xavier University will host an information meeting on the Master of Arts in Teaching and Leadership degree program. This degree program is for practicing teachers who want to expand their teaching repertories and improve their students' achievement. The meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 6 from 4:00-5:00 p.m. at the Quad-Cities Graduate Study Center, 639 38th Street, Rock Island, Illinois. All information meeting attendees who enroll for the next term will receive a $100 discount on tuition. Teachers will be advised about group discounts.
Those who cannot attend may receive a packet of information on the program by calling the GradCenter at (309) 794-7376, toll free 888-331-4723 or by email QC@gradcenter.org.
The Quad-Cities Graduate Study Center, through its member institutions, facilitates access to local graduate degree and certificate programs.  Students are able to choose from a diverse selection of over 80 graduate degree programs and certificate programs offered in convenient locations during evening and weekend hours and via the Internet. For more information visit our website at www.gradcenter.org.

MOLINE, ILLINOIS - WQPT, Quad Cities PBS is pleased to announce that Adam Schmidt, a broadcast student at Western Illinois University is the recipient of the WQPT 2009 Broadcast Scholarship. The $500 award can be applied to tuition, books and fees.

"Receiving this scholarship is an honor and will help me fulfill my dreams in the field of broadcasting," said Adam Schmidt upon learning of the award. WQPT General Manager, Rick Best said "It is always exciting to be able to help a local student. This is the third year we have offered the scholarship and all of the past recipients are busy pursuing their broadcast careers."

MOLINE, ILLINOIS - WQPT is proud to announce the winners of the 15th Annual Reading Rainbow Young Writers and Illustrators Contest. 282 children entered the contest and WQPT picked sixteen local winners (first, second, third and honorable mention) from kindergarten through third grade. Participants chose fact or fiction, prose or poetry.

Requirements included: original, single-authored stories with K - 1 students writing a minimum of 50 words and maximum of 200... and Grades 2 -3 writing a minimum of 100 words and maximum of 350. Each age group had to illustrate a minimum of 5 drawings.

Ten local readers, many retired teachers, picked their favorite stories which were then judged by five representatives from the sponsoring organizations. They selected the 16 local winners. "The judges had a difficult task picking the finalists because so many of the stories were fun and imaginative. The winning stories combined thoughtful storytelling with strong visuals to match," said WQPT Educational Outreach Director, Ana Kehoe. Sponsors for the contest were Butterworth Center & Deere-Wiman House, Family Museum, Figge Art Museum and WQPT, Quad Cities PBS.

Local winners will receive their awards at a ceremony on May 17th at 3:00 p.m. at the Deere-Wiman House. The winning stories will be on display at the Butterworth Center in Moline, May 17 - 29, at the Figge Art Museum in Davenport, June 1 - June 19 and at the Family Museum in Bettendorf, June 22 -July 6. First place winners will compete for prizes in the national Reading Rainbow competition. The winners will be announced in July. Last year Jayda Brunkan from Eldridge was a national third place winner.

WQPT is the local public television station located in Moline, Illinois on the campus of Black Hawk College.

READING RAINBOW WINNERS 2009

KINDERGARTEN

?First Place

Baylor Verbrugge, Edward White Elementary, Eldridge.

?Second Place

Ilese Rodeffer, Avon Elementary, Avon, IL.

?Third Place

Stephanie Ruiz, Longfellow School, Rock Island.

?Honorable Mention

Qy Burke, Homeschooled, Bettendorf.

FIRST GRADE

?First Place

Jayda Brunkan, Edward White Elementary, Eldridge.

?Second Place

Abby Devinney, Temple Christian School, Moline.

?Third Place

Ellie Huh, Rivermont Collegiate, Bettendorf.

?Honorable Mention

Blake Hasson, Alwood Elementary, Alpha, IL.

SECOND GRADE

?First Place

Grace Gugelmeyer, Longfellow School, Rock Island.

?Second Place

Mabel Losey, Alwood Elementary, Alpha, IL.

?Third Place

Nicholas Epplin, Winola Elementary, Viola, IL.

?Honorable Mention

Eunice Yoon, Prophetstown Elementary, Prophetstown, IL.

THIRD GRADE

?First Place

Giavanna Mariani, Pleasant View School, Bettendorf.

?Second Place

Olivia Nelson, Cody Elementary, LeClaire.

?Third Place

Wyatt Mohr, Mediapolis Community School, Mediapolis, IA.

?Honorable Mention

Katherine Moore, Earl Hanson Elementary, Rock Island.

Rock Island, Illinois - The University of Iowa School of Social Work, in cooperation with the GradCenter, is providing an information session for those interested in applying to the next cohort or students interested in taking elective courses prior to admission. The information session will be held on Wednesday, April 29 at the GradCenter, 639 38th Street, Rock Island, IL from 5:00-6:00 p.m. The information session will be conducted by Bob Jackson, Distance Education Coordinator, and Mary Newcomb, Quad City Practicum Administrator. For more information contact Bob Jackson at 319-335-1331 (robert-jackson@uiowa.edu), Mary Newcomb at 309-794-7619 (mary-newcomb@uiowa.edu), visit the web site at http://www.uiowa.edu/~socialwk, contact the GradCenter at (309) 794-7376, or visit the website at www.gradcenter.org.
The University of Iowa School of Social Work had been offering the MSW in the Quad-Cities for over 35 years. Since 1988, the Quad Cities program has been a part-time program for a cohort that is admitted once every three years. Students can complete all the requirements for the degree through the University of Iowa Quad City program.
The Quad-Cities Graduate Study Center, through its member institutions, facilitates access to local graduate degree and certificate programs. Students are able to choose from a diverse selection of over 80 graduate degree programs and certificate programs offered in convenient locations during evening and weekend hours and via the Internet. For more information, visit the website at www.gradcenter.org.
Rock Island, Illinois - Saint Xavier University will host an information meeting on the Master of Arts in Teaching and Leadership degree program. This degree program is for practicing teachers who want to expand their teaching repertories and improve their students' achievement. The meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 21, from 4:00-5:00 p.m. at the Quad-Cities Graduate Study Center, 639 38th Street, Rock Island, Illinois. All information meeting attendees who enroll for the next term will receive a $100 discount on tuition. Teachers will be advised about group discounts.
Those who cannot attend may receive a packet of information on the program by calling the GradCenter at (309) 794-7376, toll free 888-331-4723 or by email QC@gradcenter.org.
The Quad-Cities Graduate Study Center, through its member institutions, facilitates access to local graduate degree and certificate programs. Students are able to choose from a diverse selection of over 80 graduate degree programs and certificate programs offered in convenient locations during evening and weekend hours and via the Internet. For more information visit our website at www.gradcenter.org.
Rock Island, Illinois - Illinois State University will host an information meeting on the PhD program in Educational Administration. This program is designed for higher education faculty, staff, or agency personnel with master's degrees who are pursuing careers in higher education administration or research. The meeting will be held on Saturday, April 25, from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. at the Quad-Cities Graduate Study Center, 639 38th Street, Rock Island, Illinois.
Those who cannot attend may receive a packet of information on the program by calling the GradCenter at (309) 794-7376, toll free 888-331-4723 or by email QC@gradcenter.org.
The Quad-Cities Graduate Study Center, through its member institutions, facilitates access to local graduate degree and certificate programs. Students are able to choose from a diverse selection of over 80 graduate degree programs and certificate programs offered in convenient locations during evening and weekend hours and via the Internet. For more information visit our website at www.gradcenter.org.

Annual event adds undergraduate opportunities

Rock Island, IL - The Quad Cities Graduate Study Center (GradCenter) is pleased to announce the 2009 GradCenter Night, to be held on Tuesday, April 14 from 4:00pm to 6:00pm at the i wireless Center. The i wireless Center is located at 1201 River Drive in Moline.

GradCenter Night is an annual event that allows adults with varied work backgrounds to meet with representatives from member institutions to explore ways to acquire new skills, build on existing skills and learn about ways to make a career change. The event is geared toward working adults who are interested in learning about courses, certificates and programs that can build on their existing education and job experience to create new opportunities for career advancement.

"Having a number of institutions in one place makes it possible for Quad Cities residents to jumpstart the development process," notes Marti Clyde, GradCenter Director. "Our students typically have very full lives, and streamlining discovery can help them chart a clear path very quickly."

According to Clyde, this year's event features a first. "We're very pleased to announce that two additional colleges will be represented for the first time," she says. "Black Hawk College and Trinity College of Nursing and Health Sciences have agreed to participate. This allows us to present information for an expanded selection of undergraduate opportunities at a time when we see additional need."

The complete list of participating institutions includes: Drake University, Northern Illinois University, Saint Xavier University, St. Ambrose University, the University of Illinois, the University of Iowa, the University of Northern Iowa, Western Illinois University, Black Hawk College and Trinity College of Nursing and Health Sciences.

GradCenter Night is open to all adults on a walk-in basis. Questions should be directed to GradCenter Director Marti Clyde at (309) 794-7376 or by email at MC@gradcenter.org.

The Quad-Cities Graduate Study Center (GradCenter) is a publicly-funded academic consortium of 10 universities incorporated in 1969. The GradCenter supports its members in offering graduate degree programs, graduate non-degree courses, and continuing professional education in the Quad Cities.  Courses are offered at the GradCenter located on the Augustana College campus in Rock Island, Illinois as well as Western Illinois University-Quad Cities, St. Ambrose University, the Kahl Educational Center, the Figge Art Museum, the New Ventures Center, and numerous other convenient locations. Programs include an array of 80+ graduate degree programs, certificate programs, and professional update courses designed for students whose work and family responsibilities make full-time study difficult.

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