Rochester. N.Y. - Deaf and hard-of-hearing students from across the country are invited to attend one of three summer career awareness camps focusing on science, technology, business and art at Rochester Institute of Technology's National Technical Institute for the Deaf. Hundreds of students are expected.

Each program features hands-on activities during the day, social activities in the evenings and accommodations in a college dorm room. The programs are intended to promote interest in specific fields and determine what career options may interest and motivate the students.

• Explore Your Future is a six-day career awareness program for college-bound high school sophomores and juniors who are deaf or hard of hearing. Students experience college life, enjoy hands-on activities, and get a taste of careers in the fields of business, computing, engineering, science and art. Choice of two sessions, July 14 - 19 or July 21 - 26, 2012. Registration deadline is April 30. Details are available at www.rit.edu/NTID/EYF.

• TechGirlz and TechBoyz are week-long summer camps held July 28 - Aug. 3, 2012, for deaf and hard-of-hearing girls and boys respectively, entering 7^th, 8^th and 9^th grade who are interested in careers in science, technology, engineering and math. Campers build computers to take home, discover the secrets of roller coasters, conduct experiments in a high-tech lab and more. Registration deadline is May 31. Details are available at www.rit.edu/NTID/TechGirlz or www.rit.edu/NTID/TechBoyz.

• Steps to Success is a weekend mini-camp on Aug. 3 - 5, 2012, for 7^th, 8^th and 9^th grade African American, Native American and Latino students who are deaf or hard of hearing. Campers enjoy hands-on career-related activities and meet new friends. Registration deadline is May 31. Details are found at www.rit.edu/NTID/StepstoSuccess.

RIT is internationally recognized for academic leadership in computing, engineering, imaging technology, sustainability and fine and applied arts, in addition to unparalleled support services for students who are deaf or hard of hearing. RIT enrolls 17,000 full- and part-time students in more than 200 career-oriented and professional programs, and its cooperative education program is one of the oldest and largest in the nation.

NTID, one of nine colleges of RIT, was established by Congress in 1965 to provide college opportunities for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals who were underemployed in technical fields. A record 1,547 students attend NTID; more than 1,350 are deaf or hard of hearing. Others are hearing students enrolled in interpreting or deaf education programs. Visit: www.rit.edu/NTID.

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Over three days, Braley will hear about community college affordability

Washington, DC - Beginning next week, Tuesday February 21st, Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) will embark on a three-day tour of eastern Iowa community colleges to host a series of roundtable discussions on community college affordability and accessibility.

"From affordability to mountains of student loan debt, there are unprecedented challenges facing students who want to pursue more education," Braley said.  "I'm traveling to eastern Iowa community colleges to listen to students and educators about these challenges and to hear their suggestions for how to address them."

Last month, Braley traveled to college campuses across eastern Iowa for a series of open forums on higher education affordability, student debt, and finding jobs after graduation.

Tuesday, February 21st, 2012

2:00pm                 Northeast Iowa Community College Roundtable

Northeast Iowa Community College, Town Clock Center for Professional Development

700 Main Street

Dubuque, Iowa

Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012

10:30am               Kirkwood Community College Roundtable

Kirkwood Community College

6301 Kirkwood Blvd. SW

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Thursday, February 23rd, 2012

9:45am                 Iowa Valley Community College Roundtable

Iowa Valley Community College, Student Union Room 301

3700 South Center St.

Marshalltown, Iowa

Funding Will Repair, Update and Build Schools to Serve Students

HAZEL CREST - February 16, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today announced that  Illinois school districts statewide will receive a total of more than $623 million from Illinois Jobs Now! to construct new buildings or expand, repair and update existing ones. This capital funding will provide needed classroom space, while supporting an estimated 4,000 construction jobs throughout the state.

"In order for our students to compete for the jobs of tomorrow, we must ensure they are receiving a quality education in quality school facilities," Governor Quinn said. "This capital funding will help school districts across the state update their facilities and make critical repairs to improve the educational experience for our students,"

Thirty-one districts statewide were approved for the state funding this fiscal year after their projects were certified by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) and the Illinois Capital Development Board (CDB).

The funding will allow districts to build new schools, add new classrooms, and make renovations to aging buildings. Other improvements will include renovations to existing classrooms, upgrades to aging facilities and additional technology updates. The capital funding, combined with local dollars, will allow school districts to complete projects totaling more than $1.2 billion.

The school districts that will receive funding include :

• Chicago Public Schools District 299, $114.67 million
• St. Charles Community Unit School District 303, $7.66 million
• Wheaton Community Unit School District 200, $14.46 million
• Harvard Community Unit School District 50, $13.81 million
• Peoria School District 150, $34.61 million
• Huntley Consolidated School District 158, $39.41 million
• Orland School District 135, Orland Park, $5.33 million
• Brookfield-LaGrange Park School District 95, $3.11 million
• Crete-Monee School District 201-U, $23.28 million
• Millstadt Consolidated School District 160, $4.29 million
• Knoxville Community Unit School District 202, $20.22 million
• Wilmington Community Unit School District 209-U, $9.28 million
• Berwyn North Elementary District 98, $7.59 million
• Wesclin Community Unit School District 3, Trenton, $18.87 million
• Stark County Community Unit School District 100, $3.69 million
• Virginia Community Unit School District 64, $12.26 million
• Skokie School District 69, $1.32 million
• Burbank School District 111, $9.87 million
• Shawnee Community Unit School District 84, Union County, $2.04 million
• Manhattan School District 114, $5.84 million
• Paris Cooperative High School, $24.22 million
• Homer Community Consolidated School District 33-C, Homer Glen, $4.54 million
• Warren Township High School District 121, Gurnee, $11.53 million
• Panhandle Community Unit School District 2, Raymond, $3.86 million
• Spring Valley Elementary District 99, $12.23 million
• Rochelle Community Consolidated School District 231, $12.32 million
• Ramsey Community Unit School District 204, $3.92 million
• Mt. Vernon Township High School District 201, $47.62 million
• Hazel Crest School District 152.5, $32.22 million
• Calumet Township School District 132, Calumet Park, $12.36 million
• Marion Community Unit School District 2, $56.62 million.

Governor Quinn also announced today that the state is making available $50 million in School Maintenance Grant Program grants. The dollar-for-dollar state matching grant program provides up to $50,000 in matching funds for the maintenance or upkeep of buildings or structures for educational purposes. The grant applications for districts will be available soon.

Before the passage of Governor Quinn's Illinois Jobs Now! capital construction program, Illinois had not had a major capital construction program in more than a decade. The Governor has made it a priority to invest in our schools and update our classrooms to provide Illinois students with the best quality education experience possible.

DES MOINES, IA (02/15/2012)(readMedia)-- Christopher Whalen of Bettendorf graduated from Drake University at the conclusion of the 2011 fall semester with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Entrepreneurship.

Drake is a private, independent university in Des Moines, Iowa, with an enrollment of approximately 3,300 full-time undergraduate students from 50 states and 50 countries. Drake University's mission is to provide an exceptional learning environment that prepares students for meaningful personal lives, professional accomplishments and responsible global citizenship. The Drake experience is distinguished by collaborative learning among students, faculty and staff and by the integration of the liberal arts and sciences with professional preparation.