LAMONI, IA (08/02/2011)(readMedia)-- As we prepare to welcome the Fall 2011 class at Graceland University in Lamoni, Iowa, we celebrate our graduates for the 2010-11 academic year. A total of 709 graduates this year represented 38 majors. There were 324 Master's degrees and 400 Bachelor's degrees conferred. The graduates hailed from 43 states and 15 countries.

Five-term, U.S. Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa presented the commencement address. Groundbreaking for Graceland's $13.8 million expansion and renovation of regional performing arts center, the Shaw Center, also took place commencement weekend. Forty-eight new student apartments and a new fitness center are also being built this year on the Lamoni campus for a total of $20 million in construction.

Graduates from your area include :

Rita Manwiller of Davenport, IA

Graceland University was established in 1895 as a non-sectarian liberal arts institution of higher learning. It operates campuses in Lamoni, Iowa and Independence, Missouri, and offers degree completion programs at three other sites - the Kirkwood Community College campus in Cedar Rapids, Iowa; the Indian Hills Community College campus in Centerville, Iowa; and the North Central Missouri College campus in Trenton, Missouri.

Students from 40 states and 35 nations choose from 50 academic majors and programs at Graceland. For information about attending GU, please view our website: www.graceland.edu, and follow the links to Admissions and Financial Aid, call 866-GRACELAND, or write to Graceland University, Admissions Office, 1 University Place, Lamoni, IA 50140. At Graceland University, our passion is your success!

Landmark Law Increases Higher Education Opportunities for Children of Immigrants

CHICAGO - August 1, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today signed historic legislation to increase education opportunities to children of immigrants in Illinois. The Illinois DREAM Act creates a privately-funded scholarship program for high school graduates from immigrant families who wish to attend college.

"All children have the right to a first-class education," Governor Quinn said. "The Illinois DREAM Act creates more opportunities for the children of immigrants to achieve a fulfilling career, brighter future and better life through higher education."

Senate Bill 2185, sponsored by Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago) and Rep. Eddie Acevedo (D-Chicago), establishes a nine-member Illinois DREAM Fund Commission to manage the program, whose members are appointed by the Governor. The commission will help establish privately-funded scholarships for students who have resided with their parents while attending high school in Illinois, earned their high school diploma, attended school in Illinois for at least three years, and have at least one parent who immigrated to the United States. 

In addition, the new law allows any person with a Social Security or taxpayer identification number to participate in a state-operated college savings pool. It also requires high school counselors to provide college information to all children of immigrants. Children of immigrants will have unprecedented opportunities to access higher education as a result of the Illinois Dream Act.

"We should be opening, not shutting doors of opportunity for young students regardless of how or why they are living in Illinois," said President Cullerton. "This new law moves the state beyond the rhetoric of equal opportunity by making the dream of a college education a reality for more of Illinois' outstanding students."

The new law was one of Governor Quinn's top priorities during the spring legislative session. The Governor recognized that it would ensure that Illinois continues to lead the nation in increasing access to top-quality education, which is critical to retaining our best and brightest students and ensuring our continued success in the competitive global economy.

Students, community leaders and elected officials from across the state joined Governor Quinn to celebrate the new law that brings more affordability and better access to higher education in Illinois.  

"Immigrants are a driving force in our city's cultural and economic life, and opening the way for all Chicago students to earn an excellent higher education will make our city even stronger," said Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. "I am proud that families and students across Illinois will now have a better shot at the American Dream ? which starts with a great education."

With an estimated 65 percent of immigrant students coming from households earning below 200 percent of the poverty line, the financial barriers to higher education for academically qualified immigrant students are steep. Through the DREAM commission, Illinois leaders will now be able to raise private funds to help these students achieve their full potential.

"We thank Governor Quinn for his continuous support and his tireless work for the immigrant community," said Lawrence Benito, Deputy Director of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR). "The signing of this bill into law is historic and it confirms that Illinois is not only an immigrant-friendly state but also a national leader on moving fair, humane, and practical solutions."

The DREAM Act passed with bipartisan legislative support and with the strong support of the education community. The commission will provide training to school service personnel and work with admission and financial aid officers and high school counselors across Illinois to help students utilize the wide array of higher education opportunities.

"The Illinois DREAM Act is a crucial step in the right direction, ensuring that worthy students are no longer denied the life-changing opportunity of college simply because their immigration status puts needed financial aid out of reach," said University of Illinois President Michael J. Hogan. "I'm grateful to our legislators and Governor Quinn for supporting the shared vision that bright minds are our most precious resource and must be cultivated, not thwarted by outdated immigration laws."

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Though the start of the school year finds many students reminiscing about lazy summer days of sleeping in and working on their tan, 79 aspiring young scientists ended the summer of 2011 much more than tan and well-rested!  Participants in the STARS (Students and Teachers As Research Scientists) program spent their summer researching everything from neural circuits to human/robot interaction at the University of Missouri - St. Louis.  Student participants are paired with research mentors from the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center (Creve Coeur, MO), Saint Louis University, the Solae Company, Washington University in St. Louis, and the University of Missouri - St. Louis.  For six weeks, researchers take on student apprentices, who complete science research projects and gain real-world laboratory experience.  For many students, this experience is one of the most important in their decision to pursue a career in science.

Rivermont Collegiate is proud to announce senior Meghana Pagadala, daughter of Mr. Kishore and Dr. Padma Pagadala of Rock Island, is a scholar graduate of the 2011 STARS program!  Meghana's research project, "The Mechanism by Which CD8⁺FoxP3⁺T Cells Regulate Osteoclast Activity", was completed with Dr. Rajeev Aurora from Saint Louis University.  Of the 79 STARS participants from 36 schools, only 4 students, including Meghana, came from outside the St. Louis metro area.  Participants are selected based on GPA, test scores (PSAT, SAT, ACT, etc.), student essays, and letters of recommendation.  The entire Rivermont community is extremely proud of Meghana and looks forward to her future contributions to the world of science!

For additional information on the STARS program, visit the University of Missouri - St. Louis website at www.umsl.edu.

For additional information on Rivermont Collegiate, contact Cindy Murray at (563) 359-1366 ext. 302 or murray@rvmt.org and visit us on the web atwww.rvmt.org!

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DES MOINES, IA (07/27/2011)(readMedia)-- State Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald reminds Iowa State Fair visitors to stop by the College Savings Iowa booth and register for a chance to win a $1,000 College Savings Iowa account for their child or grandchild. "Some lucky boy or girl will go home from the fair this year with more than just fond memories -- free money for college," says Fitzgerald. "Make sure you stop by our booth and see us while you're in the Varied Industries Building."

Treasurer Fitzgerald encourages families to start saving for college as soon as possible. "Saving ahead of time may reduce a need to borrow to cover educational expenses, which can help parents - and their children - get through college with less debt," says Fitzgerald. "Even a small amount of money, invested regularly over time, can grow into a substantial sum," he added.

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.

Investors can enroll online in about ten minutes with as little as $25. Online account services and multiple contribution methods, including electronic investment options that allow for the transfer of money directly from an existing checking or savings account, make it easy for busy families to save regularly and manage their accounts.

Saving for a child's education is always a smart investment, and College Savings Iowa is here to help. For more information about College Savings Iowa, 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. The earnings portion of 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.

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