Et Cetera
What we're reading: The Last Thing He Told Me
I recently finished "The Last Thing He Told Me" by Laura Dave. This novel tells the story of Hannah, a woman who receives a cryptic message from her husband following his sudden and mysterious disappearance. She follows every possible lead as she remains determined in her efforts to find her missing husband. Hannah's unexpected ally in her investigation is her 16-year-old stepdaughter, Bailey.
Hawkeye Community College Announces Student Art Show Award Winners
Scholarships Awarded to Graphic Design StudentsHawkeye Community College awarded nine students with prizes during the opening reception for the annual Student Art Show, held Tuesday, April 9. Juror for the show was Rachel Merrill, associate professor of art at Grand View University.Among the winners were Rebekah Dickerson of Dysart who created a work entitled, "The World is Sheet Music; I am the Song" out of Ink and colored pencils on paper.
What We're Reading: Dragon Pearl
This book, "Dragon Pearl" by Yoon Ha Lee, is highly recommended by Rick Riordan, and that's really all a young reader of fantasy needs to know! This is the first of a series of books about Thousand Worlds, where a young girl named Min dreams of going. Her family's planet, Jinju, is dusty and desperate, wasting away.Min's family are fox spirits, which gives them special abilities, to space shift and to Charm.
Hawkeye Community College Commencement Ceremony Set for May 3
Keynote Speaker will be Waterloo Mayor Quentin HartThe Hawkeye Community College commencement ceremony is set for Friday, May 3, at 7:00 p.m. The ceremony will be held at the McLeod Center on the University of Northern Iowa campus, located at 2501 Hudson Road, Cedar Falls. The event recognizes fall 2023, spring 2024, and summer 2024 graduates. Keynote speaker will be Quentin Hart, mayor of the City of Waterloo.
What we're reading: The Hidden Life of Cecily Larson
Last night I started reading "The Hidden Life of Cecily Larson" by Ellen Baker. It tells the story of young Cecily, taken to an orphanage by her mother where she is sold to a mysterious man who owns a traveling circus. Fast forward to present day, when Cecily has a bad fall at home and must move into a care facility. Her family learns more about her childhood than they ever have before, and family secrets are brought to light.
Accepting College Financial Aid
If a student in your household applied for college financial aid for the 2024-2025 year, financial aid offers should arrive in the next few weeks. With the delayed release of the 2024-2025 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the resulting delay in the FAFSA results being processed and sent to the schools to calculate an individual student's financial aid offer, you may feel pressure to compare offers and make decisions quickly.
What we're reading: Belkadonna
I loved this book! It's definitely one of my favorites so far. Signa has the ability to see spirits and use belladonna berries to travel the world between life and death. Her mother died when she was an infant. She has no choice but to live with guardians who are only after her inheritance. However, her life changes when she receives a letter offering her residence at Thorn Grove, home to the Hawthorne family: Elijah, Lillian, Percy, and Blythe.
IHCA Foundation Offers Health Care Scholarships
IHCA Foundation Offers Health Care Scholarships for Long-Term Care Employees, High School Students, Veterans and Rural Iowa Residents88 scholarships now available; applications due May 31The Iowa Health Care Association (IHCA) Foundation announced today the opening of its application cycle, which in 2024 will make more than $200,000 available to individuals interested in pursuing or advancing their career in long-term care.
What we're reading: Final Girls
Eek! If you're a fan of horror, Riley Sager's "Final Girls" is perfect for you! I couldn't put it down until I found out who the true villain was at the very end. Suffice to write, I'm a big fan of Sager but I had to sleep with the lights on after reading this book!"Ten years ago, college student Quincy Carpenter went on vacation with five friends and came back alone, the only survivor of a horror movie–scale massacre.
$10,000 in College Savings Deposits Available
Ten Parents to Win $1,000 Each in College Savings Deposits in Special DrawingRegistration is open for a special drawing of a $1,000 college savings deposit that 10 Iowa parents and guardians of students in eighth through 12th grades will be randomly selected to receive after April 30, 2024. The drawing is sponsored by ISL Education Lending.Current registrants and any parent or guardian registered for the information service, SP3 or Student Planning Pointers for Parents, by April 30, 2024, will be entered into the special drawing.