Et Cetera

By: Jean Laney   AmeriCorps NCCC team Cedar 2 is leaving their mark by removing invasive plant species from Stronghold Camp & Retreat Center. These species are not native and are harmful to thriving native plants on Stronghold’s land and the city of Oregon, Illinois. For three weeks, the team has been assisting in different polygons (areas of land specified by maps) removing leafy spurge, Garlic Mustard and Japanese barberry trees.

Concordia University, Nebraska named 230 students to its honors list for the spring 2015 semester. The list of students includes: Morgan Eggert, a sophomore from Atkins, Iowa Kenzie Woltemath, a junior from Atkins, Iowa The top 25 percent of all undergraduate students who complete at least 12 credit hours qualify for the honors list.

  By: Marilyn Ponce    Name: Whitney English  Hometown: Kempton, IL    Whitney from Kempton, Illinois is serving as the Oak Unit Support Team Leader in AmeriCorps NCCC Corps Class 21. This is her second term with AmeriCorps NCCC after serving as a corps member on the team Oak 4 at the Vinton campus.

On May 31, 2015, Bethlehem Lutheran Church presented a gift of $102.00 to the North Benton Ambulance Service.   North Benton Ambulance Service was established in 1970 and became incorporated in 1975.  North Benton is licensed as a critical Care Transport Ambulance Service.  The Service receives no federal or state tax money, and is solely funded by donations and revenue from patient care and transport.

I have always had an interest in Frank Lloyd Wright as an architect. His story is of a genius on this earth long before his time. He helped changed architecture in the United States. Wright’s story is complex from his beginning with his talent marveled yet today. His personal life was just as complex as some of his architectural plans. Imagine my surprise when listening to Iowa Public Radio on my commute home when an expose about the talents of Frank Lloyd Wright’s father, William Carey Wright, as a composer was told in a lengthy broadcast.

Morningside College presented degrees to more than 320 undergraduate and graduate students during its 117th spring commencement held on May 9. Morningside College is a private, coeducational, four-year liberal arts college with a total enrollment of more than 2,800 students. Morningside offers five bachelor's degrees: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Music Education and Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

At Iowa State University's spring commencement ceremonies, 4,345 students received degrees. Iowa State awarded 3,646 undergraduate degrees, 448 master's degrees, 147 veterinary medicine degrees and 104 doctor of philosophy degrees. Of the students receiving bachelor's degrees, 1,093 graduated "With Distinction" (cum laude, magna cum laude or summa cum laude).

The following students were named to the spring 2015 Central College dean's list: Amy Andrews of Shellsburg Caitlyn Conway of Blairstown Hannah Miller of Keystone Jamie Retz of Newhall Kayla Taylor of Garrison The honor is awarded to full-time students who achieve a 3.5 grade point average or higher on a 4.0 scale while taking 12 or more graded credit hours for the semester.

By: Marilyn Ponce    Name: Regan Naughton  Hometown: Bow, New Hampshire    Regan Naughton from Bow, New Hampshire is serving on team Cedar 2 in AmeriCorps NCCC Corps Class 21. She arrived in Vinton in February of 2015 to start her 10-month service term with the program.

Morningside College presented degrees to more than 320 undergraduate and graduate students during its 117th spring commencement held on May 9. Morningside College is a private, coeducational, four-year liberal arts college with a total enrollment of more than 2,800 students. Morningside offers five bachelor's degrees: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Music Education and Bachelor of Science in Nursing.