Et Cetera

One of the artists preparing for the June 21 Arts Festival in Vinton is Frank W Ditri. Frank is a ceramic artist living in Cedar Rapids. He received his BFA in ceramic arts from the University of Iowa in 2009. Frank has attended two artist residencies. The first, at the Ceramics Center in his hometown of Cedar Rapids. The second, at the Cub Creek Foundation located in rural Appomattox County, Virginia.

At Iowa State University's spring commencement ceremonies, 4,021 students received degrees. Iowa State awarded 3,357 undergraduate degrees, 413 master's degrees, 147 veterinary medicine degrees and 104 doctor of philosophy degrees. Of the students receiving bachelor's degrees, 901 graduated "With Distinction" (cum laude, magna cum laude or summa cum laude).

Truman State University has released the Spring 2014 Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs List. To qualify for this list, an undergraduate student must attain a semester 3.50-3.99 grade point average and must complete 12 semester hours of credit. Honorees include Benton Community alum Laura Simpson, of Atkins, who is majorin

Noah Dargy, a Senior Engineering major of Shellsburg, was among approximately 1,400 Bob Jones University students named to the Spring 2014 Dean's List. To qualify for the Dean's List, students must earn a 3.0 grade point average. Located in Greenville, S.C., Bob Jones University is a biblically faithful, Christian liberal arts university focused on educating the whole person to reflect and serve Christ.

Photographer Ann Jorgensen is one of the local artists preparing for the June 21 Art Festival. Ann has been taking nature and fine art photographs for twenty years. She enjoys taking pictures of Iowa's beautiful landscapes, especially today's agriculture. In the last few years she has been concentrating on bird photography in Costa Rica, Australia, New Zealand and Iowa.

By Robert Gonzalez Oak 1 upon arrival to their round 2 project site were welcomed with waving flags by cottagers and staff to show how appreciative they were for the team to  be there. As the team walked through the camp they viewed many cottages that were in much need of assistance. Dee Hilbert, a first time sponsor of an NCCC team and Volunteer Manager of Program/Events, stressed how important the cottages were to her and that she was grateful to have an NCCC team serving on site to help restore these historic cottages back to how they once looked in the year 1860.

Concordia University, Nebraska named 223 students to its honors list for the spring 2014 semester. The top 25 percent of all undergraduate students who complete at least 12 credit hours qualify for the honors list. Spring honors students from our local area include: Kenzie Woltemath, sophomore, Atkins, Iowa

Trevor Boeckmann of Vinton, graduated from the UCLA School of Law on Friday, May 16, 2014.  Trevor is a 2007 graduate of Vinton-Shellsburg High School and he completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Northern Iowa.  He has accepted a position with the Alliance for Justice in Washington, DC.  Trevor is the son of Tom and Lisa Boeckmann and grandson of Forrest and Glenyce Bolte, all of Vinton.

Angie Klinzing is a bead artist, and one of the members of the Vinton Guild of Fine Arts who is preparing for the June 21 Art Festival in Celebration Park.  Angie shares this information about her life and her love of art:   I have been married to Bart Klinzing since July 2000. I have one son, Cole.  I have lived in this area all my life.

Tara Pickart graduates from Creighton University School of Pharmacy and Health Professions Tara Pickart of Keystone, was awarded a Doctor of Physical Therapy from the School of Pharmacy and Health Professions during Creighton University's commencement ceremony on May 17, 2014, at the CenturyLink Center Omaha. University President Timothy R.