Et Cetera

Amanda Gilbreaith graduates from UIU

Upper Iowa University is pleased to announce Amanda Gilbreaith from Van Horne, IA, graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Upper Iowa University's Cedar Rapids Center in March. Upper Iowa University has 19 U.S. off-campus education centers, a traditional residential campus in Fayette, international centers in Hong Kong and Malaysia, as well as an extensive online program and self-paced degree program.

Letters from Lost River Cave: Chapter 1 -- The Storm

Editor's Note: As the 150th anniversary of the end of the Civil War approaches in less than one year, we will begin sharing some chapters from a a novel in progress entitled "Letters from Lost River Cave." The book tells the story of two friends in Western Kentucky, where the Trail of Tears winding west intersected the Underground Railroad heading north, and captures the struggle over slavery in the minds of those who lived along the wide and not-so-well defined line between North and South.

AmeriCorps NCCC Class 20 Corps Member Spotlight: Erin Thickpenny

By: Sarah Williams   Erin Thickpenny , from Grayslake, Illinois is serving on team Cedar 4 in AmeriCorps NCCC Class 20. She arrived in Vinton on February 11 to start her 10-month service term. Cedar 4 is made up of eight people from across the country who will serve together around the Midwest.   Erin says,” I wanted to make a difference, even if it is small.

One Flock: NCCC Oak 8 Manages Land & Provides Environmental Education

During a day of invasive species removal, Team Leader Elizabeth Siliato refueled the chainsaw. By: Colleen Glatzel and Olivia Brown On March 24, AmeriCorps NCCC team Oak 8 loaded their green van and advanced toward their first project destination: Wapello, IA.  The team is assisting the Louisa County Conservation Board (LCCB) with land management and environmental education until May 1. They’re also serving the U.S. Fish and Wildlife (USFW), the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC).

Iowa State Fair Entries Available Online Beginning May 1

Premium books and entry forms for competitive events at the 2014 Iowa State Fair will be available at iowastatefair.org beginning Thursday, May 1. The "Amazingly Amusing" Iowa State Fair will run August 7-17. Premium books and entry forms can be accessed at www.iowastatefair.org/competition/categories. Entrants in competitive events may enter online or may submit their entry by mail.

AmeriCorps NCCC Class 20 Corps Member Spotlight: Maureen Murphy

By: Sarah Williams Maureen Murphy, from Lake Placid, New York is serving on team Oak 3 in AmeriCorps NCCC Class 20. She arrived in Vinton on February 11 to start her 10-month service term. Oak 3 is made up of nine people from across the country who will serve together around the Midwest. Maureen says “After doing service trips to El Salvador while in high school I have always wanted to do something similar.

AmeriCorps NCCC Class 20 Corps Member Spotlight: Marlene Flaherty

By: Sarah Williams Marlene Flaherty, from Baileyville, Maine is serving on team Cedar 5 in AmeriCorps NCCC Class 20. She arrived in Vinton on February 11 to start her 10-month service term. Cedar 5 is made up of nine people from across the country who will serve together around the Midwest. Marlene says, Gandhi stated that "The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.

Retired 4 Star General Tommy Franks visits with local resident

Retired 4 star General Tommy Franks was on Hand to re-dedicated the Veterans Memorial Building in Cedar Rapids recently.       Greeting General Franks is Roger Uthoff, of Vinton, and also the treasurer of Eastern Iowa Honor Flight.

Jordon Kearns of Van Horne, IA, Recognized at Upper Iowa University 2014 Honors

Upper Iowa University recently held its 29th annual Scholarships and Awards Recognition Banquet and awarded 122 scholarships to students across the University. Of those, 98 scholarships were bestowed on UIU students attending classes in Fayette and another 24 were awarded to students who take courses through other UIU locations. Recipients were selected by the UIU Honors and Awards Committee and the University academic divisions.

Cynthia Albertsen Inducted into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi

The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi is pleased to announce that Cynthia Albertsen of Dysart, Iowa, was recently initiated into Phi Kappa Phi, the nation's oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines. Albertsen was initiated at Western Illinois University. Albertsen is among approximately 32,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni to be initiated into Phi Kappa Phi each year.