Upper Iowa University is pleased to announce the names of its December 2016 graduates, followed by the respective degree earned and major. Dysart, IA - Jennifer Dumas, Master of Business Admin degree in Human Resources Mgmt Emphasis; Dysart, IA - Jessie Hartman, Bachelor/Science: Nursing degree in Nursing; About Upper Iowa University Founded in 1857, Upper Iowa University is a private, not-for-profit university providing undergraduate and graduate degree programs to about 5,800 students-nationally and internationally-at its Fayette campus, 25 U.

PEO Chapters MZ and HG will meet together at Windsor Manor for Brunch on Saturday,June 10, at 9 AM.A report on State Convention will be given.

At Iowa State University's spring commencement ceremonies, 4,859 graduates received degrees. Iowa State awarded 4,097 undergraduate degrees, 492 master's degrees, 137 doctor of veterinary medicine degrees and 133 doctor of philosophy degrees.

Virginia Bueno watched the Memorial Day ceremony from a lawn chair near the grave of her husband, Santiago. My new friend, Virginia, can laugh about it now, the story of a memorial stolen from her husband's grave site.

Congratulations to all of the recipients of the "Eastern Iowa Fellowship of Christian Athletes Outstanding Servant Leader Scholarship Award" for 2017. Winners included from the Benton Countyarea: Cassie Williams - North Linn High School Chase Boddicker - Center Point - Urbana High School Chuck Hingst - Center Point - Urbana High School Claire Holtz - Center Point - Urbana High School Jon Stuelke - Center Point - Urbana High School Award winners were nominated by FCA Huddle Coaches and met selection criteria demonstrating FCA's core values of integrity, serving, teamwork and excellence.

The Newhall Legion Auxiliary unit 167 has chosen Ally Bierschenk, the daughter of Jenny and Cary Bierschenk, as its Girls State participant for this year.

By Brad Barker, VPRD Memorial Day weekend ishere, school is out and summer is officially underway. Along with that comes another greatswim season at the Vinton Community Swimming Pool! The pool opens Saturday, May 27th and regular hours will take place during the holiday weekend.

Morgan Eggert of Atkins, Iowa, was one of 241 students named to Concordia University, Nebraska's honors list for the spring 2017 semester. The top 25 percent of all undergraduate students who complete at least 12 credit hours qualify for the honors list.

Every year, high school and college graduates gather in a big stuffy room, wearing silly-looking outfits, hear the same once-inspiring, but now worn-out songs and cliches, and listen to a somewhat notable person try to offer encouraging - and hopefully, original - words about the future.

The Vinton Post 57 American Legion Auxiliary has chosen Kaitlyn Goodell, left and Maylee McKibben, right as its Girls State participants for this year.