550 Cities are asked to Participate in the Largest Organized Back-to-School Effort in U.S. History.

(Davenport) - "Education has become a matter of national security. Because we cannot control our schools, we cannot control our economy. And because we cannot control our economy, we cannot control and protect our quality of life in America," says Phillip Jackson, Executive Director of the Black Star Project, U.S.A. The Black Star Project is sponsoring the Million Father March 2009 on the first-day-of-school in nearly 300 cities across America.  The Million Father March has become a special day that fathers and men use to make a commitment to their children, their families, their communities and their country with their dynamic presence at a school.  This is a real Fathers Day!

The Million Father March 2009 will play-out at thousands of schools across America and in other parts of the world.  An estimated 600,000 men in 475 cities participated in 2008.  This year, an estimated 800,000 men from 550 cities are expected to participate.  The Million Father March also provides an escort of safety, support and encouragement to children of all ages on their first-day-of-school.  Jackson says, "Gang recruitment, bullying and random violence goes way down on any day that has a group of men at a school."

Participeants in the event include fathers, grandfathers, foster fathers, stepfathers, uncles, big brothers, cousins, significant male caregivers and friends of the family.  Although the event is created by Black men, women and men of all ethnicities are also encouraged to take their children to school on their first day.  Businesses are asked to give fathers and men two hours off that morning (with pay) to take their children to school.  Participating men will also be encouraged to volunteer at schools throughout the year.  A special effort will be make to coordinate Latino Fathers in La Marcha de Padres.

Since schools across America and the world start the new school year on different days and months, the March will be a rolling event that takes place on the first day of this school year in cities, villages and towns between August 3 and October 2, 2009.  The 2009 Million Father March is managed by The Black Star Project, U.S.A. and sponsored by the Schott Foundation for Public Information and United Neighbors, Inc. in partnership with the National PTA and the National Fatherhood Initiative.

You may email uneighbors@aol.com or call 563-322-7363 for more information.

Rock Island/Milan School District #41 Head Start/Preschool program is now taking applications for the 2009/2010 school year. The program serves children ages 3, 4 and 5 who are not eligible for kindergarten and whose families reside in Rock Island/Milan school area.

Families are provided a comprehensive Early Childhood Program for their children as well as other support services. Transportation is provided. There is no cost to families for these services.

The Head Start program is funded through the United States Department of Health and Human Services. The Preschool program is funded through the Illinois State Board of Education.

Applications are being taken from 7:00 A.M. until 3:00 P.M., Mondays through Fridays at the Head Start/Preschool office, 2101 - 6th Avenue, Rock Island.  For more information, or to schedule a different time, call the Head Start/Preschool office at 309-793-5900, ext 272.

Des Moines, IA., July, 30, 2009 - Today, the Iowa College Student Aid Commission (Iowa College Aid) released a list of 69 top-ranked Iowa students who were named Robert C. Byrd Scholars. Thomas Harris, high school graduate from Davenport Assumption High School and Austin Laugen, high school graduate from Davenport Central High School in Davenport, Iowa were selected for this prestigious scholarship from among 191 applicants statewide. A comprehensive list of the 2009-2010 Byrd Scholar recipients is available from Iowa College Aid's website at:

http://www.iowacollegeaid.gov/commissioncentral/schgrants/byrdscholars.html.

The Byrd Scholar program rewards students who demonstrate the highest levels of academic achievement and leadership. Each recipient will receive a $1,500 college scholarship for the 2009-2010 academic year. The award is renewable for up to four years, based on federal funding and the student's continued academic performance.

"The Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship is one of the most prestigious awards given to college-bound students," said Karen Misjak, executive director of the Iowa College Student Aid Commission. "These are exceptional students who met high standards in education and leadership and all Iowans can be proud of their accomplishments."

In addition to other outstanding credentials, the 2009-2010 Byrd Scholars rank within the top 2% of their graduating class, have an average GPA of 3.99 (based on a 4.0scale) and average 33 on the ACT exam and 2190 on the SAT exam.

About the Robert C. Byrd Scholarship

The Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship is a federally-funded program. The Iowa Department of Education is designated to ensure qualified Iowa students receive the scholastic awards and collaborates with the Iowa College Student Aid Commission (Commission) for administration assistance. The Commission's working relationship with high school guidance counselors, as well as college and university administrators, provide a supportive framework for the annual Byrd Scholarship competition. Scholars compete for the top honors by submitting applications that support superior academic credentials, leadership qualities, and service records. To apply, an Iowa high school senior must be in the top 10 percent of his or her graduation class, obtain a minimum score of 28 on the ACT or 1860 on the SAT exam, earn a minimum grade point average of 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale), an must have taken rigorous coursework outlined in the application. Applications are reviewed, and scholars selected, by a panel of academic officials.

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About the Iowa College Student Aid Commission
As the state's designated guaranty agency for the Family Federal Education Loan Program (FFELP), Iowa College Aid guarantees more than $696 million annually in student loans from private lenders to support over 77,000 Iowa students and parents.. In addition, Iowa College Aid administers state scholarship, grant, and loan forgiveness programs totaling over $69.5 million, provides borrowers with assistance to avoid the serious consequences of default, conducts research and distributes higher education data, and offers Iowans assistance in obtaining student financial aid and college-related information. More information is available at www.IowaCollegeAid.gov.

Annual PBS KIDS Event Fosters Reading, Writing and Creativity.

MOLINE, ILLINOIS - WQPT is pleased to announce that the 15th Annual READING RAINBOW Young Writers & Illustrators Contest has awarded Jayda Brunkan, a first grader from Eldridge, Iowa, a national First Place in the first grade level for her story. The Contest encourages children to use their imagination to author and illustrate their own "book." Jayda is one of only 12 authors selected from more than 35,000 Contest entrants nationwide. This is the second year in a row that Jayda has been a national winner. As a kindergartener at Ed White Elementary she was a Third Place national winner.

For her original story, Jayda wrote, and drew pictures for "Gus and the Garbage Mountain," the tale of a mouse named Gus and his friend, Cuddles who recycle, reduce, reuse and repair in order to save the planet.

"We are thrilled that Jayda has once again placed as a national winner," said WQPT Educational Outreach Director, Ana Kehoe.

Conducted by the acclaimed PBS KIDS television children's series READING RAINBOW with funding from presenting sponsor Country Inns & Suites By Carlson, Inc. and The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations, the national Contest is produced by WNED-TV/Buffalo and Smarterville Productions LLC. The Contest is public television's longest running and most successful outreach effort.

WQPT was one of 95 public television stations participating in this year's Contest, with support from the Butterworth Center & Deere-Wiman House, Figge Art Museum and Family Museum.

Contest entries from Kindergarteners through third graders are first judged at the local level, with local winners advancing to the national competition. There were two rounds of national judging culminating in a final judging by a distinguished panel that included representatives of children's television programming, educators, a literacy expert, a librarian and university professor.

This year's national Grand Prize Contest winners were given flat-panel TVs with DVD players. Each also receives three READING RAINBOW library sets (DVDs and books) for their home, school and library.

The illustrated stories of national Contest winners can be found at pbskids.org/readingrainbow. In mid August, the newest winners will be posted. The website also features fun, engaging activities and games for kids and information about READING RAINBOW for parents and teachers.

Just as READING RAINBOW generates excitement about reading, the Contest engages children in the process of creating stories that are uniquely their own," said Donald K. Boswell, WNED's President and CEO. "Every child who participates learns what it is like to be an author."

READING RAINBOW airs on WQPT on Saturdays at 10 am and Sundays at 9:30 am. Designed to encourage children to develop a love of reading and books, the series is now in its 26th season, making it the second-longest running PBS KIDS series still in production. The series has been honored with 26 Emmy Awards, including two in 2007 for "Outstanding Children's Series "and "Outstanding Writing In A Children's Series."

WQPT has been the local PBS station for 25 years located in Moline, Illinois.

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