Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack today joined Rep. Joe Courtney (CT-02) in introducing legislation that will keep student loan interest rates at 3.4 percent for an additional two years.  On June 1, 2013, interest rates on student loans are set to double to 6.8 percent from 3.4 percent if Congress does not act.  Last year, as the only member of the Iowa delegation to serve on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, which has jurisdiction over this legislation, Loebsack helped lead the fight to ensure students did not see a similar raise in interest rates.

"I grew up in poverty, and I would not have been able to attend college and have such amazing opportunities without student aid," said Loebsack.  "At a time when middle class and working families are still struggling, we should not pull the rug out from under them and saddle them with additional debt.  Education is critical to securing a good job and economic security for families, and educating our future workforce is key to boosting our economy."

As a member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, Loebsack has championed numerous pieces of legislation to increase access to higher education, including:

·         College Cost Reduction and Access Act (CCRAA) Loebsack helped craft and pass this legislation, which makes college more affordable and accessible for all Iowans by increasing the maximum Pell Grant scholarship and expanding eligibility;

·         Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act Loebsack was a cosponsor of this bill, which will save American taxpayers $61 billion by making the student loan process more efficient.  The bill further expanded the maximum Pell Grant available from $5,550 in 2010 to $5,975 in 2017, granting Iowa students more than $291 million for higher education. This bill was the largest single investment in student aid in America's history, and will make college more accessible, transform the way student loan programs operate and strengthens community colleges.

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Thirteen Moline elementary school students have been chosen to receive an award from the Hazel F. Van Arsdale Memorial Scholarship Fund administered through The Moline Foundation.

The 13 elementary students are: Mia Burrill, Madison Rhea, Adriana Hernandez, Nicole Ellis, Derek Burgin, Carissa Gonzalez, Kate Schaechter, Madelaine Jacobs, Manuela Chavez, Kayla Veto, Allison Van, Izabel Jernigan and Lillian Driscoll.

The fund was started in honor and memory of Hazel F. Van Arsdale to perpetuate the importance of music in elementary and secondary education. The fund supports two types of annual awards. One award is given to selected elementary students, and one scholarship is given to a high school senior. The 13 elementary students were chosen by an individual school committee made up of teachers and music professionals through The Moline Foundation.

Hazel Van Arsdale was a public school teacher for 36 years. She was known for her strict, but fun, manner of bringing music into the classroom. She made sure all of her students knew every verse of all of our patriotic hymns, and wanted them to strengthen their music interest beyond elementary school. A fund was established and is now administered through The Moline Foundation's scholarship program.

Founded in 1953, The Moline Foundation is a community-based, non-profit organization which provides grants to health, human services, education, community development, the arts, and other charitable organizations which benefit the citizens of the Quad City region. The Moline Foundation receives and administers charitable gifts and has current assets of approximately $17 million. For more information contact Executive Director Joy Boruff at (309) 736-3800 or visit The Moline Foundation Web site at www.molinefoundation.org.

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MOUNT VERNON, IA (04/08/2013)(readMedia)-- Erin McDonnell of DeWitt was one of 17 Cornell College students inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, the country's oldest and most prestigious academic honor society.

These students will have their names added to the permanent plaque in Cole Library listing all members elected to Cornell's chapter.

Election is based upon good character and a distinguished record of performance in courses that demonstrate a broad exposure to the liberal arts, i.e., the fine arts, humanities, languages, natural sciences and mathematics, and social sciences, as well as substantive work in areas outside the major. Phi Beta Kappa considers members of the top 15 percent of the senior class and the top five percent of the junior class. You can learn more about the Cornell chapter of Phi Beta Kappa here.

One of the 40 "Colleges That Change Lives," Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa, is a national liberal arts college with a distinctive One Course At A Time (OCAAT) academic calendar. The OCAAT schedule provides students with intellectual immersion, academic focus, and unique freedom to shed the confines of the traditional classroom to study off-campus, pursue research, or accept an internship-all without missing out on other classes. Founded in 1853, the college's entire hilltop campus is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (APRIL 6, 2013) - More than 300 runners and walkers competed in the first-ever Bandits Race to Home 5K and Fun Run presented by Palmer Chiropractic Clinics on Saturday morning, helping raise more than $5,000 towards the Bandit Scholars Program.

 

All proceeds benefit the Bandit Scholars Program, which annually awards the Keith Lucier Memorial Scholarship and the Bandit Scholarship. Each scholarship pays the entire first-year college tuition for two Quad Cities-area students.

 

"All of the participants, volunteers, staff and spectators made the first Bandits Race to Home 5K a memorable and unique community event and a great way to kick off another fun-filled season at Modern Woodmen Park," said River Bandits owner Dave Heller. "We want to thank the people of the Quad Cities for their outstanding participation and support of the Bandit Scholars Program, and look forward to welcoming everyone back to the ballpark for Thursday's home opener."

 

The fastest male and female finishers in each of the 10 age groups - 19 & under, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, and 60 & older - were awarded trophies courtesy of Crown Trophy, while the second and third place finishers received medals.  Additionally, the top three male and female runners were awarded with trophies.

 

Below is a full list of the winners in their respective age group.

 

Male	1st Place	Time	2nd Place	Time	3rd Place	Time
Overall	Jerry Lack (East Moline, IL)	18:01	Chris Rubel (Bettendorf, IA)	18:26	Heath Nichols	19:22
19 & U	Tyler Brewster (Bettendorf, IA)	20:18	Spencer Feldman (Atalissa, IA)	22:53	Seth West (Orion, IL)	23:05
20-24	Michael Henrekin (Tampico, IL)	23:12	Gradeigh De La Rosa	25:01	Kevin Weis (Davenport, IA)	25:41
25-29	Josh Hendrix (Davenport, IA)	20:54	Jacob Clark (Davenport, IA)	20:58	Tyler Drury (Davenport, IA)	22:21
30-34	Josh Berka (Iowa City, IA)	21:47	Dan Bailey (Davenport, IA)	25:32	Mitch Driscoll (Taylor Ridge, IL)	26:18
35-39	Billy Butler (Moline, IL)	20:47	Joel Abrams (Ely, IA)	23:23	David Krogman (Muscatine, IA)	24:26
40-44	Brad Palmer (Davenport, IA)	23:29	Johnny Hawkins (Rock Island, IL)	24:06	Logan Lee (Coal Valley, IL)	24:10
45-49	Marvin McMeekan (Milan, IL)	20:04	Rob Woodall (Bettendorf, IA)	24:27	Scott Carlson (Davenport, IA)	24:28
50-54	Scott Caldwell (Moline, IL)	20:09	Kevin Kurrle (Macomb, IL)	20:57	Daryl Jeffers (Rock Island, IL)	24:48
55-59	William Heller (Davenport, IA)	24:54	Steve Vipond (Aledo, IL)	26:13	Tom Schuetz (Bettendorf, IA)	27:00
60+	Mark Cook (Hampton, IL)	22:03	Gary Nelson (Leclaire, IA)	25:05	Gary McCormick (Coal Valley, IL)	27:12

 

Female	1st Place	Time	2nd Place	Time	3rd Place	Time
Overall	Cathy Lack (East Moline, IL)	22:00	Cassidy Foltz (Prophetstown, IL)	22:18	Amanda Brown (Davenport, IA)	23:06
19 & U	Franki Crites (Davenport, IA)	23:18	Kaitlyn Powell (Blue Grass, IA)	25:25	Aaliyah Lopez (Davenport, IA)	31:55
20-24	Sabrina Dejong (Hampton, MO)	23:39	Hilary Wellman (Davenport, IA)	23:39	Brittany Lichty (Davenport, IA)	25:55
25-29	Christie Webber (Bettendorf, IA)	24:11	Lori Blocker (Davenport, IA)	25:48	Brittany Howe (Taylor Ridge, IL)	26:17
30-34	Jill Rubel	23:16	Adriana Aldape (Davenport, IA)	23:33	Nicole Bussard (Coal Valley, IL)	25:53
35-39	Nicole Callahan (Moline, IL)	24:11	Heidi Woodford (Dewitt, IA)	26:05	Tonya Wisor (Davenport, IA)	26:15
40-44	Beth Markovich (Bettendorf, IA)	25:17	Julie Jennings (McCausland, IA)	26:06	Michelle Koops (Davenport, IA)	28:58
45-49	Kari Koster (Geneseo, IL)	23:50	Penny Jagers (Bettendorf, IA)	25:04	Georgene Zust (Bettendorf, IA)	28:05
50-54	Bridget Stengel (Moline, IL)	27:20	Ann Morland (Galesburg, IL)	27:43	Ann Faulhaber (Davenport, IA)	31:09
55-59	Kathy Mackie (Dewitt, IA)	28:21	Jolene Vipond (Aledo, IL)	29:55	Linda Lanman (Davenport, IA)	38:56
60+	Marianne Schroeder (Bettendorf, IA)	28:35	Margie Schaefer (Moline, IL)	34:44	Floria Moore (East Moline, IL)	39:12

 

The Bandits Race to Home 5K began on River Drive and Western Avenue in downtown Davenport, Iowa, crossed the Centennial Bridge to Rock Island, Ill., headed over to the Rock Island Arsenal, then back across the Arsenal Bridge before finishing at home plate in Modern Woodmen Park.

 

The Fun Run featured young contestants racing the River Bandits' mascot Rascal from outside the left field wall of the stadium and finishing just inside the gate of Modern Woodmen Park.  Each contestant was awarded a Fun Run ribbon to commemorate his or her victory over Rascal.

 

Additional sponsors for the Bandits Race to Home 5K and Fun Run were Western Illinois University (Quad Cities campus), ECS, McDonald's and Hy-Vee.

UP NEXT: The 2013 home opener at Modern Woodmen Park is Thursday, April 11.Tickets for the 2013 season are now on sale! Call 563-324-3000 or visit www.riverbandits.com. It's not too late lock in your season ticket plan for the 2013 season! Season ticket and mini-plan packages start at just seven games and begin at less than $50. Call a River Bandits account representative today at 563-324-3000 to choose your seats and get the details of our various mini-plan packages.