Rivermont Collegiate is both proud and excited to announce an historic alumni donation to fund a new merit scholarship program at the School.  The major gift comes from the late Janet Gezel, a 1944 alumna of St. Katharine's.  Estate funds totaling nearly one million dollars will support promising students in meeting their academic and professional goals.  Rivermont is honored to receive this impressive donation, which will provide a significant boost to the financial assistance programs already available at the School.  This gift and previous gifts from alumni, family, and friends reflect confidence in the School's goals of providing a quality college preparatory education to the students of the greater Quad Cities.

Janet Gezel's gift was specified to be used towards the School's endowment, with a portion funding two (2) merit scholarships every academic year.  Each scholarship will cover half of the yearly tuition and fees at Rivermont, with one being awarded to a student in grades 4-7 and the other to a student in grades 8-12.  These scholarships will be based on academic merit alone, rewarding the brightest, most talented students.

About 35% of Rivermont students currently receive tuition assistance, including need-based financial assistance, memorial scholarships, sibling discounts and reciprocal agreements with other local educational institutions.  Opportunities for tuition assistance ensure that Rivermont remains proudly committed to ethnic, socio-economic, and religious diversity.  As in the majority of independent schools, gifts from alumni, friends, parents, grandparents, and the community fill the gap between tuition and the actual cost of a Rivermont education.  Donors provide the vital resources to effectively deliver our mission - excellent academic, athletic, and artistic programs, talented and dedicated faculty, and quality facilities.  Rivermont is grateful to all past, present, and future donors, who help provide the excellence for which we are known.

Headmaster Rick St. Laurent remarked, "Janet's gift is a heartwarming reminder of our alumni's appreciation for the outstanding academic background and close personal relationships they developed at the School.  Alumni donations and support are the foundation of the school's efforts to increase educational opportunities for talented students across the Quad Cities."

St. Laurent added, "Rivermont has been fortunate over the years to have the generous support of its alumni, current families, and friends.  The spirit of contributing to the School is particularly important in today's challenging economic environment.  This support is essential for the School to continue developing the intellect, character, and creativity of generations of students to come.  Janet's gift along with other significant gifts is particularly gratifying as the School celebrates its 125th anniversary. Donations large and small help set the stage to ensure another 125 years of academic excellence."

During her time at St. Katharine's, Janet was a member of the Student Council, Glee Club, and Special Choir, and she played the part of Monsieur Diafoirus in the senior play, The Imaginary Invalid.  She also served as Class Vice-President and was noted in her senior class yearbook toalways be remembered for her cheerfulness.  Janet attended Sterling High School in Sterling, IL before transferring to St. Katharine's in 1942.  Following graduation, Janet attended Lindenwood

College (now Lindenwood University) in St. Charles, MO.  She worked at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory from 1947 until her retirement in 1991.  In retirement she enjoyed reading and socializing with friends.  Janet passed at her home in Silver Spring, MD on February 16th, 2009.

Founded in 1884, Rivermont was originally organized as St. Katharine's School, an Episcopal boarding and day school for girls.  Located at 10th and Tremont Streets in Davenport, St. Katharine's thrived for over eighty years before dropping the boarding program in 1968 and becoming co-educational, adding St. Mark's to its name.  In 1973, St. Katharine's-St. Mark's moved to its present location in Bettendorf, formerly the home of Joseph Bettendorf.  In 1980, the School amicably broke ties with the Episcopal Church and in 2001 the Board of Trustees voted to change the name to Rivermont Collegiate.  Today, Rivermont serves as the only preschool through twelfth grade private, independent, non-sectarian college-prep school in the Quad Cities area.

For additional information, contact Drew Boster, Director of Development, at

(563) 359-1366 ext. 306 or boster@rvmt.org

MOUNT PLEASANT, IA (02/04/2010)(readMedia)-- Dr. Nancy Erickson, vice president for academic affairs at Iowa Wesleyan College, Mount Pleasant, has announced the names of students who have qualified for the 2009 fall semester Dean's List. To qualify for the Dean's List, a student must attain a grade point average of 3.50 or better on a 4.00 scale with 10 credit hours or more and no incomplete grades at the time the list is declared.

Those from the Quad Cities area include :

Timothy Bean, a Senior from Durant, IA

Meredith Frasier, a Senior from Moline, IL

Travis Parker, a Senior from Taylor Ridge, IL

Ayla Serrano, a Freshman from Rock Island, IL

The mission of Iowa Wesleyan College is to prepare students to succeed in a changing global environment. Iowa Wesleyan is a four year liberal arts college providing quality, individualized learning experiences that combine the development of the intellect with adaptive life skills. The college is affiliated with the United Methodist Church, with which it shares a commitment to spiritual values, social justice and human welfare.

Iowa Wesleyan College is the oldest private coeducational liberal arts college west of the Mississippi River. For more information about Iowa Wesleyan College please visit the website at www.iwc.edu

Des Moines, IA, February 3, 2010 - Now is the time for college-bound students to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2010-2011 academic year.  The FAFSA is a standardized federal form used to determine eligibility for federal, state, and in some cases, institutional financial aid.
Filing the FAFSA is easier this year with fewer questions to answer and a simplified online process.  "We encourage students and parents to complete the FAFSA online at www.fafsa.gov because it contains instructions, help features, and built-in edits to reduce applicant error," explained Karen Misjak, Executive Director of the Iowa College Student Aid Commission (Iowa College Aid).  "It is also processed faster than the paper version, which can be an important factor when meeting financial aid deadlines."

Iowa College Aid urges all college-bound students to complete the FAFSA regardless of their financial situation.  "Most families are eligible for some form of financial aid, but they need to apply early to meet the priority deadlines associated with different programs," said Misjak.
To help Iowa families, Iowa College Aid offers the following FAFSA filing tips.

File the FAFSA no matter your financial situation.  Even if you do not think you will qualify for need-based financial aid, you should still file the FAFSA.  Many colleges require that you file the FAFSA to be considered for institutional aid.  In addition, you are required to complete a FAFSA to be eligible for federal Stafford loans.

Never pay to file the FAFSA.  You can file the FAFSA for free at www.fafsa.gov.  Reputable resources, such as Iowa College Aid, are available to help you for free.

Meet state and college deadlines.  Many states, including Iowa, have a FAFSA filing deadline for state-funded scholarships, grants and work-study opportunities.  To be eligible for Iowa-funded financial aid your FAFSA must be completed and received at the federal processing center prior to July 1, 2010.  You also need to complete the Iowa Financial Aid Application, which can be accessed through the statewide community web portal,

www.IHaveaPlanIowa.gov.  Keep in mind, most colleges and universities have earlier financial aid deadlines.  Students should check with their college of choice to determine its priority deadline for financial aid and if additional documentation is required.

Double check information to avoid delays.  Review your FAFSA information before you submit it for processing.  Make sure the student's Social Security number and the parent's Social Security number are typed in the correct spaces.  Mix-ups like these will cause processing delays.

Electronically sign your FAFSA.  The electronic application is not complete until both the student and parent electronically sign the FAFSA using their Federal Student Aid Personal Identification Numbers (PIN).  You can apply for student and parent PINs while completing the FAFSA online, or you can go to the Federal Student Aid PIN website at www.pin.ed.gov.

Students and families who have questions about applying for financial aid, or are interested in learning more about the resources available through the statewide community web portal, can contact Iowa College Aid's Information Service Center at 877-272-4456.  In addition, more information to help Iowa families plan, prepare and pay for college is available on Iowa College Aid's website at www.IowaCollegeAid.gov.

Kaplan University celebrated the graduation of its winter 2010 class during a live ceremony on Jan. 30 in Miami, FL. General Colin L. Powell, the 65th Secretary of State and former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, served as the commencement speaker. The following local students were awarded degrees:

• Stacy Bramstedt of Blue Grass, IA, was awarded a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
• Catherine Hoy of Davenport, IA, was awarded a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.
• Amber R. Long of Taylor Ridge, IL, was awarded a Associate of Applied Science in Accounting.
• Genenda Milloy of Moline, IL, was awarded a Master of Arts in Teacher Education.
• Nichole R. Payney of Rock Island, IL, was awarded a Associate of Applied Science in Health Sciences.
• Amber L. Runge of Davenport, IA, was awarded a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice.
• Corey Thompson of Davenport, IA, was awarded a Master of Education in Teacher Education.

"You can improve yourselves using the incredible power of this revolution [in online education] ...It's how Kaplan University has grown and continues to grow. This revolution will speed through this country because of its effectiveness and power," Gen. Powell told the graduates during the ceremony at the James L. Knight International Center in Miami. "Today celebrate your achievements; tomorrow get back online and determine what you are going to do next."

The Kaplan University winter 2010 class of more than 3,300 students earned their associate's, bachelor's and master's degrees - as well as professional certificates - completely online. Many of them traveled from around the country and the world to attend the ceremony, meeting face-to-face for the first time.

About Kaplan University

Kaplan University offers a different school of thought for higher education. It strives to help adult students unlock their talent by providing a practical, student-centered education that prepares them for careers in some of the fastest-growing industries. Based in Davenport, Iowa, the University is regionally accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA). Kaplan University offers more than 125 academic programs and serves more than 63,000 online and campus-based students. To learn more about Kaplan University, visit www.kaplan.edu/talent.