6/14/01

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Michael Blackwell, UNI director for multicultural education, (319) 273-2250

Delano K. Cox, executive director, Hawkeye Community College Evening and

Weekend College/Community Liaison, (319) 296-4483

Vicki Grimes, University Marketing and Public Relations, (319) 273-2761

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The Gospel Extravaganza, sponsored by the University of Northern Iowa Center for Multicultural Education and Hawkeye Community College will take place at 7:30 p.m., Sat., June 16, in the Lang Hall auditorium at UNI. The concert was originally to be held in the Central Middle School auditorium in Waterloo.

The benefit concert will support the building programs of the African American Historical and Cultural Museum and the Eastside Ministerial Alliance Community Center.

The program will feature the Waterloo Community Gospel Choir, made up of members from various local churches and directed by Derrick Davis, pastor of Bethel AME Church in Cedar Rapids; the Charles Jefferson Dancers; Effie Burt, recording artist and singer; The Living Testimony Chorale, directed by Eugene Phillips; Promiz, a contemporary music group; the Baker Sister; and Liberty, a praise group from Ambassadors for Christ Church in Waterloo. "Chillin" Cherie Martin will provide poetry and John Tolbert will provide vocal offerings.

Admission is $12 for adults and $6 for children under 13. Tickets will be available at the door.

For more information, contact Michael Blackwell, UNI director for multicultural education, at (319) 273-2250; or Delano K. Cox, executive director, Hawkeye Community College Evening and Weekend College/Community Liaison at (319) 296-4483.

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6/15/01

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Wendy Riggle, Girls State Director, (319) 233-1996

Vicki Grimes, UNI Office of Public Relations, (319) 273-2761

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – Election results for state and county officials were announced at the 56th annual Iowa American Legion Auxiliary Girls State convention on Thursday, June 14. Activities concluded on the University of Northern Iowa campus Friday evening, June 15.

Carissa Overstreet, Burlington, and Kathryn Fiegen, Clarence, defeated Martha Peters, Lawton, and Laura Westercamp, Cedar Rapids, to win Thursday’s election for Governor and Lieutenant Governor, respectively, of Iowa Girls State.

Other state officials elected were as follows: Jodie Duncan, Blue Grass, secretary of state; Katherine Beck, Cascade, auditor of state; Anne Straate, Postville, treasurer of state; Taylor Gerling, Mediapolis, attorney general; and Cassandra Smith, Ogden, secretary of agriculture.

Other high school students elected to state government positions at the Iowa American Legion Auxiliary Girls State include (Name) of (Hometown) , elected to the office of (Office) .

Governor Tom Vilsack addressed the Girls State participants and alumni at a 5 p.m. banquet Friday. State Sen. Thomas Fiegen of Clarence administered the oath of office to the new officers, who included his daughter, Kathryn, at the 7 p.m. inauguration ceremony in the Great Hall of the Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center.

Announcements of other honors also took place at the inauguration. Kayla Hotvedt, who lives in rural northern Iowa with a mailing address of Mabel, Minn., sponsored by the Decorah Auxiliary unit, and Kathryn Fiegen, Clarence, were named to represent Iowa Girls State as senators at Girls Nation, July 21-28, at The National 4-H Center in Chevy Chase, Md. In the event they are unable to attend, alternates are Emily Finnessy, Davenport, and Katherine Beck, Cascade.

Scholarships, ranging from $100 to $2,500 in value, were awarded to several Girls Staters. Recipient of the $2,500 American Legion of Iowa Foundation Scholarship Award, to attend an Iowa school, presented to the Outstanding Girls State Citizen, was Taylor Gerling, Mediapolis. The $200 Girls State Staff Memorial Scholarship was awarded to JoAnn Khaw, Mount Pleasant.

The McGivern Award, a $500 savings bond, was presented to Sarah Whitten, Johnston. The $100 JoAnn Miles Scholarship, in honor of a past department president and former Girls State staff member, was awarded to Martha Peters, Lawton.

The $200 Alberta Rhea Scholarship, which honors former Girls State Director Alberta Rhea, was awarded to Megan Bradfield, Tipton. The $400 Marvella Brus Scholarship, in honor of a longtime Girls State staff member and past department president who died earlier this year, was awarded to Jennifer Rickels, McGregor.

Note: to obtain a listing of all the Girls State attendees, please contact the Office of University

Marketing and Public Relations at (319) 273-2761.

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