FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Rheta DeVries, director, Regents' Center for Early Developmental Education, (319) 273-2101
Ruth Ratliff, director of central development, UNI Foundation, (319) 273-6078
Vicki Grimes, Office of Public Relations, (319) 273-2761
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa — Groundbreaking for an early childhood education center in Waterloo, a partnership project operated through the Regents' Center for Early Developmental Education at the University of Northern Iowa, will take place at 10 a.m., Monday, June 26, at the Allen College campus, 1950 Heath St.
The 13,000 square-foot structure, to be known as R.J. McElroy Hall, will house the Freeburg Early Childhood Education Program, operated by the Regents' Center, in partnership with the Waterloo Community Schools, Allen Health Systems and Allen College. The program will serve 66 children, ages three through first grade, including children from various ethnic and economic backgrounds, as well as children with disabilities.
The program will provide developmentally appropriate education in a model facility and also offer family development programs for the children and their families. Other important components of the program's mission will involve providing pre-service and in-service education for teachers, health professionals and child caregivers.
“We will work with community organizations such as Allen Memorial Hospital, the local neighborhood association, and schools and churches to create partnerships with families,” said Rheta DeVries, director of the Regents' Center. The Regents' Center was established in 1988 by the State of Iowa to focus efforts on improving early childhood education (birth through eight years) in Iowa and beyond.
The building project and collaboration have come to fruition through the unique partnership begun with a $1 million gift to the UNI Foundation, to assist with the operating costs of the facility, from Janice Freeburg Cannon of Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. Cannon received a two-year degree from UNI, then Iowa State Teachers College in 1957, and taught second grade early in her career. A subsequent $1 million gift from the McElroy Trust put the project on firm ground.
Additional gifts for the project have come from the John Deere Foundation, AEGON USA Charitable Foundation, the Community Foundation-Leighty Fund and the Minnie Crippen Trust.
The building will include four classrooms, observation rooms, a family resource center, teachers' offices, a multi-purpose room, kitchen, library and restrooms. The project is being designed by StruXture Architects and the general contractor is Prairie Construction, both of Waterloo.
Among the speakers at the groundbreaking, in addition to UNI President Robert Koob, will be Iowa Lt. Gov. Sally Pederson; Beverly Smith, member of the Board of Regents, State of Iowa and associate superintendent of the Waterloo Community Schools; Janice Freeburg Cannon; Arlis Swartzendruber, superintendent of the Waterloo Community Schools; Jim Waterbury, president of the R.J.McElroy Trust; and Rick Seidler, president and CEO of Allen Health Systems.
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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 55th annual Iowa American Legion Auxiliary Girls State convention on Thursday, June 15. Activities concluded on the University of Northern Iowa campus Friday evening, June 16.
Bridget Prins, Sibley, and Heidi Koester, Waterloo, defeated Haley Swedlund, Ankeny, and Mindy Euken, Wiota, to win Thursday's election for Governor and Lieutenant Governor, respectively, of Iowa Girls State.
Other state officials elected were as follows: Erin Staner, Cascade, secretary of state; Dailah Hall, Burlington, auditor of state; Emily Hunt, Elliott, treasurer of state; Girija Mahajan, Urbandale, attorney general; and Stacy Friedrichsen, Holstein, 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. Sandy Deacon, Department President of the American Legion Auxiliary, administered the oath of office to the new officers 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. Girija Mahajan, Urbandale, and Erika Bassler, Ames, were named to represent Iowa Girls State as senators at Girls Nation, July 22-29, at The National 4-H Center in Chevy Chase, Md. In the event they are unable to attend, alternates are Erin Kay Birdsong, Hudson, and Malynda Mauer, Denver.
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, presented to the Outstanding Girls State Citizen, was Mindy Euken, Cascade. The $300 Girls State Staff Scholarship was awarded to Haley Swedlund, Ankeny.
A $500 scholarship was presented in memory of a former Girls State staff member by her family. The Darlene Clancy Memorial Scholarship was presented to Stephanie Jensen, Royal.
As state winner of a scholarship from the American Legion Samsung National Scholarship program, Jamie Hosek, Clutier, was awarded a $1,000 scholarship.
The $200 Alberta Rhea Scholarship, which honors former Girls State Director Alberta Rhea, was awarded to Erin Kay Birdsong, Hudson. The $200 Marvella Brus Scholarship was awarded to Kari Dummermuth, Elgin.
Note: to obtain a complete listing of the officers, please contact the Office of Public Relations at (319) 273-2761.
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Contact:
Kim Caster, UNI adjunct instructor in teaching, (319) 273-2367
Lowell Hoeft, UNI instructor in teaching, (319) 273-7084
Vicki Grimes, Office of Public Relations, (319) 273-2761
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa —Sixteen Northern University High School students received top honors in the 2000 National French Contest and in the Iowa French Speaking Contest.
In the National French Contest, students placing in the top 10 of their respective level were declared winners. The exam tests oral and reading comprehension, grammar concepts and cultural awareness.
State winners at level one were Mallory Piehl, Colin McElligatt, Aaron Popp, Melanie DeVries, Jade McAdams, Sameet Sangha and Emily Hershberger. At level two, the winners were Peter Behroozi, Christopher Hardy, Katy Lyman, Chris Vanderwall, Jason Brasch, Emily Callahan and John Kane. At level four, the winners were Kristy Reimer and Theresa Price.
National winners at level one were Piehl and McElligatt. At level two, the winners were Behroozi and Hardy.
At the Iowa French Speaking Contest that was held at Central College, students placing in the top three of their respective levels were declared winners. DeVries placed second and Sangha placed third in level one competition. At level two, Behroozi placed first, Brasch placed second and Hardy placed third.
The NUHS students are taught by Kim Caster and Lowell Hoeft, instructors in teaching at NUHS.
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