6/20/01

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Mary Boes, associate professor of Social Work and faculty adviser, Phi Eta Sigma, (319) 273-5892

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

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The University of Northern Iowa inducted 182 freshmen into Phi Eta Sigma during a spring semester ceremony.

Freshmen with a 3.50 or higher grade point average are eligible for membership. The 2000-2001 academic year set a record for number of initiates, according to outgoing president Audra Block of Ankeny. Freshmen initiated into the UNI chapter of Phi Eta Sigma include __(Name)__ from __(Address and hometown)__.

Phi Eta Sigma members participate in several activities throughout the year, beginning with a picnic during UNI Family Fest. Other activities include celebrating holidays by placing decorations in nursing homes, participating in adopt-a-family during Christmas, and an end-of-year picnic where new officers are elected.

Mary Boes, UNI associate professor of social work, is Phi Eta Sigma faculty adviser. For more information, contact Boes at (319) 273-5892.

Note; to obtain the names of the inductees, contact the Office of University Marketing & Public Relations at (319) 273-2761.

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6/20/01

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Mary Boes, associate professor of social work and faculty advisor, Phi Eta Sigma, (319) 273-5892

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

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The University of Northern Iowa Phi Eta Sigma honor society recently elected officers for 2001-2002.

Phi Eta Sigma is an honor society for freshman students with a 3.5 grade point average. The honor society participates in six activities throughout the year, beginning with a picnic during Family Fest weekend. Members celebrate holidays by placing decorations in nursing homes and participate in adopt-a-family during Christmas. The year concludes with a picnic where new officers are named.

Outgoing officers who served Phi Eta Sigma during 2000-2001 were __(NAME)__ , __(OFFICE) _ from __(HOMETOWN)__.

Phi Eta Sigma new officers for 2001-2002 are __(NAME)__ , __(OFFICE) _ from __(HOMETOWN)__.

For more information, contact, Mary Boes, UNI associate professor of social work and Phi Eta Sigma faculty advisor, at (319) 273-5892.

Note: to obtain a list of the officers, please contact the Office of University Marketing & Public Relations at (319) 273-2761.

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6/20/01

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Joyce Morrow, associate director, UNI Financial Aid Office, (319) 273-2701

Gwenne Culpepper, University Marketing and Public Relations, (319) 273-2761

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- Although the cost of college has risen every year in recent memory, the cost of paying back student loans is about to drop. The interest rate on all federally backed loans will drop 2.20 percent, down from 8.19 percent, to the lowest rate since the student loan program began nearly three decades ago, said Joyce Morrow, associate director of the Financial Aid Office at the University of Northern Iowa.

New loans made after July 1, 2001, will be financed at the new rate, but Morrow said students who consolidate any existing loans after July 1 also will get the lower interest rate. "It's a beneficial, cost-effective move for all students, even those who are already in school," she said. She explained that a student with $16,000 in loans, consolidating at the new lower rate (vs. the older rate), could save more than $2,000 over the life of the loan.

Loans made to students will be repaid at an interest rate of 5.99 percent; while PLUS loans -- those taken out by parents for a child's education -- will be repaid at a rate of 6.79 percent.

For more information about the new loan rate or student loans, go to http://www.ed.gov/DirectLoan, click "F/A for Students" and then click "Consolidation," or call the UNI Financial Aid Office, 1-800-772-2736.