4/10/2012
Rivermont Students Take Top Honors at State Science Fair
580 students from 56 schools around Iowa traveled to Iowa State University on March 30th-31st for the Iowa State Science and Technology Fair. Of those, 11 students from Rivermont Collegiate, an independent school in Bettendorf, Iowa, won an impressive 27 awards and scholarships.
For the third time in her high school career, top honors went to Rivermont senior, Pavane Gorrepati, winner of the prestigious Grand Championship award for her project on the impact different genes have on the nutritional characteristics of rice. Pavane will represent the State of Iowa at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in May, 2012. Pavane also won 1st place in the Plant Sciences category, 3rd place in the Senior Individual Biological Seminar, and was awarded over $7,200 in prizes and scholarships for her project.
Also high school students at Rivermont Collegiate, Maghana Pagadala (12th grade) and Shravya Pothula (10th grade) both had impressive projects that made them Semi-finalists for the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. Meghana won first place in the Cellular & Molecular Biology category and was awarded over $5,700 in prizes and scholarships for her project on the Mechanism By Which CD8+ FoxP3+ T-Cells Regulate Osteoclast Activity. Shravya won second place in the Medicine and Health Science category for her project on how Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Reduces Mitral Valve Regurgitation.
But the high schoolers weren't the only winners at the competition! Not to be outdone by her older sister, 7th grade Rivermont student Manasa Pagadala was the winner of the Grand Champion award in the Overall Junior High Biological division for her project titled How Do Spices Affect the Growth of Bacteria and Fungi? Manasa also won 1st place in the 7th Grade Biology division, a University of Iowa College of Engineering scholarship, and she will compete at the Broadcom MASTERS (Math, Applied Science, Technology, and Engineering for Rising Stars) National Middle School Science Fair in Washington DC in the fall, 2012. Sixth grade Rivermont students Collin Smith, Klaus Storl-Desmond, and Aviana Zahara will also compete at the Broadcom MASTERS.
Headmaster of Rivermont Collegiate, Rick St. Laurent, is extremely proud of this year's award winners and attributes much of the school's success to science teacher Linda Hampton who has been with the school for over 28 years. "Rivermont has a long list of graduates who have gone on to do amazing things in science and technology. Mrs. Hampton's passion for teaching science and inspiring students is one of the main reasons Rivermont does so well year after year at the State and National science competitions." says Mr. St. Laurent. "We continue our commitment to outstanding science and technology classes as part of our students' education and look forward to seeing what our students come up with next year."
Rivermont Collegiate has approximately 200 students in PreSchool - 12th grade. The science curriculum starts in Kindergarten. With a dedicated science teacher in their Lower School, students as young as 5 go to the science classroom 3 times a week. Mr. St. Laurent says, "Science is one of our younger students' favorite subjects. They love doing hands-on experiments and learning how things work. We tie science in with what they're doing in math, reading, and even social studies, so it provides a good, solid foundation for life-long learning."
3/8/2011
Distinguished Finalist Honor Bestowed on QC Youth Volunteers
A school fitness and nutrition program. A campaign to make personal care kits for families in transition out of homeless shelters. 25 handmade quilts to be sent to Ethiopian women recovering from surgery. Packaging over 25,000 meals to feed needy children. What do these things have in common? They are all initiatives organized by Iowa students!
The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards have named Kayla De Weerd, 14, of Hull, IA and Hannah Jorgensen, 13, of Adair, IA as State Honorees for outstanding acts of volunteerism. Kayla, who piloted a nutrition and physical activity program at her school, and Hannah, who organized a campaign to make personal care kits for families transitioning from homeless shelters, will each receive $1,000 and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. In Washington, Kayla and Hannah will join the top two honorees from each state, ten of which will be named National Honorees.
The Quad Cities is home to two Distinguished Finalists in the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards! Pavane Gorrepati, a senior at Rivermont Collegiate in Bettendorf, and Julianne Delessio, a junior at Pleasant Valley High School, are among four students recognized as Distinguished Finalists for their impressive community service activities.
Pavane Gorrepati, 18, of Davenport, created a nonprofit organization called Warning about Warming (WaW) to educate young people about environmental issues. Her work has included speaking at rallies and conferences, traveling to India to teach students about sustainable practices, and persuading the Rivermont Collegiate Board of Trustees to initiate a “no-idling” policy for parents dropping off and picking up students.
Julianne Delessio, 17, of Bettendorf, brings the joy of dance to those who otherwise could not participate due to illness, disability, or financial restraints with her program Dance for Me. Julianne has provided workshops for the Multiple Sclerosis Society, children with cancer, and children from low-income families. She is currently developing a dance workshop for children with Down syndrome.
The Quad Cities is extremely proud to be home to these outstanding young women! “Through their selfless acts of service, these award recipients have greatly improved the lives of others,” said Prudential Chairman and CEO John Strangfeld. “We hope their stories and their dedication inspire other young people to do the same.” The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards represents the United States’ largest youth recognition program based solely on volunteer service. More than 5,000 Local Honorees were reviewed by a judging panel, which selected State Honorees and Distinguished Finalists based on personal initiative, creativity, effort, and impact.
Highlights From the Holiday Open House!
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Rivermont Featured On Paula Sands Live!
Admissions Director, Brittany Marietta, discussing Rivermont's Annual Holiday Open House which took place on Saturday, December 10th.
12/14/2011
Rivermont Students WOW at 2011 First Lego League Regional Qualifier
Congratulations to the 5th graders (and one 6th grader!) for their outstanding performance at the First Lego League robotics competition last Saturday! Rivermont's two fifth grade teams spent months preparing for the big event and it all paid off.
Team "Technical Difficulties" broke their previous record with a whopping 100 point score in the robot game and wowed the judges in the technical interview with their unique robot attachments and use of the light sensor. For their research project this team invented a new milk machine to be used in restaurants. The new "Milky Way Milk Machine" has thermometers inside each milk bag and lights on top of the machine to notify restaurant workers when the milk has gone bad. Their presentation even included a pre-recorded commercial for the new invention.
Team "Masterminds" impressed everyone around them by switching their mission line-up seamlessly during each robot round and had everyone holding their breath when they achieved the most difficult mission with a full second to spare. Mastermind's invention was a paper table cover for use in restaurants. Restaurant workers can roll a new sheet of paper on top of and underneath the table before each customer to reduce contamination risks. Their presentation included a skit with a pre-recorded dream... very creative!
A small handful of the 35 teams at the tournament won an award. We are extremely proud of team Mastermind for winning the Core Values Inspiration Award. The head judge for the event explained, "Core Values are at the heart of everything FLL teams do throughout the season. Students work as a team in the spirit of friendly competition to have fun and learn throughout the entire season. FLL teams understand that what they discover is far more important than what they win. This award celebrates a team that is empowered by their First Lego League experience and displays extraordinary enthusiasm and spirit."
Team coaches, Mrs. Chamberlain and Mrs. Schroeder are very proud of the students and have seen tremendous growth and maturity in all of them. In addition to learning new skills in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM), these students demonstrated real life skills such as teamwork, goal setting, cooperation, compromise, hard work, respect, responsibility and problem solving. It will be exciting to see what these teams do next year!
Congratulations also goes out to 6th grader, Robbie McVey, who's team "Radioactive Robots" won a Champion's award and will be advancing to the state competition at Iowa State University in January. Good luck, Robbie! We'll be cheering for you.
A special thank you to Ross' Restaurant, Rockwell Collins, and the 5th grade families for sponsoring and supporting our 2 teams. More photos and video clips can be found at www.RivermontRobotics.com
11/21/11
TWO QUAD CITY WOMEN HONORED FOR INNOVATION
Nine Iowa Women of Innovation were honored last Thursday evening by the Technology Association of Iowa at the Hy-Vee Conference Center in West Des Moines. Honorees included entrepreneurs, executives, college professors, and two students who each received $2,500 scholarships. Betty Griffin, Curriculum and Instruction Specialist for Davenport Community Schools, and Pavane Gorrepati, senior at Rivermont Collegiate in Bettendorf, were among the nine winners.
The Iowa Women of Innovation awards celebrate female leaders in science, technology, engineering, and math. Nominations were submitted from communities across the state and finalists represented a range of backgrounds: teachers, researchers, technologists, and CEOs, among other titles. Finalists also include high school, undergraduate, and graduate students who have demonstrated extraordinary achievements in technology.
For a complete list of finalists and winners, visit www.technologyiowa.org.
2011 Women of Innovation Award Winners:
Research Innovation and Leadership: Dr. Byrony Bonning, a professor at Iowa State University’s department of entomology. Bonning, a nationally and internationally recognized scholar, is the founding director of the ISU Virus-Insect Interactions Initiative. Her research has resulted in five patents that have attracted industrial support.
Academic Innovation and Leadership in Secondary Education: Betty Griffin, curriculum and instruction specialist in the Davenport Community Schools. Griffin brought the Project Lead the Way (PLTW) program to Davenport, and developed a PLTW summer camp for 8th grade students. She helped create a scholarship fund to promote college credit for high school students.
Academic Innovation and Leadership in Post-Secondary Education: Dr. Sarah Larsen, a professor of chemistry at the University of Iowa. Larsen’s internationally-recognized research program studies nanomaterials, and has advanced the understanding of how porous particles can be used in environmental protection, catalysis, drug delivery and biomedical imaging.
Entrepreneurial Innovation and Leadership: Dr. Jennifer Nieweg of Des Moines, co-founder of Catilin. Niewig’s company develops cost-efficient catalysts for the production of bio-fuels. Recently, Catilin merged with a multinational company, Albemarle, which develops, manufactures, and markets complex chemicals worldwide.
Non-Profit/Government Agency: Toni Tassone of the Iowa Department of Corrections. Tassone created the Iowa Corrections Offender Network (ICON), an offender case management system. ICON’s first year return on investment is estimated at $2 million.
Small Business Innovation and Leadership: Charise Flynn, Chief Operating Officer at Dwolla, a social payment network in Des Moines. Flynn leads a team of 20, managing the company’s fast-paced growth, implementing new processes and systems, and executing the company’s vision.
Large Company Innovation and Leadership: Kristin Runyan, Chief Information Officer and Vice President of Product Management for CDS Global in Des Moines. Runyan leads the company’s vision of diversifying its business, changing company culture, and transforming technology.
Collegiate Innovation and Leadership: Chloe Dedic, a senior in mechanical engineering at Iowa State University. Dedic studies pollutant formation in devices used for clean power generation. Thanks in part to her work, the mechanical engineering department was recently awarded a National Science Foundation grant.
Youth Innovation and Leadership: Pavane Gorrepati, a senior at Rivermont Collegiate in Bettendorf. Gorrepati is the only student there who has completed six science classes in four years. She earned a Borlaug-Ruan International Internship and has founded “Sending Seeds Overseas,” which provides seeds for farmers in third-world countries.
Note: Rivermont Collegiate senior Meghana Pagadala was also a finalist in this category.
11/17/11
Rivermont Senior Continues to WOW with Accomplishments
Congratulations to Rivermont Collegiate senior Pavane Gorrepati, who has been named a Commended Student in the 2012 National Merit Scholarship Program! Commended Students place among the top five percent of the more than 1.5 million students who entered the 2012 competition by taking the 2010 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). “The young men and women being named Commended Students have demonstrated outstanding potential for academic success,” commented a spokesperson for NMSC. “These students represent a valuable national resource; recognizing their accomplishments, as well as the key role their schools play in their academic development, is vital to the advancement of educational excellence in our nation.”
In addition, Pavane spent this past summer on a World Food Prize 2011 Borlaug-Ruan International Internship in Changsha, China at the China National Hybrid Rice Research & Development Center (CNHRRDC). Pavane showed great personal commitment in her research to find solutions to global food security. As part of this 2-month internship, Pavane will be giving a presentation on her summer work and cultural experiences in China at the Global Youth Institute International Symposium and Laureate Ceremony on October 13-15 in Des Moines. Pavane’s audience will include the 2011 World Food Prize Laureate H.E. John Kufuor, the former President of Ghana, as well as Sir Gordon Conway of the UK Department for International Development and director generals of major agricultural research centers worldwide.
Pavane’s talents extend beyond the scientific realm – she recently earned a trip to the National History Day Competition in Washington, D.C. this past summer with a performance about the Nuremburg Trials with fellow Rivermont students Joann Weeks, Meghana Pagadala, and Christine Mbakwe. In addition, Pavane is the author of A Buzzy Bee Tale, a children’s book about a bee and his efforts to help his family and friends whose environment has been affected by global climate change. Pavane, along with fellow Rivermont senior and illustrator of the book Ramya Prabhu, will be presenting the book at the David R. Collin’s Children’s Literature Festival at the Davenport River Center on October 25. Pavane is a member of the National Honor Society as well as the Rivermont Environmental Club, and intends to devote her life to the study of alternative energy.
10/25/11
A Buzzie Bee Tale News Article
Click here to read all about A Buzzie Bee Tale in the QC Times!
10/12/11
WHAT’S ALL THE BUZZ ABOUT?
AN INTERVIEW WITH YOUNG LOCAL AUTHOR & ILLUSTRATOR
What is a bee garden? How do I make one? Why would I want to make one? Two Rivermont seniors would like to answer these questions for you (and for children throughout the Quad City community!) – and they’d like to do it with a loveable bee named Buzzie! Pavane Gorrepati and Ramya Prabhu, seniors at Rivermont Collegiate, are presenters at the 2011 David R. Collins Children’s Literature Festival, to be held October 25th at the River Center. Pavane and Ramya are the author and illustrator of A Buzzie Bee Tale, a picture book about Buzzie Bee, his friend Lily Lilliput, and their efforts to help Buzzie Bee’s friends and family, whose environment has been affected by climate change.
Pavane and Ramya are dedicated, passionate students balancing a rigorous academic class load with a variety of extracurricular pursuits. Pavane, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Krishnarao Gorrepati of Davenport, founded the Rivermont Environmental Club, has earned the title of “Eco-Ambassador” from the Weather Channel, and was awarded the President’s Environmental Youth Award. Pavane was recently named a Commended Student in the 2012 National Merit Scholarship Program and spent the summer doing research in China on a 2-month World Food Prize Borlaug-Ruan International Internship. Ramya, daughter of Dr. & Mrs. N.V. Rama Prabhu of Moline, serves as secretary and treasurer of the Rivermont Environmental Club and is a member of the National Honor Society and Student Council. In addition, Ramya is a gifted artist and accomplished violinist.
Given the variety of other pursuits you both have, what inspired you to add another project to your plate with A Buzzie Bee Tale? Pavane, an avid proponent for the environment, feels that education is one of the most important aspects of environmental conservation, particularly at a young age. Her goal was to start with educating children in her own community and grow from there. Inspiration for character and setting illustrations came to life for Ramya as she read Pavane’s story.
What are some favorite reactions to the book? Pavane knew she had worked with the right illustrator when one child decided they wanted Buzzie Bee as their friend! Another favorite reaction, of course, is when children decide they want to build their own bee garden after reading the story.
How did you get started writing and illustrating? Pavane remembers writing books and sharing them with her class as early as second grade. Ramya collaborated with fellow Rivermont student Christopher Mbakwe (Class of 2011) on illustrations for the 2011 comic-book-themed yearbook. Her illustrations are also used in media for several groups she’s involved in, including Rivermont’s Student Council, National Honor Society, and Environmental Club.
What advice do you have for other students interested in writing and illustrating? Pavane recommends young writers pick their passion, because it will truly shine through in their pages. Ramya urges illustrators to try out different styles and move beyond their comfort zone - not always stick with what they’ve done before – she herself is now doing just that!
What will you be doing at The David R. Collins Children’s Literature Festival later this month? Pavane and Ramya will be explaining to students their writing, illustrating, and publishing process for A Buzzie Bee Tale, as well as reading parts of the book aloud.
Where can A Buzzie Bee Tale be purchased? The book is available for sale at www.lulu.com and copies will be available for sale at the festival. In addition, Pavane and Ramya are in the process of getting the book for sale on Amazon.com.
The David R. Collins Children’s Literature Festival, presented by the Midwest Writing Center and the Davenport Public Library, will feature Newbery Award winner Clare Vanderpool, author of Moon Over Manifest, as well as a variety of other exciting authors and illustrators. The festival is named after its founder, a beloved author and Moline teacher who passed away in 2001. David founded the festival in 1978 to encourage future generations of readers and writers by exposing them to the authors and illustrators behind the books they read.
10/12/11
Click below to see Rivermont's 5th grade class on KWQC TV6 News!
10/7/11
Rivermont Senior Continues to WOW with Accomplishments
Congratulations to Rivermont Collegiate senior Pavane Gorrepati, who has been named a Commended Student in the 2012 National Merit Scholarship Program! Commended Students place among the top five percent of the more than 1.5 million students who entered the 2012 competition by taking the 2010 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). “The young men and women being named Commended Students have demonstrated outstanding potential for academic success,” commented a spokesperson for NMSC. “These students represent a valuable national resource; recognizing their accomplishments, as well as the key role their schools play in their academic development, is vital to the advancement of educational excellence in our nation.”
In addition, Pavane spent this past summer on a World Food Prize 2011 Borlaug-Ruan International Internship in Changsha, China at the China National Hybrid Rice Research & Development Center (CNHRRDC). Pavane showed great personal commitment in her research to find solutions to global food security. As part of this 2-month internship, Pavane will be giving a presentation on her summer work and cultural experiences in China at the Global Youth Institute International Symposium and Laureate Ceremony on October 13-15 in Des Moines. Pavane’s audience will include the 2011 World Food Prize Laureate H.E. John Kufuor, the former President of Ghana, as well as Sir Gordon Conway of the UK Department for International Development and director generals of major agricultural research centers worldwide.
Pavane’s talents extend beyond the scientific realm – she recently earned a trip to the National History Day Competition in Washington, D.C. this past summer with a performance about the Nuremburg Trials with fellow Rivermont students Joann Weeks, Meghana Pagadala, and Christine Mbakwe. In addition, Pavane is the author of A Buzzy Bee Tale, a children’s book about a bee and his efforts to help his family and friends whose environment has been affected by global climate change. Pavane, along with fellow Rivermont senior and illustrator of the book Ramya Prabhu, will be presenting the book at the David R. Collin’s Children’s Literature Festival at the Davenport River Center on October 25. Pavane is a member of the National Honor Society as well as the Rivermont Environmental Club, and intends to devote her life to the study of alternative energy.
10/7/11
Rivermont Students Move Beyond the Classroom and into the Global Schoolhouse!
Deforestation, global infectious diseases, and intellectual property rights - it's just another day of problem solving in the Rivermont fifth grade! Rivermont Collegiate is excited to announce the fifth grade class has been chosen for the fifth year in a row to participate in the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) 20/20 Challenge. The NAIS 20/20 Challenge brings together schools in the United States (public and private, elementary and secondary) with schools in other countries to identify local solutions to a global problem. The Internet-based international education program partners schools to work together on one of 20 problems described by J.F. Rischard in his book, High Noon: 20 Global Problems, 20 Years to Solve Them. Together, students identify solutions that can be implemented in their own schools and communities.
Schools apply for the 20/20 Challenge and if accepted, are partnered with schools in another country. Once partnered, schools work together to define and research the problem, identify a workable solution for their school's community and context, and map out steps of an implementation plan. The program is praised for allowing students to explore the complexities of global issues that are difficult for even many adults to comprehend and develop critical thinking skills they will use for a lifetime.
In the past, the fifth grade class has partnered with schools in Guatemala, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, and Africa on topics such as biodiversity and global warming. This year's problem is peacekeeping, conflict prevention, and combating terrorism. Rivermont students will be working with students in California and New Zealand and, due to past success with the 20/20 Challenge, the Rivermont class has been chosen as the team leader. The 20/20 Challenge will begin in January and we eagerly anticipate the fifth grade's innovative solutions to address peacekeeping, conflict prevention, and terrorism right here at Rivermont and in the Quad City community!
For additional information on the NAIS 20/20 Challenge, visit www.nais.org.
10/5/2011
Rivermont Collegiate's 2011 Student Hunger Drive Skit
9/25/2011
KUDOS Aislinn Geedey!
Fifth grader Aislinn Geedey helped celebrate the American Library Association's Banned Books Week by participating in a banned books reading in the Augustana College library on Sept. 20. Aislinn read an excerpt from The Egypt Game by Zilpha Keatley Snyder about children performing rituals for ancient Egyptian gods. Aislinn was the youngest participant in the event! Aislinn used a tactic she learned in the third grade at Rivermont by reading a cliff-hanger, then telling the audience they will have to read the book themselves to see how it turns out! The librarian organizing the event said it was a treat to have a younger-than-college-age person on stage, particularly one so poised and articulate. The St. Ambrose library, Davenport Public Library, and the Midwest Writing Center also organized events in celebration of Banned Books Week.
Link to the Quad City Times article about the Augustana reading
9/16/2011
LEGOS Much More than Child’s Play for Rivermont 5th Grade
The fifth grade class at Rivermont Collegiate is discovering it’s more fun to design and create a robot than it is to play with one – and having the hardest fun they’ve ever had! Rivermont’s fifth graders have formed 2 teams to participate in the FIRST LEGO League (FLL) robotics program! Team Masterminds and Team Technical Difficulties are applying real-world math and science concepts to design, build, program, and test a fully autonomous robot capable of completing pre-assigned missions! Teams will be competing at the FLL Regional Qualifier at the Putnam Museum on Saturday, December 10th. Top performing teams at this local tournament will be invited to state and international tournaments.
FIRST LEGO League is a robotics program for children ages 9-16 designed to get children excited about science and technology, while teaching them valuable employment and life skills. FIRST LEGO League 2011 features 19,800 teams from over 50 countries competing in 560 Qualifying Tournaments, which will be followed by 117 Championship Tournaments, 3 Open Championships, and 1 World Festival. Teams, composed of up to ten children with at least one adult coach, program an autonomous robot using the Lego Mindstorms set to score points on a thematic playing surface. Teams also create an innovative solution to a problem, which is different every year and based on a real-world scientific topic. This year’s “problem” – also referred to as the Challenge – is titled “Food Factor – Keeping Food Safe” and challenges teams to identify points of contamination our food encounters and develop an innovative solution.
Rivermont fifth graders and their families and volunteer coaches have made a big commitment to this ambitious challenge, with scheduled weekly robotics practice and assignments, as well as a presentation to families in December before the regional competition at the Putnam. In addition, the class is tracking lessons and progress, including photos and a blog, at www.RivermontRobotics.com – follow their exciting progress!
For additional information on the FIRST LEGO League, visit www.FirstLegoLeague.com.
8/30/2011
BIRDIES & BOGEYS TO SUPPORT LOCAL EDUCATION:
Rivermont Collegiate's Annual Golf Tournament!
Make the hole - make a difference! Rivermont Collegiate will host its annual Golf Tournament on Monday, September 19th at Crow Valley Golf Club in Davenport. This exciting event will feature co-ed, men’s, and women’s divisions, as well as special hole events and raffle prizes. A dinner with awards and trophies will follow. This event is not limited to Rivermont families - anyone who would like to have a fantastic time while supporting the education of students in their community is encouraged to join us! The tournament supports scholarships and special projects at Rivermont Collegiate, the Quad Cities’ only private, independent, multicultural college preparatory school for students in preschool through twelfth grade.
This year’s tournament features the chance to win a vintage car from Veit’s Vettes & Collector Cars! Qualifying chip off dates for the opportunity to win the car will take place at Palmer Hills Golf Course in Bettendorf on Tuesday Sept. 6th, Wednesday Sept. 7th, and Thursday Sept. 8th. Participants are invited to come multiple days and chip as many times as they like! Participants whose ball makes it in the circle are eligible for the putt contest at the Rivermont Golf Tournament on Monday, September 19th.
Cost to participate in the tournament is $150 and includes lunch, golf, and dinner. Mulligans and raffle tickets for a Galena get-a-way (valued at $600!) are available for purchase. Participants who would like to attend the dinner and after party only may do so for $25. The tournament will begin with check-in at 11:00 a.m., followed by lunch and shotgun start at 1:00 p.m. The putt contest for the vintage car will take place at 5:30 p.m., followed by the after party and awards ceremony at 6:00 p.m.