Falls graduate on Dunwoody dean’s list
Brett Johnson, son of John and Terri Johnson of International Falls, was named to the Dunwoody College of Technology spring quarter 2009 dean’s list.

Students named to the dean’s list are recognized for outstanding academic achievement by earning a 3.5 grade point average or higher in 12 or more credits for the quarter.

Dunwoody College has built a national and international reputation as a leader in technical education for nearly a century.

Johnson, a 2006 graduate of Falls High School, is in the electrical program at Dunwoody and will graduate in March 2010.

Reading corps exceeds recruitment goal
Minnesota Reading Corps exceeded its recruitment goal for the 2009-2010 school year, and has enlisted and placed a record 555 AmeriCorps members in 161 pre-school sites and elementary schools across the state.

Minnesota Reading Corps (MRC) recruits and trains AmeriCorps members to provide extra support for children who are at risk for not reading at their grade level. Members receive extensive training and are equipped with effective literacy instruction methods. Locally, Krystal George will be working with students at Kootasca Head Start in International Falls.

Minnesota Reading Corps members commit to a year of service that begins in August. In addition to receiving valuable hands-on experience, MRC AmeriCorps members earn up to $4,725 to pay for college or to pay back federal student loans, a modest living allowance and for full-time members, health insurance. Members can also defer federal student loans while they serve. MRC members surveyed frequently report that their career plans have been positively influenced by their service.

Minnesota Reading Corps is a statewide initiative to help every Minnesota child become a successful reader. The program matches trained AmeriCorps members and community volunteers with children from age 3 to third grade who are at risk for not reading at grade level. AmeriCorps members either serve directly with children to provide individualized literacy instruction or recruit community volunteer tutors to work one-on-one with children.

For more information, visit www.MinnesotaReadingCorps.org, or call (651) 251-9075 or toll-free (866) 859-2825.