IQ Employee Jarrett Stewart has been helping the Franklin Regional Robotics team design and build a robot to compete in the Pittsburgh Regional FIRST FRC tournament! This is the second year the Franklin Regional Robotics team – Frobotics – participated in the competition, and the first year that Jarrett has volunteered as a mentor.

The students were tasked with creating a robot able to accurately shoot frisbees into goals set at varying heights, and lift itself off of the ground to climb a metal pyramid structure. They were given 68 days to complete the robot using materials provided to them and anything else they could get their hands on. Mentors taught students how to use LabVIEW, CAD, and other programming tools along with more physical building tools such as welding and metal cutting.

Team 4150 worked hard and played hard at the competition, and while they didn’t make it to the finals, each member of the team came away with a great experience, some new knowledge, and awesome robot-building experience.

In 2003, the American Heart Association and the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute took action against a disease that was claiming the lives of nearly 500,000 American women each year – a disease that women weren’t paying attention to. A disease they truly believed, and many still believe to this day, affects more men than women.

Stemming from that action, National Wear Red Day was born. It’s held on the first Friday in February every year to raise awareness about heart disease being the No. 1 killer of women.

This coming National Wear Red Day, Feb. 1, 2013, marks our 10-year anniversary. And looking back on all we’ve accomplished, we’ve really made tremendous strides. They include:

• 21 percent fewer women dying from heart disease
• 23 percent more women aware that it’s their No. 1 health threat
• Publishing of gender-specific results, established differences in symptoms and responses to medications, and women-specific guidelines for prevention and treatment
• Legislation to help end gender disparities

But despite our progress, women are still dying. They’re still unaware of their risks and the facts. And now’s not the time for complacency. It’s time to stand stronger, speak louder and join us in the fight this National Wear Red Day.

KEY STATS:

Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women – mothers, sisters, daughters, friends – and is more deadly than all
forms of cancer combined.

• Heart disease causes one in three women’s deaths each year, killing approximately one woman every minute.
• An estimated 43 million women in the U.S. are affected by heart disease.
• Ninety percent of women have one or more risk factors for developing heart disease.
• Since 1984, more women than men have died each year from heart disease and the gap between men and women’s survival continues to widen.
• While one in 31 American women dies from breast cancer each year, heart disease causes one in three deaths each year.

Heart disease in women requires more attention, more research and swifter action.

• Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women, yet only one in five American women believe that heart disease is her greatest health threat.
• Women comprise only 24 percent of participants in all heart-related studies.
• Women are less likely to call 9-1-1 for themselves when experiencing symptoms of a heart attack than they are for someone else.

The American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women movement has been impacting the health of women for 10 years.

• More than 627,000 women have been saved from heart disease.
• 330 fewer women are dying per day.

Women who Go Red are more likely to make healthy choices.

• Nearly 90 percent have made at least one healthy behavior change.
• More than one-third have lost weight.
• More than 50 percent have increased their exercise.
• Six out of 10 have changed their diets.
• More than 40 percent have checked their cholesterol levels.
• One-third have talked with their doctors about developing heart health plans.

Nominations due by Midnight, February 4

Greensburg, Pa. – The Westmoreland County Winners’ Circle Awards Program is calling for nominations for four awards that recognize women, men, businesses or organizations who inspire others and advocate for women, women-owned business and our community. Winners’ Circle awards include the prestigious ATHENA Award®, Seton Hill University Entrepreneurial Excellence Award, Award for Community Service and YWCA Rising Star Award.

The ATHENA Award® is part of Athena International, which honors women and men annually from all over the world.

The YWCA Rising Star Award, sponsored by the Women’s Leadership Council of the United Way, is a local award that recognizes a woman 30 years of age or under who shows outstanding promise and leadership early in her career. Winner of the YWCA Rising Star Award receives a $2,000 scholarship to use toward career development and is part of a year-long mentoring program with women business leaders in the community.

For the third year in a row, the winner of the Award for Community Service will receive $1,000 that she can donate to the charitable organization of her choice.

Nominations can be made online at www.wcwinnerscircle.com. The deadline is midnight February 4, 2013. If you do not have internet access and need assistance completing a nomination or have questions, please call Seton Hill University’s E-Magnify at 724-830-4625.

Now in its 18^th year, the Winners’ Circle Awards Program is Westmoreland County’s most prestigious business awards program. This program, presented by Seton Hill University’s E-Magnify women’s business center and underwritten by First Commonwealth, began in 1995 to recognize and celebrate those who advance women as leaders and community activists in order to motivate, inspire and mentor women to assume leadership roles throughout Westmoreland County.  Winners will be honored at an awards ceremony and networking luncheon on Wednesday, May 15, at the Ramada Hotel and Conference Center in Greensburg.

2013 Awards Criteria:

ATHENA Award^®

• Awarded to a woman or man who devotes time and energy to improve quality of life for others
•  Mentors women to reach full leadership potential
• Demonstrates excellence, creativity and initiative in business or profession

Seton Hill University Entrepreneurial Excellence Award

• Awarded to an individual (man or woman), organization or business
• Advocates for growth and success of women owned businesses
• Creative in promoting and supporting women to be valuable contributors to the Westmoreland County economy

Award for Community Service

• Presented to a woman who has contributed her time, resources and efforts to community organizations and community growth
• Contributes personal influence and involvement beyond job expectations

YWCA Rising Star Award

• Awarded to a woman, 30 years of age or under
• Exhibits early professional success and potential to obtain marked achievement
• Demonstrates willingness to help others, especially women and girls

In addition to First Commonwealth as an underwriter, the premier sponsors include S&T Bank, Trib Total Media, UPMC Health Plan and the Women’s Leadership Council of the United Way. Gold sponsors are Apollo Design Group, First Niagara, Fotorecord Print Center, IQ Inc., and 107.1 WHJB. Bridgeway Capital, Carlow University and SkySight Photography are silver sponsors.

We recently held our annual IQ Christmas Party and it was a rousing success! Over 40 guests attended the celebration dinner at the Westmoreland Country Club on the evening of December 15th.

The night started out with savory hou dourves, delicious drinks, and pleasing conversations. Then our President Barbara VanKirk gave a gracious speech and dinner was served. Then the night wrapped up with coffee, an elaborate dessert bar, and more wonderful conversation.

Check out some photos of the event!

College: Is it Worth It?

What’s more expensive than going to college? Until recently, the answer was easy: not going to college. Numerous studies over the years have shown that individuals with college degrees significantly out-earn those with high school degrees by $1 million or more over the course of a lifetime.

But as the cost of education increases faster than inflation and the economy remains relatively weak, people are beginning to question how they spend their education dollars. As student loans hit the $1 trillion mark and more and more graduates are faced with years of paying staggering monthly payments, many are starting to ask themselves, “Is it worth it?”

While there’s no doubt that a college degree increases earning power and broadens opportunities, today’s high cost of education means it makes sense to more carefully consider which degree you earn. When it comes to return on investment (ROI), not all degrees are considered equal. This article exposes eight college degrees with poor ROI.

You can read the full article by Dawn Dugan on Salary.com.