Teradata, known as specializing in data warehousing and enterprise analytics, is sponsor of the FIRST Robotics Competition known at the FIRST Tech Challenge. To be eligible for the scholarship high school seniors must show an interest in science and technology and demonstrate strong leadership roles at school and within their community. In addition, students must plan to attend a sanctioned university in a science, math or engineering related field.

Susan Baxley, the director of community relations at Teradata Corp, says, “It’s exciting to see what theses students have accomplished already in their lives. They are great academic leaders in their schools or community”. It is hoped that their interest in technology will continue and they pursue science and technology as a career.

Teradata is also a supporter of the development of young minds. They support the LEGO League. At the FIRST LEGO League, elementary and middle school students build LEGO robots that perform a variety of tasks. There are several categories depending on the age groups and interests including:

• FIRST ® Robotics Competition (FRC ®)
• FIRST ®Tech Challenge (FTC®)  for high school aged students
• FIRST ® Lego® League (FLL) for 8 to 14 year olds
• Junior FIRST  ® Lego ® League (Jr. FLL) for 6 to 9 year olds

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It is being billed as ‘built to move the way kids do’. The new version has a carrying handle, water-resistant keyboard with an optional anti-microbial coating, and surfaces that are scratch-resistant. Based on the educators’ feedback, the Classmate also offers larger keys that are closer together so kids can not pry the buttons off the device. It is also capable of being dropped from a desk height. Educational features for the device includes dual headphone jacks to be used by both students and instructors and a six-cell battery good for 8.5 hours. It also features a 1.3 megapixel camera, GPS, 3G, and WiMax. Upgrades to the system include a 1.66Hz Atom N450 with N<10 I/O controller to help lower consumption of power. The Classmate also has a 10.1 inch touch screen display that folds over the keyboard, converting it into its tablet mode.

The Classmate will not be sold directly by Intel. Instead sales will be by original equipment manufacturers which will allow for specialty case coverings, memory and disk storage variations, and the choice of installed operating systems. Intel says that more than 300 vendors are working on applications, peripherals, and services that are customized for the Classmate.

The original Classmate was launched in 2007 as a part of Intel’s ‘World Ahead’ program. This program created to serve school children in emerging markets. It received much coverage as it was seen as a response to One Laptop Per Child’s Linux endeavor which ultimately started the netbook trend. The original Classmate came in 2007 with the subsequent upgrades in 2008 and 2009.

The system is already for sale from some vendors and comes with Instant Collaborator software that is made to allow students to share screen and files easily. The Classmate also contains and e-reader application that will support PDF and ePub formats. McGraw-Hill Education announced a new program called Lead21 which is described as a ‘comprehensive literacy and language arts program that offers students and teachers full print, digital, and professional development resources’.

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However, December reports are beginning to show a decrease in cases affecting the United States. This is good news because the strain of H1N1 flu has been incredibly hard on the younger population who typically do not fall victim during the regular flu season. With the H1N1 outbreak, many younger individuals ended up in the hospital due to the flu and a for a larger-than-ever number of young, the flu this year proved to be fatal.

The CDC also report that for ten consecutive weeks, the death toll from pneumonia and the flu have reached an epidemic threshold. Fourteen states have reported widespread outbreaks of the H1N1 virus, with 25 other states reporting regional outbreaks. Seven states are reporting local activity and four states consider the case of swine flu to be sporadic.

While the number of H1N1 cases are starting to decline, the CDC cautions that Americans are not out of the woods just yet. Influenza ezxperts are split on what they predict for the remainder of the flu seaon. Half feel the cases are going to continue to decline in numbers while the other half feel a lot more cases will occur up until May 2010.

Experts may not have the answer to the nation’s chief flu question, they do agree that everyone who has not recieved a flu shot for the H1N1 virus should still do so. Vaccinations had be scarce in the beginning stages of the apparent epidemic and many medical clinics were only administering the vaccines to the most susceptible people, including children and the elderly. However, as time has passed, most clinics across the country report that vaccinations are no longer being limited.

In addition to the vaccinations, good personal hygiene is still essential in helping to prevent the spread of the swine flu. Consumers are urged to wash their hands regularly and avoid those who have the flu. During such a chaotic time of the year for many, lack of health concerns may trigger a resurgence so it is crucial people remember to take care of themselves and avoid spreading the flu to others. Carry hand santitizer with you when you go shopping at the malls for the holidays and remember to visit your doctor for a proper diagnosis at the first signs of illness.

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With two children under the age of six – I have many years to think about their college education.  But as we all know, the first rule of saving is to save as much as you can, and start as early as you can.  I used to think saving for college was a bad idea in general – because the amount of savings you or the child has directly affects the amount of financial aid you are eligible for through the college you select.  In other words, if you have $110,000 saved by the time he or she reaches college age – the school will consider 100% of it as your contribution to the child’s education and chances are, having a sizeable amount of cash saved will make you ineligible for all need-based financial aid.  Even if half of that savings was supposed to be going toward your retirement, or the downpayment for a new house you’ve been saving for.

If you save money in a 529 plan, however, only about 6% of the total savings are used when calculating a child’s eligibility for need-based financial aid.  The money also earns interest on a tax-free basis.  Each state has it’s own policies regarding how 529 plans work, but you can expect that the plans not only earn on a federal tax exempt basis, but withdrawals used for qualified education expenses are also tax-free. Some states waive state taxes for residents, other states allow deductions on contributions – check with your particular state for the specifics.  The 529 plans offer generous maximum contribution limits, and other family and friends can contribute to a 529 plan for a child (and the money is not considered part of their estate). 

If your child grows up and decides not to go to college, you have a few options.  You can switch the 529 plan beneficiary to a child in your family who IS going to college (a brother, sister, cousin) or you can switch it to an adult family member who is going to continue their education.  If there is no one else to switch the 529 fund to; or you want the child to receive the money despite not going to school, you can withdraw the money for non educational purposes, but you will pay a 10% penalty and the money will become taxed as income at that point.

Note: Each 529 plan has its own set of rules and restrictions, which are subject to change. Make sure to request the most recent plan details from plan administrators.

My favorite part of the 529 plans is that you can set them up and allow other family and friends to contribute to them.  Every year as the holidays and birthdays of my children approach, our family begins asking me for ideas for what gifts to give them.  Now, instead of spending their entire gift budget on toys the children will outgrow in the blink of an eye, I ask them to contribute some of their gift into my child’s 529 account.  To make this as easy as buying something online, we enrolled in FreshmanFund.com.  It works like a gift registry – my children have registries and people can come and contribute with credit card or bank transfers.  The money is held in an account managed by FreshmanFund.com until I transfer it to the child’s connected 529 plan.

Giving the gift of education couldn’t be easier – and it’s a gift that will grow with the child until he or she is ready to use it!

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Thankfully, there are more options for working moms today then there ever was.  Online universities and online degree programs through traditional universities makes it possible for people who are confined by too-hectic schedules to take courses and eventually, earn their degree.  Most courses allow students to access course work, instructor lectures and notes at any time it’s convenient for them; evenings after the children are tucked away into bed, during their work lunch hour,  or on weekends.  Instead of meeting a study group, online students often meet in online chat rooms or converse through email.

Online enrollment in colleges has shown an increase annually by about 10%, while traditional enrollment in higher education has only increased 1.5% annually according to a report by Sloan Consortium in 2007.  Also, according to a Zogby study, four out of five employers/business leaders look favorably on online degrees – considering them as valuable as a traditional degree, if not more so.  Top companies are recognizing that to obtain a degree online, it takes more self direction and discipline than a traditional degree.

Online degree programs are perfect for the busy, working mother (single or otherwise!)  As a group, they tend to be more motivated and can handle the discipline necessary to succeed in their programs because they realize having a degree will open the door to benefits and opportunities they wouldn’t otherwise have.  Raises, promotions, leaving a dead-end, low-income job behind and moving into higher paying industries becomes more possible with a degree to back you up.

A large concern for many moms is the inability to come up with the money to pay for education.  Most work to pay their bills and put food on the table, and provide for their children’s needs and there just isn’t enough left over to pay for college.  That’s where eLearners.com comes in.  They’ve partnered with five online schools and together they provide more than $2 million in full scholarships to both single and married working moms through the Project Working Mom: Putting Education to Work campaign.  You can apply for a scholarship on the website, www.projectworkingmom.com, and while you are there – take the time to apply to a number of other scholarship programs and financial aid options.

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An inexpensive, and often free, adventure for the whole family can be accomplished at a local factory or manufacturing facility. With the increase in popularity of television shows that explore these factors, for example “How It’s Made” and “Unwrapped”, touring a factory is a rewarding experience and a great educational opportunity for all ages. Even my own five year old loves to see how her favorite candy is made and the information learned on these shows really stick with her.

Most of the factory tours are free and all you need to do is call in advance and find out the rules for a visit. If you have a particular interest in a facility that does not advertise tours, take a moment and contact them anyway. They may be delighted to show you and your family around for the day. These tours are also a great activity for group events like scouting, school trips, or other community groups. Not only will everyone see things many others do not in an up close and personal way, many places will be glad to hand out free samples and taste test opportunities, and learn a little something along the way.

Some of my favorite places to visit are Hershey’s Chocolate World in Hershey, PA. The experience offers a free ride through a simulated factory with an automated tour. I have been dozens of times and it still gives me a thrill. Plus, who could resist the free Hershey candy at the end of the tour or the smell of chocolate wafting through the air. Other places I’ve enjoyed is the Yuengling Brewery Tour of America’s oldest brewery; the Crayola Factory, where you learn how your favorite colored crayons are made; and Coca-Cola World, where you can enjoy some of the strangest tasting drinks sold all over the world.

There are many locations in various states and probably one near you. For more information about arranging a tour of a factory close by, click on http://www.factorytoursusa.com/ and have a great anytime adventure!

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The idea is simple. Purchase any product bearing the small Box Top logo, similar to a proof of purchase logo and after using the product, you cut off the coupon. Most of the product coupons are in the amount of $.10 but there plenty of other promotions such as Bonus Box Tops on participating products that vary in value. Coupons are collected by local schools and redeemed by the school’s coordinator in exchange for money for the school. There is also an online shopping site that allows you to shop online and still earn Box Top cash for your school.

Our local elementary school has been a participant of the Box Top for Education Program since 2002 and has, to date, raised close to $13,000 just for clipping the $.10 coupons. Truthfully, the hardest part is remembering to clip the coupon before recycling the trash. We keep a baggie on the refrigerator and as soon as we have few coupons, off to school they go. There is several large cardboard collection stations located in the hallways and my daughter gets a kick out of depositing her contribution once a month.

Obviously, schools hold various fundraisers throughout the year to help with increasing expenses but this particular program does not cost anyone a cent more than the cost of groceries you needed to buy anyway. I wasn’t aware of this program until my daughter started Kindergarten and often community members who don’t have any children or grandchildren in the local schools are not aware that they can still help out by saving their coupons and delivery them to the school. Local community groups can do the same. It’s a simple way to earn extra money for the kids.

According to the website, the program has grown enormously since its inception and every year, more and more “extras” are being added. The product list is also growing. You can download the entire product list at the Box Top for Education website http://www.boxtops4education.com/AboutBoxTops/Products.aspx. You can see that the coupons are found on common products you may have in your cabinet right now. Perhaps you have never noticed them before or weren’t sure what to do with them. You local school administration office will be able to tell you if the area school participates in the program. You can also check online to see if your local school is on-board.

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One of the most common things people do when they’re out of money is to borrow more of it to pay for school. This is something that American Consumer News does not recommend. Taking out Stafford loans isn’t that big of a deal because the amount you can borrow is relatively low and won’t take that long to pay off after you graduate, but when you start taking out large private loans at much higher interest rates, you’re then asking for trouble when you get out of college. Solving your collegiate financial problems by borrowing more money than you already are will almost certainly leave you with $30,000-$50,000 in student loan debt by the time you graduate.

Another option is to take some time off from school and work so that you can save up money to pay for school. By doing this, you’ll likely be able to save the money that you need to, but when the time comes to actually go back to school, statistically you won’t. People who “take a semester off” are very unlikely to come back after a semester.

There’s a third option that’s a happy medium. Instead of taking a full-credit load, take a half-credit load and then work twenty hours a week. This will decrease the size of your tuition bill and significantly increase your income. You’ll still be taking classes and involved in the collegiate life, but you won’t be piling up crippling student loans in the process. It will certainly take you longer to graduate college this way, but at least you won’t come out of college with piles of debt. While you are doing classes half-time, you can look for scholarships and look for alternative ways to pay for your education so that you can tke a full-load again.

What to Do When You Can’t Afford to Pay for College Anymore was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Working in High School – If you work 10 or 15 hours a week during high school and save most of that money for college, you can easily wind up with $5,000 or $10,000 in a savings account before college even begins, it’s like you’re giving yourself a scholarship.

Making Scholarship Hunting a Summer Job During High-School – The summer between your junior and senior year is the time to go crazy with your college scholarship applications. If you spend the entire summer applying for scholarships, working on applications for 20 or 30 hours a week, you can easily make more than enough scholarship money to pay for school. You’ll apply for hundreds of grants and scholarships and get rejected for most of them, but many of them will say yes and help pay for your education!

Parents, Grandparents and Rich Uncles – Many students have their college education subsidized by a relative who has come out pretty well in life and can afford to help them pay for school. If you have a relative with a significant amount of money that likes you, it might not hurt to show them where you’re at financially, what college will cost, and the benefits of you going to college. If you’re going to do this, make sure to have your stuff down and make a persuasive case to your family member.

Fellowships – Many colleges and universities offer fellowships to undergraduate students which essentially allow students to go to school for free if they work for the university. For example the South Dakota Regential system pays for the tuition of students in their technology fellowship program who agree to work for 11 hours a week.

Working in College – Some students complain that they don’t have the time or the energy to work while they’re taking classes, but this is simply not the case. You’re in school for all of 15 hours a week and maybe doing homework for another 10 or 15 hours after that, leaving you plenty of time to have at least

Applying For Scholarships While in College – Don’t stop applying for scholarship after you get into college. There are plenty of scholarships which are available exclusively to juniors and seniors that are worth looking into.

Student Loans – Don’t casually borrow money to pay for your entire education, but if it takes a few thousand dollars in student loans to get through school, it’s probably worth it assuming that you can come out of college with a high-paying job afterwards that will take care of your debt. If you don’t have a clear career track ahead of you that will make you a significant amount of money, it’s probably a better idea to just not be in school than to borrow money to make it happen.

Financial Aid & Grants – There are all sorts of federal grants available to college students, especially if they don’t have parents to back them up financially. It’s always worth it to apply for financial aid even if you didn’t get any the previous year. You never know when a no-interest loan or a grant will show up!

Pick a Cheaper School – If you can’t afford the large tuition bill that a private college will provide you, there’s always the option of an public in-state school that won’t cost you anymore than $5,000 a year or $10,000 a year if you live on campus. If you absolutely have to, you can work nights and cash flow your education.

College is a very expensive five-figure proposition, but the money to pay for it is out there, you just need to reach out and grab it.

How to Pay for College (Even When it Costs $20,000 a Year). was created by and is property of American Consumer News.