On Saturday, February 8, 2014, the 3rd Annual Quad Cities FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) regional qualifier will be held at Pleasant Valley High School in Bettendorf, Iowa.  24 Teams from Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin are scheduled to participate. Winning teams will be invited to participate at the State of Iowa FTC Championship being held on February 21st and 22^nd in Coralville/Iowa City.

This event is free and open to the public.  People of all ages will enjoy this face-paced and exciting event which will showcase 7^th-12^th grade students' ability to design, build and program robots, use teamwork to build alliances and cooperate with other teams, apply creative problem solving to real-world math and science concepts and earn a place in the Iowa State FTC Championship.

Opening ceremonies will begin at 11:15 A.M., qualification matches will begin at 11:45 A.M. with semi-final and final matches beginning at approximately 4:30 P.M. A more detailed schedule of events, teams competing and more information can be found at our website, www.qcesc.org.

For further information, please contact Pat Barnes at barnespatricko@johndeere.com or (563) 370-5513.

Background of FIRST® Tech Challenge:
http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/ftc/

FTC is designed for students in grades 7-12 to compete head to head, using a sports model. Teams are responsible for designing, building, and programming their robots to compete in an alliance format against other teams. The robot kit is reusable from year-to-year and is programmed using a variety of languages. Teams, including coaches, mentors and volunteers, are required to develop strategy and build robots based on sound engineering principles. Awards are given for the competition as well as for community outreach, design, and other real-world accomplishments.

Students get to:

• Design, build, and program robots
• Apply real-world math and science concepts
• Develop problem-solving, organizational, and team-building skills
• Compete and cooperate in alliances and tournaments
• Qualify for over $13 million in college scholarships
• Earn a place in the World Championship

Quad City Engineering and Science Council:

The Quad City Engineering and Science Council (QCESC) is an umbrella organization representing 36 technical societies in the Quad City area with approximately 5,000 associated members. The QCESC is non-profit and is actively seeking new society members as well as additional corporate sponsors.

The QCESC is in it's 52nd year of operation and annually sponsors events such as the National Engineers Banquet, the Engineering and Scientist of The Year Awards, scholarships to local high school students, the President's Reception for local Society President's and provides judges and volunteers for the local STEM activities including FIRST LEGO League, FIRST Tech Challenge, Battle of the Bridges, QC Tech Challenge, Mousetrap Car Race, and the Kids Engineering Camp.

More information about the QCESC can be found at: www.qcesc.org

# # #

EAST PEORIA, IL (02/04/2014)(readMedia)-- Illinois Central College, East Peoria, released the names of students who earned Dean's List honors during the Fall 2013 semester. The following local students received the honor:

Emerson D Fritz, of Muscatine, IA

Eric M Kohrs, of Moline, IL

The honor is given to students who earn a 3.5 to 3.99 grade point average based on a 4.0 grading scale.

AT SAM'S FARGO LOUNGE SUNDAY FEBRUARY 9TH AT 5 PM

--COOKIE CONTEST NEW THIS YEAR

Iowa/Illinois Quad Cities - Where can you get all the homemade chili and fixings and dessert you care to eat for only $5? Only at the 25th Annual MCC QC Chili Cookoff! This year's event is being held at Sam's Fargo Lounge on Avenue of the Cities in Moline and the public is invited to come and enjoy all you can eat chili and fixings and homemade desserts for just $5.

In addition, there is no cost to enter your chili in the contest, which is judged by three independent judges. The church offers $75 for first place, $25 for second place and first, second and third place ribbons. This year the Church has added a cookie contest. Again, no charge for entry, just bring at least a dozen cookies - whether drop cookies or bar cookies or any other type of cookie. First, second and third place ribbons and bragging rights go with the cookie contest.

This year's judges are Tom Knocke, Biaggis; Jeff Simpson, QC Pride; and WHBF TV meteorologist, Anthony Peoples. Linda Nimrick remembers the very first chili cookoff we held ? and then she was asked to run it the next year. She reports, "We made $300 and I thought we were rich!" She also remembers inviting our MCC District Leader at the time, Judy Dale, who graciously agreed to take a pie in the face as part of the festivities. But when the time came, Judy ducked and someone else was surprised with the pie in the face. Linda chaired the Chili Cookoff for about 20 of its 25 years.

Pastor Rich Hendricks says, "This is our big annual fundraiser for MCC QC. We really appreciate the community's support, as we are currently having lots of expenses with renting worship space at Tanglewood Chapel in Bettendorf, renting storage space, and paying the mortgage and expenses on our new facility where we are just starting with renovations." Hendricks hopes that the new building at 2930 W. Locust in Davenport will be ready for use for worship by the end of March. "If I can help raise monies by taking a pie in the face, I am very glad to do it - what fun!"

Mary Todtz, event Chair, gushes, "I am so excited about all the items we have for sale this year, and about all the fun we are going to have!" There will be raffles and both silent and live auction items available for purchase, including original art, vintage heritage collection dolls, Elvis clocks, gift certificates to restaurants such as The Crane & Pelican and Azteca and gift certificates to J Michael's Salon, and for photography and D.J. services from Ash Entertainment Services, LLC.

MCC QC is a member church of Churches United of the Quad Cities Area and the Church is involved in feeding the hungry ministries and supporting the works of many area nonprofit organizations.

The annual Chili Cook-Off will be held on Sunday, February 9th beginning at 5 p.m. at Fargo Lounge, 4204 Avenue of the Cities, Moline, Illinois. Doors open at 4:30 and all entries must arrive by 5:00 p.m. to be included as the chili judging takes place promptly at 5:15 p.m., followed by a time of feasting and fellowship during which people can bid on silent auction items. At the close of the silent auction will be a live auction, featuring several special items.

For more information, please call the Church office at 563.324.8281.