Students ages 16 and over are invited to register for Microsoft Corp.’s eighth annual U.S. Imagine Cup competition, in which students use technology to create innovative solutions that can change the world.
Students must register at www.imaginecup.us by Feb. 1 for the Spring Round 1 – Qualifying portion of the competition to win the chance to compete in the U.S. finals taking place in Washington, D.C., in April. At stake is $36,000 (U.S.) in prize money and a trip for the winning team to represent the nation in the worldwide finals this July in Warsaw, Poland.
The competition empowers students to use technology, innovation and creativity to help solve some of the world’s most challenging social issues outlined in the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals. From designing mobile healthcare applications to enabling access to quality education for all children and creating games that teach disease prevention, young social innovators are using technology to make a difference in the life of people around the world and in their own communities.
“The Imagine Cup is a unique opportunity for students to help solve real-world problems while gaining experience outside the classroom,” said Anthony Salcito, VP Worldwide Education at Microsoft.
“Developing technology innovations, working in a team environment and understanding how to create a viable business plan are invaluable to students who want to successfully achieve careers in today’s world.”
Studying science and technology can provide many career opportunities for students. Despite the nation’s struggling economy, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that more than 300,000 technology-related jobs remain open due to a lack of qualified workers. However, it also estimates that only 5 percent of American college undergraduates today are pursuing degrees in science or engineering, compared with 42 percent of university students in other countries such as China and India.
The Imagine Cup provides an outlet for students to demonstrate their technical skills and critical thinking abilities, helping to expand their portfolios as they prepare for the next steps in their careers. Along with the competition, Microsoft provides several opportunities for students interested in computer science, including free access to professional developer and designer software through the DreamSpark program, training through Microsoft IT Academies, and connections to employers through the Students to Business program.
To win a trip to the U.S. finals, teams are selected as finalists in fall and spring competitions. Today, Microsoft is announcing the finalists for the fall competition, who will vie for the nation’s Imagine Cup title. Student teams that competed in the fall competition but did not make it to the finals are encouraged to work on their projects and enter them in the spring competition. Contests are conducted in several categories including Software Design, Game Design and Web Design.
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