The competition, which was started four years ago, has more than 100,000 participants from more than 100 countries. Each year has a different theme which students focus on for their projects, he said. This year’s theme is “Imagine a world where technology enables a better education for all.”

“It gets students to think about worldwide issues and how technology can help them,” Sines said. There are three categories in which students can compete and three individual competitions within each category, he said. The categories are technology solutions, skills challenges and digital arts. The winner of the national competition will travel to Korea to compete against winners from other countries. The first place winner of the software design challenge will walk away with $25, 000, Sines said. The prizes will vary by category.

If you’re a student at WVU and attend this event, let us know, we’d love to hear from you.

Post from: EveryJoe

Microsoft Introduces Imagine Cup to WVU Students

REDMOND, Wash., Aug. 7, 2006 – For many students who participate in Microsoft’s Imagine Cup competition, the experience extends beyond the classroom and becomes a launch pad for a career in information technology. In its fourth year, Imagine Cup is a worldwide technology competition designed to provide opportunities for university students to help define the future of technology, software and computing by designing software with real-world applicability.

It’s stuff like this that makes me wish I would have grown up and went to school in a larger city. Of course, I probably would have had to try a lot harder as well now wouldn’t I.

This contest reminds me of the Code4Bill competition, but this is open to teenagers college students around the world who compete in teams representing their home countries.

You can read more about this year’s competition via the press release on Microsoft’s site.

Post from: EveryJoe

The Imagine Cup