News

Virginia Commonwealth Univ to Represent US in Imagine Cup 2006

Virginia Commonwealth University team has emerged as the first-place team selected to represent the U.S. in the worldwide Software Design Invitational of Imagine Cup 2006, Microsoft’s competition for technology students. The Imagine Cup provides a stage for the creative and technological innovations of students worldwide.

A total of 46 students from 13 teams were selected to participate in U.S. Imagine Cup finals after two qualifying rounds of competition. The student teams were asked to create a software application using Microsoft technology and .NET Web Services based on the Imagine Cup competition theme: "Imagine a world where technology enables us to live healthier lives."

"The students at this year’s Imagine Cup represent the next generation of technology and business leaders," said Sanjay Parthasarathy, corporate vice president of Developer and Platform Evangelism at Microsoft, whose team organises the Imagine Cup. "Each team has created an application that demonstrates the power of software in solving real-world problems. Their creativity, innovation and commitment to improving people’s lives is inspiring, and speaks volumes about their futures and that of technology overall."

William Calder, Joanne Cunningham, Brooks Hollar and Brandon Saunders of Virginia Commonwealth University team received a cash award of USD 8,000 and a trip to the worldwide finals in for a chance at more than USD 25,000 in total cash prizes. Microsoft awarded second place to Jeremy Capello, Michael Knipp and Tony Valenti from the University of Nebraska at and third place to Jeff Arrington, Danielle Oprean, Josh Rose and Dallas Tester from East Tennessee State University.

The Imagine Cup, now in its fourth year, is a competition designed to provide an outlet for students to explore technological and artistic interests outside the classroom. It challenges students to imagine a better world enabled by their own genius, creativity and energy and provides opportunities for participation in the future of technology, software and computing. Teams develop innovative projects that offer practical applicability and present real-world solutions to real-world problems.

The Worldwide Cup will be held in New Delhi, India, later this year.


print	save	email	comment