Microsoft Academic Developer Evangelist to Speak about the Imagine Cup Competition

Please join us for the ACM Club Meeting on Wednesday at 5:00 for the following introduction to Microsoft's Imagine Cup Competition.

Speaker: Lindsay Lindstrom, Academic Developer Evangelist, Microsoft Corporation
Location: Olmsted 245E
Date: Wednesday, February 2nd, 5pm
Topic: Imagine Cup

It's a theme of global proportions.
Imagine a world where technology helps solve the toughest problems.
Get Recognition. Build up your Resume. Jump-Start your Career. And maybe you'll even win $25,000 and a trip to New York City!

What is Imagine Cup?
Imagine Cup is the world's premier student technology competition. It is open to undergraduate and graduate students at colleges and universities, as well as high-school students. This annual competition, sponsored by Microsoft, challenges students to create innovative solutions to some of the world's toughest problems (inspired by the U.N. Millennium Development Goals) and literally change lives.

Why take part in Imagine Cup?
Where else can you win great prizes-like $25,000 and a trip to the worldwide finals in New York City-and be recognized as a technology leader? It's an excellent way to build your resume and jump-start your career. Some past winners have landed jobs with top technology companies, including Microsoft, Lockheed Martin, Avanade, and Orbitz. Other winners have gotten help launching their own businesses. Sign up today and let Imagine Cup open doors for you. Learn more at www.imaginecup.us

Each year hundreds of technical students from around the world compete on the worldwide stage for the "Olympics of Technology". Imagine if you were among them representing the United States.

James Cameron, acclaimed director of the Titanic and Avatar, commented on student projects by saying "It's pretty inspirational to see what they are coming up with... they are really thinking outside the box". Craig Mundie, Chief Research and Strategy Officer commented last year's U.S. Finals by saying "Nothing here is science fiction". Bill Gates added "Imagine Cup is one of my favorite student programming events".

What are the competition categories?
Students can compete in any or all of these five exciting categories:
1) Software Design - Develop an application that helps solve one of the world's toughest problems.
2) Embedded Development - From mobile phones and GPS units to electronic switches, develop an embedded system or device that addresses a critical issue.
3) Game Design - Multilevel or single player, 3-D or 2-D, web, Xbox, Windows, or phone, it's up to you. Everybody wins with games that solve real world problems
4) Digital Media - Go viral with your music, videos, or photos. Come up with the hottest new problem-solving idea in digital media.
5) IT Challenge - Show what you know about architectures, Microsoft technologies, and IT issues and earn the right to compete at the highest level. The first round is simply a 30 questions IT quiz. Why not test your IT knowledge? You can enter individually and take the quiz from the comfort of your computer. Do not miss this easy entry point to the Imagine Cup competition!


AND THERE'S FREE PIZZA COURTESY OF MICROSOFT!!!