[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1G5J-p7ktbM[/youtube]
Four teams of Michigan Tech students competed in the 2011 iOMe Challenge, that builds awareness for ways that local organizations might engage the Y or Millennial generation to think about their own future, 40 years from now. Three of the four MTU teams made it to the final round of judging and one team has received an honorable mention in the 2011 competition. Students were judged on a video submission (above) and an essay. The team receiving the honorable mention was awarded $2,000 and was composed of:
- Katie O’Connell, Economics major
- Tianlu Shen, Environmental Engineering major
- Adam Stigers, Economics major
- Teddy Broe, Economics major
- Walker Derby, Finance major
Lecturer in Economics, Emanuel Oliveira, was the academic advisor of the four teams competing in this year’s iOMe Challenge. Commenting on the contest’s two components, Oliveira said, “The students put together an excellent essay that contained innovative policy recommendations, considerable statistical analysis, and it was very well written.”
Team leader of the winning team and economics major, Katie O’Connell, noted that it was amazing to find out that their group had received honorable mention in the iOMe Challenge. Recalling her feelings prior to the competition and why she chose to compete she said, “I remember hoping to do well! Receiving an honorable mention was great. I decided to compete in this challenge to get a closer look at how to encourage people to save money. It truly is a challenge in an economy where interest rates are so low and there is no obvious and immediate reward. But it’s also critically important to the future of our economy, and even our society, to reverse the downward savings trend. I hope that our participation in this process will at least help to open discussion as well as spark ideas and interest in creating an America that saves more.”
Congrats to all of this years competitors and Dr. Emanuel Oliveira!