Unleashing Creativity: Illinois Innovation Challenge

Hey everyone, check out the cool news about the Illinois Innovation Challenge! The Illinois Department of Innovation & Technology (DoIT) is teaming up with HIGH-TECH CHI to bring students an awesome opportunity to showcase their creativity and problem-solving skills. This event is all about encouraging students to come up with innovative ideas to tackle specific challenges in state government. It’s going to be a blast!

High-Tech CHI is going to be the place to be for students in grades K-14, families, and community members. They’ll get to dive into the latest technologies and learn about exciting computing-based pathways. There will be interactive exhibits, on-the-spot career training, and tons of fun activities. It’s all about inspiring the next generation of innovators and problem solvers. How cool is that?

Acting Secretary and State CIO Sanjay Gupta from the Illinois Department of Innovation & Technology is super pumped about this partnership. He’s all about fostering innovation, generating interest, and promoting computer science education in Illinois. Together, they’re aiming to create a thriving tech ecosystem in the state. That’s some serious ambition!

Now, let’s talk about the Illinois Innovation Challenge itself. This is where students get to shine by coming up with solutions to real challenges faced by the state government. They can choose from some really interesting topics like developing an intelligent chatbot, helping people find information, and managing audio and video files. These are some big opportunities for students to show off their skills and creativity.

Mary Reynolds, the Education Group Chief Information Officer at DoIT, is all for this Innovation Challenge. She’s excited to see students’ creative ideas and hopes this experience will open their eyes to the role of technology in government applications. Who knows, it might even inspire some of them to pursue a career in computer science and information technology. The future is looking bright!

The best part is that DoIT might actually use the proposed solutions from the students. Winning projects will be featured on the DoIT STEAM website and newsletter. How awesome would it be to see your idea making a real impact?

So, mark your calendars for December 9th because that’s when the Illinois Innovation Challenge will be happening at High-Tech CHI. It’s going to be a day filled with innovation, creativity, and a whole lot of fun. If you’re interested in being part of this exciting event, you can register now at hightechchi.eventbrite.com. But hurry, space is limited!

This is a fantastic opportunity for students to showcase their skills, learn from industry leaders, and make a real difference. Let’s get ready to see some amazing ideas come to life at the Illinois Innovation Challenge!