Illinois Students Web Design Contest Registration Deadline

Microsoft is excited to announce a Web design contest exclusively for Illinois high school students sponsored through a partnership between the Illinois State Board of Education, the Office of Governor Pat Quinn, and the Microsoft ® Corporation. To learn more about the contest, visit: www.bliinkcontest.com

• The “bliink” Web design contest encourages high school students to dream big and think creatively about what a “Green Future” means for them and the State of Illinois. • They will compete to win cash, prizes, a trip to Washington, DC, and other recognition of their work. • Students work in teams to design and develop a Web site based on the theme “I Imagine a Green Future” using Microsoft’s Expression® Web software. • This software is available to every Illinois high school at no charge. • The free web design resources include short tutorials and curriculum units of varying lengths. Students can learn how to create their contest entry in just a few hours: http://expression.microsoft.com/education • This challenge is part of Illinois Innovation Talent, an initiative designed to connect teams of students with industry, government and community partners to critically examine and solve real-world problems.

Who: Exclusively Illinois High School Students What: Web Design Contest – Students can win cash, prizes & a trip to Washington, DC Schools receive free software (via an MSDNAA subscription) and teaching resources When: Registration is now open! Registration deadline: 2-17-09; Referral Code: GreenIllinois Submission deadline: 3-17-09 Where: Illinois

How: To request free software for high schools in your district or to get more information about the contest, email: ew4hs@innovativeteachers.us

Please distribute this message to high school teachers and career and technical education administrators in your district.

Mark Williams                          Jodi Ellias
Career Development & Preparation       Director, Technical Academic Marketing
State of Illinois                      Microsoft Corporation