Student Semifinalist in Microsoft's '.NET Best' Awards Competition
Published 01.31.2002
A student in the School of Business and Computer Technologies at Pennsylvania College of Technology is among 100 semifinalists at colleges and universities in North America competing for cash and scholarship awards in Microsoft's ".NET Best Student Awards 2001."
Thomas M. Weidman Jr., Myerstown, a senior at Penn College majoring in Computer Information Technology-Analysis and Design Concentration, could win $15,000 and a matching amount in scholarship funds for Penn College if he were to take first place in the competition, which is sponsored by the Microsoft Developer Network Academic Alliance.
The contest is open to individuals or teams of up to four students who submit proposals to develop new ideas for XML Web services centered on the .NET platform. All semifinalists will receive the server space, tools and support to enable them to build their Web service by March 15.
The second-place finisher will receive $10,000 in cash and $10,000 for his or her school's scholarship fund. The third-place finisher will receive $5,000 in cash and $5,000 in school scholarship funds. In addition, the first-, second- and third-place finishers (and their faculty advisers) all will receive a free trip to Microsoft's TechEd 2002 conference April 9-13 in New Orleans.
Nicholas A. Vonada, associate professor of computer science and adviser to the Association for Computing Machinery Computer Club at Penn College, said Weidman, the president of the club, is "the epitome of what Penn College is all about."
"Thomas is a hard-working and outstanding student who will someday be one of our outstanding alumni," Vonada said. "I am proud to have had the opportunity to work with such a dynamic individual."
Weidman calls his proposal "Educational Network Services." If successful, he will be asked to demonstrate his Web service and attend a ceremony in March.
For more information about the computer majors at Pennsylvania College of Technology, call (570) 327-4517 or visit on the Web.