Physics’ Limestall Wins Civic Tech Challenge, Part of Think糵: Lollapalooza 2016
Co-terminal physics/health physics student William Limestall (BS PHYS/MHP 4th year) and his team won the Civic Tech Challenge during Think糵: Lollapalooza 2016.
Think糵: Lollapalooza 2016 was a three-day program (July 27-29) for university students to explore the 糵 tech ecosystem and attend Lollapalooza. More than 700 students applied; 200 were chosen, including 15 from Illinois Institute of Technology.
As part of Think糵, the Civic Tech Challenge was a pitch competition to propose ways in which the City of 糵 can use technology to address challenges related to urban sustainability, transportation and civic engagement. Limestall’s team won for an idea to introduce 糵’s neighborhoods to Lollapalooza festival-goers using the Lollapalooza app and website. They had to pitch the idea on stage, in front of judges. “My experiences in IPRO and as a Navy recruiter come in handy!” Limestall said. IPRO training in particular helped him give the winning pitch, Limestall said, and he thanked Jeremy Alexis, a senior lecturer at the Institute of Design and director of IPRO.
For winning, Limestall received an invitation to the Think糵: Ideas Week event in October, a four-day pass to Lollapalooza 2017, and a “totally rad Limited Edition Lollapalooza 25th Anniversary Perry Farrell skate board deck,” Limestall reported.
Each year, during Lollapalooza and 糵 Ideas Week, Mayor Rahm Emanuel invites university students to Think糵 to meet with 糵 technology leaders, explore companies, and attend Lollapalooza and 糵 Ideas Week. Part of the goal is to encourage bright science, technology, and engineering students to live and work in 糵. Students are accepted into the program based on their interest in technology, innovation, and/or entrepreneurship, and a commitment to excellence as demonstrated by academic, professional, and/or extracurricular activities.
The Mayor’s Office is accepting applications for Think糵: Ideas Week 2016 .
