Congratulations to this year's winners!

Congratulations to the winning team from the University of Advancing Technology.

Student Team Members: Jason Carter, John Faulkner, Justin Lulejian, Austin Pederson

Faculty Coach: Shelley Keating

The winning team is seen here with Steve Phillips, Chief Information Officer for Avnet, Inc.

Thank you to our 2010 game sponsor:

Develop and present a proposal to bring an aging legacy data center forward into a model Green Data Center. Students will be provided Accenture case study and the legacy data center data for analysis. Teams can leverage Internet resources, white papers, research studies, to support their proposed direction. The winning team will be the one who maximizes the green efficiency of the data center with the most innovative solutions within the game parameters.

This game enhances student awareness of the value of technology and environmental solutions to help solve business needs.

Registration Deadline:

March 23, 2010 – Registration is closed.

Note: Students must submit the following via email to Bruce Gorshe (Bruce.Gorshe@avnet.com) by March 27, 2010 12 Noon containing the following:

• Microsoft PowerPoint presentation, including additional reference material, if applicable
• Data Maps, Diagrams, Physical Data Models, if applicable

Students will not be able to participate in the event unless the solution assessment is received by the above date.

1-4 students per team

1 team per college; 8 teams maximum

Disciplines / Skills Recommended:

• Marketing & presentation skills, including cost to value analysis
• Information Technology skills
• Strategic analysis

Event Description:

Students will read and analyze the case study regarding the aging legacy data center. The students will then brainstorm a solution using Internet resources, white papers, and research studies on how to make the aging data center into a model Green Data Center with the most innovative technologies within the game parameters. Some questions to consider when coming up with the solution of the green data center are:

Financial considerations:

• Is it cost effective? (i.e. cost/benefit analysis)
• What is the Return on Investment (ROI) for turning the legacy data center into a Green data center?

Business and Technology considerations:

• Are there multiple technologies/methods that can make this a green data center?
• Why did you choose the particular solution(s)?
• Is the technology new or innovative? If so, why?
• What are some of the drawbacks of using this particular solution(s)?
• What are the potential risks/obstacles in implementing the solution?
• What is the measurable contribution to the environment?
• Email address for sending any questions

(The students must submit their solution assessment to Bruce Gorshe (Bruce.Gorshe@avnet.com) by March 27, 2010 12 Noon in order for the team to compete.) The students will then brainstorm a solution to the selected business problem and prepare a presentation detailing the solution.

The presentation needs to address the following areas:

• Description of the problem
• Ability to understand and evaluate the problem
• Innovative solution
• Expected value (costs/benefit analysis)
• Practicality of the Solution
• Ability to articulate the proposal
• Potential risks/obstacles associated with deployment

On game day students will be provided with a PC or laptop connected to an overhead projector. They will need to bring their Power Point presentation on CD/DVD/USB. Students may bring any additional materials needed to adequately pitch their Green Data Center solution to the judges.

Each student or team will have 30 min. to present their Power Point presentation to the judges. There will be a 10-20 minute Question and Answer period, followed by 5 minutes for the judges to deliberate.

Parameters:

There are no limitations to the green data center solution that the student team may conceive other than being able to demonstrate how the problem can be solved with currently available or upcoming technology solutions and being able to describe these in a concise 30-minute presentation.

Schedule:

Students must submit the following via email to Bruce Gorshe (Bruce.Gorshe@avnet.com) by March 27, 2010 12 Noon containing the following:

• Microsoft PowerPoint presentation, including additional reference material, if applicable
• Data Maps, Diagrams, Physical Data Models, if applicable

Students will not be able to participate in the event unless the solution assessment is received by the above date.

Game Day - April 10, 2010

• 7 a.m. - 8 a.m. - Registration
• 8 a.m. - Noon - Student teams conduct their 30-min presentations to the judges, followed by 10 min of Q&A and 5 min for judges to evaluate. (Judging 5 teams max @ 45 min is 4 hr)
• 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. - "On the Go" lunch
• 12:45 p.m. - 3 p.m. - Student teams conduct their 30-min presentations to the judges, followed by 10 min of Q&A and 5 min for judges to evaluate. (Judging 3 teams max @ 45 min is 2.25 hr)
• 3 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. - Judges determine scores and identify winning team
• 3 p.m. - 4 p.m. - Network Hour (Student/Faculty/Administration/Industry)
• 4 p.m. - 5 p.m. - Awards Reception

Awards:

Each team member will win a $1000 scholarship

Equipment Requirements for Students:

• Power Point presentations on CD/DVD/USB
• Other Project items to support the presentation

Equipment Requirements for Venue:

• PC or lap top connected to a digital projection system
• Table (1), chairs (8)

FAQs:

For more information, e-mail AvnetTechGames@Avnet.com or call (480) 643-7657.

Scholarships and honorariums provided by Carstens Family Funds and administered by the Arizona Technology Council.