Imagine Cup Bahrain winners eye slot in Worldwide Finals

Manama : Winners of Imagine Cup Bahrain 2016 say they are hoping to win the regional levels of the competition to book their slot in the Worldwide Finals. 

The local winners will travel to Egypt to participate in the Pan Arab Semi-Finals of Imagine cup. Reaching the regional level is not enough; they want to make the nation proud by entering the Worldwide Finals. 

Imagine Cup Bahrain 2016 saw the submission of over 24 projects from over 96 students from different universities in the Kingdom during its initial phase. Six teams qualified for the Bahrain local finals that witnessed heated competition between the teams.

The competition was divided into three different categories including Innovation, World Citizenship and Games. The Innovation category requires contestants to bring out an innovative software. The winner in this category was Team Spectra, from University of Bahrain, including: Malik Jehangir Riaz, Muhammad Hamza Zubair, Hamad Mohammed Ali; Dr. Hadeel Al-Obaidy is the mentor of the team.

The World Citizenship category honours the software applications developed on Microsoft platforms with the greatest potential to make a positive impact on humanity; the winner in this category was Team UoB_SmartTrash, from the University of Bahrain is a one-member team consisting of Yaqoob Abdulla AlMerbati; the team mentor is Dr. Alaudin Al-Omary.

The Games category honours the most engaging and entertaining games targeting teens and youth, built on Microsoft platforms. The winner in this category is Team Vanguards, from Bahrain Polytechnic, which includes Mahmood Saeed AlSarhani and Noof Fuad Abdulla; the team mentor is Christos Gatzoulis.

Thrilled to represent Bahrain

The students said that the prospect of representing Bahrain is a unique and special opportunity. Team Spectra expressed their excitement about this achievement, saying, “It’s a dream come true, in fact our first leap towards the accomplishment of our dream. Now, it is time for the bigger challenge, now is our chance to become a reason of pride for this beloved land. We are talking about the Pan Arab Semi-Finals, where we will be turning our app into a more challenging project.”

Commenting on the win, AlMerbati, who represents Team UoB_SmartTrash, said, “I am extremely thrilled to have reached this level and hope to make Bahrain proud as I represent the Kingdom at the Pan Arab Semi-Finals 2016.” 

He concluded by sending a message to the world urging everyone to think green and be conscious about the environment.

Team Vanguards said they are thrilled to have won the Microsoft Imagine Cup Bahrain finals and honoured to be representing the Kingdom in the Pan Arab Semi-Finals. We will do our best to raise the Bahraini flag in Cairo and hopefully in Seattle during the Worldwide Finals.”

“Imagine Cup competition comes in line with Microsoft’s global mission to empower every organisation and every person in the world to achieve more, and its commitment to empower students to become the next generation of innovators, entrepreneurs and developers,” said Microsoft Bahrain and Oman’s General Country Manager Sherif Tawfik. 

He expressed his appreciation to Tamkeen for their support.