Teams test high-tech skills at annual games

More than 250 students from colleges and universities throughout the Valley and state will compete in Tempe for scholarships and other awards at the third annual Avnet Tech Games on April 5.

The students will form teams and submit a high-tech project that will be judged on its creativity and effectiveness. One project, for example, is a computer program designed to automatically steer an electronic robot through a maze to perform a task.

“The number of students vying for scholarships has more than doubled,” said Teri Radosevich, vice president of community relations for Avnet Inc., a Phoenix-based international distributor of electronic components and computer products.

The games in 2006 and 2007 were open only to students who attended 10 colleges and two skill centers run by the Maricopa County Community College District, but this year all college and university students are invited to participate, organizers said.

“This is one of our most successful signature events — a partnership between technology businesses and the education community,” said Roy Vallee, chairman and CEO of Avnet. “I encourage any company interested in supporting the future of technology to get involved in this award-winning event and be inspired by these students.”

While high school students may not compete, they are encouraged to attend the games and discuss the projects with professors, company executives and participating students.

“The games not only give students a chance to be creative, but to network and enter the business world of technology,” Radosevich said.

Networking and a trade show are also part of the games, which will start at 8 a.m. at the University of Advancing Technology, 2625 W. Baseline Road, Tempe.

Student-contestants will compete in eight competition categories, as well as a “showcase” invention that, if selected, will be given a patent and marketed.

Last year and in 2006, games attracted 120 Maricopa Community College students, who presented their technical projects at Mesa Community College’s Kirk Student Center.

However, a study by the Battelle’s Technology Partnership for the college district reported that in 2005 less than 20 percent of the companies interviewed recruited from the district, which has more than 280,000 students.

Technology professors and company technical experts will judge the entries during the day and present awards to the winning teams. Members of each winning team will receive a $1,000 scholarship.