It’s that time of year again when University undergrads in computer science and engineering from across North America converge on a University campus – this year at Concordia – to participate in the annual Computer Science (CS) Games. In true Vigilant style, no computer science and engineering event in this city escapes our attention, so we’ll be there cheering them on as sponsors.
The games test the students’ technical skills in science, engineering, computing, IT, and videogames. The challenges are developed by students for students, and the entire weekend is devoted to some friendly, yet scientific competition. The result: one school is crowned winner and earns bragging rights until the following year.
From creating algorithms to relay programming and developing full-fledged websites, all challenges are a team effort and must be completed under strict rules and deadlines.
We’re excited to go. We’ve never been to anything like this before! Check out their website: http://www.csgames.org/2011/ and their video. Can’t wait!
FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics launched its 2011 project across North America on Saturday and in Quebec, the launch welcomed some 300 high school students from in and around the Montreal area. Vigilant Futures, as last year, is among one of the many sponsors FIRST Robotics Quebec lined up this year to help students both financially and physically.
The kids sat through speeches, presentations, and waited with bated breath for the big reveal. The anticipation building, the students finally learned about what type of robot they’d be building through a live satellite feed from FIRST Robotics headquarters in Manchester.
The ‘ohs’ and ‘ahs’ could be heard from both students and volunteers (with engineering and technology know-how). This year’s project is not going to be easy! The students and our Vigilant volunteers have their work cut out for them. Have a look at this year’s LOGOMOTION challenge on YouTube.
Check out CTV Montreal’s coverage of the Quebec launch: CTV news website
Youth Fusion announced it raised over $1 million for their projects in 2011 during an event that attracted over 250 business leaders, community members, and students, and held at Montreal’s City Hall a few weeks ago. With the help of their partners, among them Vigilant Futures, the funds raised will go to projects and activities devoted to countering dropout rates in Montreal-area high schools.
The fruition of Youth Fusion’s work this past year came to light when president of the Montreal-area school commissioners’ executive committee Diane De Courcy said since Youth Fusion’s entrance into the Pierre-Dupuy high school with its extracurricular education-based projects, dropout rates fell by 10 percent in one year alone. Pierre Dupuy is located in an economically depressed borough of Montreal and has some of highest dropout rates in the city.
FIRST robotics participants and Youth Fusion volunteers demo their robots
In a province where close one in three students drop out of high school without a degree, Youth Fusion’s idea to bring in University students to lead extracurricular projects in high schools is winning the battle.
