Congratulations to the winners of the 2008 eBiz Computer Programming Challenge!

Advanced Division Winner – Omaha Burke High School

Intermediate Division Winner – Omaha North High School 

These teams and their teachers were awarded prizes and complimentary tickets to the AIM Institute's upcoming Technology Celebration Banquet, where they will be recognized for their programming skills. 

The annual eBiz High School Computer Programming Challenge is designed to connect business with high schools to promote education and careers in Information Technology by applying "real-world" practices. The Challenge features team-oriented problems in business-related topics that emphasize project management, design, documentation, and teamwork. Sponsors for this year's eBiz Challenge were IBM, First National Bank and the AIM Institute. 

Photos – At right: Advanced Division Winners - Omaha Burke Team. Below: Intermediate Division Winners - Omaha North Team. 

The eBiz Challenge commenced last October, when teams received a set of requirements. The intermediate teams, made up of first- or second-year programming students, developed a Savings Account System. The advanced teams developed an Issue Tracking System, a more complex web application that incorporated a relational database.

The students formed project teams and followed design methods they had learned in class. To qualify as finalists, teams had to meet monthly milestones and were encouraged to expand on the problem and ask questions where requirements seemed incomplete.

On March 5th, First National Bank hosted and supplied judges for the eBiz Challenge's Final Round at FNBO Tower. The four teams that qualified to compete in the Final Round included:

Auburn High School – Intermediate

Omaha North High School – Intermediate

Omaha Burke High School – Advanced

Omaha South High School – Advanced

During the all-day event, the teams presented their systems to the judges, were mentored by business professionals, and they competed head to head to complete one final system change. Congratulations to all the finalist teams and their teachers for their spirited participation!