WSU Siblings Win Microsoft Imagine Cup

by Jaime Pfeffer

May 1st, 2008 in Art, Creative, Detroit, Photography, Talent

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Detroit — or Michigan, for that matter — may not be known as the creative capital of the nation, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have loads of talented young people in our midst.

Case in point: Melissa and Jennifer Hui, WSU students and sisters from Bloomfield Hills, who recently partook in and brought home a first place win in the digital arts category of the Microsoft Imagine Cup U.S. finals in Los Angeles.

What’s the Imagine Cup? It is one of the world’s premier student technology competitions, and Microsoft Corporation feels it is a way to encourage the young to apply their imagination, creativity and passion to technology innovations that can make a difference in the world today.

Featuring some of the most innovative and creative college students in the country, participants demonstrated how their projects address this year’s environmental theme, and participated in an Innovation and Entrepreneurship Workshop led by established leaders in the entrepreneurial field to build the skills and confidence needed to bring their projects to life.

Team Provisio - composed of Melissa and Jennifer Hui of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan - were first place winners of the Photography category. Their photo essay project transported viewers to the cradle of the world’s ecosystem - rain forests - and depicted how technology is being applied there to try to slow global warming and deforestation.

As winners, the dynamic duo advances to the Imagine Cup World Finals, which will be held in Paris from July 3 to 8. The sisters will also receive $5,000, a two-page color spread in American Photography magazine, and a display of pictures on the Imagine Cup micro site of PopPhoto.com.

Melissa is a junior in Wayne State University’s Biological Sciences program; Jennifer is a freshman in the same program.

One of Detroit's biggest cheerleaders, Jaime Pfeffer moved to the Motor City from suburban Detroit five years ago. She started a blog, Girl in the D, in September 2004 to promote the positive aspects of Detroit and hasn't stopped touting Motown's good side since. Jaime left corporate America in 2007 to pursue her first love, writing.