The Winners

Team Hermes from Ireland pauses in their celebration to take a picture after learning that they will advance to the finalist round of presentations at the Imagine Cup 2011 Worldwide Finals in New York City. Team Hermes went on to win the Software Design competition.

The highly coveted Imagine Cup was awarded on July 13 at the closing ceremony in New York City.

It was a packed house at New York City’s Marriott Marquis for the opening ceremony of Imagine Cup 2011.

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, attending his first Imagine Cup event, speaks at the opening ceremony in New York City.

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer visits with members of Wicked Team from the Czech Republic during opening day of the Imagine Cup 2011 Worldwide Finals in New York City.

At the Imagine Cup opening ceremony in New York City, Dennis Crowley, CEO of Foursquare, shared a message of experience and encouragement.

Team NTHCS from Taiwan earned first place in Embedded Development for designing a project that helps save lives in the instance of a fire emergency.

From 124 contending teams to 10 winners. Imagine Cup students celebrated their achievements at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center.

Imagine Cup students presented their projects to U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, prior to the finalist announcement in New York City.

Microsoft Australia prepares to host the Imagine Cup 2012 Worldwide Finals.

During the Imagine Cup 2011 Worldwide Finals, Microsoft unveiled plans to launch a three-year, $3 million competitive grant program to help recipients realize their vision of solving the world’s toughest problems.

On July 12, finalist teams were given one final opportunity to present their technology to judges at Microsoft’s Imagine Cup.

Students gathered in Central Park to paint murals and build bookshelves for underprivileged schools in New York City at the Imagine Cup 2011 Worldwide Finals.

Students in the photo from the Imagine Cup 2011 Worldwide Finals in New York City: Joseph Lutalo Willrich of Uganda, Anthony Froissant of France and Jose Martins of France.

Teamwork and creativity aren’t useful simply when it comes to technology—it led to some beautiful finished products at the Citizenship Day activities in Central Park at the Imagine Cup 2011 Worldwide Finals.

Imagine Cup students at the Worldwide Finals proudly displayed their hard work after finishing a morning dedicated to helping other students in New York City.

Team JubJub was passionate about addressing issues surrounding the environment and focused its project on environmental sustainability. On display during the Imagine Cup Worldwide Finals in New York City, “Junk Master: The Journey to Junk Lord” is a challenging and innovative game that can educate the player about garbage classification and the three R’s (reduce, reuse and recycle).

Martijn van de Veen (left), general manager for the International Student Identity Card (ISIC), and Jon Perera, general manager of Academic Programs for Microsoft, sign an agreement at the Imagine Cup 2011 Worldwide Finals in New York City establishing an Education Alliance focused on student access to technology and fostering employability.

Team Geekologic from France showcases its project in the Game Design – Mobile competition to press and attendees of the event’s first showcase at the Imagine Cup 2011 Worldwide Finals in New York City.

David Hayden from Team Note-Taker demonstrates how his team’s project can assist visually impaired students in the classroom at the Imagine Cup 2011 Worldwide Finals in New York City.

Students from Taiwan showcase their project prior to learning that they will advance to the finalist round at the Imagine Cup 2011 Worldwide Finals in New York City.

The second round of Software Design at this year’s Imagine Cup competition in New York City included 18 teams from around the world with projects that address accessibility for individuals with disabilities and a cloud-based solution to address educational needs.

Korean teams rallied together to cheer each other on at the Second Round Finalist Announcement at the Imagine Cup 2011 Worldwide Finals in New York City.

Here, the 15 finalist teams from across the globe waited to know who won the Embedded Development belt at the Imagine Cup 2011 Worldwide Finals in New York City.

Students from around the world gathered to celebrate their accomplishments and learn who would be advancing at the Second Round Finalist Announcement at the Imagine Cup 2011 Worldwide Finals in New York City.