The University of Chicago took four of the top five spots in the fifth annual Illinois Technology Association Tech Challenge Friday.
W. Cannon Matthews, a third year U of C Computer Science and Math major, won first prize and the $5,000 check that came with it.
The coding-focused Challenge is held each year to help attract young tech talent to Chicago. About 300 students from 10 Midwest schools took a preliminary test earlier this year. The 50 finalists were brought to Chicago this week for the final test as well as networking interviews with local companies including kCura, CDW and Cleversafe.
Matthews plans to become a software developer when he graduates.
“I like Chicago a lot,” he said, after winning the award. “I can see myself here, or maybe Seattle or somewhere on the West Coast.”
Nearly half the finalists this year came from either the University of Chicago or Northwestern University, each of which sat 12 for the final test. The Hyde Park contingent shone in the end, however, claiming the first, second, third and fifth place spots.
The other winners:
Second place, $2,000: Kevin Wang, fourth-year physics major, U of C
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Third place, $1,000: Nikolas Anderson, third-year computer science and math major, U of C
Fourth place, $500: Lu “Gates” Wang, senior computer science major, Illinois Institute of Technology
Fifth place, $500: Sifei “Frank” Luan, second-year computer science and math major, U of C