Melissa and Jennifer Hui Photo courtesy of Microsoft Corp. Photography by Angela Daves Hale

DETROIT-When Dr. Phil Cunningham, associate professor of Biology at Wayne State, was approached by his student, Melissa Hui, to seek permission to postpone taking her exam in his Bio 2200 class, the first thought in his mind was this might be another questionable request from a student nervous about exams. But when she told him that she and her sister, Jennifer Hui, another Wayne State University student, were invited to represent the university as one of the top three finalists in the Microsoft Imagine Cup competition United States finals held last week in Los Angeles, he thought twice, and then approved her request.

Melissa and Jennifer were granted permission to postpone exams and departed for California for this major competition - and proudly have returned as first place winners in the digital arts segment of the competition.

Imagine Cup 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. This year's U.S. finals were held in Los Angeles April 20 - 22, and featured some of the most innovative and creative college students in the country. In addition to demonstrating how their projects address this year's environmental theme, the students participated in an Innovation and Entrepreneurship Workshop led by established leaders in the entrepreneurial field to help them build on skills and confidence needed to bring their projects to life.

Team Provisio - 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, they have advanced to the Imagine Cup World Finals in Paris from July 3 to 8, and will 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.

"The Imagine Cup is all about igniting the imagination of tomorrow's technology visionaries and leaders, and inspiring them to harness the possibilities of technology to build a better world," said Dan'l Lewin, corporate vice president of Strategic and Emerging Business Development at Microsoft. "The contest provides student inventors and entrepreneurs with a launch pad for their ideas and access to key resources that can set them on the path to career success."

"The Microsoft Imagine Cup is a wonderful learning opportunity for our students, and we are proud that the Hui sister team were invited to compete, and even more proud of their ultimate win," said Dr. Robert Thomas, dean of WSU's College of Liberal Arts and Science. "I can't think of a better excuse to postpone final exams!"

Melissa is a junior in the Biological Sciences program and Jennifer is a freshman in the Biological Science program and is working towards a minor in Economics at WSU. Melissa is a graduate of Stoney Creek High School in Rochester Hills, Mich. and Jennifer is a graduate of the International Academy in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. Both competed together in last year's Imagine Cup and finished as World Top 20 Semi-Finalists in another digital media invitational. "This year, with our respective majors focused in life sciences and biology, we were motivated to tackle the topic of environmental sustainability with a perspective in tropical rain forest conservation by use of monitoring technologies," commented Melissa. "I personally wanted to reach the roots of an on-going global environment crisis," she added.

Wayne State University is one of the nation's pre-eminent public research universities in an urban setting. Through its multidisciplinary approach to research and education, and its ongoing collaboration with government, industry and other institutions, the university seeks to enhance economic growth and improve the quality of life in the city of Detroit, state of Michigan and throughout the world.

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