The Challenge Process

The road to victory - and $20,000...often less travelled.

Welcome to the Thunderbird Challenge. Below you will find the key dates and tasks from sign-up to standing ovation.

Aug. 20 - Sept. 20, 2008, 12 Noon, AZ Time*

SAVE $50 USD by registering early! Register your team for $100 USD per team of 3-5 Master’s level students
Register as Team Leader by Sept. 20, 2008 and form your team through to the final registration deadline of Oct. 5, 2008.

2. Final Registrations	Sept. 20 - Oct. 5, 2008, 12 Noon, AZ Time*
Registration Fee—$150 USD per team of 3-5 Master’s level students Register as Team Leader and invite peers to join your team via our online portal

Oct. 6—12, 2008

To view the Challenge Question and background information, login to your team account on or after 5:00 p.m. AZ time* on Oct. 6, 2008
Ideate with your team, do lots of research (including relative company research) and develop the most sustainable, innovative idea to address the challenge question
Submit your two-page Innovation Plan and supporting graphic illustration (optional) online, from anywhere in the world by 12 Noon AZ time* on Oct. 12, 2008.

4. The Challenge (Online Judging)	Oct. 14—21, 2008
All teams will be assigned 3-5 judges and will be judged relative to other teams assigned to the same challenge question Final scores will be determined by taking the average of each score received from each judge The top scoring teams will be selected in equal numbers from the highest-scoring plans for each sponsor to make up the 10 teams to be invited to the Final Round

5. The Challenge (Half-time)	Oct. 22, 2008 12 Noon, AZ Time*
Top 100 teams announced online, including Top 10 Finalists Two new Final Round challenge questions and related information released to Top 10 (Final Round) teams Teleconference or chat may be conducted with both Platinum Sponsors for a brief Q&A with Top 10 teams

6. The Challenge Final Round	Nov. 13—15, 2008
Top 10 teams will present live at the Thunderbird campus in Glendale, Arizona Nov. 13, 2008—Summit Registration and Welcome Reception Nov. 14, 2008—The Challenge, Final Round Question 1 and Keynote Speaker Nov. 15, 2008—The Challenge, Final Round Question 2, Debrief, and Awards Ceremony

7. Global Champions of Sustainable Innovation Announced	Nov. 15, 2008
The winning team earns a $20,000 cash prize and is crowned the "Global Champions of Sustainable Innovation 2008" Second-place team wins a $5,000 cash prize Third-place team wins a $3,000 cash prize.


	Download a Copy of the Teams Challenge Process

For any further questions, please see the FAQs in the Teams section of our Web site.

* The state of Arizona does NOT observe Daylight Savings Time.