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With new and innovative (创新的) ideas, 10 teams of student groups competed at UR’s Hult Prize competition on Nov.3 to skip the selection process for the regional competition.“If you ever had a crazy idea or passion, now it is time to explore it.” senior and Hult Prize competitor Sharfuz Shifat said.The Hult Prize is an international competition where undergraduate and graduate students alike compete to win a $1 million prize to start a company based on their ideas.
For many competitors, this competition is an outlet for innovative and novel ideas that can speed up change in the world.“I believe in social entrepreneurship and the power of business to create social change,” said senior Shelly Chen from Team Boodana.
In addition to wanting to make a lasting social effect, some competitors have personal connections to their ideas and a strong motivation to bring them to reality.“We’re passionate about this because it comes from our life,” sophomore Cherine Ghazouani and Team Forty-Two member said.“We’re trying to make our family’s, our country’s and our people’s lives better.”
After the event, the award ceremony announced the winner: the first and second runner-ups as Team BestBeing, Team Forty-Two and Team Boodana, respectively.Although the ruling ideas of the winners were meant to provide jobs for unemployed youth, many of the proposed solutions also handled other problems in today’s society.Team Forty-Two worked on re-inventing the impractical tutoring system in Mediterranean countries; Team BestBeing aimed to provide a solution for the lack of availability of mental health services all over the world.
“Usually some of the most simple but practical solutions are the ones that are the most beautiful and effective,” judge Anna Schreyer said.“The challenge is being able to look at things in a completely new way that’s very simple.Try to step out of the box of how we do things and how we think about things.”
21.What is the purpose of the UR’s Hult Prize competition?
A.Not to let go of good ideas.
B.To award the most hardworking students.
C.Not to be crazy about changing the reality.
D.To stress the importance of regional competition.
22.What do the winners mainly focus on?
A.Youth unemployment. B.A solution to mental health.
C.The impractical tutoring system. D.The way of innovative thinking.
23.What can be viewed as the best idea according to judge Anna Schreyer?
A.Effective and innovative. B.Simple and practical.
C.Long-lasting and simple. D.Changeable and practical.
