June 21, 2013

Mayor Emanuel Announces Results of ThinkChicago - Lollapalooza 2013

600 of the Nation’s Top Engineering and Computer Science Students Apply for the Summer Initiative; 100 will be Chosen to Participate.

Mayor's Press Office    312.744.3334

Today, Mayor Emanuel will notify students later today of  the application results of ThinkChicago: Lollapalooza 2013, a four day event that will introduce the city’s fast-growing technology industry and one of the country’s most popular musical festivals to 100 of the nation’s top technology and computer science students from across the country. A total of 618 applications were received, 582 of which were from new students, and 36 were from alumni.

“We are working to make Chicago a top destination for the most talented young people in the country,” said Mayor Emanuel. “Lollapalooza is already a remarkable event that draws hundreds of thousands of people from all around the world to downtown Chicago. ThinkChicago: Lollapalooza is one more example of how we are working to strengthen our position as a technology hub and attract the best and brightest to the be a part of our thriving technology economy.”

The applicants will be selected based on academic excellence, demonstrated commitment to technology and innovation, and quality of application. Of the 600 plus students who applied, 100 will be chosen.

The top states applications were received from are Illinois, Michigan, California, Massachusetts, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and New York. Included were applicants from top undergraduate engineering schools as listed on US News and World Report: University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Stanford, Purdue, Carnegie Mellon, Cornell, Princeton, Harvard, Caltech, University of California-Berkeley, University of Texas-Austin, and the Georgia Institute of Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

This program will serve as an extension of the Mayor’s successful ThinkChicago: Ideas Week program, and will invite university students as well as ThinkChicago alumni who are currently working in the

tech scene in Chicago to attend. The students participating in ThinkChicago: Lollapalooza will attend a variety of events, such as:

  • All 3 days of the Lollapalooza 2013 music festival, plus a walkthrough of the artist compound and production areas, a Q&A session with the Lollapalooza producers.
  • Tours of local companies and presentations hosted by 1871, where students will be introduced to many of Chicago’s most innovative startups.
  • Panels and presentations featuring Mayor Emanuel and Chicago-based technologists and entrepreneurs, including Obama for America 2012 CTO Harper Reed, Siri founder Dag Kittlaus, BrightTag CTO Eric Lunt, Eved co-founder and CEO Talia Mashiach, and GrubHub co-founder and CEO Matt Maloney.
  • Resume pairings and interviews facilitated with local companies.
  • Testimonies and presentations from recent grads who are currently working in Chicago.

ThinkChicago: Lollapalooza is organized by the Mayor’s Office and in partnership with World Business Chicago, ChicagoNEXT, Chicago Ideas Week, Built In Chicago, Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center (CEC), 1871, Illinois Technology Association (ITA), University of Illinois, HireBrite, and Lollapalooza.

In 2012, Lollapalooza had an economic impact of $120 million. This year, both Three-Day Passes and Single Day Passes for Lollapalooza sold out in record time.  The festival also attracts additional tourism to Chicago. In 2012, 80 percent of total attendees were visitors from outside Chicago, 59% of total attendees were from outside of Illinois and 11% of total attendees were from outside the US.

Lollapalooza generates an estimated $93 million in local spending at hotels, restaurants and clubs. 

 

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