COMPANY THROWS CONTEST TO ATTRACT STUDENTS
By Adnews Staff
Financial services software developer Footprint Software Inc. of Toronto is holding a contest to attract the best university-level Java programmers to the company. Called Headstart, the program offers students a chance to win an IBM Aptiva computer and a work term offer upon graduation. The company is also throwing in a $2,000 signing bonus as added incentive. Approximately 1,300 students at seven Canadian universities in Ontario and Quebec and MIT in Boston are participating in the contest. Each student receives up to 15 hours of training in the Java language. They are then expected to develop their own Java programs and submit them to a panel of judges. Fifty contest winners will be chosen on Feb. 24. Footprint CEO Greg Woolfond told a news conference he views the program as a good way to keep top Canadian graduates in Canada. Currently, Woolfond said, too many are heading for opportunities south of the border. Footprint, which has clients worldwide, was founded in 1983 and employs a staff of over 400. The company was purchased by IBM Canada in May, 1995. Footprint uses ad agencies on a project basis. Berger Public Relations of Toronto is handling PR for the Headstart project. Footprint manager Shamim Ebrahim said the company may continue to work with Berger in the future.