“This really is a treat. I look forward to attending this event live, year-after-year,” said one parent, while another, who had turned up at the TCS IT Wiz 2011 that took place at the Corporation Kalai Arangam here could hardly express her joy after witnessing the event.

And it was not just the elite city crowd. Students from rural pockets such as Srivilliputhur, Kangeyam, Pallakad, Pollachi, Udumalpet besides others that turn up regularly for the event from Coonoor, Kotagiri, Ooty, Salem, Madurai and Coimbatore gathered in large numbers, some to watch the event live but a good majority to participate in this biggest inter school IT quiz competition.

And this year was no different from the last as students from the school in the hills - Laidlaw Memorial School and Junior College, Ooty emerged winners at the Coimbatore edition of the competition.

The organisers, Tata Consultancy Services said they received overwhelming response from over 135 schools in and around this region and over 1800 students (studying in class 8-12) participated in the preliminary written test.

After the preliminary round and some gruelling and intense final rounds of quizzing in a nail-biting finish students - Hari Hara Sudhan and Manikandan R. from Laidlaw school walked away with the trophy, along with a Galaxy Tablet each and a digital camera. They were followed closely by Nandakishore and Vidhya Prasad from GD Matriculation Higher Secondary school, Coimbatore as runners-up who received their trophy along with an iPod touch.

Prizes were distributed by Mr Sanjay Jayavarthanavelu, Managing Director, LMW, Coimbatore along with Mr V. Ramaswamy, Global Head – iON, TCS. The six finalists who made it on stage also received an array of prizes ranging from travel bags, headphones, portable speakers, USB pen drives, laser pointers and more. The audiences of TCS IT Wiz were also rewarded backpacks, pen drives, mini portable speakers and t-shirts for correct answers.

Regional rounds

The regional rounds of TCS IT Wiz 2011 is conducted in 12 cities - Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Coimbatore, Pune, Kolkata, Bhubaneswar, Kochi, Lucknow, Delhi and Mumbai. This is followed by the National Finals in December where the winning teams from the 12 regional rounds compete for TCS IT Wiz National Champion title.

“I find it utterly addictive! It is one of the best quiz shows,” said a 9th standard student, who won a portable speaker for answering an audience question.

One of the teachers, who accompanied the students, said, “IT wiz gives an opportunity to shape the skills of the youth of the nation and thanks to TCS for laying such a good platform.”

The organisers, who had introduced online registration for the first time said that 30 per cent of the entries came online.

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