After nine years, Microsoft’s Imagine Cup competition boasts a strong international presence, with students from more than 70 countries competing this year. During the last two cup competitions, it fell to Tara Walker, an Academic Development evangelist at Microsoft, to ensure that HBCU and other minority-serving students had a place at the table.

Begun in 2003, Imagine Cup challenges undergraduates to use technology — with the aid of Microsoft platforms — to solve worldwide challenges. This year, students were tasked with creating programs that addressed the United Nations' eight millennium development goals, which include ending hunger and poverty, access to universal education and environmental sustainability.

Though none of the teams from participating HBCUs made it to this year's finals, the schools plan to send more teams to next year's competition.

Walker also plans to expand her outreach. Initially, the decision to reach out to HBCUs was hardly an obvious one, she says.

During a July 13 ceremony in New York City, winners were announced in 10 categories.

"LifeLens," a Windows Phone program that tests for malaria with 94 percent accuracy, won third place in the Windows Phone 7 design category.

In the Software Design Category, "Note-Taker," which helps visually impaired students take notes quickly with the help of a portable camera and Microsoft OneNote, won second-place honors. The program was the brainchild of a legally blind Arizona State student. "Hermes," a program designed by a group of students at the Institute of Technology Sligo in Ireland, won-first place. "Hermes" targets Ireland's high-traffic mortality rate by using Azure Cloud technology to monitor road conditions, among other potential hazards.

Software evangelists cover specific geographic regions, giving demonstrations and making curriculum recommendations at top technology schools each area.

Though Microsoft has wide-ranging inclusion and diversity programs, none are specifically targeted to HBCUs.