Hussein Lightwalla (BBIT IV) submitted the most technically sophisticated gadget in Google's East Africa Gadget Competition http://www.google.com/intl/en/events/eagadgetcompetition/) and won $350 for his efforts. The competition was launched in February. See: http://www.strathmore.edu/news/i-gadget.html

Students from 10 universities in six East African countries competed in creating and developing the "next big thing" in ICT. There have been several other such competitions around the world but the East Africa contest was the first of its kind in Africa. It gave East African students in computer science and IT the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, and creativity to develop gadgets with content, feeds, features, looks and languages that reflect the needs of online users of today and tomorrow.

"The winning students combined outstanding creativity and exceptional technical skills," said Isis Nyong'o, Strategic Partner Development Manager, Google Kenya.

"Throughout the six months of the competition, all participating students received support via a dedicated email contact as well as monthly emails taking them step by step on how to create a gadget. Students kept working hard and submitted 41 fully functioning gadgets. Everyone who submitted a gadget put a lot of time, effort, creativity and care into developing outstanding web applications. We're certain that the high quality of the gadgets and their relevance for local as well as international users will attract a high number of users not only in Africa but around the world," Isis added.

"Our East Africa Gadget Team was impressed by the quality and level of creativity of the submissions," Isis said.

The overall winning gadget was Igisoro Game by Antoine Nzeyimana of Kigali Institute of Science and Technology, Rwanda. Antoine will get a prize of $600. The other winners will get $350.

Husseini's Add Mad won the most technically sophisticated gadget award. A numbers game that tests basic arithmetic (addition) speed.

Charty Wizard by Murtihi Borona of University of Nairobi won the best gadget User Interface. Random African Proverb by Peter Munene Karunyu of Moi University won the best local content award. Deaf/Braille Alphabets by Jean Claude Nzayisenga  of National University of Rwanda won the best education-specific award. Sliding Puzzle by Miano Njoka Jomo Kenyatta University won the best procrastinator.  The gadgets are available for installation.

In August Husseini won the University's Quality competition for the best entry in the quality award competition. Entries included anecdotes, ideas or short essays. He was also a member of the University's Celtel Africa Challenge team.