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WHAT ARE THE CRITERIA FOR SUBMITTING A CAPSTONE PROJECT FOR SERVICENOW’S ANNUAL ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AWARDS?

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The ServiceNow Academic Excellence Awards program recognizes outstanding IT and business students who have developed innovative ServiceNow-related projects as part of their capstone studies. There are several criteria that a capstone project must meet in order to be eligible for submission for this awards program.

The capstone project must utilize ServiceNow’s platform software in a meaningful way. This could include developing applications, workflows, plugins/addons, or other solutions that leverage ServiceNow’s low-code development capabilities. Preference is given to projects that solve real-world business problems or demonstrate practical use cases for ServiceNow rather than purely technical proofs of concept. The project needs to showcase the students’ understanding of IT service management principles and how ServiceNow can beneficially be applied in an enterprise setting.

The capstone project submission must be accompanied by a written report/paper that thoroughly documents the project scope and objectives, planning and development process, demonstration of the working solution, and analysis of the business value/outcomes. This report is expected to be well-structured, clearly articulated and between 10-20 pages in length. It should provide enough details for the reviewers to understand what problems the project aimed to address, how ServiceNow was implemented, and what benefits could potentially be realized. Proper citations, references and adherence to typical academic writing standards are expected.

Projects completed as part of a Master’s thesis, undergraduate dissertation/thesis, or other structured academic program culminating in a major written work are eligible. Projects do not need to have been completed during the current academic year but must have been concluded no earlier than 12 months prior to the submission deadline date. Preference will be given to more recently finished projects that demonstrate a higher level of technical skills and innovative use of ServiceNow capabilities.

The submission must include information about the academic institution, specific program of study (if a graduate program), project supervisor details, and short bios of all student contributors. Supporting documents from the academic institution like letters of endorsement from faculty members will strengthen the application. Extra credentials of the students like relevant work experience, professional certifications, publications, etc. can also be highlighted.

The project and submission materials must be the original work of the student applicants. Plagiarism in any form will lead to automatic rejection. Students are expected to have played the primary role in conceptualizing, designing and developing the project with appropriate guidance from supervisors/professors. Joint submissions by teams of 2-4 students working on the same capstone project are allowed.

Projects will be evaluated on parameters like innovation, technical skills, demonstration of ServiceNow platform capabilities, clarity of documentation, potential real-world impact and overall presentation. Preference is given to submissions that check all eligibility boxes, provide thorough documentation of the capstone work, and exemplify the highest standards of research, analysis and technical proficiency. Geographical and institutional diversity of the applicants may also be considerations in the final selection.

Winners of the Academic Excellence Awards receive a cash prize, plaque, invitation to the ServiceNow Knowledge conference and potential job opportunities. Shortlisted finalists also get recognition on ServiceNow’s website and social media platforms. Participation in this prestigious program is a great credential for IT and business students looking to launch their careers in digital transformation fields.

To be eligible for ServiceNow’s annual Academic Excellence Awards, a capstone project submission must centrally feature meaningful utilization of ServiceNow’s platform, solutions a real problem, include thorough documentation, adhere to academic integrity guidelines, demonstrate strong research and technical skills, and preference is given to recent innovations with clear potential business impact. Following these detailed criteria allows students to highlight outstanding academic work and strongly position themselves for recognition and career opportunities.

CAN YOU PROVIDE MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE AWARDS CEREMONY AT THE END OF THE PROJECT?

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The project team was very excited to reach the end of the 18-month long project and celebrate their accomplishments at an awards ceremony. They had worked incredibly hard over that time period, overcoming numerous challenges, to successfully deliver a new product on time and under budget.

The ceremony was planned for a Friday evening at a nice hotel ballroom in the city. The project manager took the lead in coordinating all of the logistics. They worked with the hotel catering staff to plan a delicious meal for all attendees, including appetizers, a plated dinner, and a decadent dessert bar. Round tables seating 8 people each were set up around the large ballroom and centered with elegant floral arrangements.

The project manager worked with a local audio visual company to set up a large projector and screen at the front of the room for presentations. They also had wireless lapel microphones set up for the speakers. Programs listing the agenda and honorees for the evening were printed on nice card stock and placed at each seat.

Name badges for all attendees were printed ahead of time. In addition to the core project team members, the steering committee sponsors and key stakeholders from the business units were invited to attend the ceremony. Senior leadership from the various departments were also in attendance to show their support.

As guests arrived that evening, they enjoyed mingling over appetizers and drinks at a cocktail reception area. The project team members could be found in excited conversation, reminiscing about milestones achieved and obstacles overcome. At the designated start time, the project manager stepped up to the podium to welcome everyone and kick off the program.

They provided a high-level overview of the project goals, timeline and key activities completed over the past year and a half. Business metrics were shared, highlighting how the new product had already started providing value to the company. The project manager recognized some of the unsung heroes on the team who played critical support roles.

Next, each of the business unit stakeholders and steering committee sponsors were given time at the podium to speak. They expressed their gratitude to the project team for their diligence and commitment. Real-world examples were shared of how the new product was benefiting customers and improving processes. Further anecdotes illustrated how tight deadlines and challenges were overcome.

The project manager then invited the senior vice president from the department to say a few words and present the awards. Individual team members were called up one by one to receive a plaque recognizing their integral contributions. Each person got to have their moment in the spotlight as their accomplishments were highlighted and applauded. Special recognition went to those who went above and beyond, working long hours to remove roadblocks.

The family members of some team members were also present. It was heartwarming to see spouses and children proudly cheering from the sidelines. Once all the individual awards had been distributed, the entire project team was asked to stand together for one final round of appreciation. Photos were taken to commemorate the achievement.

By this point, the sun had set outside and the energy in the room was palpable. As the awards portion of the evening wrapped up, guests were invited to sit down for dinner. Lighthearted conversation and laughter continued throughout the plated meal. The project team sat together at tables in the center of the room, still buzzing with revelry over a job well done.

After dinner, more mingling occurred around the dessert bar. The strong relationships that had been built over the project timeline were clearly on display. Hugs and well-wishes were exchanged as the evening started winding down. Many planned to continue the celebration at a local bar. Others had early flights or family commitments to get home to.

As the last few stragglers said their goodbyes, taking home the favors of truffles and cookies, the project manager stood back to observe the ballroom one final time. A sense of pride, accomplishment and camaraderie washed over them at the sight of empty chairs and dishes being cleared. The ceremony had been the perfect culmination for all of their efforts. Though bittersweet in marking the official conclusion, it was truly a night to remember.