group of University of A:I’\"ulcrluu students is eading to New York later this week, but sightseeâ€" ing and shopping won‘t top their list of things to do. Instead, they will attend the fourth annual United Nations Youth Assembly, to be held at the organization‘s headquarters in Manhattan. Organizer Nick Petten, who‘s going into his fifth year of psychology at UW this fall, has arranged for a small group of UW students to make this journey, thanks to some help from the school. "It‘s a youth assembly, so I think it would be an amazâ€" ing opportunity for universiâ€" ty students to attend, espeâ€" cially if it‘s related to their program," he said. Keynote speakers, workâ€" shops and group discusâ€" sions will keep the particiâ€" pants, aged 18 to 26, busy throughout the assembly that runs from Aug. 12 to 15. And representatives from several nonâ€"governmental organizations will be on hand â€" which Petten is University of Waterloo student Nick Petten has organized a group of students to travel to New York and take part in the United Nations Youth Assembly this month. Jewarer omiston moto Students look to have a say at UN By Jennirer Ormston â€"Chronicle Staff looking forward to. "I want to explore the difâ€" ferent NGO programs that are out there," said the 23â€" vearâ€"old. "I want to get affiliated with the United Nations and see what type of career options there are there." The assembly compleâ€" ments his future plans to work internationally in postâ€" conflict areas, developing youth programs in refugee camps, he said. "So that‘s kind of a really specific (plan} as of right now, but something along those lines." Youth have to apply for positions in the assembly before receiving a formal invitation to take part. In one of his application essays, Petten wrote about his involvement in the mayor‘s students council, and tied this in with the uniâ€" versity‘s increasingly interâ€" national approach. "I said by attending this assembly I can increase my own personal experiences internationally and bring it back to the university," said Petten, who also organized Continued on page 7 CITY NEWS Steven & Chiis Barstools, Dining, Lounge Accessories & : More! p University of Waterloo system design engineering students Richard Sum and William Lam took part in the recent Walt Disney Imagineering ImagiNations Design competition. They finished as finalists after designing a ride featuring situations from Pixar movies and pitching the idea to Disney executives. pwoto courtesy o cary kauscer magination, innovation Iand science led two Uniâ€" versity of Waterloo graduâ€" ates to an opportunity of a lifetime and a chance at getâ€" ting their "dream job." William Lam and Richard Shum both graduated this spring with a doubleâ€"major in systems design engineerâ€" ing and economics at UW. But before they finished their final year, they wanted to do something that would allow them to combine the knowledge they gained in school with their passion for innovation and design. Over the Christmas break in 2006, they came up with an idea. Lam and Shum decided to enter the Walt Disney Imagineering Imagiâ€" Nations design competition. "Before I graduated I wanted to do something where I was using my imagiâ€" nation and creativity. The competition allowed me to explore my creative side before getting involved in UW students get a chance to try on the mouse ears at Disney By Laura MeLNYCK Chronicle Staff _ HROMCU Lam and Shum‘s idea was wellâ€"received by Disney and landed them a spot among 10 other finalist teams from around the world. the real world," said Lam. Participants in the comâ€" petition demonstrated their creative, technical, artistic and business skills by designing a ride, attraction, hotel or a land within an existing Disney theme park or resort. "Theme parks are using technology to create larger than life experiences and we wanted to use our engineerâ€" ing skills to bring that interâ€" activeness to life," said Lam. Since they both liked Pixar computerâ€"animated movies, they decided to creâ€" ate a ride incorporating them. "There are some Pixarâ€" themed rides out there but we wanted to celebrate Pixar because last year it and Disâ€" ney merged and finally became one," said Shum. "So we wanted to create a ride that combined all the films from Pixar." Shum‘s passion for drawâ€" ing and art has kept him interested in Disney over the years, along with a visit to the theme park when he was nine. Lam‘s been to four differâ€" ent Walt Disney resorts around the world and said he‘s "always had a love for Disney movies and the theme parks." But their most recent visit to Walt Disney Land in California was much differâ€" ent than what they experiâ€" enced as children. They were flown to Caliâ€" fornia during the last week of July to present their idea to Disney executives at the Imagineering head office in Glendale. For two weeks, they netâ€" worked with the technical and creative Imagineers responsible for Disney‘s global theme parks and attractions in California, Florida, Paris, Tokyo and Hong Kong. "It was the first time 1 was seeing Disney from the other side," said Shum. "I WATERLOO CHRONICLE * Wednesday, August 8 was able to see how the magic was made, instead of just experiencing the magic." They had 15 minutes to sell their idea to the judges. They presented it on three different poster boards, conâ€" sisting of storyboards that showed what would happen at every stage of the ride. "It was great to design a ride that was more than illustrations," said Lam. "We had to think about different aspects, including ride safeâ€" ty and the overall experience for guests at the theme park." The idea behind the competition is to give entrants an opportunity to demonstrate their skills and creative abilities, even though the rides are never built by Disney. Lam and Shum competâ€" ed against 39 other teams. Although they didn‘t win they said it was a really great experience that they were happy to be participating in. They particularly enjoyed Continued on page 6 2007 + 3