Regents’ Researcher, Helena Mitchell, was a member of the selection committee for the IEEE Connecting the Unconnected (CTU) Challenge. Applicants were from all over the globe and represented areas most in need of technical, social or marketplace solutions to improve connectivity issues for their communities. Some of the topics addressed included innovative projects, affordable business models, and community empowerment. There were three phases to the competition, the final phase included a presentation by each finalist, in front of a small panel of judges. The winners will be announced at the IEEE Summit in early November 2021.