BASF and the University of Michigan Athletic Department (U-M) are proud to announce the winners of the BASF Team Chemistry Challenge.

BASF and U-M partnered to issue this unique challenge to all full-time University of Michigan students and asked them to submit ideas on how to lessen the environmental impact of game days at University of Michigan. Students were asked to outline the problem, offer solutions on how to lessen the impact on fans and provide a detailed blueprint for the execution of the idea. Students also submitted a 3-minute video demonstrating the team’s personality and supporting their solution.

With $25,000 in prize money on the line, over 35 student groups registered for the BASF Team Chemistry Challenge. A panel of BASF and U-M representatives judged the submissions, which included ideas ranging from reducing campus traffic and congestion, new parking solutions, recycling initiatives and zero waste initiatives. A During the University of Michigan spring football game on April 13, BASF recognized the top three teams.

The grand prize winner was the Michigan Sports Business Consulting team. Team members Brian Dastin, Brad Kowalk, Nikhil Patel and Brandon Rhodes, proposed an all-inclusive plan that focused on organizational changes, recycling and composting, traffic and congestion and marketing initiatives. They truly demonstrated their slogan “those who sustain, will remain.”

The second place winner, Team aMaizing Fans, created an innovative smartphone application that rewards Michigan fans for sustainable actions. iMpact, is an easy-to-use app for smartphones where fans earn points for sustainable behavior before, during and after games.

The third place winner, Team Clean MsE, proposed a disruptive solution to solve the traffic congestion and parking problem at the U-M Football Stadium otherwise known as “The Big House.” They suggested building a website and mobile application that would become the “StubHub of parking” and create a two-sided marketplace, bringing together vehicle owners and open spaces owned by students and families surrounding The Big House.

“The Team Chemistry Challenge was a fantastic experience in tapping into the intelligence and innovation that exists with students on this campus,” stated Hunter Lochmann, Chief Marketing Officer of Michigan Athletics. “I'm not aware of any program that has combined athletics, a partner and students so close together and at the same time working on solutions to relevant problems.”

The BASF Team Chemistry Challenge is just one element of the BASF and University of Michigan alliance, announced in early 2013. The alliance is designed to bring innovation and sustainable development together via one of the most powerful connectors in college life – athletics.

“Team Chemistry,” a term often used when talking about teamwork and sports, is the platform for this relationship as BASF and U-M work to highlight the importance of team chemistry between players, coaches, fans and venues on and off the field.

“BASF was very impressed with the ideas submitted for this challenge. The creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship demonstrates why U-M is a key school for us from a talent standpoint. We hope this challenge also helped the students and community learn more about how BASF creates chemistry for a sustainable future,” said Greg Pflum, Vice President and General Manager – Midwest Hub for BASF North America.

To learn more about the BASF Team Chemistry Challenge winners, please visit: www.mgoblue.com/promotions/teamchemistrychallenge.

To learn more about BASF and Team Chemistry, please visit us at: www.basf.us/teamchemistry.

For a press photo, please click the following link: www.basf.us/pressphotos/Apr2013_BASFTeamChemistry.jpg.

Suggested caption: Susan Jackson, Communications Manager BASF, Nikhil Patel, Brian Dastin, Brad Kowalk, Ron Geer,Operations Director BASF

BASF - The Chemical Company

BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has more than 16,600 employees in North America, and had sales of $18.5 billion in 2012. For more information about BASF’s North American operations, visit www.basf.us.

BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products and crop protection products to oil and gas. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Through science and innovation, we enable our customers in nearly every industry to meet the current and future needs of society. Our products and solutions contribute to conserving resources, ensuring nutrition and improving quality of life. We have summed up this contribution in our corporate purpose: We create chemistry for a sustainable future. BASF had sales of €72.1 billion in 2012 and more than 110,000 employees as of the end of the year. Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.

BASF Corporation

BASF Corporation

BASF is the world's leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics and performance products to agricultural products, fine chemicals and oil and gas. As a reliable partner, BASF creates chemistry to help its customers in virtually all industries to be more successful. With its high-value products and intelligent solutions, BASF plays an important role in finding answers to global challenges, such as climate protection, energy efficiency, nutrition and mobility. BASF posted sales of more than €50 billion in 2009 and had approximately 105,000 employees as of the end of the year. Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.

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