2023 Intern Challenge

MIGHTY LIGHTS INTERN CHALLENGE

Background - How the Challenge Began: Light the Hoan Intern Challenge, Milwaukee WI Founded in 2021, the Light the Hoan Intern Challenge aims to expand and have a greater impact in 2023 by partnering with Memphis Mighty Lights for a multi-city competition!

Last year, interns from 12 Milwaukee-based companies participated in a virtual challenge to design a light show for the Hoan Bridge that would best reflect their company’s mission, vision, values, and/or brand. Interns were given 2 hours to develop and build their light show, working in teams. The winning shows competed in a March Madness-style bracket competition over three nights, with the public voting for their favorites.

This year, we will open the opportunity to interns in Memphis to light the Mighty Lights and compete in a two-city bridge-lighting face-off!

How it Works: Your interns attend a 2-hour virtual training at a date/time of your choice between June 15 and July 21.

Depending on the number of interns on your team, they will work together or in groups to build light shows for your company. They (or company execs) vote for the one show they think can best represent your company in the citywide competition. Each company presents one final design for the challenge.

Companies compete in a bracket-style competition over several nights, with the public voting for their favorites.

Voting kicks off with an in-person Intern Mixer for interns in the Challenge.

The winning company earns a traveling trophy, bragging rights for one year, and more prizes to be announced!!

How Milwaukee does it: Light the Hoan Challenge Details

12 companies participated last year:

Northwestern Mutual was their presenting sponsor

Light the Hoan 2022 Challenge Stats

How Memphis is Going to Do it Better: Mighty Lights Intern Challenge Details

We are asking all Memphis Companies:

HOW MIGHTY IS YOUR LIGHT?

Showcase the heart, soul, and passion behind your corporate brand!

How will your Light Shine?

COMPANY ENGAGEMENT Companies can engage as much or as little as they’d like in the process.

At a minimum, companies need to make their interns available for 2 hours for the training session.

No corporate engagement or mentorship is required during the training.

OTHER ENGAGEMENT IDEAS: Work with your interns prior to their training session to brainstorm ways to convey your company’s brand/culture/image in lights via the Mighty Lights Create opportunities for interns to hear from leadership (e.g. Chief Marketing Officer) about the company’s history, brand, etc., in order to promote creative ideas that can guide light show development.

Take a trip down to the Mighty Lights one night to see how the lights function (the Downtown Memphis Commission can coordinate with you on this to run a variety of different shows to provide extensive examples) Identify intern teams and encourage them to work together on ideas during lunch, breaks, after work, etc.

Download the software (Pharos Designer 2) to become familiar with the interface and design templates.

Encourage employees to attend the 2-hour virtual training session and serve as mentors to the intern teams as they work on their designs.

Plan for a fun event at the bridge on competition night(s) Engage your company’s social media managers in the process to highlight the work of the interns and encourage the public to vote for your company’s design Encourage your CIO/CTO to square off with another company - make a fun bet with your competition!

All ideas that promote fun, competition, and engagement are encouraged!

Go BRIGHT or Go Home!!!

We are inviting up to 12 teams for our inaugural challenge!

2-100 participants = $5K Interns get 2-hours of training on the light show system before creating their shows!

We will kick off the voting with an intern challenge party in Fourth Bluff Park in Downtown Memphis in full view of the Mighty Lights!

Food Trucks, Live Music, and the ultimate bragging rights for one winning company!

Voting will be open to all and will be promoted through @downtownmemphis and @mightylights, as well as via any and all company and corporate entities participating in the challenge!

Encourage your team, your customers, and your community to vote for your intern team's design as the Mightiest of the Lights!!

SPONSOR BENEFITS: AN AWESOME OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT YOUNGER MEMPHIANS WITH OUR CITY, CORPORATE MENTIONS IN ALL SOCIAL AND NEWSLETTER POSTS (200K+ followers), AND THE ULTIMATE BRAGGING RIGHTS FOR YOUR COMPANY AND YOUR TEAM!

2023 Memphis Opportunity: Join us for the inaugural Mighty Lights Intern Challenge!

Intern Challenge & Mixer Sponsorships > Presenting sponsor: $10K > Light show sponsor: $8K > Food trucks sponsor: $5K > Entertainment sponsor: $5K Intern Teams > Sponsored Intern Group (up to 100 interns): $5K Email: Penelope Huston, huston@downtownmemphis.com

JOIN THE CHALLENGE. CONNECT YOUR COMMUNITY WITH THE GREATER MEMPHIS COMMUNITY. SHINE A MIGHTY LIGHT.

Downtown Memphis Commission/Mighty Lights. Contact Penelope Huston - huston@downtownmemphis.com or 901-494-3606 for more information about the inaugural two-city intern challenge.