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In this national competition, student teams from high schools and middle schools are asked to propose a mobile application concept addressing a need or issue faced by their communities.
The Harrison team submitted Green Step, which would be a carbon footprint calculator that educates users while urging them to change their daily habits.
“This contest has exposed students to new skill sets such as learning to collaborate, negotiate – and best of all, problem solve,” said Douglas W. Schoenberger, vice president of corporate responsibility for Verizon New Jersey. “We can’t wait to see which of these creative concepts will become actual working mobile apps that can help make a difference in local communities.”
The Harrison team will advance to the Best in Region round for which 24 winners will be announced on Jan. 16. The schools of each winning team will earn $5,000 grants to develop or support a program in science, technology, engineering or math – components that comprise the STEM field.
Although 80 percent of all jobs during the next decade will utilize STEM skills, student interest and proficiency in STEM has been stagnant in the United States, according to Verizon.
On Feb. 3, this year’s competition will conclude with the selection of eight Best in Nation winners comprising four middle school teams and four high school teams. The schools of each winning team will receive an additional $15, 000 to fund their STEM programs. Each winning-team member will receive a Samsung tablet.
In addition, MIT App Inventor Master Trainers from the MIT Media Lab will train these team members to develop their apps.
The Verizon Innovative App Challenge was created in partnership with the Technology Student Association.
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