Verizon App Challenge Seeks Best STEM-Related Apps Created by Middle, High School Students

Verizon Innovative App ChallengeThe Verizon Foundation, in partnership with the Technology Student Association, has launched the second ever Innovative App Challenge. The challenge targets middle and high school student who will create apps focused on engaging students in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) subjects.

The STEM-related app concepts should aim to solve real-world problems in the students’ community or school.

24 Best in Region winners will receive $5,000 in addition to virtual training from the MIT Media Lab. Eight Best in Nation winners will be selected from the Best in Region teams and receive and additional $15,000, a Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet and a chance to work with the MIT Media Lab to further develop the apps.

Dr. Rosanne White, Executive Director of the Technology Student Association, said, “The Verizon Innovative App Challenge is a unique competition whereby winning teams of students and teachers can advance the goals of STEM education through the development of mobile technology. Thousands of middle and high school students will have the opportunity to showcase their problem-solving, research, design and programming abilities to solve a community need or problem.”

Last year, more 1,000 schools registered for the inaugural App Challenge. 471 teams submitted applications, engaging over 3,000 students from across the country.

Justina Nixon-Saintil, director of education and technology programs for the Verizon Foundation, said, “We created the Verizon Innovative App Challenge to encourage students to collaborate, get creative and use their STEM knowledge to come up with powerful answers to local, everyday problems.  The inaugural challenge provided all that and more, as we saw some amazing app concepts and heard inspirational stories from students and teachers. We’re eagerly awaiting the fresh, innovative ideas that the student teams will bring to the second challenge.”

Submissions will be accepted now through December 3rd, 2013. To submit an idea, visit  www.verizonfoundation.org/appchallenge.