Resaca Middle School Students to be Recognized on March 26 for Win in Verizon Innovative App Challenge

LOS FRESNOS, Texas, March 21, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon, along with local leaders, will recognize students from Resaca Middle School for winning Best in Nation in the Verizon Innovative App Challenge, at a celebratory event at the school on March 26. Out of nearly 1,300 submissions from across the country, the students' "Hello Navi" app concept is one of eight winning designs. The app concept – once built – will integrate a variety of digital tools such as a compass, scanner, voice-over, optical Braille readers and Google indoor navigation technology to guide blind or visually challenged students around their school.

Created by the Verizon Foundation in partnership with the Technology Student Association, the Innovative App Challenge charged teams of middle and high school students across the country with developing concepts for mobile applications that could provide solutions to real problems in their schools or communities. The competition is designed to help boost student engagement and interest in science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM.

In early April, students will focus on developing their app concept into an actual app. To build their app, they will learn to code and how to use MIT App Inventor, with hands-on support and training from Verizon employees and members of the MIT App Inventor Training Corps. Verizon will then help the teams share and distribute their finished apps via a platform such as the Google Play store. 

Each Best in Nation winning team has earned its school a $15,000 Verizon Foundation grant, in addition to a $5,000 grant for achieving Best in Region. Resaca Middle School will use the grants to help build the team's app and advance STEM education. Winning team members will receive new Samsung Galaxy tablets, courtesy of Samsung Telecommunications America. Both the grant and tablets will be presented to the Resaca Middle School team at the March 26 event.

SOURCE Verizon