Two schools in the District of Columbia are $5,000 richer and even more money may be forthcoming.
Verizon named Howard University Middle School of Mathematics and Science and the School Without Walls winners of the ‘Best in State’ in the telecom company’s Innovative Learning App Challenge. The schools could win another $15,000 and partner with MIT Media Lab experts to make their app a reality — if they secure the company’s Fan Favorite award. Public voting began Jan. 23 and ends Valentine’s Day. Verizon will announce the winners Feb. 15.
Each student will also receive a tablet.
The contest involved six teams of middle- and high-school students being tasked with creating an idea for an app centered on resolving a community issue.
Howard’s DriveSafe app would use a cell phone’s Bluetooth connectivity to cut off its texting and application capabilities when its user is driving more than 15 miles per hour.
Meanwhile, the School Without Walls drew up plans for an intercom app that would list key school notifications, reserve a place for school news and add a menu with morning announcements, club information, an events list and Metro delays.
Verizon Innovative Learning, Verizon’s education arm, launched the annual challenge with the MIT Media Lab and Technology Student Association to spur interest in science, technology, engineering and math.
Verizon selected the winners out of more than 1,800 entries nationwide. To vote for your favorite, text the code next to the team’s entry at www.verizon.com/appchallenge/vote and text it to 22333.