OREANDA-NEWS. August 15, 2014. The Verizon Innovative App Challenge, now in its third year, is once again calling on middle school and high school students to gather their teams, dream up ideas, and create concepts for mobile apps that could solve problems in their schools and communities.

The first two Verizon Innovative App Challenges have encouraged thousands of students to develop an interest in science, technology, engineering and math, the so-called STEM subjects, and have awarded cash grants totaling USD340,000 – and 130 new tablets, courtesy of Samsung Telecommunications America – to winning teams. Verizon is extending the program as part of its commitment to the Obama administration’s ConnectED initiative, to which the company has pledged up to USD 100 million in cash and in-kind contributions over the next three years.

This year’s program, which kicks off today, will name eight teams Best in Nation and reward them with cash grants of USD 20,000 each and new Samsung tablets for each team member. The deadline for submission is Nov. 24, and the winners will be named in January 2015.

The Verizon Innovative App Challenge is a national competition created by the Verizon Foundation in partnership with the Technology Student Association that challenges students to develop ideas and concepts for mobile apps. Teams are judged on whether their ideas solve challenges in their communities, include STEM principles, and are creative, unique and innovative; no coding experience or mobile devices are required to enter.  Since the contest’s inception in 2012, nearly 2,300 student teams from across the U.S. have entered. Teams submitted more than 1,200 app concepts, and apps created through the contest have been downloaded more than 14,000 times.

One winning team’s adviser, Maggie Bolado, a science teacher at Resaca Middle School in Los Fresno, Texas, said: “The Verizon App Challenge shows what regular kids can do if you challenge them to problem solve and believe in them. Before entering the App Challenge, I never dreamed my students would develop an app that would earn such recognition – they were even invited to the White House Science Fair and demonstrated their app in person for President Obama.”

Bolado’s all-girl team developed an app called Hello Navi, which assists visually impaired people in navigating inside buildings. It was inspired by the girls’ blind classmate.

Justina Nixon-Saintil, director of education programs for the Verizon Foundation, said: “Verizon created this program to address the critical need for more students to enter STEM fields. The Verizon Innovative App Challenge is a problem-based learning experience that fosters collaboration among students, enhances their problem solving skills, and provides an introduction to computer science. It combines a focus on STEM with other important skills, like teamwork, organization and communication, and also allows students to harness their creative talent and enthusiasm to help others in their communities.”