Big Bear, CA, January 13, 2015 – Five students from Mr. Nate Haston’s class at Big Bear Middle school designed a mobile application concept for the third Verizon Innovative App Challenge, and earned the title of Best in State. The Challenge is a national competition in which students design an app concept that addresses a need or problem in their local schools or communities.
Madeleine Boone, Luke Hannan, Branden McIlrevy, Sydney Peterson, and McKinley Warren are all part of the STEM or science, technology, engineering, and math program at the Middle School headed by Mr. Haston. They were one of 44 teams of middle and high school students from across the country selected from more than 1,099 app concepts submitted nationwide. By earning the Best in State title, they now move on to the next phase of the judging process and are in the running to win the National Challenge.
Their app concept, called “Survive in Big Bear”, will help prevent hikers from becoming lost in the San Bernardino National Forest. The app, which doubles as a survival game, provides tips on surviving in the forest, facts about the San Bernardino National forest, emergency contact information, and a tool for passing time.
The contest exposes students to skill sets such as learning to collaborate, negotiate, and problem solving. The winning concept will become an actual working mobile app that can help make a difference in local communities.
