The fifth annual Verizon Innovative Learning app challenge—the no-coding-skills-required competition for middle and high school students—is accepting submissions now until November 18, 2016. In teams, students from across the US develop concepts for a mobile app that can solve real-world problems in their schools and communities. In addition to showcasing their problem-solving skills, students compete for prizes at the state, regional, and national levels, including the chance to win a $20,000 STEM grant, free Android tablets, and the opportunity to have their concepts developed into real mobile-friendly apps that will be made available for download and use. Contest winners will be announced January and February 2017.

Who can participate? 

  • Open to all middle and high school students in the United States
  • Groups of 5-7 members and led by a faculty advisor
  • Student clubs sponsored through nonprofit organizations or schools 

What does the app challenge require?

  • No coding skills needed, but a yearn to help others through a collaborative effort is a must
  • Create a mobile-friendly app concept designed to solve a problem in the group's school or community
  • Submit essay responses that demonstrate the team’s design process, the app’s functionality, and its potential impact on the community
  • Enclose a 3-minute video that illustrates design documents and storyboards 

More information regarding supplemental elements and contest rules can be found here.

Over the past four years, more than 24,000 students across the country have submitted some truly innovative, practical solutions to community problems. Previous app challenge winners have succeeded in assisting dyslexic students decipher texts, helping teens cope with depression and anxiety, and increasing math skills and math computation speed through gaming. One 2013-2014 Best in Nation winner, an all-girls coding club from Los Fresnos, Texas, was invited to the White House to showcase their app, which serves to assist the visually impaired.

 

Visit this page to learn more about past winners.  

Prizes and Awards

Prizes are given to those who are awarded Best in State, Best in Region, Fan Favorite, and/or Best in Nation. 

Best in State

A panel of judges will select one middle and one high school team from each state and the District of Columbia as Best in State. Winners are announced January 9, 2017.

The following is awarded to those in the Best in State category:

  • $5,000 grant to further STEM education
  • Featured article on the Verizon website
  • Free Android tablets to all winning participants and team advisors
  • Eligible for the Fan Favorite award

Fan Favorite

All Best in State winners will be featured on the Verizon Innovative Learning website and are eligible to receive the Fan Favorite award. Online voting to determine the winner will take place January 16 through February 14, 2017. The Fan Favorite team will receive the same prizes as the Best in Nation winners. 

Best in Region

Two middle school and two high school teams from the six US regions will be announced January 17, 2017. The winners will have the opportunity to present their apps via webinar to the panel of judges.

Best in Nation

From the twenty-four Best in Region groups, the top four middle school and top four high school teams will be named Best in Nation on February 15, 2017. 

In addition to the Best in State prizes, the winners will receive the following:

  • $15,000 grant to develop their apps and further STEM education
  • In-person and virtual support from MIT developers
  • All-inclusive paid trip to the 2017 National TSA conference in Orlando, Florida 

For more information regarding registration and tips on designing award-winning ideas, please visit www.verizon.com/appchallenge.