Schools

Local Middle Schoolers Win Verizon Challenge, Create Lake-Related Phone App

Jefferson Middle students created an app that's available on Google Play.

Jefferson Township Middle School is the 2013 winner of the Verizon Foundation Innovative App Challenge.

The challenge is a project of the Verizon Foundation in conjunction with Samsung, Technology Student Association and the MIT Center for Mobile Learning that's designed to spark teens' interest in math and science.

Find out what's happening in Jeffersonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The competition gives teams of students in middle schools and high schools the opportunity to creatively apply their knowledge of science, technology, engineering and math toward creating an original mobile app concept that addresses a specific need within their community. 

Jefferson Township Middle School won by developing the concept for an interactive map detailing invasive species in the area. The idea behind the kids' innovation is to help community members identify each harmful plant or animal. The app, Invase Erase, which recently became available in Google Play, will provide tips on what people can do to protect Lake Hopatcong using a Lake Health Index that rates factors such as sustainability, biodiversity and water cleanliness.

Find out what's happening in Jeffersonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Out of a large pool of entrants, JTMS was chosen as one of five middle school winners in the nation out of a large pool of entrants. Each Innovative App Challenge winning team received a $20,000 grant for the school, as well as Samsung Galaxy Tablets for each student on the winning team. 


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