Tech savvy students from top high schools and universities across the metropolitan region converged at the Westchester County Center in White Plains on Friday to launch the first Westchester Smart Mobile “App” Development Bowl.
Sponsored by Westchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino, Pace University’s Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems and The David and Minnie Berk Foundation, the competition challenges young, up-and-coming tech visionaries to develop mobile applications (“apps”) over the next two months that will make life better for people in need. The 2015 competition will focus on the development of mobile apps to help manage the effects of Alzheimer’s disease and Dementia.
“The Westchester Smart Mobile ‘App’ Development Competition seeks to harness the extraordinary talents of our region’s young brain trust,” Astorino said. “Our goal is twofold: Challenge high school and college students to push the boundaries of their potential and improve the lives of people suffering from these debilitating diseases. I am enormously grateful to Pace University for its work in making the competition a reality.”
Westchester, which is often called the Intellectual Capital of New York, boasts the best educated workforce of any county in the 50 states, based on the percentage of the population holding bachelor’s and advanced degrees. Its public high schools routinely rank among the best in the nation. Schools represented in the Bowl include more than two dozen Westchester, New York City, and Connecticut high schools; Pace University; Fordham University; NYU and NYU Polytechnic School of Engineering; SUNY, Monroe College, Suffolk Community College and Manhattanville College.
“The Westchester Smart Mobile ‘App’ Development Bowl is an opportunity for students to highlight their potential and get rewarded for their achievements while at the same time learning the importance of giving back to the community,” said William J. McGrath, Senior Vice President and COO of Pace University’s Westchester campus. “The Seidenberg School at Pace University is proud to be working with students in the development of free mobile apps for Alzheimer’s and dementia patients.”
Contest co-sponsors include: IBM, Burke Rehabilitation and Research, The Bristal Assisted Living, Liberty Lines and Caregiver` Collaborative. Contest winners will receive cash prizes and paid internships with Westchester County and local businesses.
Friday’s contest launch came with suitable fanfare: The Westchester Knicks Dancers, Marching Cobras of Westchester, recently seen in Birdman – this year’s Oscar-winning best picture, and mascots from many of the schools were present to cheer on contestants at the pep-rally style kick-off.
Contest winners will be announced by a panel of expert judges on April 17, 2015. The following schools are participating:
High Schools (28)
Ardsley High School
Blind Brook High School
Byram Hills High School
Fox Lane High School
Greenwich High School
Hendrick Hudson High School
Horace Greeley High School
Lakeland High School
Lincoln High School
Mamaroneck High School
Mount Vernon High School
Nellie A. Thornton High School
New Rochelle High School
Ossining High School
Peekskill High School
Pelham Memorial High School
Pleasantville High School
Rye High School
St. Francis Preparatory School
Scarsdale High School
Solomon Schechter School of Westchester
Soundview Preparatory School
Suffern High School
Tappan Zee High School
Walter Panas High School
Westlake High School
YWCA White Plains & Central Westchester
Ridgefield High School
Colleges and Universities (8)
Fordham University
Manhattanville College
Monroe College
NYU Polytechnic School of Engineering
Pace University
SUNY Suffolk County Community College
The College of Westchester
Westchester Community College