Third Annual Verizon Innovative App Challenge, Designed to Spark Students' Interest in STEM, Open for Entries

OVERLAND PARK, Kan., Oct. 21, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- 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 $340,000 – and 130 new tablets, courtesy of Samsung Telecommunications America – to winning teams.

Last year, a Kansas high school team received "Best in State" recognition, chosen from more than 1,300 applicants. Students from Olathe Northwest High School in Johnson County received the title for their app concept, Jump in Jobs, linking teens searching for work and clients searching for workers.

This year's program, now underway, will name eight teams Best in Nation and reward them with cash grants of $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.  

The Verizon Innovative App Challenge is open to teams consisting of five to seven students and a faculty adviser in all public, private and parochial middle schools and high schools. Winners will be chosen at three levels. Teams can register now and learn more about the Verizon Innovative App Challenge at www.verizon.com/appchallenge.

About the Verizon Foundation
The Verizon Foundation is focused on accelerating social change by using the company's innovative technology to help solve pressing problems in education, healthcare and energy management. Since 2000, the Verizon Foundation has invested more than half a billion dollars to improve the communities where Verizon employees work and live. Verizon's employees are generous with their donations and their time, having logged more than 6.8 million hours of service to make a positive difference in their communities. For more information about Verizon's philanthropic work, visit http://www.verizon.com/about/responsibility ; or for regular updates, visit the Foundation on Facebook (www.facebook.com/verizonfoundation) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/verizongiving).

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SOURCE Verizon Foundation