Students’ app wins “Best in State” and “Best in Region”

Fresh off a win at the state level, a six-student team from The Governor’s School @ Innovation Park has been named “Best in Region” in the Verizon Innovative App Challenge with “Block IT Out” that hits at distracted riving.

Amber Thaxton and Sydney Williams from Battlefield High School; Margaret Anderson and Isabel Madden from Woodbridge High School; along with teammates Naima Chughtai and Kat Crim have earned a $5,000 cash grant to support programs at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

The team submitted “Block It Out” in response to the challenge of designing a mobile application concept that addresses a need or problem in their local schools or communities.

Aimed at the issue of distracted driving, but with uses in other areas, this app blocks or filters out calls and messages allowing drivers to keep their attention on the road.

“Block It Out” can also send messages explaining why the user is not responding.

Each of the 24 Best in Region student teams now moves on to the finals, where eight Best in Nation winners will be chosen—from four middle schools and four high schools. To learn more about the app watch the submission video at https://vimeo.com/112344336.