NEW ROCHELLE, NY — 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 scene 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
- Ardsley High School
- Blind Brook High School
- Byram Hills High School
- Fox Lane High School
- Greenwich High School
- Ridgefield 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
Colleges and Universities
- 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
