Middle and high school students can compete to win $20,000 for their school and the latest Samsung tablet as part of an innovative science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) challenge from Verizon.

The Verizon Innovative App Challenge was first launched in 2012 as a collaborative competition to encourage students’ interest in STEM.  Verizon believes student achievement in STEM is critical to U.S. economic growth and competitiveness on the global stage. Last year, more than 1,000 schools from every state and Washington, DC registered for the Verizon Innovative App Challenge and more than 470 teams submitted app concepts that solved for social issues. Over 3,000 students were engaged in this challenge, with winning teams presenting their apps at the 2013 Technology Student Association National Conference in Orlando, FL in June 2013.

This second Verizon Innovative App Challenge has also been designed to engage students, provide them with valuable new skills and experiences and open their eyes to exciting new possibilities in STEM for their futures.  The winning teams will receive $20,000 grants for their schools and a Samsung Galaxy Tab for each team member.

Working with a faculty advisor, students in teams of five will develop an original concept for a mobile app that incorporates STEM and addresses a real need or problem in their school or community.  Teams will submit an online essay and video of their design concept and entries will be judged for the clear identification of a need/problem, creativity and originality of solution, viability of the concept, applicability of STEM principles and practices and thoroughness of submitted materials. Registration for the Challenge is now open and all submissions must be completed by Dec. 3.

Judges include STEM and industry experts from: Verizon’s Innovation Labs, MIT’s Media Lab, Samsung, New York Hall of Science, National Academy Foundation, National Geographic Society, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, American Association for the Advancement of Science, National Center for Family Literacy, National Council of Teachers of English, International Reading Association, Smithsonian National Museum of American History and VGo.

The Challenge is sponsored by the Verizon Foundation in partnership with the Technology Student Association (TSA), Samsung and MIT Media Lab.

More information, guidelines and resources may be found at www.VerizonFoundation.org/appchallenge.