An Android mobile application development competition for North Carolina high school students.
The North Carolina Business Committee for Education’s Ready, Set, App! challenge is a mobile app development competition for high school students sponsored by Lenovo. Student groups are asked to develop a mobile app using a mobile app development platform (e.g., MIT App Inventor) to solve a problem in their community or school. Ready, Set, App! focuses on three primary pillars:
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Mobile App Development
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Professional and Personal Development
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Interpersonal and Soft Skills Development
Student groups are asked to adhere to the following terms and conditions to be considered for the competition. If groups have any questions, please contact Program Manager Kiya Edwards at kiya.edwards@nc.gov.
This competition is only open to North Carolina high school students-other submitters will be automatically disqualified.
Prizes
$4,245 in prizes
IdeaPad S340 (15", Intel) Laptop (5)
Features premium Intel® Core™ processors that run programs seamlessly
Convenient touchscreen models available
Added security with physical webcam shutter
Up to 10 hours* battery life that keeps you connected
Great family laptop with easy to use touchscreen
Smart Tab P10 with Amazon Alexa (5)
The Lenovo Smart Tab is a great FHD 10.1" Android tablet for multiuse or family use, with Smart Screen and Amazon Alexa functionality. Dock it to the detachable Smart Dock and ask Alexa questions, play videos, and enjoy music with loud, crisp sound. Control your smart home automation devices from across the room with far-field voice pickup features. When you're ready to go, simply undock your Lenovo Smart Tab, and this premium, kid-friendly tablet is ready to take anywhere.
$200
AR Star Wars HMD, Saber Beacon (5)
Star Wars: Jedi Challenges is a smartphone-powered experience compatible with select Android and iOS devices.
Devpost Achievements
Submitting to this hackathon could earn you:
Eligibility
- Students must be enrolled as a 9-12 grade student in public high school or public charter school in North Carolina.
- Teams are comprised of three-five students and one teacher advisor/leader. (Note: Students can only join ONE team. and team formation should seek to demonstrate and utilize diversity and inclusivity (e.g., race/ethnicity, gender, neurodiversity, age, culture, language, subject area of expertise).
- Participants commit to developing an Android mobile application that addresses a problem in your school or community.
- Registration opens October 6, 2020 and closes at 11:59 p.m. November 30, 2020. Please note- registration only indicates interest in the competition. Final projects are not due until March 2021.
Requirements
RSA is designed in three phases:
- Phase 1: Registration
- Phase 2: Develop + Demo + Pitch Group Reflection
- Phase 3: Finalist Round
What to create: develop a mobile app using a mobile app development platform (e.g., MIT App Inventor) to solve a problem in their community or school. Ready, Set, App! focuses on three primary pillars:
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Mobile App Development
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Professional and Personal Development
-
Interpersonal and Soft Skills Development
What to submit:
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App Pitch + Demo
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Group Reflection- Answer 3 out of the 6- The diversity questions is mandatory for each group.
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Upload your APK file to Devpost
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Complete and enter information into all required fields of the submission form on hackathon site.
*Please see Phases tab for more details*
Judges

Kiya Edwards
Judging Criteria
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Demo
Provide a recorded demonstration of the app features. -
Pitch
Use the following prompts as suggestions for your pitch: What is the problem your team is addressing? Why is this problem significant? How will your app solve the problem? -
Group Reflection
Open the document to review the questions for the group reflection. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1be4lAZpp9iyflnVPryUeKnWFeIcc5VGvNcTzW1owJOg/edit?usp=sharing
themes
- Productivity
- Lifehacks
- Social Good