Port Orange, FL - Spruce Creek High School students in the Academy of Information Technology and Robotics (AITR) recently earned the first-place prize of $20,000 for their participation in the Nationwide Ford STEAM High School Community Challenge.
On Wednesday, the Academy learned of its accomplishment via teleconference. Students will use the prize money to fund its Text of Least Resistance project, an app that helps victims of a disaster to communicate with emergency response teams, family, and friends. The app will utilize Wi-Fi to crowdsource in the affected area.
Spruce Creek’s AITR is a Powered by Ford STEAM Academy. Career academies, such as AITR, affiliated with the Ford Next Generation Learning innovative educational program are a part of the Ford Motor Company Fund, the philanthropic branch of Ford Motor Company. The winning projects are meant to be sustainable, student-led proposals that incorporate community organizations and school resources to address real needs in the local area. The students participating in the challenge explored solutions in alternative energy, technology, design, and mobility.
In total, the Ford Motor Company awarded $50,000 to high school STEAM academies. Ford judges awarded $20,000 for first place, $10,000 for second place, and $5,000 for third place. The challenge itself was a part of the Ford NGL initiative and Ford’s Corporate STEAM Council efforts to encourage students to pursue a technical education, secure a good job, meet expanding business demands, and help Ford develop a group of skilled technical talent.
Photo courtesy of Lenka Horavova and Shutterstock.com.
Copyright Southern Stone Communications 2018.
