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Rep. Slaughter Hosts 2014 House STEM Challenge for New York's 25 Congressional District(Targeted News Service Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) ROCHESTER, N.Y., Jan. 24 -- Rep. Louise M. Slaughter, D-N.Y. (25th CD), issued the following news release: Today, Congresswoman Louise Slaughter (D-NY) announced that she will host the first annual House academic competition to promote innovation in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). The House STEM App Challenge calls on high school students within New York's 25th Congressional District to submit ideas for a software an application, or "app," idea related to STEM fields. "It is my great pleasure to invite all high school students from my congressional district to participate in the first ever House STEM App Challenge," said Rep. Slaughter. "As the home of George Eastman, Kate Gleason, and Chester Carlson, I know that our students will be the great future scientists, engineers and innovators. This challenge will showcase creative ideas from the great, young minds in Monroe County." This new competition is designed to engage students' creativity and encourage their participation in STEM education fields. Established by Members of the U.S. House of Representatives in 2013, this competition is a nationwide event that allows students from across the country to compete by creating and exhibiting their software"apps for mobile, tablet or computer devices on a platform of their choice. Rep. Slaughter's STEM App Challenge requires students to submit a prototype mock-up of their app, not an actual functioning app. Andrew Phelps, director of Rochester Institute of Technology's Center for Media, Arts, Games, Interaction and Creativity (MAGIC), is the 2014 STEM App Challenge Advisor to Rep. Slaughter. As an expert in this field, Phelps will provide guidance throughout the competition. "RIT and the MAGIC Center are deeply appreciative of the importance of STEM education to the Rochester region and the nation," said Phelps. "I am grateful for the opportunity to work with Rep. Slaughter in support of the House STEM App Challenge, and to support this initiative on behalf of RIT. I look forward to seeing the creative and innovative ideas this challenge is sure to produce." Throughout the competition period, participating students will be provided opportunities to engage with various STEM educational partners located throughout the community to mentor and assist them with their app development. Students entering the competition must provide a YouTube video explaining their app and what they learned through this competition process. The competition opens February 1, 2014, and all submissions are due by April 30, 2014. The winning student's app will be featured on the U.S. House of Representatives' website (www.House.gov), as well as on display in Rep. Slaughter's U.S. Capitol office. Additional details on The House STEM App Challenge will be announced in the coming weeks and provided on www.louise.house.gov. Students will need to create an account on www.challengepost.com in order to submit their app and will also need to register for the House Student App Contest by completing the entry form on http://studentappchallenge.house.gov/ so that Rep. Slaughter's office can communicate with them. RIT's MAGIC Center includes a nonprofit university-wide research and development laboratory and a for-profit production studio that assists in efforts to bring digital media creations up to marketplace standards and commercialization. TNS 30VitinMar-140125-4614328 30VitinMar (c) 2014 Targeted News Service |