The App Inventors of Tomorrow

NAF partners with Lenovo for innovative app competition.

The NAF network of career academies expands the boundaries of the traditional classroom to offer high schools and businesses a proven and sustainable educational design for working together to prepare high school students for college and career success in booming industries focused on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). NAF, together with Lenovo and MIT Media Lab, launched the Lenovo Scholar Network, a program designed to enable the next generation of developers and entrepreneurs through a rich application development curriculum and creation of apps. Ten NAF academies from across the country were selected to participate.

So what has this experience taught these students?

“I’ve learned that in order to be successful, there’s going to be a lot of trial and error. It’snot all the time that you’re going to get the results you want after the first try. This experience has impacted my career path because I never thought of going in a field of technology that wasn’t digital media. I’m more open-minded and strongly consider programming as a career,” said Tiyah Thompson, student at Pathways Academy of Technology and Design in Hartford, CT.

“I learned that with just one simple tool you can create amazing things. The Lenovo Scholar experience has made me realize that our world is based on technology, and with good use we can do great things for our community,” said Skarleth Maradiaga student at Phillip O.Berry Academy of Technology, Charlotte, NC.

“I feel that the Lenovo Scholar experience has really helped me advance in my learning. This opportunity has helped me progress in my class, and provided an extremely beneficial experience that will give me an edge in the competitive job market later in life,” said Christopher King, Timber Creek High School Academy of Information Technology in Orlando, FL.

As part of the program, students participated in a nationwide competition that tasked them with designing and developing a mobile app. An esteemed panel of judges reviewed and selected five winning apps. Learn more about the winning apps here!