North Carolina's Governor Josh Stein shed light on the future of the state's tech talents as he unveiled the winners of the sixth annual Ready, Set, App! competition. In a competition that engaged numerous schools across the state, three high school teams soared above the rest with their innovative mobile applications designed to address real-world challenges. Announced yesterday, as per the Governor's office, these teams stood out at the finals, held at Lenovo headquarters in Morrisville, where they presented their creations to a mix of tech professionals, educators, and a live audience of supporters.
Amidst the fanfare and excitement, first place was clinched by ASLephant from Mallard Creek High School. The team developed an app geared towards teaching American Sign Language through a series of levels, quizzes, and flashcards to foster easier learning. Governor Stein praised the competitors, emphasizing the importance of harnessing classroom knowledge to tackle real issues, stating, "I am proud to recognize these competitors for their technical acumen and hard work to develop apps that will make a difference for their friends, family, and neighbors," as noted by the Governor's office.
While ASLephant claimed the top spot, second went to Color Catch, hailed from the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics - Morganton. They crafted an app aimed at aiding individuals with color blindness to easily identify the colors surrounding them, enhancing their daily independence. Third place was taken by ApneaAid from Enloe High School, an AI-powered solution designed to assess the risk of sleep apnea using the phone’s microphone, complete with personalized feedback to improve sleep quality.
Lenovo, acting as the contest's sponsor, together with the North Carolina Business Committee for Education—a business-led, nonprofit alongside the Governor's Office—oversaw the competition that hit record participation levels. With 425 students comprising 107 teams from 30 counties, the initiative showcased an unprecedented breadth of talent and creativity. Upon receiving a total of 51 fully fleshed-out app projects, Lenovo professionals, educators, and other dignitaries judged the entries to select nine final contenders. Libby Richards, the community engagement manager at Lenovo, lauded the efforts, mentioning, “These high school students have demonstrated not only technical skill, but also a forward-thinking problem solving using technology. We congratulate the winners on their impressive achievements and applaud every student who took part in this inspiring competition,” as mentioned in the same press release.
Turning an eye towards the future, the Ready, Set, App! contest plans to open its gates once more to the high school students of North Carolina in the fall of 2025, with internship applications set to start in September.
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