Article | The Lowell Sun
Lowell students showcase computer science prototypes to industry pros
February 12, 2020
Read the article in the Lowell Sun about students from Roger STEM Academy in Lowell at the recent Mass STEM Hub Computer Science Showcase for Project Lead The Way at Microsoft.
Lowell students showcase computer science prototypes to industry pros
By AARON CURTIS | acurtis@lowellsun.com | Lowell Sun
February 12, 2020 at 2:08 pm
LOWELL — More than 70 students from seven Massachusetts schools, including Rogers STEM Academy, were selected to present computer science prototypes to science, technology, engineering and mathematics professionals in Cambridge on Jan. 28.
Awards were handed out during the event, including to Rogers STEM Academy seventh graders Nicholas Touch and Destin Silvera, according to a press release from event organizers One8 Foundation.
The pair were awarded the App Creators Innovation Award during the Mass STEM Hub’s Computer Science Innovators Showcase, the release states. The award was presented to Nicholas and Destin for their creation titled “Love Boat,” a dating app for the elderly.
The showcase was held for Project Lead The Way, a program of the One8 Foundation, in partnership with Microsoft at Microsoft’s NERD Center, based in Cambridge.
The PLTW computer science curriculum covers critical STEM content and allows students to apply what they have learned to solve real world problems. The One8 Foundation and the Baker-Polito administration are scaling PLTW in the commonwealth to help educators bring critical STEM content and the applied learning method into MA classrooms. Today 45,000 students are engaged in PLTW classrooms across the state.
During the event students received feedback from industry experts, from organizations including Microsoft, Liberty Mutual, CogoLabs, and Dell EMC.
“Microsoft is excited to be partnering with Mass STEM Hub for their Design Showcase at the New England Research and Development Center in Cambridge,” said Microsoft Community Development Specialist Jason Aviles. “We are passionate about encouraging curiosity and confidence while connecting in-class experiences to real-world concepts, and preparing today’s students for a promising future. Hearing our team engage with these students and providing feedback on their projects to encourage them is phenomenal. We are thrilled to see all the opportunities that are ahead for these students.”
