On March 27th and 28th, we watched hope turn into action in Detroit, as msnbc, #YesWeCode, and Ford hosted a special Growing Hope hackathon event at the Ford STEAM Lab. Here, 100 students from five Detroit-area middle schools created a wide range of mobile application prototypes to help make learning easier, from catching up on missed course work to new approaches to studying math and music - all the while earning $42,500 in awards and scholarships.
The event took place at the Ford Resource and Engagement Center in Detroit; it was broadcast live on msnbc and hosted by msnbc national correspondent Joy Reid. After learning coding skills on the first day, student ideas were judged by a panel that included Van Jones, #YesWeCode founder, and environmental and civil rights advocate; Stephen Henderson, Pulitzer Prize-winning Editorial Page Editor of the Detroit Free Press and co-host of Detroit Today on WDET; and msnbc national correspondent Joy Reid.
Below are the results from the hackathon:
First Place – Patrick Henry Middle School, Woodhaven, MI.App: Second School What it does: Allows students, parents, and teachers access to students' curriculum away from the classroom, ability to track their school progress in real time, and one-to-one communication between parents and teachers.Winnings: $15,000 for the school and $2,500 scholarships to each of the five team members to continue their education after high school.
Second Place – Clippert Academy, Detroit, MI. App: BookctionaryWhat it does: A mobile reading assistance application focused on interactive reading comprehension through quizzes, audio assistance, and eBook downloads. Winnings: $7,500 for the school.
Third Place – Simpson Middle School, Flat Rock, MI. App: Stems Root BuilderWhat it does: A learning application focused on keeping students up to date with their course work when they are out of school. Winnings: $5,000 for the school.
Four Place – Fisher Upper, Detroit, MI. App: ExstaticWhat it does: An app that combines learning music and math together through a gaming and creative platform. Winnings: $2,500 for the school.
msnbc is proud to have been a part of such an inspiring event. Stay tuned for details on additional Growing Hope broadcast events taking place this year.
For more information on #YesWeCode, visit: yeswecode.org
Wondering how a hackathon works? Check out the msnbc Original Swimming in Their Genius: How #YesWeCode Teaches Tech, below.