On December 2nd, Dreams for Schools hosted its first AppJamboree of the Fall 2019 AppJam+ season, where students from 6 Orange County middle schools presented the mobile applications they had developed over a 10-week period. This AppJamboree was held at the University of California, Irvine and featured a friendly competition between the attending teams.
As the Fall 2019 AppJam+ season came to a close, Dreams for Schools hosted the first of five AppJamborees on Monday, December 2nd. Students from 5 Orange County middle and high schools presented the mobile applications they had developed over a 10-week period. The AppJamboree event was hosted at the University of California, Irvine, and featured presentations from 10 teams.
Students from Segerstrom High School & Saddleback High School participated in the Wells Fargo Financial Literacy Theme Category. Students from Prentice School, PYLUSD Special Ed, and New Vista School participated in category supported by Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation. Judges had the incredibly tough task of selecting the top two teams in each category to take the prize. In addition to the friendly judging competition, a "Best Poster" award was voted on by participating students and judges also scored teams to receive a "Best Stage Presentation" award.
Check out all of the hard work the students put in this season in their videos respectively:Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation - 1st Place Winners of Google Chrome Books – The Trashies from New Vista School
App Name: Junk Genie
Mentor: Anjali K.
Team Members: Jacob N., Lorenzo S., Matthew W.
App Description: We all wish we could live in a clean and trash-free
environment; help us get there! To aid us in our journey, we've enlisted the help
of a magical genie who can make trash disappear. Help guide the genie to
eliminate as much trash as possible. Be part of the solution, not the pollution!
Technical Components Used: Graphics, audio, buttons, clock, image sprites,
global variables, logic operators, procedures to randomize objects
Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation - 2nd Place Winners of BB-8 Spheros – The Golden Sun from Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District
App Name: Hero Survey
Mentor: Amanda T., Anoosha A., Rachel R., Seo Hyun C.
Team Members: Alberto N., Evan I., Giovanni C., Jorge E., Nathan D.
App Description: The goal of our game is to get rid of air pollution. This can be
accomplished by answering trivia questions correctly and the trivia questions are
based on science, history, and random fun facts. If you answer 3 out of 5
questions correctly, you can proceed to the next round. If you get only 1 or 2
question(s) right, you lose the round and can start over/try again if you want.
Technical Components Used:Image sprites, labels, buttons, randomized list for
the different questions, audio.
Wells Fargo Category - 1st Place Winners of $50 Visa Giftcards – Above Average from Segerstrom High School
App Name: Common Cents
Mentor: Akil C. & Kim N.
Team Members: Alicia Q., Angel R., Bernabe V., Joe C., Joseph B., Rafael G., Sayra M.
App Description: Common Cents is designed to test your basic knowledge in
five different fields of occupation; Medicine, Engineering, Teaching, Art and
Sports. By answering the given questions correctly you will earn money in your
account to be later used to upgrade gameplay options -- deposit money in the
bank, invest money in Wells Fargo or plan for retirement. The end goal it to
teach the importance of saving money to be stable for a successful future.
Technical Components Used: Audio, random answer placement option for
(A,B,C buttons), buttons, canvas, image sprites, upgrade screen option, money
meter.
Wells Fargo Category - 2nd Place Winners of Amazon Fire Tablets – Red Cape Crusader from Saddleback High School
App Name: Super Debt
Mentor: Haiming W. & Ngoc M.
Team Members: Janvi S., Steven C.
App Description: Superheroes can find themselves in debt, just like anyone
else. In this game, Superman must earn back money to repay Batman. Money is
earned through fighting villains, but watch out for the kryptonite! Can
Superman fight enough villains before the timer runs out? It's all up to you.
Technical Components Used: Piskel was used to create all of the characters
and icons. Different audio was picked for background music and for different
sounds throughout the game play. Buttons are used to move Superman on the
screen. Randomizing lists is used to choose the other characters on the screen.
Various global variables if/then statements, logical operators, and procedures
are also utilized for game play.
Best Stage Presentation Winners of Target Gift Cards – Above Average from Segerstrom High School
App Name: Common Cents
Mentor: Akil C. & Kim N.
Team Members: Alicia Q., Angel R., Bernabe V., Joe C., Joseph B., Rafael G., Sayra M.
App Description: Common Cents is designed to test your basic knowledge in
five different fields of occupation; Medicine, Engineering, Teaching, Art and
Sports. By answering the given questions correctly you will earn money in your
account to be later used to upgrade gameplay options -- deposit money in the
bank, invest money in Wells Fargo or plan for retirement. The end goal it to
teach the importance of saving money to be stable for a successful future.
Technical Components Used: Audio, random answer placement option for
(A,B,C buttons), buttons, canvas, image sprites, upgrade screen option, money
meter.
Best Poster Winners of Target Gift Cards – Bodast from New Vista School
App Name: Rogue Defender
Mentor: Gary L.
Team Members: Adam S., Alexander N., Sage T.
App Description: The goal of the game is to shoot down the enemy alien
spaceships and you only have 3 lives. It is similar to Galaga. Every time the
enemy gets shot down, it either spawns more or stronger enemies.
Technical Components Used:Audio, graphics, scales
App development is no small feat. For these middle schoolers to complete fully functioning apps in just ten weeks is truly an astounding accomplishment, one that every participant should relish in. The level of teamwork, technical expertise, and confidence the student team showcased at this AppJamboree is a testament to each teams dedication, something that every student should be proud of. The students of this AppJamboree started out this season strong, and we can't wait to see what the next four have in store for us!
Thank you to all of our attendees for your support of a program that not only helps participants gain technical skills and knowledge of possible STEM career paths but also increases each participant's belief in themselves and their aptitude for a career in STEM fields.
A huge thank you to all of our partners for helping to make this a reality. Thank you Kingston Technology, Kay Family Foundation, Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation, Sun Family Foundation, Croul Family Foundation, Cox, Wells Fargo, Western Digital Foundation, Union Bank, & Luna Grill.
Thank you to our judges who joined us from different companies.
Photos from the event are available at this link! Support us, see photos & stay in touch through our Social Media! Like us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!