Get your app-itude on for upcoming contest

Capitol students with an interest in building mobile apps have a chance this month to showcase their skills and ingenuity before industry professionals and potentially win a cash prize. The university is holding its first App Competition, with entries due Friday (April 15).

Three prizes will be offered: $300 for first place, and $100 each for second and third place.

Entries will be evaluated by a group of judges from leading organizations in both the private and federal sectors. Criteria for judging will include not only the level of technical and programming wizardry, but also user-friendliness and attractiveness of design, organizers say.

Sarah Alspaw, assistant director of career services and graduate student support, is helping to put together the judges' panel. She says the contest has benefits both for Capitol students and the organizations that are providing the judges.

“It’s a two-way process,” Alspaw said. “Our students are having the chance to engage with professionals, thus contributing to their career networking efforts. For the businesses and organizations involved, it’s a good way to build brand awareness on campus.”

Professor Herve Franceschi, who teaches computer science and mobile computing courses at Capitol, is the lead organizer of the contest. While the career-building and educational aspects are important, he says, the contest is above all designed to be fun.

“We hope this event will generate excitement among the student community,” Franceschi said. “An added feature is that with judges from the outside world, students will be able to showcase their work, and judges will have the chance to see the skills and creativity of our students.”

The contest is open to all Capitol students. Apps must be designed for iOS or Android only. Individual (1 student) and group submissions are both welcome; there is no limit to the number of apps that can be submitted. For instance, a student may submit an individual app and also participate in a group submission.

Apps submitted for the contest must not have been made available in the App Store or Google Play as of February 10, 2016. For more information, e-mail Professor Franceschi at hjfranceschi@captechu.edu.