Rockford computer science team wins Student Choice Award in first competition

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

The Rockford Senior High School computer science team recently won the Student Choice Award at the 11th Annual Byte Jam competition sponsored by Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa.

It was the group’s first competition, said Rockford High School business teacher and professional learning community leader Carmen Staudt. She said the group faced competition from around the state and from Illinois at the event held last month.

Members of the team are Bailey Brierly, Sophia Green, Gage Prazak, Sam Boehmer, Caleb Winters, Titan Pearson, Kylie Prazak and Addison Putney.

According to the Indian Hills website, Byte Jam helps introduce students to computer coding and design processes that go into apps and websites that they use every day. Teams have a choice of making a mobile or a web application.

“Byte Jam is a team-based competition, with each team working on its own version around a central theme, with area schools competing against one another,” the site says. Indian Hills software development students are available to answer questions the teams have, and team members can ask for help with any aspect of creating the mobile app or website application, from technical coding questions to design issues.

The projects were judged by coaches, students and business professionals at the event.

The Rockford students developed an app that helped select pizza toppings to create “the perfect pizza.”

Students at the Byte Jam event voted on all the projects’ “amazement,” theme and performance. Coaches and company representatives voted on the projects’ creativity, professionalism, communication, visual design and performance.

“The crowd enjoyed both the students’ interaction when asked questions and presentation of the information,” Staudt said about the Student Choice Award selection.

Members of the team were selected by their interest in computer apps, she said.