Young Innovator Award Winners Announced

Young Innovator Award Winners Announced

Friday 8 August 2014

MEDIA RELEASE:

Over 200 people turned out last night to see the most innovative young people in the Bay recognised for their creative thinking at the Young Innovator Awards.

From over 100 entries, 55 finalists from six secondary schools across the sub-region were judged on their innovative thinking and problem solving to come up with an idea for a product or service. Criteria that was used to determine the category winners included research, sustainability, communication, innovation and creativity. There was also an opportunity for the public to vote on their favourite idea through the People’s Choice Award, with over 700 people taking up this opportunity. The category winners were as follows:

JUNIOR SECTION:
Hayden Christie, Lachlan Farron and Frano Gabric from Otumoetai College for Swim Safe App, which uses the camera to evaluate the sea's movement patterns and identify the signs of a rip.

SENIOR SECTION:
Maraea Ranui from Tauranga Girls' College for Multi Twister, a multi plug that will swivel around 90 degrees in blocks of units.

UNDER 40 SECTION:
Glen and Monique Storey for Silent Light, an iPhone/iPad app that helps manage classroom noise levels.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD
Lucy Beaton, Blake Fairweather, Emily Farron, Annie Freeman and Jess Gadsbey from Otumoetai College for Walk the Dog, a hassle-free dog walking storage and clip-on lead

INTERNSHIP:
Swim Safe App by Hayden Christie, Lachlan Farron, & Frano Gabric, Juniors from Otumoetai College

SUPREME WINNER
Swim Safe App by Hayden Christie, Lachlan Farron, & Frano Gabric, Juniors from Otumoetai College

Lyn Parlane, Priority One’s Instep Manager and YiA spokesperson, says “The quality and calibre of this year’s entries were the best the annual competition has seen. There has been an increase in the number of group entries from participating schools, which includes Aquinas College, Mount Maunganui College, Otumoetai College, Papamoa College, Tauranga Girls’ College, Tauranga Boys’ College, Te Puke High School and Te Wharekura o Mauao.”

The annual Young Innovator Awards are organised by Priority One’s Instep programme, Locus Research and Woods the Creative Agency.

For further information, visit www.yia.co.nz.

ENDS

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