OCIS Duo Wins Award For Recycling App

OCEAN CITY, NJ — A team from the Ocean City Intermediate School captured first place at STEAM Tank for their app ReCraft. Isabella Kenny and Daphne Broyzna won the Elementary Category for their spin-off of the popular game Minecraft. ReCraft encourages recycling and aims to make it fun.

They won $2,500, and were honored at the 2017 NJEA Convention on Thursday, Nov. 9. The money, provided by PSE&Gthrough a collaborative grant with NJ Audubon - Eco Schools, will go towards developing the app, according to the school.

The duo of Kenny and Broyzna was one of 90 teams selected from 193 across the state to compete in the regional finals in the spring. ReCraft was the only application that was selected unanimously by the judges, according to the school. In October, they competed against 32 other teams in the STEAM Tank state finals in Atlantic City.

The STEAM Tank challenge was created and sponsored by the NJSBA and the U.S. Army. Its goal is to encourage students to explore science, technology, engineering, the arts and math (STEAM). This contest pits student teams in a contest modeled after the “Shark Tank” television show. Teams create innovative projects, and present their inventions before a judging panel of entrepreneurs, business leaders and inventors.

“This award comes from hard work and dedication by two young ladies, Bella and Daphne; their advisor Maureen Baldini; and the support of our Superintendent Dr. Taylor and the school board, along with the greater community,” Ocean City Intermediate School Principal Geoffrey Haines said. “I can't wait to see the development of the app! It all fits in with our school's goal to be as green as we can possibly be.”

The students' victory is another accolade for the Ocean City Public School District. Last week, Dr. Kathleen Taylor was named the New Jersey State Superintendent of the Year. In October, Amy Andersen was named the New Jersey Teacher of the Year.

The attached image was provided by the Ocean City Intermediate School