Hyland Software Innovation Showdown

Congratulations to RRHS Computer Club students Austin Wilson, Mary Bebie, Ergis Mecaj and Hady Salama for winning the Hyland Software Innovation Showdown. The team created an application that can be used to make employees, staff, and students safer while they are at school or work.


Students began their quest to win the Innovation Showdown early in October, when they submitted an essay on the dynamics of working with a team. Their essay focused on the importance of using everyone’s strengths to build a strong team. They were given the nod to move on to the second round where they had to create a 60 second “elevator pitch” of their innovation. The team introduced the problem and pitched their solution. They were chosen as one of the top 5 teams from the previously narrowed down field of 10. This provided them the opportunity to work on developing their application with advice from mentors Olga Nagdaseva and David Gard, both from Hyland, and their teacher Christina Bright. Over the course of one week, the team met and developed a program flowchart, a product brochure and an Android prototype of the application.


On Saturday, October 22, five student teams presented their projects to Hyland Executives, Ken Malone, George Angelato, and Ed McQuiston. After careful deliberation by the contests' three judges, Rocky River High School's students were awarded the top prize. In addition to receiving valuable feedback, each student won a Kindle Fire.


The team intends to continue to work on development of their application.