Registration open for 14th Annual App Contest

Undergraduate students at the University of New Mexico and Central New Mexico Community College can now register for the 14th Annual App Contest, sponsored by UNM's Office of the Chief Information Officer.

The contest challenges students to design mobile applications that address real-world problems. Past winners include Campus Core and The Medicine Cabinet, a 2023 entry that helps travelers search for equivalent medications in their country and overcome language barriers in medication literacy. Students must register no later than Oct. 31 to be eligible.

To qualify, students must be enrolled in at least one class this fall at UNM or CNM. CNM students in a fall Deep Dive cohort must also meet eligibility requirements. Prototypes will be judged by a panel, with Presentation Day and Awards set for Nov. 21 at UNM Rainforest.

Prizes include $5,000 for first place, $2,500 for second place and $1,000 for third place.

A Kickoff and Meet the Mentors Session is scheduled for Sept. 18 from 3 to 6 p.m. at Lobo Rainforest, where participants can connect with teammates and mentors. Teams will receive additional technical assistance on Oct. 9, also from 3 to 6 p.m.

This year's contest focuses on developing a pitch and high-fidelity prototype. UNM, CNM and the City of Albuquerque have invested in datasets such as campus locations, Route 66 images and local businesses to make the apps more useful.

Students can register here.