A team of three Hornby High School girls (Kimberley, Fleur, and Zoe) have won a national app building competition, judged last week in Wellington.

Quoting from the IT Professionals Newsletter:

"We had an exciting day yesterday, when we brought the three regional winners from the TechHub CREST Challenge to Wellington for Nationals judging and a day packed full of action.

"It was an absolute cracker of a day. With judging in the morning, the teams were then whisked off to a tour around Datacom and TradeMe to get a feel for what working in the industry is like, then afternoon tea with ICT Minister Clare Curran in the Beehive before the announcement of the winners at the #wellytech Christmas event, in front of 1000 people.

"TechHub is supported by around 30 organisations including Datacom and the NZ School of Education, who have both been awesome long-term supporters of the programme. Datacom have also been strong supporters of the Challenge component, including providing over $2000 of prize money. A big thanks to Google as well, who funded the flights for the 2 out-of-town teams and their teachers.

"It was also great to see other MPs including opposition ICT spokesperson Brett Hudson and MPs Paul Goldsmith, Melissa Lee and others pop by to say hi to the students and congratulate them on their achievement.

"The Regional winners were:

• Team Spirit from Samuel Marsden Karori Collegiate, Wellington
  
• Team Alzheimers from Hornby High School, Christchurch
  
• Canteen Team from James Cook High School, South Auckland
  

"All teams were awesome and interesting to see so many girls succeed in the Challenge again this year. The teams had thought about their problems deeply, often pivoted and providing a truly useful outcome, and were really proud of what they'd achieved. The day was more of a celebration of all of the teams and their achievement, as well as the hundreds of other students who took part in the Challenge this year.

"But there has to be an overall winner, and we were pleased to announce 2017 TechHub CREST Challenge national winners were Team Alzheimers from Hornby High School in Christchurch. Well done!"

These girls have shown the best of our school values, and have directly modelled 'creative excellence' in their work. Well done girls, and our thanks to Mr Ben Carter, the teacher who inspired and supported the girls in their work.