Mobile App Challenge Gets a Boost from AT&T

From left to right, CITRIS Assistant Director Stefano Foresti; CITRIS Director Joshua Viers; student and Mobile App Challenge winner Augustin Roldan; Associate Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development Peter Schuerman; AT&T Director of External Affairs Julie Tone; and Assemblyman Adam Gray.

Earlier this month, AT&T presented its Investing in California award to UC Merced’s Mobile App Challenge. The communications company gave $5,000 to support the competition, which is held each spring as part of the annual Innovate to Grow event. The app challenge is organized by the Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society (CITRIS).

The Investing in California award is designed to provide resources and recognition to organizations and programs that are improving lives in their communities and throughout the state by advancing education, economic growth, new technologies and other essential community services. 

State Assemblyman Adam Gray, D-Merced, was downtown at the new UC Merced Venture Lab for the award. He told app challenge leaders he supports the work UC Merced is doing to increase local education attainment levels and diversify the local economy through technology.