Entering into the BCE STEM MAD (Make a Difference) competition was a logical choice for a group of St Teresa’s Catholic College STEM students. The competition provided a platform for students to solve a problem and make a difference using their Science, Technology, Maths and Engineering skills to create a solution.
The group of four students, Joseph Hillier, Andrew Fisher, Niklas Schuck and Ella Rolley identified the difficulties teenagers are facing in mental health, especially in speaking up and letting someone know they weren’t okay. From this they created an app that allows students to let their teacher know that they are struggling, enabling those who may not have the confidence to speak up a discreet method of asking for help, through their App.
A school spokeswoman said the judges were very impressed with the team’s ability to identify a very real problem in many schools and innovate through a simple but effective solution. They were particularly impressed by the student’s ability to present their journey and showcase their working prototype. Ultimately these aspects led to the team being recognised as winners of the Secondary Category of this year’s BCE STEM MAD Showcase. The team will now represent our diocese at the National Catholic Schools Showcase event online in mid-November.
