Blue Ox Technologies, Ltd. is excited to announce the winners of its first-ever app contest for Maine students:

FIRST PRIZE: Ryan Topham, an eighth grade student at Massabesic Middle School in East Waterboro, Maine, took top honors with his flexible, full-featured “Homeworker” app.

SECOND PRIZE: Devin Christianson, a senior at Mount Desert Island High School in Bar Harbor, Maine, nabbed second place with his streamlined “Chord Calculator” app.

“We’re excited to recognize the great work done by Ryan and Devin,” said Blue Ox CEO Christopher York. “Of the almost two dozen students from Caribou to Saco who registered for the contest, these two students created very useful finished products. We hope that all those who participated in the contest will continue to explore the important field of computer science.”

“Homeworker” by Ryan Topham enables students to track homework due dates and make notes about the work to be done. The app also includes a screen with inspirational sayings to give students a little motivational push when they’re stuck. For his organized, well-executed design, Ryan will receive the $1000 first prize.

“Chord Calculator” by Devin Christianson plays basic chords, as requested by the user, to familiarize a student with chord structure. For his streamlined approach to solving a problem for beginner students, Devin will receive the $500 second prize.

Blue Ox Technologies gratefully recognizes the valuable support provided for this contest by the Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance (http://mmsa.org), Project Login (http://projectlogin.com) and the Association of Computer Technology Educators in Maine (http://www.edline.net/pages/actem).