Goan wins Nat ‘Google Code To Learn Contest 2021’
Venkatesh Yatish Dempo from Sharada Mandir School, Miramar, emerged victorious with his mobile app titled ‘Tourism De Goa’, while Viraj Vishwanath Marathe from Dr K B Hedgewar Vidyamandir, Sanquelim, secured the position of finalist with his mobile app 'Covi Companion'.
In a remarkable achievement showcasing the talent of Goan youth, a young student from Goa clinched the prestigious national-level ‘Google Code To Learn Contest 2021’, while another student from the same state emerged as a finalist in the fiercely-contested competition.
Both students, who are in Class 6, impressed the judges with their mobile apps created for the ‘Google Code to Learn Contest’. Venkatesh Yatish Dempo from Sharada Mandir School, Miramar, emerged victorious with his mobile app titled ‘Tourism De Goa’, while Viraj Vishwanath Marathe from Dr K B Hedgewar Vidyamandir, Sanquelim, secured the position of finalist with his mobile app ‘Covi Companion’.
Both Dempo and Marathe, aged 12, showcased their talents in the Classes 5 & 6 (Scratch and App Inventor) category, with Dempo winning the championship title and Marathe being recognized as one of the top finalists. Notably, they both designed their respective mobile applications using the MIT App Inventor, an intuitive, visual programming environment empowering children to build fully functional apps for Android phones and tablets without the need for extensive coding.
Dempo’s ‘Tourism De Goa’ app serves as a comprehensive guide for tourists visiting Goa, offering information on various attractions such as temples, museums, beaches, and hotels, along with insights into Goan culture and cuisines. On the other hand, Marathe’s ‘Covi Companion’ app assists Covid+ patients during their quarantine period by providing features like Daily check, Pedometer, Covid-19 Info, Cowin info, and facilitating communication with healthcare professionals.
Both students are part of LegoGoa, a group consisting of young talents aged between 8 and 12 years, which has gained recognition for its exceptional achievements in coding and robotics competitions. This recent success adds to the group’s stellar track record, which includes victories at prestigious events such as the annual World Robotics Olympiad and National level championships.
The accomplishments of Dempo and Marathe underscore the growing prominence of coding and robotics as valuable learning tools, empowering students to excel and innovate. With their remarkable achievements, they continue to inspire young minds in Goa and beyond, setting new benchmarks for excellence in technology and innovation.