Greensprings School students built the smart phone application ‘Juiceitup,’ which earned $7.2 million in scholarships and a N2.5 million cash prize in the Conrad Challenge.
According to a school statement, three Greensprings School pupils won the overall best in Nigeria category at the 2024 Conrad Challenge final stage for the second year in a row.
Idara Attah, Imabong Apkan-Chinyere, and Mirabel Njoku, competing as ‘Team Lavendaire,’ won the challenge for developing an innovative phone application called ‘Juiceitup.’
It read, “This app uses an AI algorithm to recommend personalised juice-making ratios from various fruits to aid patients’ recovery from illnesses. Their innovative project earned them scholarships valued at $894,000 and a cash prize of N1.5m. In addition to Team Lavendaire’s achievement, nine other teams from the school who made the finals have received $6.4m worth of scholarships with the first runner-up team of the competition, also from the school, gaining a cash prize of N1m.
“The accomplishment of these students follows just a year after another trio from Greensprings, Segun Balogun, Adewale Saliu, and David Onukwugha, attained the overall best-in-Nigeria position in the 2023 Conrad Challenge and represented Nigeria at the Global Conrad Summit at NASA’s Johnson/Kennedy Space Center, USA.”
Assistant Principal of Enhancement, Mr Afolabi Amusan, revealed, “We were mindful of our position as the national winner from 2023, so we went into this year’s challenge to defend our title. At the finals, we presented 10 teams of 35 students who had qualified from the initial stages of the competition. These students were coached and supported by a team of hardworking and dedicated teachers led by two of the school’s teachers, Mr Aleilo and Mr Raimi.”
“The finalists took their performance a notch higher than the previous year. While Team Lavendaire clinched the overall best-in-Nigeria award, some of the other teams won awards like first runner-up and best in Energy and Environment which was received by Team Mono; best in Aviation and Aerospace by Team Kryptonite; and best in Cyber Technology and Security won by Team Unit.”
Amusan further disclosed that, in addition to their cash prize and scholarships, Team Lavendaire would represent Nigeria in the 2024 Conrad World Summit in April at The Space Center in Houston, USA.
He added that other teams, such as Team Mono, the first runner-up received a cash prize of N1m, while each member of the nine finalist teams was awarded $80,000 in Menlo College USA, $60,000 in Lewis & Clark College USA, and $60,000 in Clarkson University USA, making a total of $6,400,000 worth of scholarships for the students.
The Executive Director of Greensprings, Mrs Lai Koiki, was full of accolades to the students and their mentors as she congratulated them heartily in her remark about their achievements.
Furthermore, the School’s Deputy Director of Education, Mrs Feyisara Ojugo, said, “This news is worth celebrating. We are very proud of the hard work and effort that went into this year’s challenge. Our sincere appreciation goes to the team of teachers/coaches that worked with our students.”