South Windsor Student Cited In Lt. Governor's Computer Challenge

SOUTH WINDSOR, CT — From among 430 submissions in the second annual computer challenge by Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz, 13 entries received recognition, including one from South Windsor.

The 13 teams, from schools across the state and three different age groups, were recognized at a virtual celebration with Bysiewicz, Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner Bongi Magubane, acting Department of Education Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker and Office of Higher Education Executive Director Tim Larson.

Shreya Nambiar, a fifth-grade student at Pleasant Valley Elementary School, was recognized for her app, True Friend.

"True Friend app objective is to inherit some good habits in kids by providing a way for parents to manage goals for kids and kids to get rewarded on successful completion," Nambiar wrote. "Goals can be customized to perform once, or daily for shorter duration and subsequently for a longer period, along with rewarding the kid based on the level of goal. Also, it provides a way for kids to log and view their activities to show how the time is spent, which will give them a better time sense. Since COVID, I have faced time management issues and inherited some bad habits like watching too much. When I went to my friend’s house, they were also mentioning about the same, which made me think that it will be a general issue with most kids everywhere. So, I wanted to make something that is not just for me and my friends, but everyone can use too. Then I got the thought to make an app which helps to provide the kid a better time sense and allows to inherit good habits, and that’s how my app, ‘True Friend’ all began.When I realized I was having some issues with my time I wanted to make a timetable to help me, but that didn’t work so well because all my timetables are in the trash now. When I started getting an interest in coding, I got inspired to solve this problem with technology that could help not only me and my friends, but others too!

"It is mainly for kids but adults can use it too! I chose to create the app because it can help anyone with their habits and managing their time well, not just restricted to kids. I think kids would start using my app as they may get rewarded for completing the goal initially and later more than reward, they may realize that its helping in inheriting some good habits and have a better time sense, which may eventually help them grow as a better person.Though it is not just restricted to kids but its mainly meant for them, hence I chose some kids friendly color which personally I like and the name, as I feel true-friend is someone who always try to make you good, so does my app. The logo consists of two friends, an hourglass to represent time sense aspect, and a goal with clipboard image that covers the goal lifecycle aspect (from goal creation to claim reward part) and show that you need to be consistent on goals to create it into a habit."

"Careers in coding and computing are the good-paying jobs of the future, yet these fields are too often lacking in representation of women and people of color," Bysiewicz said in a written statement. "The submissions recognized as part of the Lt. Governor's computing challenge show that when young women and girls are provided opportunities and encouragement to pursue their passions in STEM learning, they can do incredible things. Connecticut's next generation is full of innovative thinkers and talented technical minds, and it is our job to give them the platform they deserve to succeed. I want to thank our state agency partners, Commissioner Magubane, Acting Commissioner Russell-Tucker, and Executive Director Larson, as well as our corporate sponsors: AT&T, Tallan, Girl Scouts of America, Infosys, Google, and Microsoft for all their support championing the coding challenge. I am proud to organize this event as part of the Governor's Council on Women and Girls and I look forward to championing its continued success."

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