MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) -Kids N Technology held a demonstration launching a new app called SummerLink Thursday Morning.
Jacquelyn Thomas Smith, the executive director, said a handful of students across different ages identified a problem and created a solution to help the City of Memphis.
“It was a problem solving, community project that we did for the City of Memphis actually to save them money in their MPLOY program, in the event management portion of the MPLOY program,” said Smith.
Smith said they are most excited about being able to save the city at least $100,000 in resources.
“I discussed this with the City of Memphis, even the people’s job that it might replace. I have to be very candid and honest with you, it might,” said Smith.
Smith said the app was named SummerLink and it allows people to check-in through the app.
“The students actually came up with that name. They not only built the app start to finish but they actually designed it, they did the naming of it, they did just what engineers do,” said Smith.
Smith said the students sat in conference rooms working together and built the app in eight days.
“It was so exciting for me,” said Smith.
One of those students who helped create the app is 18-year-old Jaylan Givins, a student at Northwest Community College.
Givins said he is studying Management of Information Systems and its skills he brought to the table, along with a handful of other gifted students, to develop the app.
“It was very extensive. It takes a lot of time because you have to learn how to prompt and prompting is very hard when you have to think about all the services the app would have to provide and all the features it needs. You feel me? So, it was just a lot of thinking and thought goes into it,” said Givins.
Givins used his laptop and clicked through the app to show how it actually works during the presentation. He said it takes a hectic registration and check-in process and simplifies it.
Givins used this year’s meet-and-great as an example.
“It was, phew, a lot of people there! Like, the whole kids trying to go for MPLOY, like 200 children all trying to fit in one building and all trying to check in and that’s chaotic! It was too chaotic. So, I was like this is an issue and we need to fix this,” said Givins.
Givins said all of the MPLOY events for the city can be viewed on the app and now people can check-in on the app and it notifies the city.
“You can click view details and now you have your table number presented to you, which worksite you’re a part of,” said Givins.
“He’s so special because he’s a young mind. He’s always thinking,” said Smith. “He was able to think that whole process out and be able to deliver this app.”
Smith said the app is also expected to save the city at least 100-thousand-dollars in operational costs.
Givins said he’s going to keep following his passion and striving for success.
“This is just a good starter to where you have people around you that want to see you thrive and want to see you get paid, want to see you make money, and learn like that structure. I like it a lot. It helps a lot of people; I see it every year,” said Givins.
The nonprofit organization has been partnering with schools, organizations, and families to cultivate excellence in STEM education since 2002, according to their website.
The website has additional details on how students can get involved.
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