Two high school girls are splitting $20,000 in scholarship award money after winning a contest that challenged young minds to build an app addressing a pressing issue in their community. In-coming seniors E'Niyah Berry and Journey Artis, from SOAR High School in the Antelope Valley Union High School District, developed an app to help bridge the gap between their community and mental health resources. They competed against other high school girls from Boyle Heights STEM Magnet High in the CGI I.T. Girl Challenge. 

In an era where mental health issues have become increasingly prevalent, the lack of accessible and confidential resources remains a significant hurdle for those seeking help. Recognizing this pressing issue, E’Niyah and Journey embarked on a mission to design an app that would provide mental health resources with a diversity, equity, and inclusion perspective. 

Combining their passion for technology with their commitment to improving mental health support, E’Niyah and Journey created an app called “Build a Better You: By You – For You” that connects individuals to crucial resources in a safe and private manner. Their solution aimed to eliminate the barriers that prevent people from seeking help. The app provides referrals based on how a person identifies with a demographic group or type of support needed. It enables users to journal and document their feelings, symptoms, and provide options that direct the user to existing organizations with 24/7 staff availability and emergency contacts. The app also has daily affirmations, meditation, and exercise information.  

The presentations from each of the teams highlighted critical issues and offered insightful tools to support solutions. The judges selected E’Niyah and Journey because they identified and provided a solution for a problem in their community, their presentation was informative, and the team provided a live demonstration. 

The innovative solution demonstrates the power of youthful enthusiasm, determination, and the boundless possibilities of technology in creating meaningful change. The financial support they receive will allow both young teenagers to further their academic endeavors. The CGI I.T. Girl Challenge is a collaboration between the Los Angeles County Office of Education, CGI Technologies and Solutions Inc., Junior Achievement and Boyle Heights STEM Magnet High. To learn more about the competition, contact Sharon Harvey at Harvey_sharon@lacoe.edu. 

Congratulations to E'Niyah Berry and Journey Artis from SOAR High School in the Antelope Valley Union High School District for winning the CGI I.T. Girl Challenge!