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Angeline Academy students build app to curb social‑media distraction, receive first‑place recognition
Summary
Two students at Angeline Academy of Innovation described an app they created to help peers avoid social‑media distraction and discussed how their school’s STEM pathways supported the work; a speaker said the project won a “1st place award.”
Two students from Angeline Academy of Innovation in Pasco County demonstrated an app they designed to reduce social‑media distraction and described how the school’s STEM pathways helped them build it.
Matthew Testoni, community engagement specialist for Pasco County Schools, introduced the students during a recorded Pasco County Schools segment at Angeline Academy of Innovation.
“We noticed that many people got distracted by social media instead of doing their work. For example, some people scroll on TikTok as soon as they come back home from school instead of doing their homework and getting it done with, which leads to procrastinating and lower attention spans,” said Rishika, a seventh‑grade student in the school’s bio design pathway.
Quintana, a ninth‑grade student in the cybersecurity pathway, described how Angeline’s classes supported the project: “Angeline is a STEM school, so everything here is about, like, computers and science. I'm in the cybersecurity pathway, so I take 3 computer classes. And in those computer classes, we learn coding and the basics of computers, and those have helped me to, like, make code my code our app and make it better.”
On how other students can start building technology projects, Quintana said, “To create an app, you don't really need to know a lot of coding. For example, I didn't know that much coding. I use block code and JavaScript with help of my dad to start off. So you don't really need to know anything to start off and any idea matters.”
A speaker on the recording described the project as receiving a “1st place award” and mentioned a hope to see the students in Washington, D.C.; the recording did not specify the award's sponsor or the competition’s scope. Testoni also praised the students for representing Angeline Academy and Pasco County Schools and expressed enthusiasm about the app’s potential use across the district.
The segment consisted of brief question‑and‑answer exchanges: students explained the app’s inspiration (reducing distraction caused by social platforms such as TikTok), the school coursework that enabled development (computer and cybersecurity classes), and encouragement for other students to try simple tools such as block coding and JavaScript. The recording did not include technical details about the app’s features, distribution plan, funding, or the formal name of the competition that conferred the “1st place award.”
