Tyler Tech names 2020 Maine App Challenge winners

Courtesy / Tyler Technologies From left, the 2020 Tyler Technologies Maine App Challenge winners are: Parker Harnett of Yarmouth High School, Sarah Hagan of Cape Elizabeth High School and Elena Miller of Yarmouth High School.

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By Renee Cordes

A Yarmouth High School senior who designed an app that helps users find ways to donate time, money and needed items has been named the first-place winner in the 2020 Tyler Technologies Maine App Challenge, the company announced on Wednesday.

First prize went to Parker Harnett, whose "How to Help" app allows organizations to register so residents can easily find causes that matter to them. The app originated as a website, and she created an app to bring the organizations greater exposure.

Sarah Hagan of Cape Elizabeth High School came in second for an educational tool to help students with physics called “Physics Phone a Friend."

Elena Miller, also of Yarmouth High, scored third place for “Scoregenix,” an app that keeps a scorebook for a softball or baseball game.

Tyler Technologies (NYSE: TYL) is a Plano, Texas-based provider of integrated software and technology services to the public sector. In Maine, it employs 940 people across offices in Yarmouth, Falmouth and Bangor.

The company honored all three Maine App Challenge winners in a virtual ceremony on Tuesday evening after receiving a record 42 submissions for this year's content.

“We are always impressed by the ideas and app development from these young students,” said Chris Hepburn, president of Tyler's Enterprise Group. “The Maine App Challenge continues to introduce young minds to a future in technology, and we are proud to support their continued education through scholarships."

Tyler also awarded a $500 check to the Maine high school with the most teams or individuals submitting an eligible entry. This year's winner is Casco Bay High School in Portland, whose students submitted a total of 23 applications.

The Maine App Challenge was developed in partnership with Educate Maine's Project>Login to encourage the next generation of professionals to pursue future careers in STEM-related disciplines.

The three 2020 winners successfully designed, developed, and presented functional mobile applications, and were rewarded with college scholarships totaling $10,000 in 529 college savings plans.

In an "On the Record" interview with Mainebiz last October, Rick Simonds, Tyler's vice president and general manager of cybersecurity, offered this encouragement to high school students in Maine interested in pursuing a career in cybersecurity. 'We love being able to hire people from Maine ... Maine residents should not have to leave the state to find good-paying jobs. Our goal is to provide people employment that turns into a fulfilling career."

He also noted that there are several schools in Maine with cybersecurity programs, including the University of Southern Maine, Southern Maine Community College, University of Maine at Augusta and Thomas College.