Students in Hillsboro Century High School Software Entrepreneurs ...

The students in Century High School's new Software Entrepreneurs' Club are plunging into the world of technology startups.

They've completed a solid version of their first Windows 8 application - a tool for community members to browse volunteering and donating opportunities at the school. And now the club is competing in a Microsoft apps for social good contest, with a $10,000 prize for the application that receives the most online votes. Voters can choose their favorite app until midnight Friday March 15.

While technology companies often lament the lack of computer science education in the classroom, the Software Entrepreneurs' Club aims to give its members the full business experience of a technology startup, from coding, to marketing to financing. The club filed as a non-profit so that they can own the apps they create, said teacher adviser Chris Winikka. Their goal is to launch the volunteer app beyond Century High School and bring in revenue with transaction fees or requests for donations on the app itself.

"We are making something that works and putting it out there, so people can actually use it," said 17-year-old junior Lars Lawrenson.

Hillsboro Unified School District programmer Rick Dedrick, who spent 27 years in the business world, including with Intel, also advises the club. Funding from the remainder of a $20,000 Intel grant in 2011 and a $10,000 Microsoft grant was used to purchase tablets, phones and to make a promotional video.

Microsoft's Jerry Smith, the corporate liaison to the club, said the Software Entrepreneurs' Club is the first of its kind among the dozens of schools in the Pacific Northwest that he works with.

"It's unique in that it gets kids excited about programming and developing a whole business model around coding," Smith said.

In a recent afterschool meeting, the students grappled with the same questions many tech entrepreneurs face every day: How do we persuade an investor to fund us? Do we pursue another application and risk breaking our focus?

Of course, a high school can't provide the full business experience. Instead of an ultra-modern startup office, the students work in a computer lab with a Napoleon Dynamite poster peering down on them. Those computers are too old to program Windows 8 applications, so they share developer tablets donated by Microsoft. And with homework, sports and jobs - these students can't focus exclusively on the apps all day.

With two advisers for about 25 active members, many students are teaching themselves how to code using online tutorials. Much of their programming is trial and error.

"We smash keys until something happens," jokes 18-year-old senior Cristina Martinez while peering at a screen of code.

If the students win the Microsoft apps for social good contest, they want to use the money on scholarships. That's because a full investment for the equipment they need runs up to $100,000. The club hopes other sources of funding, including companies and Oregon investment organizations, will pull through next year - after the seniors instrumental in getting the project off the ground have already graduated.

"It won't solve the long term problem," Dedrick, the district programmer, said of the contest money. "It's more important to help the kids who are contributing to go to college next year."

Source: http://www.oregonlive.com/hillsboro/index.ssf/2013/03/hillsboro_century_high_school.html

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