Anu Iyer, leader of the Verizon App Challenge team from Forest Heights STEM Academy in Little Rock, and her teacher, Amber Harben.

A team of five sixth-graders from Forest Heights STEM Academy in Little Rock have theorized a new smartphone app called SmartRnger, which won a Best in the State award and $5,000 for their school at the fifth annual Verizon Innovative Learning App Challenge. 

The app the students envisioned automatically adjusts the volume of a telephone ringtone based on ambient noise and location preferences. For the contest, they had to submit an essay about the app and create a video of three minutes or less to advertise it.

Now the team is hoping to clinch a second victory that would mean another $15,000 for their school, but they need people to vote for them by Feb. 14 by texting “SmartRnger” to 22333 to win.

The team could also be selected by a panel of education and industry experts as one of eight Best in the Nation winners. The prize amount is the same, and either title means the students will get the opportunity to work with experts at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Media Lab to turn SmartRnger into a reality. Fan Favorite and Best in the Nation winners will also win a trip to Orlando, Florida, to present their completed apps at the annual Technology Student Association conference in June.

For more details, check out this story from our sister publication, Arkansas Business.