FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Some Pine Crest School students have been working on a project for quite some time -- months of hard word and dedication that paid off.
Now, they'll get a chance to work alongside MIT to improve their app, which could change how sports are played at school.
Just last year, 10 of the 48 players on the school's junior varsity and varsity team suffered a concussion-related injury.
A team of seventh-graders from Pine Crest School in Fort Lauderdale received quite the surprise on Tuesday as they were awarded top honors in a nationwide contest for an app they've been working on for nearly two years.
"They're one of eight school teams across the country that are best in nation, and we applaud them so much for their work and effort," said Kate Jay with the Verizon Foundation.
The students received a $20,000 grant from the foundation to help turn their app concept into a reality.
The app is aimed at reducing the number of concussions and preventing traumatic brain injuries.
"It's a helmet with four sensors embedded in the skull of the helmet, and when the player gets hit, it wirelessly transmits the data of the force to the coach's mobile device," Jay said.
The submission was one of 1,200 across the country.
Now, the bright and talented students will get a chance to work on the app's design and application with experts from MIT.
"Collaboration is hard work and they will tell you that there were many days when we wanted to throw in the towel and they never gave up," said student adviser Keri Kolettis.
"We're going to be able to work with MIT, which is amazing, and we'll be able to help make our prototype smaller and more comfortable, and the app will be able to analyze more kind of data," said student Jordan Shiff.
The debate over concussions and school sports hit close to the group when one of the science team members suffered a football-related concussion on the field.
"It'll revolutionize the game," said student Trey Santarelli. "Real-time data is very important, because a concussion has already happened if you're taking a chip out of the helmet and off the field 60 minutes after it happens. Its going to be a game changer."