In November, Marist High School senior Matthew Cabrera set out on a mission: create something that would make life just a bit easier for students, administrators, and staff at his school, as well as prospective students, but not let his project adversely affect his academic work, the many extracurricular activities he’s involved in, or his college application submissions.
Within a couple of months, his mission was accomplished. He had created a school-specific application for smart phones that could be used for a number of tasks, and he was no worse for wear.
“I have always wanted to make an app for the school,” Cabrera said. “I just saw an opportunity to see if I could do it.”
And it wasn’t a sure thing. Cabrera has no coding or computing programming skills. But mix together strong interest, some research, a little teacher assistance, and a desire to make something helpful to others and you have a winning recipe.
“I have always wanted to make an app for the school. I just saw an opportunity to see if I could do it.” – Matthew Cabrera
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Cabrera wanted to help advance the school technologically by creating the smart phone app, one that would allow anyone involved with, or interested in, Marist High School to remain easily connected with the school while on the go.
But without the coding and computer programming know-how, he had to do extra homework to figure a way to make it happen.
“I thought well maybe there are apps out there to make an app. So I researched different programs to make apps without needing to know computer coding,” Cabrera said. “I found and tested several different programs. I finally found one that had all the features I was looking for, and a program that would be easy to use and maintain.”
With the right program in place, Cabrera entered the creation phase, taking several hours.
“I started to design it and played with different interfaces,” he said. Cabrera consulted school technical director Anthony Kufta for his help.
After about a month, he came up with the final beta, or test, version which he presented to Head of School Alice Miesnik.
“It was well worth the work, because she loved it,” Cabrera said, and Miesnik gave him
the green light to proceed.
It took him a few more weeks to tinker and finalize the app, so as not to affect his other activities and responsibilities. Cabrera is National Honor Society president, a retreat leader, peer counselor, a yearbook staffer, and in the top of his class academically.
The school approved his final version in December, and he published it to the Google and Apple stores on Dec. 15, meaning both companies had to do their review process. Within a little more than a month later, it had been approved by both companies.
The app became available on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store on Jan 23. The best part about it? It’s free.
The Marist App allows students to check their homework, their Google drive, and find bus schedules. Parents use the Marist App to access the school calendar and faculty directory.
Prospective students can use the admissions feature and stay up to date with school happenings. “Push” notifications let Marist App users instantly find out about things such as closings.
Only a couple of weeks after it was offered, virtually the entire Marist student population had downloaded the app, as well as the school’s 40 teachers, according to Cabrera. There were also a multitude of prospective students using the tool.
“I would consider it my legacy to Marist,” Cabrera said. “It’s definitely something they will remember me for when I graduate.”
Cabrera will make his college selection by April. He is considering Harvard and Vanderbilt universities and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
For more information about the Marist app, visit http://apps.appmachine.com/maristhighschool.
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