Josh White, a computer science student at Boise State, was recently awarded the grand prize and the best of tourism award in the Idaho Tech Challenge. The contest, organized by AT&T, the Idaho Technology Council and the office of Idaho Gov. Butch Otter urged university students across the state to create an education software app focused on agriculture, health care or tourism.
White’s app, titled “Bike Idaho,” displays the 32 scenic byways throughout Idaho. Users can view the byways either as pins on a map or in a list with an accompanying picture and elevation/distance information. White credited a course at Boise State with inspiring him to develop this particular app.
“I took a geosciences course at Boise State in the fall of 2015, and it really opened my eyes to the beauty that surrounds us. I have lived in Idaho for 22 years, and took for granted all of our history and amazing landmarks.” – Josh White
The runner up and winner of best of agriculture also went to a Boise State computer science student, Brent Walter, for his app titled “Idaho Farmers Markets.” Winners received varying cash prizes that altogether totaled $17,000.