Eighth-graders in Cornell SD hope invention educates others

CORAOPOLIS, Pa. — Students in the Cornell School District returned to class Tuesday, and a group of eighth-graders are hoping their invention will be part of the lesson plan.

While in seventh grade, students Lorayne, Allison, Morgan and Victoria worked for nearly the entire year on a digital game that was then entered into a contest.

The girls researched a topic, came up with questions and multiple choice answers, and coded the game -- which they called Beyond the Borders.

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After initially selecting the topic of Syrian immigrants, the girls decided to change the topic of their game to Cuban immigrants.

“Today, a lot of people know what's happening in Syria. Not a lot of people know what's happening in Cuba, so I think it's to give knowledge to everyone,” Victoria Cohen said.

The game went up against others created by students from schools around the area. And it ended up winning for the “Local Stories and Immigrant Voices” category for middle schoolers in the Games for Change Student Challenge.

After their success last year, the girls plan to enter the competition again this year.

Cox Media Group