MONTPELIER – When the state’s outdated and faulty unemployment mainframe failed late last month after the death of the hamster that had been powering it, Vermonters struggling with current economic conditions were promised a better solution. Now Governor Phil Scott has responded by announcing a new competition for technology-minded students in grades 9-12 to see who might be able to build a better one.
“We have so many natural resources right here in the state that we aren’t taking advantage of,” Gov. Scott told press at his daily Coronavirus briefing yesterday. “People are our greatest resource, and especially the young people of the great state, who seem to know a lot more about computers than the rest of us.”
The deadline for submissions is May 31st, giving students just over four weeks to completely design and implement a fully functional mainframe and interactive database that Vermonters will be able to access online, and many students are already diving into the challenge.
“I mean, it’s better than school I guess,” said Spaulding High School student William Eyelash over FaceTime. “Half our teachers don’t even know what they’re doing at this point anyway, so we all have either way too much work, or not enough, and either way, there’s no point. So yeah, I think I can whip up a little something for the guv. At least I could if my stupid brother would STAY OUT OF MY ROOM, ERIC!”
The prize for the winning design will be $10,000, although the money comes with the condition that the winner stay in Vermont after high school for at least 10 years.
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