Fresno County students win national award for app they developed. ‘For our community’

Laura S. Diaz
·3 min read
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Four Mendota eighth graders knew fentanyl was a problem in Fresno County and wanted to do something about it.

So Gerardo Portillo, Anthony Trinidad, Jonathan Alfaro and Jimmy Fuentes developed an app that provides information in Spanish and English about the dangers of fentanyl, signs and symptoms of an overdoses, and local resources. It even includes a 911 call button.

The boys created the app, called FentaKNOW, for their Math Engineering, Science and Achievement (MESA) project. The app also was the students’ entry to the MESA USA National Engineering Design Competition, where they won first place overall and beat 25,000 other students on June 30.

“We saw a lot of casualties, deaths, that have happened in our community due to fentanyl,” Portillo said. “So we decided to research it and do our MESA project on the topic.”

Fentanyl was present in 25% of single-drug overdose deaths and was 45% of combined drug overdose deaths in Fresno County, according to the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office Coroner’s annual 2021 report. Fentanyl overdose deaths have also exponentially increased from four in 2017 to 71 in 2021.

During their meeting this week, the Fresno County Board of Supervisors recognized Portillo, Trinidad, Alfaro and Fuentes for their success and contributions to the community.

“Gentlemen, you are supported far and wide,” said Supervisor Brian Pacheco. “As the representative of western Fresno County, I myself cannot be more proud to represent you and congratulate you for all that you have done.”

Supervisor Sal Quintero said the students have a bright future.

“If there are any recruiters out there to offer scholarships,” Quintero said, “you are getting the best of the best.”

The boys and their advisor, Carlos Tamayo, received a proclamation and individual diplomas from the county and took a group photo with the supervisors.

As soon as they were done, the boys – from Mexican and Salvadoran families – received a round of applause from a packed boardroom. On the way out, they were cheered in Spanish and English by other community members. They couldn’t stop looking at their awards in awe once they left the Fresno County Hall of Records and gathered at Courthouse Park.

“It feels good knowing that we did something for our community,” Trinidad said, “and helping out the local towns near our city.”

Portillo agreed.

“It makes us feel proud of our hard work and where we came from,” he said.

Members of the Mendota Junior High School Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement team (MESA) appear with their teacher and advisor, Carlos Tamayo, at the Fresno County Board of Supervisor’s meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023 to accept a proclamation acknowledging the team for placing first overall in the 2023 MESA USA National Engineering Design Competition in New Mexico in June. The team created an app called “FentaKNOW,” which connects their community with resources to combat the fentanyl crisis. From left is teacher Carlos Tamayo with students Anthony Trinidad, Gerardo Portillo, Jonathan Alfaro and Jimmy Fuentes.

Mendota students’ app fights fentanyl crisis

Alfaro explained they developed the app with JavaScript coding through Code.org’s online app development platform. Code.org is a nonprofit organization focused on innovation and dedicated to providing K-12 students with computer science learning opportunities.

After winning the regional competition in Oakland and state in San Diego, the students competed in New Mexico for the national title.

“I’m so proud, it’s a beautiful thing to see our sons be recognized for their work, effort and all the love they have for their community,” Laura Cisneros, Anthony Trinidad’s mom, said in Spanish.

Teresa Hernández, Jimmy Fuentes’ mom, echoed Cisneros’ sentiments.

“Ojalá, hopefully, the app can continue on so they can help a lot of people,” Hernández said in Spanish.

Though the students are leaving junior high and starting 9th grade at Mendota High School, Fuentes said they still plan to work on the app and are looking into adding more languages so more community members can use it.

For the upcoming school year, the four app developers said they aspire to get good grades and continue to achieve academic success.

Tamayo is sure his students will achieve their goals.

“I’m extremely proud of all the work that they’ve done and the resiliency that they’ve shown,” he said. “It takes a special kind of individual for them to accomplish these big things, and these guys have done it.”

Members of the Mendota Junior High School Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement team (MESA) are photographed with their teacher and advisor, Carlos Tamayo, and members of the Fresno County Board of Supervisor’s during their meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023 while accepting a proclamation acknowledging the team for placing first overall in the 2023 MESA USA National Engineering Design Competition in New Mexico in June. The team created an app called “FentaKNOW,” which connects their community with resources to combat the fentanyl crisis. In front from left is Jonathan Alfaro, Gerardo Portillo, teacher Carlos Tamayo, Anthony Trinidad, and Jimmy Fuentes.