Jonecia Keels: Computer Science Junior @ Spelman, One to watch!

Posted on 26. Aug, 2009 by Leshell Hatley in Academia News, Getting Tenure, News, PhD, Scholarly Celebrations, Students, Undergraduate

Keels with the inspiration for her iPhone App

SpelBots co-captain Jonecia Keels, C’2011 at Spelman College, dreams of starting a computer software company that creates revolutionary applications for mobile and computing platforms. The dual-degree engineering major is well on her way to making that dream come true.

Keels has created the hugely popular iPhone app, iDex, for gamers of the Pokemon game franchise. According to Keels, iDex gets downloaded 1,500 times a day worldwide. Since its release, the Pokemon app remains on the Top 25 list of more than 2,600 apps in the reference category. One of 25 students chosen to participate in the Cocoa Camp at Apple to create iPhone apps, Keels is currently working on her second iPhone app while creating updates to iDex. “What started as a fun little side project for me turned into this ridiculously successful worldwide application,” she said. “The best part is receiving emails from people around the world who appreciate my creation.”

Left to right: Jonecia, Dr. Andrew Williams, Jazmin, Mimi, Tajiana

The Spelbots, the undergraduate Robotics Team at Spelman University lead by Dr. Andrew Williams (now chair of the Computer Science Department), won many awards and competitions over the last several years. They are the first all-women and African American undergraduate team to compete in the International RoboCup Four-Legged Soccer Competition in Osaka, Japan (2005) and Bremen, Germany (2006). The won 2nd place in 2007 and tied for 1st in 2009.
Watch recaps of these last two competitions below:

2009: 1st Place Tie

2007: 2nd Place ‘Passing Challenge’

More Related posts:

1. BSI mourns Jasmin Lynn, Spelman Student who died this morning
2. Dr. Andrew Williams Promoted to Chair CS Dept. @ Spelman
3. [Update] NBA (Atlanta Hawks) honors Dr. Andrew Williams and the Spelbots
4. Taylor Yarborough: Freshman Spelman Student & Tavis Smiley Foundation Honoree
5. MarK Dean: Holder of 3 of 9 Patents for Personal Computer

Tags: 1st African-American PhD, 1st African-American undergraduate team, and Elisabeth Sylvan, Andrew Williams, Apple, BAR N' GRILL 1937, Captain, Head of the UCLA Comprehensive Brain Tumor Program, honorary degree, Howard University Board of Trustees, iDex, International RoboCup 2007, iPhone App, Jonecia Keels, LIFE OF HARRIET TUBMAN 40 panels 1942, National HBCU Week Conference, Paine College Alumni Association Charles G. Gomillion Award, photographer, Pokemon, Robert F. Kennedy Lifetime Achievement Award, Spelbots, Spelman, Trustees Special Leadership Award