Students from kindergarten through the 12th grade have until Friday, Nov. 1, to submit their apps to the 2019 Congressional App Challenge.
Congressman John Moolenaar, representing Michigan’s 4th District, is encouraging all students to put their imaginations and coding skills to use. He says that the winner will have their app displayed at the U.S. Capitol and be presented the option to attend a Washington, D.C. event that showcases all of the winning apps and students from across the United States.
"The whole goal is to engage students and encourage the technology skills that they use from day to day," Moolenaar says. "These apps can improve the lives of those in our community."
As an example, Moolenaar points to last year’s winner from the 4th District, Dow High School student Ashwin Saxena. The winner of the 2018 Congressional App Challenge, Saxena created the TrackBus app, which allowed students to track school buses, limiting their time spent standing outside in the cold.
Students can use any programming language when creating the app, and for any device desired. There are no themes or topic requirements. Students can compete individually or in groups of up to four students.
To participate in the 4th District competition, students must either reside or attend school here.
The 4th District is made up of 15 counties, which include Clare, Clinton, Gladwin, Gratiot, Isabella, Mecosta, Midland, Missaukee, Ogemaw, Osceola, Roscommon, Shiawassee, and Wexford counties. The district also includes parts of Montcalm and Saginaw counties.
"It’s encouraging to see students and their creativity, to see them thinking outside the box and use their talents to help others and address the issues they’ve felt throughout their own lives," Moolenaar says.
For further contest rules and applications, visit the 2019 Congressional App Challenge online.
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