Congressman DeSaulnier Announces 2020 Congressional App Challenge
Walnut Creek, CA – Today, Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11) announced that he will host the sixth annual Congressional App Challenge (CAC), an app coding competition for high school students. High school students who live or attend school in California's 11th Congressional District are invited to create and submit their original software application ("app") for mobile, tablet, or other computing devices on a platform of their choice.
"In our rapidly changing world, programming skills and experience in the STEM fields is more important than ever to prepare young people for the workforce," Congressman DeSaulnier said. "The Congressional App Challenge is an opportunity for students to hone these skills, harness their creativity and ingenuity, and showcase their talents. I look forward to seeing the innovative apps this year's participants come up with."
The Challenge is now underway and Congressman DeSaulnier's office will be accepting submissions until October 19, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. PT/12 p.m. ET. Students may participate as individuals or in teams of up to four. Submissions must include the registration form, application, a demonstration video, and exit questionnaire. To sign up and access these materials visit https://webportalapp.com/sp/login/congressional_app_challenge_2020.
Winners will be selected by a panel of local judges who work in the academic, software, and entrepreneurial fields and announced by Congressman DeSaulnier in December. The winning app from California's 11th Congressional District will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol and featured on the House of Representatives website along with the winning apps from other Congressional districts.
Established in 2014, the CAC is a public initiative to encourage young Americans to learn how to code in an effort to engage students' creativity and interest in STEM education. The competition has continued to grow, reaching a total of 14,000 students across 48 states over the past six years, including students in underserved, diverse, and rural areas.
For more information about the Congressional App Challenge, please visit: https://www.congressionalappchallenge.us/.