Congressman DeSaulnier Announces 2021 Congressional App Challenge

Walnut Creek, CA – Today, Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11) announced that he will host the seventh 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.

"As programming skills and experience in the STEM fields become increasingly important to prepare young people for a changing workforce, the Congressional App Challenge presents a unique opportunity for students to hone these skills, harness their creativity, and showcase their talents," said Congressman DeSaulnier. "I look forward to seeing the innovative apps this year's participants develop."

The Challenge is now underway and Congressman DeSaulnier's office will be accepting submissionsuntil November 1, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. PT/12:00 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_2021.

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 seven years, including students in underserved, diverse, and rural areas.

For more information about the Congressional App Challenge, please visit: https://www.congressionalappchallenge.us/.