Congressional STEM Competition
STEM Competition
I want to invite all high school students in the 21st District of Texas to participate in the first annual Congressional Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Academic Competition, “The House STEM App Challenge.” This new competition is designed to engage student’s creativity and encourage their participation in STEM education fields. Established by Members of the U.S. House of Representatives in 2013, this competition is a nationwide event that allows students from across the country to compete by creating and exhibiting their software application, or “app,” for mobile, tablet, or computer devices on a platform of their choice. If interested, please continue reading the STEM FAQs below for more information on how you can participate.
STEM FAQs
What is the House Student App Challenge?
Established by Members of the U.S. House of Representatives in 2013, the House Student App Challenge is a nationwide event that invites high school students to compete by creating and exhibiting their software application, or “app,” for mobile, tablet, or computer devices on a platform of their choice. The competition is designed to engage the creativity of students and encourage their participation in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education fields.
When will the contest occur?
Preparations for the contest will occur in December and January. Students will develop their code for submission in February and March. Students can register until April 30, 2014. Judging will take place in May, and district winners will be posted on StudentAppChallenge.house.gov in June.
Who can participate?
High school students who live in or are eligible to attend public schools located in the 21st Congressional District can participate. To confirm your eligibility, please visit StudentAppChallenge.house.gov. Participants must be at least 13 years old as of February 1, 2014.
Can homeschooled students participate?
Yes, any student who lives in or is eligible to attend high school in the district can compete.
Can students submit in teams?
Yes. The maximum team size is four students, two of whom must reside in or be eligible to attend high school in the district.
Is this only open to high schoolers?
Yes, only high school students can participate.
How can I submit my entry?
Participating students must first confirm eligibility and register at StudentAppChallenge.house.gov. Beginning on February 1st, students can create an account on ChallengePost.com and submit an entry for the House Student App Challenge. All entries must be an original in concept, design and execution.
What must contestants submit for consideration?
Participating students must submit a demonstration video of their app with an entry form. The source code for the app must be available for inspection by the judges.
How are apps judged?
Apps will be judged based on the following criteria:
a)Quality of the idea, including creativity and originality
b)Implementation of the idea, including user experience and design
c)Demonstrated excellence of coding and programming
How will the winners be recognized?
Winners will be recognized in a congressional district awards ceremony to be held in the summerof2014.The winner from Texas’s 21st Congressional District will be featured on StudentAppChallenge.house.gov, and the winning app will also be on display in the U.S. Capitol, honoring the winners from across the country.