Congresswoman Frederica Wilson

Representing the 24th District of Florida

STEM Competition

It was an honor and a privilege to honor the winners of the first Congressional Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Academic Competition.

Students from Yvonne Learning Center, a young K-12 private school in Northeast Miami, created the “Yummy” app which helps teenagers to make healthy eating choices. The app guides the user to make a nutritious meal with what ingredients are currently available at home.

Natasha Dulcio, Scott Michel, Davidson Delton and Bianca Montilus are this year’s first place recipients. These students in addition to the other very talented, smart, and focused participants are undoubtedly the key to the future of our country. Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math education is critical for our students to be competitive in the global job market, to strengthen our workforce, and to meet the demands of our changing industries. 

Last Updated April 15, 2014 at 5:01 pm EST

 

 
 
Table of Contents
Last Updated March 3, 2014 at 4:34 pm EST

Overview

This year marks the first annual Congressional Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Academic Competition. Established by Members of the U.S. House of Representatives in 2013, this new competition is designed to engage student’s creativity and encourage their participation in STEM education fields.  For 2014, the competition will be an App Challenge.

This competition is a nationwide event that allows high school students (grades 9-12) from participating Congressional Districts to compete by creating and exhibiting their software application, or “app,” for mobile, tablet, or computer devices on a platform of their choice. 

The “App Challenge” is open to all high school students who live or attend school in Florida’s 24th Congressional District. Students entering the competition must submit their application and video during the Competition Submission Period between 12 PM Eastern Standard Time on FEBRUARY 1ST, 2014, and 11:59 PM Eastern Daylight Time on APRIL 30TH, 2014, as well as provide a YouTube or VIMEO video demo explaining their app and what they learned through this competition process.

Last Updated March 3, 2014 at 4:34 pm EST

Can I Participate?

1. Members of Congress must opt-in for their district to participate in this competition. If a Member does not opt-in, constituents in their district will be ineligible to participate. Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson has opted in for Florida’s 24th Congressional District. Find out if you’re eligible (http://studentappchallenge.house.gov/).

2. This Competition is open only to high school students (grades 9-12) who reside in Florida’s 24th Congressional District or who are eligible to attend public high school in the district. Public, private and home-schooled students are eligible.

3. Participants may compete individually or in teams of up to 4 students. Individuals competing as a team must each meet eligibility requirements.

4. If students attend school outside of their home congressional district, they may compete in either their home district or their school district, if both districts are represented by members of Congress who are participating in the competition.

Last Updated March 3, 2014 at 4:34 pm EST

How do I Enter?

To enter, the student must first register, indicating their intent to participate. Register early, if you are interested so your Member of Congress can communicate with you during the Submission Period.

To submit, the student must create an account on www.challengepost.com and upload the requirements before 11:59 PM EST on April 30th, 2014. All entries must be an original in concept, design and execution.

1. Visit this site to register (http://studentappchallenge.house.gov/). If competing as a team, each team member must meet the eligibility requirements.

2. Sign Up at http://www.challengepost.com

Last Updated March 3, 2014 at 4:34 pm EST

Competition Rules

1. The Competition is open only to high school students who reside in Florida’s 24th Congressional District or who are eligible to attend public high school in the district. Public, private and home-schooled students are eligible.

2. Participants must be at least 13 years old as of February 1, 2014.

3. Participants may compete individually or in teams of up to 4 students. Individuals competing as a team must each meet eligibility requirements.

4. If students attend school outside of their home congressional district, they may compete in either their home district or their school district, if both districts are represented by members of Congress who are participating in the competition.

5. The Competition is subject to all applicable United States federal laws and regulations.

6. The Competition is subject to all applicable United States federal laws and regulations. Participation constitutes entrant’s full and unconditional agreement to these Official Rules.

7. Participants must also be available to attend and compete in the Showcase event on Wednesday, May 14th, 2014 at Miami-Dade College North Campus, 11380 NW 27th Ave, Miami, FL 33167, Conference Center 3249, from 5:00 PM to 8:30 PM. Participants will have the opportunity to show their work, live, to attendees in an expo-like tabling area.Finalists will be announced at this event and will do a live presentation of their applications on stage. The judges will deliberate and the winners will be announced.

Last Updated March 3, 2014 at 4:34 pm EST

Application Parameters

1. Students may create the application of their choice for mobile, tablet, or computer devices.

2. Students may also create an application on the platform of their choice (web, Microsoft, Android, iOS, Blackberry OS, etc.)

Last Updated March 3, 2014 at 4:34 pm EST

Submission Process

1. During the Competition Submission Period, register for the App Challenge on www.wilson.house.gov.  

2. Create an account on www.challengepost.com. Upload submission by 11:59 PM EST on April 30th, 2014

3. After the Submission Period has ended, the Submission cannot be modified in any way before the completion of judging.

4. All submissions must be in English.

5. An individual may appear on only one entry, either alone or as part of a team.

6. Submissions must not be indecent, defamatory, in obvious bad taste, demonstrate a lack of respect for public morals or conduct or adversely affects the reputation of congressional districts.

7. Submissions must not: a) be illegal under applicable laws; b) depict hatred, defame, threaten a specific community in the society or incite violence; c) contain vulgar language or violence; or d) contain pornography, obscenity or sexual activity.

8. Submissions must a) be original; b) be solely owned by Contestant such that no other party has any rights or interest, whether known or unknown; and c) not violate the Intellectual Property, common law or privacy rights of other parties.

9. Contestants will own the intellectual property rights to their Submission, but will grant to Congress and Administrator a royalty free license to, without limitation: a) Post the Submissions online; b) Make the Winners available for the course of the Competition and 1 months after the conclusion of the Competition Submission Period; and c) Utilize the Submissions for noncommercial purposes for a period of 12 months after the conclusion of the Competition Submission Period.

Online Requirements (on ChallengePost.com):

1. Each Contestant will be required to provide the following as part of the Submission:

a. The application’s source code

b. A link to an Application Demonstration Video. It is important to demonstrate the scope and quality of your application in this video. ChallengePost supports YouTube or VIMEO. The video should be no more than three minutes in length. Please note that your entry may be judged in its entirety based on this video.

i. The application developer(s) must all be in the video and must be the only individuals in the video.

ii. The video must include a demonstration of the application, what was learned, a description of the planning process used to develop and design the application and address whether a template was used or if the code was written in part or in whole by an application writing/designing program (Application development programs are allowed).

c. An entry form

In-Person Requirement

1. Each contestant must also hand-deliver or mail the full application on a USB or CD to Congresswoman Wilson’s Miami Gardens office at 18425 NW 2nd Avenue, Suite 355, Miami Gardens, FL, 33169. It is the contestants’ responsibility to ensure materials are received on time. The office is not responsible for lost or delayed deliveries.

2. The USB or CD should be labeled with contestant(s) name(s) and Student ID number(s) and be received at the address above by the submission deadline, April 30th, 2014 at 11:59 PM EST. Contestants are responsible for ensuring the application functions properly when operated.

Last Updated March 3, 2014 at 4:34 pm EST

Display of Submissions

1. We reserve the right to display submitted material at the Showcase event and on the member’s web site on www.house.gov.

2. Each district winner will be displayed on an overall contest site on www.studentappchallenge.house.gov and www.challenge.gov

Last Updated April 15, 2014 at 4:32 pm EST

Competition Showcase

1. All participants must attend the May 14, 2014 showcase at Miami Dade College North Campus Conference Center, and must arrive no later than 5:00 PM EST.

2. Prior to the start of the program, there will be an expo (tabling) opportunity for participants to showcase their application. Tables and a power source will be provided. Students must bring their application and laptop or mobile device to run the application. Students must also bring a power cord, if needed.

3. Once the program begins, the top ten finalists will be announced. Each finalist will be required to make a live 5-minute presentation. It is suggested that all participants practice their 5-minute presentation and come to the showcase prepared to present, as there will be little time between announcement of finalists and the start of live presentations.

4. Live presentations are designed for students to deliver a clear and concise demonstration of their application. Presentations should include a demonstration of the app, how it works, how and why the app was developed, etc. (Please see the judging rubric for precise grading criteria. This will help structure stage presentations.)

5. For students with web applications, the technical staff will project the computer screen onto the projection screens. For those with tablets or other mobile devices, a live camera will be positioned on the podium where the device must sit.

6. After each live presentation, the judges may ask questions of each finalist. Finalists will be separated and will not hear or see each other’s presentation or question period. If questions are asked, the same will be asked of each finalist.

Last Updated April 15, 2014 at 5:01 pm EST

Winner Selection and Judging Criteria

1. Submitted applications and videos will be viewed by Judges based on the criteria identified, to select finalists. The finalists will be announced at Showcase event on May 14th, 2014.

2.  Finalists will be required to make live presentations in front of the judges and the audience. Presentations will not exceed five minutes.

3.  First, second and third place winners will be announced at the Showcase.

4.  Awards 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 skills.

5. We reserve the right to substitute or modify the judging panel at anytime for any reason. Judges do have the right to withdrawal without advance notice in the event of extenuating circumstances beyond their control. Judges will be fair and impartial. A judge may elect to recuse him or herself from judging a Submission, if in the judge’s sole discretion it is not appropriate for him or her to judge that particular Submission because of a past or current relationship with that particular Contestant. A Submission will not be at a disadvantage if one or more judge recuses himself or herself.

6. Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible Submissions received and the quality of the Submissions.

7. Judging Rubric (Click Here)
 

Last Updated March 3, 2014 at 4:34 pm EST

Prizes

1. The winning app in each district will be featured on Congresswoman Wilson’s website (www.wilson.house.gov) and CHALLENGE.GOV.

Last Updated March 3, 2014 at 4:34 pm EST

Verification of Potential Winners

1. ALL POTENTIAL COMPETITION WINNERS ARE SUBJECT TO VERIFICATION BY JUDGES WHOSE DECISIONS ARE FINAL AND BINDING IN ALL MATTERS RELATED TO THE COMPETITION. Potential winners must continue to comply with all terms and conditions of these Official Rules. The potential winners will be required to sign and return to Congressional staff within ten (10) business days of the date notice is sent, an affidavit of eligibility, and liability/publicity release (except where prohibited) in order to claim his/her prize if applicable.

Last Updated March 3, 2014 at 4:34 pm EST

Entry Conditions and Release

By entering, you agree to the following conditions and release: Each Contestant agrees to comply with and be bound by these Official Rules and the decisions of the Administrators, and/or the Competition judges which are binding and final in all matters relating to this Competition.

Publicity

Except where prohibited, participation in the Competition constitutes winners’ consent to

Administrators’ and their agents’ use of winner’s name, likeness, photograph, voice,

opinions and/or hometown and state for promotional purposes in any media, worldwide,  without further payment or consideration.

General Conditions

1.  Administrators reserve the right to cancel, suspend and/or modify the Competition, or any part of it, if any fraud, technical failures or any other factor beyond Administrator’s reasonable control impairs the integrity or proper functioning of the Competition, as determined by Administrators in their sole discretion. Administrators reserve the right in their sole discretion to disqualify any individual or Competitor it finds to be tampering with the entry process or the operation of the Competition or to be acting in violation of these Official Rules or any other promotion or in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner.

2.  Any attempt by any person to deliberately undermine the legitimate operation of the Competition may be a violation of criminal and civil law, and, should such an attempt be made, Administrators reserves the right to seek damages from any such person to the fullest extent permitted by law. Administrator’s failure to enforce any term of these Official Rules shall not constitute a waiver of that provision.

Limitations of Liability

The Administrators are not responsible for:

a) any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by entrants, printing errors or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the Competition;

b) technical failures of any kind, including, but not limited to malfunctions, interruptions, or disconnections in phone lines or network hardware or software;

c)  unauthorized human intervention in any part of the entry process or the Competition;

d)  technical or human error which may occur in the administration of the Competition or the processing of entries; or any injury or damage to persons or property which may be caused, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, from entrant’s participation in the Competition or receipt or use or misuse of any prize.

If for any reason an entrant’s Submission is confirmed to have been erroneously deleted, lost, or otherwise destroyed or corrupted, entrant’s sole remedy is to provide another Submission.

Privacy

Administrators collect personal information from you when you enter the Competition. The information collected is subject to the privacy policies located at http://challengepost.com/privacy and  

http://www.house.gov/content/site_tools/privacy_policy.php.  

Last Updated March 3, 2014 at 4:34 pm EST

Competition Results

For results of the competition go to StudentAppChallenge.house.gov on or about June 15, 2014.

Last Updated March 3, 2014 at 4:34 pm EST
 

Administrators

Administrators: (1) Committee on House Administration, 1309 Longworth House Office Building, Washington DC 20515; and (2) ChallengePost, Inc., 425 W. 13th Street, Suite #504, New York, NY 10014.
 

Last Updated April 10, 2014 at 10:58 pm EST

Resources for Students and Teachers (Trainings, Software, and Programs)

Application Development:

What: District 24 - STEM Competition App Challenge! Developing Apps that Customers Will Love!
When: Saturday, April 12th from 1 – 3 pm
Why: Entrepreneurship education and cohort building with a curated group of high school students. Venture Hive Prep will provide mentorship, workshops, and access to world-class technologists and entrepreneurs who have relocated from across the globe to call Venture Hive home.
Where:1010 NE 2nd Ave, Miami Free parking at the Captain Harry’s lot on NE 2nd Ave or 11th Street Metromover Station

The District 24 App Challenge is an exciting opportunity to show your creativity and skills to your friends, family and the community! We are happy to host a workshop at Venture Hive focusing on building products based on feedback from customers. In this four-hour workshop, students will learn how to engage customers in the design and development processes. Apps are built to solve problems, sometimes for entertainment, others to offer reminders or manage money or time. Through practicing the teachings of this workshop, students will ensure they are building a product that meets the needs of their customers and presents a solution that their users will be excited to download. The program will discuss communicating your idea, surveying customers, concept validation, and testing. Entrepreneurs, mentors and staff of the Venture Hive will be on hand to offer small group support.

 

To register, please click here(http://miami.venturehive.co/stemworkshop).

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  • TRAINING OPPORTUNITY!!! For students and teachers interested in learning how to create an app using app-making software, we have partnered with Miami Dade College professors, experts from Microsoft and members the local IT community to open availability to training from 1PM on SATURDAY, APRIL 5, 2014 at  through 4 PM on SUNDAY, APRIL 6, 2014 @ Miami Dade College Wolfson Campus. At the end of this training, we hope students will have an app ready to submit to our competition or an app they can continue to work on until our Submission deadline. If interested, please register at http://www.eventbrite.com/e/2014-mdc-mobile-appathon-tickets-10993232053.

Students must be accompanied by a chaperone who may also be a teacher. One chaperone/teacher per school is permissible.Open seats will fill up fast. Please read the Eventbrite details carefully. Register now!

          Development Kits:

(Please check back online for updates on additional events, organizations, mentors and resources that may become available)

    Video Recording Assistance

For participants who do not have access to a recording device or a suitable recording location, Congresswoman Wilson’s office will provide a location and opportunities to record. Please be advised, staff will not assist participants with content.

Participants must practice their three minute presentation and be able to advise the cameraperson on camera position. Each student will have ten minutes each. They may choose to have three full run-throughs of their three minute video or use the time for raw video that they may edit on their own.

This resource is only available to those who don’t have access to a recording device. If they have access to a recording device, students are encouraged to record their own video as they will have more options, felixiblity and control over the final product. Using this assistance will not present any advantages in any part of the competition. Recording will take place on April 17th and 21st at Congresswoman Wilson’s Miami Gardens office. If you require this assistance, please contact Marcus.Dixon@mail.house.gov by April 14th.

Last Updated March 3, 2014 at 4:34 pm EST

Questions and Comments

Please address questions and comments to Marcus Dixon at Marcus.Dixon@mail.house.gov or 305-690-5905.

(Please check back for updates)