App Competition
We are pleased to announce that the Congressional App Challenge (CAC), a competition designed to encourage student participation in computer science and coding, will be hosting our annual coding competition this year. Students are encouraged to register online by Sept 10th before submitting their app by October 19th.
Officially launched by the U.S. House of Representatives in 2015, this nationwide effort allows students to compete against their peers by creating an application (also known as an “app”) for desktop/PC, web, tablet, mobile, raspberry Pi or other devices. We accept any programming language, such as C, C++, Java, JavaScript, Python, Ruby or "block code." The Challenge is designed to promote innovation and engagement in computer science.
The Congressional App Challenge is open to all middle and high school students in the Sixth Congressional District of North Carolina. Students entering the competition must submit their app to CongressionalAppChallenge.us during the Competition Submission Period through October 19th, 2020.
The winner from the Sixth Congressional District, chosen by a panel of expert judges, will be featured on CongressionalAppChallenge.us. The winning app will also be eligible to be on display in the U.S. Capitol, honoring the winners from across the country.
For more information, please visit the official Congressional App Challenge website at CongressionalAppChallenge.us, email StudentSupport@CongressionalAppChallenge.us or contact Brian Hedrick at Brian.Hedrick@mail.house.gov
2020 Key Dates and Events:
- Monday, June 1st – Student Registration Opens
- Friday, October 19th – Deadline for Student App Submissions
- Students are encouraged to register online by September 10th
- TBA – *Demo Day & Awards Ceremony
- *More information will be provided following students’ app submission
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: Who is Eligible to Participate?
A: Students are eligible as long as they live or attend high school or middle school in the Sixth District. Check other participating districts if you are not eligible to participate in the Sixth District.
Q: How Can I Check If I Live or Attend School in the Sixth District?
A: You may use the following link to check your Congressional District.
Q: Can I Work with a Team?
A: You may work alone or with a team of up to four total members, provided that your team meets the eligibility requirements outlined above. Note: Teams of four must consist of at least two students who live or attend school within the District.
Q: Do I Need Coding Experience?
A: No! While prior experience may be helpful, it is not a requirement. In fact, the majority of participants are first-time coders. The creators of the challenge have compiled various resources designed for beginners, located in the link below. In addition, our office will be in contact with interested students about future events, if conditions permit.
Q: Is There a Theme?
A: The Sixth District does not have a specific theme, so you may get as creative as you desire. Have fun with it! For a rough idea of the expected quality and content, you may view the apps of past winners here.
Q: Is There a Prize?
A: Of Course! While the 2020 prizes are not fully determined* at this point, the prizes for 2019 included:
1. Winning app eligible to be featured in the Capitol Building
2. Winning app eligible to be put on House.gov (10 million visitors per year)
3. Each winner receives Amazon Web Services (AWS) Credits
*Check back at a later date for the 2020 prize list.