U.S. Representative Kathleen Rice announced that New York’s fourth district will participate in the 2017 Congressional App Challenge, a contest designed to encourage high school students to learn how to code and create their own software applications for mobile devices or tablets.
The Congressional App Challenge is open to all high school students who live or attend school in the district (there is no age minimum; students below high school age are also eligible). Whether they’re experienced coders or want to learn for the first time, any creative students with an idea for their own app can apply as an individual or in teams of up to four.
The contest is open until Nov. 1, 2017. Winners will be selected by a panel of judges, and their apps will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol. See below for further details on eligibility, how to enter, and everything else students will need to get started.
In 2016, four students from Mineola High School won the contest with their app, Ciao Chow, which helps senior citizens and people with disabilities and emotional difficulties find dogs in need of care or adoption. One of the judges noted that such an app had the potential to be used as a therapeutic tool in the future.
“The Congressional App Challenge is an excellent opportunity to get young people in our district excited about coding and help them develop computer-based skills that are becoming essential in the 21st-century economy,” said Rice. “I encourage any interested students in our district to apply, and I can’t wait to see what great ideas you bring to life.”
Eligibility
The contest is open to all high school students (or younger) who live or attend school in New York’s fourth congressional district. There is no age minimum. Students who have already graduated from high school are not eligible to participate.
Students may enter the contest by themselves or in teams of up to four. If you enter as a team, at least two members of the team must live or go to school in NY-04.
Verify your eligibility: look up the nine-digit zip code for your house or school to confirm that you live or go to school in NY-04.
Registration
To register as an individual, you’ll need:
• Your home’s nine-digit zip-code
• Your school’s nine-digit zip-code
• Member of Congress representing your home address: e.g., Rep. Kathleen Rice
• Member of Congress representing your school address: e.g., Rep. Kathleen Rice
• Parent or guardian’s name and email address
• Coding teacher or mentor’s name and email address (Optional)
To register as a team, you’ll also need:
• The names and email addresses of all team members
Once you’ve gathered that information, click here to complete the registration form. Within three business days of registering online, students will receive an email from StudentSupport@congressionalAppChallenge.us with your individual Student Submission ID Number. The number will look something like this: 17AB12-12345.
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isit www.congressionalappchallenge.us for more information, and contact Tom Curry in Rice’s district office by calling 516-739-3008 or emailing Tom.Curry@mail.house.gov.
