Submissions are due by October 24th, 11:00 a.m. CT

SPRINGFIELD, IL — Today, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) announced the start of the 2024 Congressional App Challenge for middle and high school students in Illinois’ 13th Congressional District. Students can compete individually or as a team. Winners will be selected by a panel of judges drawn from the local community. Participants’ apps are eligible to be featured on display in the U.S. Capitol building, on house.gov and on the Congressional App Challenge website. Winners will be invited to Capitol Hill where they demo their apps to their Representatives at the annual #HouseOfCode festival.

“I believe in the value of computer science and STEM education, and it’s important to give our young people a chance to be creative while developing those skills,” said Congresswoman Budzinski. “I’m thrilled to launch our 2024 Congressional App Challenge for Illinois’ 13th Congressional District, which will allow middle and high school students to create and submit their own application for a chance to showcase their winning app on Capitol Hill.” 

The Congressional App Challenge was created because Congress recognized that STEM and computer-based skills are essential for economic growth and innovation. By creating an opportunity to highlight our nation’s programming talent, the Congressional App Competition hopes to inspire students to one day pursue a career in computer science and STEM while also emphasizing the importance of these skills for our nation’s youth.

The Challenge’s submission portal is now open. Students can register and submit their applications until October 24th, 2024 by 12:00 p.m. ET, 11:00 a.m. CT. The competition is open to all students who meet the eligibility requirements, regardless of coding experience. For further information about the Congressional App Challenge, please visit www.CongressionalAppChallenge.us. 

2023 Congressional App Challenge

Navtej Bhatti, a 10th grader at Glenwood High School, was the winner of the 2023 Congressional App Challenge in Illinois’s 13th District with his app “Pecto.” His app targets high school and college students by allowing them to create flashcards with AI features. 

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