Congressional Science Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Academic Competition
The Congressional Science Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Academic Competition, also known as the House App Contest or Congressional App Challenge, allows middle and high school students in participating congressional districts to compete in an annual application software ("app") development contest.[1] Students are encouraged to design an app using any programming language on any platform, with no limits on topic or function. Winners from congressional districts have their apps featured online and in the United States Capitol Building, are invited to attend the annual #HouseofCode, and receive Amazon Web Services credits.[2]
History[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/44/Scott_Peters_Announces_Jake_Chasan_as_Winner_of_Inaugural_House_STEM_%28science%2C_technology%2C_engineering%2C_and_math%29_Competition.jpg/220px-Scott_Peters_Announces_Jake_Chasan_as_Winner_of_Inaugural_House_STEM_%28science%2C_technology%2C_engineering%2C_and_math%29_Competition.jpg)
The challenge was established by the United States House of Representatives in 2013 under the "Academic Competition Resolution of 2013" as a bipartisan effort to engage student creativity and participation in STEM education fields in a similar fashion as the Congressional Art Competition.[3] The resolution passed with 99% support – a vote of 411 to 3 and outlined how and at what interval the competition would be hosted.[4] The Congressional Internet Caucus Advisory Committee introduced the concept for the Congressional App Challenge in 2013 and the challenge was co-chaired by Congressional Internet Caucus co-chairs Rep. Bob Goodlatte and Rep. Anna Eshoo.[5] Today, the Congressional App Challenge is managed by the non-profit organization, the Internet Education Foundation, in partnership with the House of Representatives.[6] In its inaugural year, 84 congressional districts in 31 states and DC recognized 212 students for creating 109 apps. The 2018 Challenge had 5,229 students submit 1,715 apps in 222 congressional districts.[7]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c4/Rentathon_App.jpg/220px-Rentathon_App.jpg)
Demographics[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d3/CongressionalAppChallengeStudent.jpg/220px-CongressionalAppChallengeStudent.jpg)
With its focus on increasing inclusion and diversity within the computer science field, the Congressional App Challenge enrolls a large number of underrepresented minority, female, and rural students with various experience in coding. In 2018, 8% of participants were Black, 15% Hispanic, and 3% American Indian, and 36% of participants were female.[7] Almost half of students indicated that they had no experience or were beginners in coding before participating in the Congressional App Challenge. Geographically, participants come from all around the United States and its territories, including Alaska, California, New York, Missouri, Puerto Rico, and the Northern Mariana Islands.[8]
#HouseofCode[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/28/Hakeem_Jeffries_House_of_Code.jpg/220px-Hakeem_Jeffries_House_of_Code.jpg)
Every Spring, the Congressional App Challenge hosts #HouseofCode in Washington D.C. The event is considered the national computer science fair, and winners from all participating congressional districts are invited to attend. During #HouseofCode, students demonstrate their apps to members from the House of Representatives, hear from speakers, and meet professionals from the Washington D.C. technology community. Attendees are encouraged to meet with their peers and connect with sponsors, partners, and other community organizations to discuss pathways in STEM.[9]
References[]
- ^ "House passes resolution creating STEM competition for students". 26 February 2013.
- ^ "STUDENTS -". www.congressionalappchallenge.us. Retrieved 2019-07-30.
- ^ "Congressional Record House Articles".
- ^ "Congressional App Challenge". Congressman Frank Pallone. 2018-02-05. Retrieved 2022-01-26.
- ^ "About -".
- ^ "ABOUT -". www.congressionalappchallenge.us. Retrieved 2019-07-30.
- ^ a b "IMPACT -". www.congressionalappchallenge.us. Retrieved 2019-07-30.
- ^ "Congressional App Challenge Bridges Gaps Between Tech Industry and Rural Communities -". www.congressionalappchallenge.us. 2019-07-09. Retrieved 2019-07-30.
- ^ "#HouseOfCode 2019: A Recap of the Congressional App Challenge's Computer Science Festival on Capitol Hill -". www.congressionalappchallenge.us. 2019-05-15. Retrieved 2019-07-30.
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