In The News

Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Zeeland, announced that the 2019 Congressional App Challenge is underway. The competition allows middle school and high school students to showcase their skills and learn how to code by designing and creating their own apps.

“The Congressional App Challenge is a creative way for students to showcase and develop their coding and programming skills,” Huizenga said, in a press release. “West Michigan’s creativity has been on full display with a variety of innovative app submissions over the past two years. It is STEM programs like the Congressional App Challenge that can spark interest and inspire students to create the next innovative app to improve productivity, enhance economic opportunity, or change how we bank, buy groceries, or manage daily schedules. I look forward to seeing what this year’s submissions have in store.”

This is the third year of the CAC. In 2017, Holland Christian student David Reidsma won the competition with his “BrickSort” App, which tracked pieces in LEGO sets. In 2018, Zeeland East student Ethan Visscher won with his entry “Right on Red.”

This competition is open to all middle school and high school students who meet the eligibility requirements, regardless of coding experience.

Students of all skill levels are welcome to participate. Students are encouraged, but not required, to register online by Sept. 10. Students participating in the CAC must submit their app by Nov. 1.

To apply, visit congressionalappchallenge.us. Students may register as individuals or as teams of up to four. No more than four students are allowed to form a team. Students may compete in the district they reside in or the district they attend school in. If competing as a team, at least two of the teammates must be eligible to compete in the district in which they are participating in.