Rep. Mike Levin Announces Congressional App Challenge for Middle School and High School Students

Press Release

Today, U.S. Representative Mike Levin (D-CA) announced plans to host the Congressional App Challenge (CAC), an app competition for students in middle and high school. The CAC encourages students to learn how to code through creating their own applications. The CAC was created because Congress recognized that STEM and computer-based skills are essential for economic growth and innovation and that the U.S. has been falling behind on these fronts. By some estimates, the U.S. may be short by as many as 1 million programmers.

"We need capable young people to pursue computer programming and STEM fields to meet the demands of the changing economy," said Rep. Levin. "I encourage all eligible students to participate in this challenge, regardless of their coding experience level. This is a great opportunity for local students to develop skills in computer programming and compete for a chance at having their app featured on display in the U.S. Capitol building, and I look forward to seeing their work."

The Challenge's submission portal is now open. Students are encouraged to register online by September 10th before submitting their app by November 1st. The CAC accepts computer programs (or apps) written in any programming language, for any platform (desktop/PC, web, mobile, raspberry Pi, etc.).

Recognizing racial, gendered, and other disparities in the tech sector, the CAC also focuses on inclusivity and making the Challenge as accessible as possible to people from all backgrounds. Deliberate efforts will be made to include students from all backgrounds, including those traditionally underrepresented in tech.

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