Congressional App Challenge

I am pleased to announce that my office is again hosting the annual Congressional App Challenge (CAC).

The App Challenge was established by Congress to encourage youth participation and foster creativity and innovation in computer science by allowing students across the country, through their Members of Congress, to compete against their peers in creating a software application (app) for a smartphone, tablet or other computer devices. My app challenge is open to all middle and high school students in the 1st Congressional District of Hawaiʻi (O'ahu from Makapu'u Point through urban Honolulu to Mililani and down through Waipahu and Ewa Beach/Kapolei).

The winning individual or team will be invited to Washington, DC for a reception and a two-day science fair called #HouseofCode, though airfare and accommodations are not provided. All winners will also have their apps displayed in the U.S. Capitol Building for a year and receive various small prizes.

ELIGIBILITY

Each participant must meet the following eligibility requirements:

• Age: Students must be in middle or high school at the time of app submission.
• Location: Students must either reside or attend school in the 1st Congressional District of Hawaiʻi.
• Teams: Students may compete as individuals or in teams of up to four students, in which at least two students must reside or attend school in the district.

DATES & DEADLINES

• May 1st: Congressional App Challenge launches
• October 24th: Deadline to submit apps (12 PM, Eastern Time)
• October 25-November: Judging Period
• December (TBA): Congressional District Winners Announcement
• Spring 2025 (TBA): #HouseofCode Science Fair

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

To complete a submission, students must submit the following:

• Registration: Students can register for the 2024 Congressional App Challenge at https://www.congressionalappchallenge.us/.
         o If students are competing as part of a team, one teammate should create the team profile, which will allow for that user to                  invite up to three other team members to edit the application.
         o All students will need to create a personal profile and complete an eligibility quiz.
  

• App Information: Students will be asked to answer a series of questions similar to the following:       
         o What is the name of your app?
         o What is the purpose of your app? (One sentence explanation needed)
         o What inspired you to create this app? (Short description needed)
         o What is your app trying to accomplish? (Short description needed)
         o What technical/coding difficulty did you encounter in programming your app, and how did you overcome this challenge?

• Demonstration Video (max 3 min): Students must create a 1-3 minute video, post it on YouTube or Vimeo and submit the link on the CAC submission form. The video must be set up to public view. Videos that are longer than 3 minutes will be penalized per the judges’ discretion. Please review in full the 2024 CAC rules for further details on the demonstration video.
  
  
• Exit Questionnaire: The exit survey will be emailed to all students following the submission deadline. ALL MEMBERS of a team must complete the Exit Questionnaire individually.