Congressional App Challenge

The Congressional App Challenge (CAC) is aimed at encouraging U.S. high school students to learn how to code by creating their own applications. The challenge is intended to highlight the value of computer science and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education and encourage students to engage in these fields. By encouraging and recognizing the nation’s young programming talent, Congress hopes to shine a light on the growing importance of these skills. The winners in each district will have the honor of being recognized by their Congressional representative.

The Congressional App Challenge (CAC) is coordinated by the Congressional Internet Caucus and the non-governmental sponsor of the project, the Internet Education Foundation.

Eligibility:

  • There is no age minimum, but students are not allowed to participate after they’ve graduated from high school.
  • Students are only allowed to compete in Congressional districts that are participating.
  • Students are allowed to participate as individuals, or as teams of up to four. If you are participating as part of the team. At least two of your teammates must be eligible to participate in the district in which you wish to compete.

How to Apply:

  • You must register to participate. Within 3 business days of registering, you will receive an email with your/your team’s Submission-ID Number. You must save the Submission ID Number.
  • To register, you’ll need:
  1. Your home’s 9-digit zip code
  2. Your school’s 9-digit zip code
  3. The name of your Member of Congress, your state, and the district number
  4. (Teams: You will need this information for all teammates.)

Submission Requirement:

Each Contestant will be required to provide the following as part of a complete Submission:

  • App Information. Students will be asked to answer a series of questions including:
  1. Title of the app
  2. The coding language used
  3. Description: What they were trying to accomplish and why (350 characters max.)
  4. An explanation of a difficulty they faced in programming the app and how it was overcome. (1500 characters max.)
  5. What improvements the students would make if they were going to create a version 2.0 of their app. (750 characters max.)
  • Demonstration Video. Students must create a demonstration video, no more than 1 to 3 minutes.
  1. The video must be posted on YouTube, Vimeo, or a similar publicly accessible forum. The video must be accessible to watch online.
  2. The student must provide the link on the Congressional App Challenge submission form.
  3. Videos that are longer than 3 minutes will not be disqualified, but they will be penalized per the judges’ discretion.
  4. Teams: The app only needs to be submitted once by a member of the team.
  • App Requirements:
  1. All submissions must be in English.
  2. An individual may appear on only one entry, either alone or as part of a team.
  3. Submissions must not be indecent, defamatory, in obvious bad taste, demonstrate a lack of respect for public morals or conduct or adversely affect the reputation of congressional districts.

Financial Aid and Award Money:

  • Each district may provide prizes to district winners. A Member office may provide authorized gifts or awards of nominal value as part of the app competition. Gifts authorized by the Members’ Handbook include certificates, folders, and frames of a nominal value.
  • If the participating Member decides to host an awards ceremony, finalists will get the chance to present their apps to Judges, Congressional staffers and community leaders. The winning app in each district will be featured on the House.gov website and the CongressionalAppChallenge.us website.
  • If the winner is not able to attend the district awards ceremony, the prize will be mailed to the winner’s address within 45 days of receipt of the signed affidavit(s) of eligibility and liability/publicity release(s) form(s).

Application Deadline:

The “Competition Submission Period” will be closed at 12:00 PM (noon) Eastern Standard Time (“EST”) November 2, 2016.

Link for More Information:

http://www.congressionalappchallenge.us/compete-2016/submission-process-and-rules/

Contact Information:

If you still can’t find some information you need, email them at: studentsupport-at-congressionalappchallenge.us.

+ posts

Pin It on Pinterest