CONGRESSMAN GRAVES ENCOURAGES LEE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN 2017 CONGRESSIONAL APP CHALLENGE

Congressman Garrett Graves visited Lee High School on Thursday, August 31, 2017, to encourage students to participate in the Congressional App Challenge (CAC), a high school app competition designed to engage student’s creativity and encourage their participation in computer science.  Students, individually or in teams, are tasked with creating, coding, and implementing a new and innovative computer application. Students in participating districts code original applications for the chance to be selected for recognition by their Member of Congress, win prizes, and have their work put on display in the Capitol Building in Washington, DC. 

The Challenge will run from July 26th through November 1, 2017. The competition is open to all students who meet the eligibility requirements, regardless of coding experience. We strongly encourage students of all skill levels to participate and to learn how to create their own apps.

Winners will be selected by a panel of judges and be given Congressional recognition for their achievements in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and Computer Science.  Their apps will be featured on a display in the US Capitol in Washington D.C., on house.gov, and on the Congressional App Challenge website.

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 US may be short by many as a million programmers by 2020. These are high-paying, high-demand jobs. To maintain American competitiveness, it’s crucial that the United States invests in our youth now, and helps them acquire these valuable skills.  The CAC encourages students to pursue those skills and recognizes them for their efforts.

For more details about the Congressional App Challenge click here.