Boston, MA – Today Congressman Stephen F. Lynch (MA-08) announced the opening of the Congressional App Challenge, an app competition for students in middle and high school.  The Congressional App Challenge submission portal accepts computer programs or apps written in any programming language for any platform (desktop/PC, web, mobile, raspberry Pi, etc.).   Students of all skill levels are strongly encouraged to participate and learn how to create their own apps, and it is recommended that students register online by September 10^th, 2019 before submitting their app by November 1^st, 2019.  The competition is open to all students who meet the eligibility requirements, regardless of coding experience.  Winners will be selected by panels of judges drawn from the local community and honored by their Member of Congress.  Their apps are eligible to be featured on display in the U.S. Capitol building, on house.gov and on the Congressional App Challenge website.  Please visit www.CongressionalAppChallenge.us to register and for more information on the competition.

Congress created the Congressional App Challenge after recognizing that STEM and computer-based skills are essential for economic growth and innovation and that it is crucial the United States invests in our youth to help them acquire these valuable skills.  Recognizing the racial, gendered and other disparities in the tech sector, the Congressional App Challenge makes a deliberate effort to include students from all backgrounds, including those traditionally underrepresented in tech.