App Challenge

Calling all middle and high school innovators living or attending school in Minnesota's Fifth District! We want you to participate in the Congressional App Challenge.

What is the Congressional App Challenge?

Officially launched by the U.S. House of Representatives in 2015, the Congressional App Challenge aimed to encourage middle and high school students to learn how to code by creating their own applications. The Challenge is intended to highlight the value of computer and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education.

The winner from the Fifth Congressional District will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol, featured on the House of Representatives website, and win additional prizes (more information coming soon)!

You can read more about it here.

Who is eligible to compete?

The Congressional App Challenge is open to all middle and high school students living or attending school in Minnesota's Fifth Congressional District.

To be eligible, you must be a middle or high school student at the time of app submission.
Students may compete individually or in teams of up to four.
If competing as a team, at least two of the teammates must be eligible to compete in the district in which they are participating.

What should I create?

Your app can be about any topic, for any platform and in any programming language. Click here for a list of previous winners from across the nation, and read full rules and instructions here. Submissions will be judged by a panel of experts on the following criteria: quality of the idea, including creativity and originality; implementation of the idea, including user experience and design; and demonstrated excellence of coding and programming skills.

How do I register?

Once you have an idea and have established your team, if you decide to compete as a team, you can register online here to reserve your space. Once you have successfully registered, you will receive an email with more information on how to submit your final app and supporting materials.

Important Dates

November 1st - Student Applications Close
December - Offices Must Submit Winners
December 31st - Deadline to Announce Winners

Still have questions?