2015 App Challenge Winners Announced

For Immediate Release
February 22, 2016

WASHINGTON, DC — Hundreds of teen coders who created winning, original apps for the 2015 Congressional App Challenge are being honored for their tech skills and creativity by Congressional representatives across the country. More than 1700 high school students from 32 states participated in this year’s App Challenge. Students created original apps covering an enormous range of topics and uses, from saving water during a drought to keeping geographic track of loved ones, from connecting agricultural workers with jobs to helping food businesses efficiently donate extra food to community organizations. The teens took part in local competitions sponsored by 187 Congressional districts as part of the national challenge.

Not only was the Congressional enthusiasm for the Challenge enormous, it was also a bipartisan effort, with challenges being hosted almost exactly 50/50 by Democrats and Republicans. The Congressional App Challenge is an initiative of the House of Representatives to improve student engagement in coding and computer science. Teen winners are being honored this month in their home Congressional districts, and their apps will be featured on display for a year in the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, DC. Winning apps can also be viewed online here.

“The hundreds of student coders who competed in the Congressional App Challenge demonstrate that we caninspire teens to pursue fields of STEM and computer science to meet the demands of a 21st century information economy,” said Congressional Representative Mimi Walters, Challenge co-chair.

“Reaching students in the tech pipeline, and showing them that their efforts and talents are valued, is a critical investment in their future and our economy. By supporting national and local efforts to engage students in coding and computer science — especially those in groups traditionally underrepresented in the tech community — we’re building a better future for all of us,” said Congressional Representative Hakeem Jeffries, Challenge co-chair.

The Congressional App Challenge is partnering with a growing list of STEM, education, library and community organizations to reach as many high school students as possible, with particular efforts to reach teens from groups that are typically underrepresented in technology. Partners that have joined the Challenge so far include the Computer Science Teachers Association, the Hispanic Heritage Foundation, American Indian Science and Engineering Society, #YesWeCode, Girls Who Code, New Tech Network, Black Girls Code, appmyrep, Project Lead the Way, YouthHack, CodeNow, Public Library Association, and Technovation.

About the Congressional App Challenge: The Internet Education Foundation in Washington, D.C. organizes the annual Congressional App Challenge. Capital One generously served as principal sponsor.

About Capitol One: Capital One sponsored the 2015 App Challenge as part of its $150 million Future Edge effort to help more Americans get the skills they need to succeed in the future. Recognizing that the future depends on the investments we make in today’s students, Capital One is proud to support the mission of engaging more students in coding and computer science. For more information on Capital One’s Future Edge initiative, visit http://www.capitalone.com/investingforgood or join the conversation on Twitter @YourFutureEdge.

If you are interested in getting involved as a partner, or in sponsoring the 2016 Congressional App Challenge, please contact our Director here.