Rep. Eshoo Kicks Off App Challenge To Promote STEM Studies

PALO ALTO, CA — U.S. Rep. Anna G. Eshoo, D-Palo Alto, launch Monday the 5th annual Congressional App Challenge for the 18th Congressional District, the congresswoman's office announced.

Eshoo established the program with Republican Virginia Rep. Bob Goodlatte six years ago as a bipartisan, nationwide event that invites high school students from across the country to compete in creating and exhibiting their software application for mobile, tablet or computer devices on a platform of their choice.

The App Challenge is designed to promote innovation and engagement in the STEM — science, technology, engineering and math — educational disciplines.

“The Congressional App Challenge is a fantastic opportunity for students, and I’m excited to launch our fifth competition to showcase the ingenuity and skills of young coders in our Congressional District,” Eshoo said.

The Congressional App Challenge is open to all high school students who live in or are eligible to attend a public high school located in the 18th Congressional District. Students entering the competition must create a YouTube or VIMEO video explaining their app and what they learned through the competitive process. The congresswoman's office will be accepting submissions between July 8 and Nov. 1.

The submitted apps will be judged by an appointed panel of individuals within the academic, software and entrepreneurial fields. The winning student's app in each participating congressional district will be displayed in an exhibit at the U.S. Capitol.

More details on submitting a contest entry, the rules of the competition and helpful programming resources may be found by visiting CongressionalAppChallenge.us.