Each year, I have the honor of hosting a district-wide Congressional App Challenge (CAC) for middle school and high school students. This competition encourages participants to learn to code and looks to inspire them to pursue STEM-related careers, particularly in computer science and coding.
Students across TX-05 can create and submit their original apps for a chance to win the Congressional App Challenge (CAC). I will publicly recognize our Fifth Congressional District winning teams and each winning app will be digitally displayed in the United States Capitol Building for one year alongside winners from across the nation. To find your federal Representative, please click here.
Eligibility and Age Division
- Participants must be a middle or high school student at the time of app submission
- Reside or attend school in Texas' Fifth Congressional District
- Students may register as individuals or as teams of up to four members (at least 2 members per group must reside or attend school in Texas' Fifth Congressional District)
App Parameters
- Topic: The app can be about any topic.
- Platform: The app can be on any platform (PC, web, tablet, robot, Raspberry Pi, mobile, etc.).
- Programming Language: Use any programming language (C/C++, Java, JavaScript, Python, Ruby, etc.,) or “block code.”
- Functionality: The app must have some degree of functionality to be competitive.
- Content Suitability: The app cannot be indecent, defamatory, in obvious bad taste, demonstrate a lack of respect for public morals or conduct, adversely affect the reputation of Congressional districts, or depict hatred, defame, or threaten a specific community in the society or incite violence. Contain pornography, obscenity or sexual activity are prohibited. The app must not violate the Intellectual Property, common law or privacy rights of other parties.
- Originality: The app must be original, appropriate, and solely owned by the Contestant such that no other party has any rights or interest, whether known or unknown.
How to Enter
This year's deadline for students to submit their app is November 1, 2021by 11:00 AM CST.
- Students may submit their apps any time between now and the student submission deadline of November 1, 2021.
- Students are recommended by CAC to register by September 1, 2021.
- The app students create may cover any topic, but they must:
- Be original and appropriate.
- Have been created within the calendar year prior to the Challenge closing date.
- To complete a submission, students must submit the following:
- Sign up form: Students must fill out a sign-up form so their eligibility can be verified.
- App Information: Students will be asked to answer a series of question including:
- Title of app;
- The coding language used;
- What they are trying to accomplish and why;
- An explanation of a difficulty they faced in programming the app and how it was overcome;
- What improvements the student would have if they were going to create a version 2.0 of their app.
- Demonstration Video: Students must create a 1-3 minute video, post it to YouTube or Vimeo and submit the link on the CAC submission form.
- Exit Questionnaire
The complete list of rules for student participants are included here.
Prizes
The winning app for Texas' Fifth Congressional District is eligible to be displayed in the Untied States Capitol and feature on the House of Representatives website. Winning students will be invited to the #HouseofCode Capitol Hill Reception in Washington, D.C.
If you would like more information on the 2021 Congressional App Challenge please review the complete rulebook or for questions contact my Collin County office at (972) 202-4150.