Congressional App Challenge

Each fall, a nation-wide middle and high school STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math)—competition is sponsored by the Members of the U.S. House of Representatives. The Congressional App Challenge is an opportunity to recognize and encourage the STEM talent across the nation, as well as in our Congressional District. Each participating Member of Congress will name a winner to represent their district.

The Congressional App Challenge is open to all middle and high school students in our District. The winning app of our district's competition will be displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol, a Copyright Fee Waiver provided through the ARTS Act, their app featured on the Congressional App Challenge webpage, and an invitation to attend a winner's celebration inside the U.S. Capitol called #HouseOfCode. The winning artwork is also featured on House.gov's Congressional App Challenge page.

The following is a summary of the Congressional App Challenge rules:

Eligibility Criteria:

• A student may compete in Congressman Brad Knott's Congressional App Challenge if they live or attend school in North Carolina's 13th Congressional District. 
  • Students can compete in a team of up to four students, as long as ½ of the team lives or goes to school in a competing Congressional District. 
• Students may submit an app on any topic, on any platform, utilizing any programming language. 
  • Any Platform: Mobile App, Website, Robot, Wearable Device, Game, etc…
• Students may submit an app they completed between October 24th, 2024-October 30th, 2025.
  • Students may submit work they completed in the classroom last year, in an afterschool program, summer program, or other extracurricular activity. 

App Parameters:

• TOPIC: The app can be about any topic.
• PLATFORM: The app can be on any platform (web app, desktop/PC app, a web
  browser extension, robot, Ruby on Rails, mobile, etc).
• PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE: Use any programming language: C/C++, Objective C, C#, Java, JavaScript, Python, Ruby, PHP, Swift, "block code", etc.
• FUNCTIONALITY: The app must have some degree of functionality to be competitive.
• ORIGINALITY: The app must be original and solely owned by the Contestant such that no other party has any rights or interest, whether known or unknown.

If you would like more information on the annual Congressional App Challenge, or to register and submit, please click here.