App Challenge

The Congressional App Challenge

Congresswoman Sewell is pleased to announce that our office will be hosting the Congressional App Challenge (CAC), a competition designed to encourage student participation in computer science and coding. Students are encouraged to register online and submit their app by November 1st.

Officially launched by the U.S. House of Representatives in 2015, this nationwide effort allows students to compete against their peers by creating an application (also known as an “app”) for desktop/PC, web, tablet, mobile, raspberry Pi or other devices. We accept any programming language, such as C, C++, Java, JavaScript, Python, Ruby, or "block code." The Challenge is designed to promote innovation and engagement in computer science.

The Congressional App Challenge is open to all middle and high school students in the 7th Congressional District of Alabama. Students entering the competition must submit their app to CongressionalAppChallenge.us during the Competition Submission Period through November 1, 2023.

The winner from the 7th Congressional District, chosen by a panel of expert judges, will be featured on CongressionalAppChallenge.us. The winning app will also be eligible to be on display in the U.S. Capitol, honoring the winners from across the country.

For more information, please visit the official Congressional App Challenge website at CongressionalAppChallenge.us, email StudentSupport@CongressionalAppChallenge.us, or contact Byron Evans in our Selma office at (334) 877-4414.

How to Register

Students can register to submit their app by clicking here. The deadline to submit is November 1, 2023.

Guidelines for Students

  • Any given student may only compete in one district. 
  • Students may compete in either:
    • the district in which they reside, or 
    • the district in which they attend school.
    • Students must be in middle or high school at the time of contest close: November 1st
      • Students may not participate after having graduated from high school.
    • No limits on application theme or topic.
    • Students can use any programming language 
      • (C, C++, Java, JavaScript, Python, Ruby, etc.) 
      • or “block code.”
    • Students may use any platform 
      • (PC, web, tablet, robot, Raspberry Pi, mobile, etc.)

Guidelines for Teams

  • Students may compete as individuals or in teams of up to four. 
    • Teams with five or more students are NOT eligible.
    • If competing as a team: At least two of the teammates must be eligible to compete within the district in which they are submitting. 
  • The district-related rules for teams are not flexible. Please see examples:
    • If you are in a team of 2, only one of you must be eligible to compete in that district
    • If you are in a team of 3, only two of you must be eligible to compete and the third teammate need not be
    • If you are in a team of 4, at least half of you (so 2) must be eligible to compete in that district. 
  • Students who do not reside or go to school in a participating district may join a team where at least half of the students are eligible.

Winner Announcement

The winner from the 7th Congressional District, chosen by a panel of expert judges, will be featured on CongressionalAppChallenge.us. The winning app will also be eligible to be on display in the U.S. Capitol along with other winners from across the country.