Dear Parents and Students:

I write today to share an exciting opportunity for students who love to code: I’m now accepting applications for the 2022 Congressional App Challenge!

This annual competition invites middle and high school students across MD-08 and nationwide to code and create their own software application, or “app,” for mobile devices, tablets or computer devices.

Each year, this challenge reminds me of the boundless creativity and technological savvy of the students of MD-08. Our 2021 winners were Walter Johnson High School seniors Ainesh Chatterjee, Salamun Nuhin, Botond Parkanyi and Charles Wang. They created CoronaSafe, a Python-based application that analyzes COVID case data and urban density to create a unique COVID contraction risk calculation for any global address given by the user.

The Congressional App Challenge is open to all middle and high school students living or attending school in Maryland’s 8th Congressional District. You don’t want to miss out on this opportunity: the app of the winning student or team will be featured on my website, the Congressional App Challenge website, and displayed in an exhibit at our Capitol in Washington, DC.

Students do not need to submit a finished app to the challenge. Instead, the App Challenge requires students to submit a short video explaining their app and showing footage of any finished portions of the application.

After submissions close in November, I’ll consult with a panel of tech experts from across the Eighth District to select a winner. 

How to enter the Congressional App Challenge

1. Check out the complete rulebook for participating in the Challenge.
2. Register online as soon as possible.
3. Submit a video explaining your app and what you learned through the competition process no later than 12:00 p.m. EST on Tuesday, November 1, 2022.

For more information, please visit the official Congressional App Challenge website at CongressionalAppChallenge.us. If you have questions, please contact my District Office at 301-354-1000.

Happy coding!

This mailbox cannot receive replies. To email me, please click here.