High school students encouraged to submit an original app
WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman Dave Loebsack is excited to announce that students in Iowa's Second District will have the opportunity to participate in the Second Annual Congressional App Challenge (CAC), an app development competition for high school students. Students are invited, either as individuals or as teams, to create and submit their own software application ("app") for mobile, tablet, or other computing devices on a platform of their choice. Apps are created for myriad purposes, from providing entertainment, to monitoring personal health, to facilitating work functions. For the Challenge, students can create any type of app they like, as long as it meets certain functional requirements.
"I am excited that students in Iowa's Second District will have an opportunity to participate in this competition, which is designed to engage students' ingenuity and inspire participation in STEM education fields," said Loebsack. "I encourage all students who have an interest in technology to use their creativity and design an app to enter the competition."
The Challenge submission period is currently open and lasts through January 15, 2016. Winners will be selected by a panel of local judges, and the winning app will be featured on a display in the U.S. Capitol building. Information on how to submit an app for the competition can be found here.
For further information about the Congressional App Challenge, please visit: congressionalappchallenge.us or you can contact Kate Petersen in Loebsack's office at 202-225-6576.
Background Information on the CAC
The CAC was created to recognize that STEM skills are essential for economic growth and innovation, and that the U.S. has been falling behind on these fronts. STEM occupations are projected to grow by 17% between 2008 and 2018, compared to 9.8% growth for non?STEM occupations and according to some estimates, the U.S. may be short as many as 3 million high?skilled workers by 2018. To maintain American competitiveness, it's crucial that the United States invests in our youth now, and helps them acquire these necessary STEM?based skills. The CAC highlights and encourages students to pursue those skills.
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