Congressional App Challenge

2015 CONGRESSIONAL APP CHALLENGE HIGH SCHOOLS INVITATION

December 8, 2015

Dear Principal:

I am writing to invite all high school students from the Seventh Congressional District of Maryland to participate in the second annual Congressional App Challenge.

Established by Members of the U.S. House of Representatives in 2013, this competition is a nationwide event intended to engage students’ creativity and encourage their participation in STEM fields. This competition allows students to compete with peers in their own district by creating and exhibiting their software application, or “app”, for mobile, tablet, or computer devices on a platform of their choice.

Students may compete as individuals or in teams of up to four. Students entering the competition must submit their app’s source code online by midnight on January 15, 2016 EST, as well as provide a video demo explaining their app and what they learned through this competition process.

Eligible competition participants must be high school students who reside in the Seventh Congressional District of Maryland or high school students who attend a high school located in the Seventh Congressional District of Maryland. Individuals submitting on behalf of teams must meet the eligibility requirements for individual contestants. In addition, participants must be at least 13 years old as of November 9, 2015. Participants may compete individually or in teams of up to 4 students. If students attend a high school outside of their home congressional district, they may compete in either their home district or their school district.

If students participate as a team, 2 members of the team must be from the same district. Finally, a student may only submit one application, either as an individual or as part of a team. Students may only submit an app in one district.

Students can learn about the Congressional App Challenge by visiting http://www.congressionalappchallenge.us/. Students can register to participate in the Congressional App Challenge by visiting my Congressional App Challenge website https://www.challenge.gov/challenge/congressional-app-challenge-md-07-rep-cummings/ and completing the entry form. After completing the entry form, students must visit my Challenge.gov website to complete your competition registration, submit your app and submit a demonstration video. From November 9, 2015 to January 15, 2016 students entering the competition must provide a demonstration video explaining their app and what they learned through this competition process.

I have enclosed the Congressional App Challenge Contest Guidelines, a list of STEM Resources for Students & Teachers and a Congressional App Challenge flyer. Students must adhere to the rules of the competition.

The apps will be judged by a panel of local judges who work within the academic, software and entrepreneurial fields. The app of the winning student or team in each participating congressional district will be featured on the U.S. House of Representatives’ website (www.house.gov) and displayed in a U.S. Capitol exhibit.

For additional details, please visit http://www.congressionalappchallenge.us/.

I hope your students will participate in this exciting competition. Should you have any questions, please contact my Special Assistant, Ms. Philisha Lane, in my Baltimore District Office at (410) 685-9199.  

Sincerely,

Elijah E. Cummings

Member of Congress

Ms. Philisha K. LaneSpecial Projects and Constituent Resources Manager
Office of Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (MD-07)
1010 Park Avenue, Suite 105
Baltimore, Maryland 21201
Phone: (410) 685-9199
Fax: (410) 685-9399
Internet: http://cummings.house.gov/

Flyer and Guidelines

Full Rules

Resources