Friends,

For the past few months, teenagers across Iowa’s Third District have been designing apps for the 2017 Congressional App Challenge. The competition, officially launched in 2015, is a nationwide event intended to engage students’ creativity and encourage their participation in STEM fields by creating and exhibiting their software application, or “app”, for mobile, tablet, or computer devices on a platform of their choice.

This is a competition which challenges Iowa students to think big, test their coding and teamwork skills to build a solution to a problem or a tool to make everyday life easier. It gives students the opportunities to use their strong science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) skills to create the best app in the district.

Nine teams from across the Third District entered the challenge and the entries were judged by a panel of judges who work within the academic, software, and entrepreneurial fields.

After seeing all of the apps and reading the students' submissions, I was very impressed. The students demonstrated their creativity, hard work, and determination throughout their projects and I want to share them with you.

This year's winner was "City Recycle Day" designed by Waukee students Sabarish, Owen, Sankalp, and Shriya. Their app will remind users what day their trash and recycling will be picked up. The app will also alert users to changes in their pickup schedule due to a number of circumstances, including bad weather, and if there are special pickups for items like yard waste. I spoke with the team and presented them with awards honoring their superb app. Their creation will now be shown on displays around the U.S. Capitol Building for the next year. Watch the video about their app HERE. 

Pictured above are the designers of "City Recycle Day." From left to right Sabarish, Owen, Sankalp, and Shriya.

I spoke with the designers of "City Recycle Day" to congratulate them and learn more about their plans for the app moving forward. 

Another submission was "Crazy Gears" from students in Shenandoah. This app would help educate children from Pre-K to 4th grade. The designers said the app would help children gain the knowledge needed to continue advancing their education. Watch their video HERE.

"Funwai" was also created by Shenandoah students and will help folks of all ages live a healthy lifestyle. The app would give step-by-step instructions on how to perform exercises and help folks understand how to exercise properly.

"Job Blob" would help teenagers find jobs. This app, designed by students from Shenandoah, would help young people who are seeking employment find jobs that would fit into their schedule. Watch their video HERE.

"Kitchen Dummy" was created by a student at Theodore Roosevelt High School in Des Moines. It would help people who are learning to cook how to best satisfy their hunger. Users can search recipes and submit their own. Watch their video HERE.

"Meme Me" is a social networking and entertainment app designed by Shenandoah students. The app lets users create memes and interact with posts. Users can earn virtual trophies by using the app. Watch their video HERE.

"Tappy Fruit" is a game which was designed for children and teenagers. It was made by a student at Waukee High School. Users must navigate a banana through obstacles to gain points. Watch their video HERE.

"Time Out" was designed to give folks an opportunity to de-stress. The student designers from Shenandoah, added inspiration quotes, a space to create art, and a journal so users can log their thoughts to reflect on later. Watch their video HERE.

All of these submissions were very impressive and the judges had a hard time picking the winner. I want to congratulate all of the students for participating in this year's Congressional App Challenge and encourage them to continue learning and pursuing their goals. 

Take care,