Kilili launches App Challenge

Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (Ind-MP) invites young coders in middle school and high school to showcase their skills and create an app for the 2022 Northern Marianas Congressional App Challenge.

Students may compete individually or in teams of up to four by registering online at http://www.congressionalappchallenge.us/. Online registration and submissions are due Nov. 1, 2022, and winning entries will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol building for one year.

The Congressional App Challenge is an annual contest held by Members of Congress to encourage student interest in technology and computer programming. Last year, 15 teams comprising of a total of 35 students from the Northern Marianas participated in the challenge.

“The Congressional App Challenge is an opportunity for young coders right here in the Marianas to grow their coding skills and showcase their creativity through tech while representing our Northern Mariana Islands,” Sablan said. “This is the sixth year that the Marianas congressional office will host an App Challenge. And every year, I am very impressed with our young people’s drive to create technological solutions to address modern day needs. I can’t wait to see what students come up with this year.”

Participants in the challenge may create any type of app they want, written in any programming language, and for any platform, as long as it is appropriate and functional to some degree. Submission requirements include a registration form, a description of the app, a 1–3 minute video demonstration, and an exit questionnaire.

Students of all skill levels are strongly encouraged to participate and learn how to create their own apps. Winners will be selected by a panel of judges and honored by their Member of Congress. Their apps are eligible to be featured on display in the U.S. Capitol building, on house.gov, and on the Congressional App Challenge website.

The 2021 winning app, “A’ayuda,” was designed by Marianas High School students Carson Lin, James Lin, Jaehoon Son, and Dip Roy. Their app functions as a community-driven platform for everyday people to learn and share knowledge about the Chamorro and Carolinian language. The demo video for “A’ayuda” can be viewed online at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6_T8t98wQQ.

More details regarding the Congressional App Challenge are available on the congressional office website at https://sablan.house.gov or the App Challenge’s official website, http://www.congressionalappchallenge.us/. For questions, contact the congressional office at kilili@mail.house.gov or call 323-2647. (PR)