Congresswoman Terri Sewell (D-AL07) announced the winners of the Seventh District 2021 Congressional App Challenge. The annual challenge is open to middle and high school registrants throughout Alabama’s Seventh Congressional District and is meant to encourage engagement in computer science, coding, and STEM programs.
“The talent of our students never ceases to amaze and inspire me,” said Sewell. “Once again, the innovative apps submitted to my office harness the power of coding to find practical solutions to the problems we face as a society. I want to extend my sincerest congratulations to our 2021 winners whose creations demonstrate all that can be achieved when we meet creativity with technology. I know that their skills will serve them well for years to come, and it is my hope that through competitions like this, we can continue to encourage our young people to pursue careers in STEM.”
All seven of Alabama's Congressional offices participated in the Congressional App Challenge this year. The Challenge is held at the discretion of each Congressional office. Last year, more than 300 Congressional offices participated. Each Congressional office announces its winners individually.
The winners in the Seventh District were chosen by judges Morris Foston, Rodrick Barge and Stanley Felder.
In First Place, Brendon Young’s (8th grade) “Disaster Survival Tips” provides life-saving tips via instructional videos to help residents survive natural disasters like heavy rain, flooding, and tornadoes. Brendon attends R.B. Hudson STEAM Academy in Selma. His app can be previewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uQuDVTH9Fc
In Second Place, RB Hudson STEAM Academy’s Aniyah Hatcher, Arrielle Griffin and Caitlyn Hymes (7th grade) created an app called “Skool Foodies” that lets students choose from food options at school with the goal of cutting down on food waste. Their app can be previewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIwQcR0e1UQ
In Third Place, Center Point High School’s Jaceleb Smith and Tylor Brannon (9th grade) created “The Study App.”
Young, the First Place winner, will have his app featured on CongressionalAppChallenge.us and in the U.S. Capitol along with other winning apps from across the country.
Members of the U.S. House of Representatives host district-wide Congressional App Challenges for middle school and high school students in order to encourage them to learn to code and to inspire them to pursue careers in computer science.
To learn more about the Congressional App Challenges: https://www.congressionalappchallenge.us/
Sewell is in her sixth term representing Alabama’s Seventh Congressional District.
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