Congressional App Challenge
Each year, the House of Representatives hosts the Congressional App Challenge, a nationwide app building competition for middle and high school students.
The winning app of the district's competition will be displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol, along with winning apps from all participating districts across the country. The deadline to submit an app for consideration in this year's competition is October 30, 2024 by noon.
Students may either compete individually or in teams of up to four. Those competing individually must live or go to school in Ohio’s 13th Congressional District. For those competing in teams, at least half of the team must live or go to school in Ohio’s 13th Congressional District. Applicants must submit a short video demonstrating their app, and answer a few questions.
For more information, or to submit your app, visit https://www.congressionalappchallenge.us/.
For any additional questions, please contact the District Office at 330-400-5350.
Eligibility
Middle and high school students who live or go to school in Ohio’s 13th Congressional District are invited to participate in the 2025 Congressional App Challenge, hosted by Congresswoman Emilia Sykes. Students may compete as individuals or in teams of up to four. If competing as a team, at least two of the teammates must be eligible to compete within the district in which they are submitting.
How To Submit
1) Create your team, or decide to participate as an individual.
2) Sign up for the competition at congressionalappchallenge.us/students.
3) Come up with your original, innovative idea for an app.
4) Create an app for any platform using any coding language.
5) Record a short video showing off how to use your app and all of it’s cool features. Most students screen-record their application and do a voice-over, but you are encouraged to be creative!
6) Submit your app at congressionalappchallenge.us/students by noon on October 30, 2025.
Timeline
October 30, 2025: Student apps are due by noon at congressionalappchallenge.us/students.
Early December 2025: Congresswoman Emilia Sykes announces the winner for Ohio's 13th District .
January 2026: The CAC will make the National Winners Announcement.
Spring 2026: #HouseOfCode is hosted on Capitol Hill.
App Challenge Webinar 2024
Congresswoman Sykes hosted a Congressional App Challenge Webinar, with special guests from the Congressional App Challenge and the Cleveland FBI. The event brought together students and families in Ohio’s 13th Congressional District to learn about the Congressional App Challenge. The Office of Congresswoman Sykes was joined by Ryan Kirzner, Congressional App Challenge Congressional Operations Coordinator, and Special Agent Peter Mauro of the FBI Cleveland Division.
Please Note: While this webinar still has great information on the App Challenge, it does advertise the 2024 submission date. For the 2025 Congressional App Challenge, be sure to submit you apps by October 20, 2025 at noon.