Congressional App Challenge

Congressional App Challenge Logo

The Congressional App Challenge aims to engage students’ creativity and encourage youth participation in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Established in 2013, the nationwide competition highlights the importance of STEM education as students prepare to enter the contemporary, tech-driven world. The winning app will be featured on the U.S. House of Representatives’ website and displayed in a special U.S. Capitol exhibit along with the winners from other states and districts.

As a strong supporter of STEM education, Scott believes the most important investment we can make is in the next generation who will go on to power San Diego’s innovation economy. The competition is a chance for students to develop STEM skills, embrace their creativity, learn about the variety of STEM applications, and recognize the limitless possibilities of coding and computer design.

Middle and high school students from San Diego, Coronado, San Marcos, and Escondido are invited to compete by designing, creating, and showcasing their very own software application. The apps can be made for mobile, tablet, or computer devices and can be constructed on any platform.

If you have any questions about the competition or submission guidelines please contact Scott's District Office: 858-455-5550.

 

2025 Winner

The 2025 CA50 Congressional App Challenge 1st place winner, Kayley Xu of the Bishops School, submitted her app “Resperia.” After battling severe pneumonia at age thirteen, Kayley faced weeks of conflicting diagnoses and doctors often disagreed on what they heard through a stethoscope. This highlighted a larger issue in healthcare: breathing sounds are interpreted subjectively, which can delay or miss serious conditions. Respira—from the Latin “respirare,” meaning “to breathe again,” addresses this problem by using AI to analyze uploaded breathing recordings to classify respiratory sounds into one of four categories: normal, crackle, wheeze, or crackle & wheeze, to provide accurate and consistent diagnostic results. Respira also includes an interactive breathing exercise game designed to make recovery more engaging—especially for children. Respira aims to empower patients, assist healthcare professionals, and make accurate respiratory diagnosis and rehabilitation available to everyone, everywhere. 

Can I Participate?

The competition is open to students who reside or attend school in California’s 50th Congressional District and who will be enrolled in middle or high school in the fall of 2025. Students can compete in a team of up to four students, as long as half of the team lives or goes to school in a competing Congressional District. Individuals submitting on behalf of teams must meet the eligibility requirements for individual contestants. 

Students can submit any coded project—on any topic, built for any platform, using any programming language. This includes mobile apps, websites, games, robots, wearable tech, and more. The app must have been completed between October 24th, 2024-October 30th, 2025, whether in the classroom last year, in an afterschool program, summer program, or other extracurricular activity. 

More information on rules can be found here.

How Can I Enter?

  • Submissions for the 2025 Congressional App Challenge are now open. The deadline to submit your app online is October 30, 2025 at 12:00pm EST.

  • Note: All entries must be original in concept, design, and execution.

REGISTER HERE

 

Resources for Students and Teachers