Press Releases

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Wittman (VA-01) announced that the 2025 Congressional App Challenge is now open to all middle and high school students in Virginia’s First District. The deadline for this year’s competition is Oct. 30, 2025.

"Virginia is home to many talented young minds, and I encourage all eligible students to take part in this year’s Congressional App Challenge,” said Congressman Wittman. “I’m excited to see the creativity and hard work our students will showcase through their submissions. As a longtime advocate for strengthening STEM education, I believe opportunities like this are critical to preparing our next generation for success in high-demand technology fields. I couldn’t be more pleased to see the Congressional App Challenge promote hands-on learning in coding and computer science for our students."

The Congressional App Challenge is designed to encourage students’ participation in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education fields. This nationwide event allows middle and high school students from across the country to compete against their peers by creating and exhibiting their software application, or "app," for mobile, tablet, or computer devices on a platform of their choice.

Last year’s winners of the 2024 Virginia’s First District Congressional App Challenge were a team of Deep Run High School students who developed Fintelligent, an app that supports anglers by promoting sustainable fishing and environmental awareness. 

Watch a video demonstration of the winning 2024 app by clicking the image above or here.

The winning students’ apps will be eligible to be displayed in the U.S. Capitol and featured on the U.S. House of Representatives website. The winning students will be invited to attend the #HouseofCode Capitol Hill Reception in Washington D.C. 

To participate:

• Participants must be a middle or high school student at the time of app submission.

• Students may compete if they reside in or attend school in Virginia’s First District.

• Students may compete as individuals, or in teams of up to four students. At least half of the teammates on any team must live or attend school in Virginia’s First District.

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

More information about the challenge’s rules can be found here. Applicants can register for the competition and submit their apps on the Congressional App Challenge website.

Congressman Wittman is a longtime advocate for strengthening STEM education across Virginia and the nation. In a January 2024 op-ed for the Richmond Times-Dispatch, he emphasized the importance of strategic investments in STEM to fuel workforce development and economic growth. In December 2023, he hosted a STEM education seminar at Virginia Commonwealth University—his Ph.D. alma mater—to provide educators, administrators, and parents with practical tools to support student success in STEM fields.

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