In the News

CHS EAST student wins Congressional App Challenge

By Jennifer Fleming

The Congressional App Challenge (CAC) is a public effort to encourage kids to learn how to code through annual district-wide competitions hosted by Members of Congress for their district. The CAC is designed to engage student creativity and encourage their participation in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education fields. This nationwide event allows 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. Students in participating districts code original applications for the chance to be selected for recognition by their Member of Congress, win prizes, and have their work put on display in the Capitol Building in Washington, DC.

For Arkansas’s 2nd Congressional District, there were over 28 apps submitted. Clinton High School EAST students, Alex Prosser and David Saavedra, each entered apps in the competition. Both students were invited to attend a reception hosted by Congressman French Hill at The Venture Center in downtown Little Rock Nov. 8.

At the reception, Congressman Hill, Co-Chair of the Congressional App Challenge, announced Saavedra as the first place winner for his app, Emergency Response Near You (ERNY), a first responder app that helps local fire departments locate fire hydrants by providing on and offline mapping and information on fire hydrant locations. ERNY will be featured on house.gov and exhibited on a digital display at the U.S. Capitol next spring.