Sioux Empire Today

U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson has announced the opening of South Dakota's Congressional App Challenge (CAC) for 2025. This annual competition aims to engage students in computer science and coding by encouraging them to create practical or creative apps.

"The Congressional App Challenge is a great tool to encourage high school and middle school students to learn more about STEM and coding by creating practical or creative apps," said Johnson. "Technology and coding are everywhere, and increasing proficiency in coding will set the next generation up for success in this career field."

The CAC was established by Congress with the goal of inspiring young people to pursue careers in STEM fields through learning coding skills. Students at all skill levels are invited to participate, with no prior experience required.

The submission portal for student entries is now open, with applications due by October 30, 2025, at 11:00 AM CT. The challenge accepts programs written in any programming language, such as C, C++, JavaScript, Python, Ruby, or block code, for any platform including desktop/PCs, web browsers, or mobile devices. Participants can register individually or in teams of up to four members.

A panel of expert judges will select the winner from South Dakota. The winning app will be featured on CongressionalAppChallenge.us and may also be displayed in the U.S. Capitol alongside other national winners.

For further details about the competition, visit CongressionalAppChallenge.us or contact Jonathon Sundet via email at jonathon.sundet@mail.house.gov or phone at 202-225-2801.