Kaptur Announces Sandusky Middle School Student as Winner of 9th Congressional District Congressional App Challenge
Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09) released the following statement announcing Ishan Chopra of Sandusky Middle School as the winner of the Ohio 9th Congressional District’s fifth annual student Congressional App Challenge. Yesterday, December 19, Congresswoman Kaptur hosted winner Ishan Chopra, and other participants in the 2023 OH-09 Congressional App Challenge and their families for an award and recognition ceremony. Additional standout applications came from Nathan Stubleski and Adam Prymas of St. Francis de Sales High School in Toledo and Theodore Radkov of Sylvania Southview High School, who placed 2nd and 3rd respectfully. Other participants also attending the ceremony included Aiden Comes from Sylvania Southview High School, Nicholas Molitor from Sylvania Southview High School, and Chris Hammady from St. Francis De Sales High School. Outstanding submissions were also received from St. Francis De Sales High School, Sylvania Southview High School, Sylvania Northview High School, and Perrysburg High School.
“Congratulations to Ishan Chopra of Sandusky Middle School for winning this year’s 9th Congressional District Congressional App Challenge. Ishan’s mobile application, “GOALS” is designed for users to learn the basics of soccer. He truly found the back of the net,” said Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur. “I appreciate all 23 teams’ app submissions during this year’s competition, and was happy to be able to honor them all. Just know that you are all winners in my book. Skill-building opportunities like this continue to highlight computer science and STEM education programs that are preparing students for a bright and innovative future in the workforce. I also want to extend special thanks to the outstanding computer science professionals and scholars from the University of Toledo, Owens Community College, and Defiance College for judging this year’s competition.”
The Congressional App Challenge is a yearly competition for every congressional district across the United States to enroll in. The purpose of this challenge is to encourage students from schools across congressional district’s to compete by creating and submitting a mobile application that will have the opportunity to be chosen as the winner. This competition is an opportunity for young adults to explore coding and computer sciences as a STEM education field. This student engagement gives them an opportunity to learn and expand new skills that are advantageous to their future careers.
In 2013, leaders of the House of Representatives and the Internet Education Foundation sought avenues to acknowledge and celebrate computer science and STEM education. Later that year, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed House Resolution 77 – Academic Competition Resolution of 2013. This resolution was the architect for designing a computer science, or “app” competition that each House member could compete in. The inaugural Congressional App Challenge was held in 2015. Ohio’s 9th Congressional District has participated in the Congressional App Challenge since 2019. In 2023, over 23 teams registered for the 9th District challenge with a total of 40 students participating. Across all 50 states plus territories, 374 of 435 congressional districts and 11,600 students participated in creating 3,600 mobile applications nationwide.
Photos of the 9th Congressional District Congressional App Challenge recognition ceremony can be found by clicking here. More information on the Congressional App Challenge can be found by clicking here.
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