Omaha, Neb. – Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02) today announced the winners for Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District, in the 2021 Congressional App Challenge. Established by Congress in 2014, the challenge is a programming competition for students in high school and middle school.  Students, individually or in teams, were tasked with creating, coding, and implementing a new and innovative computer application.

First place winners are Akshay Mehta, Jack Cenovic and Claire Cenovic of Brownell-Tallbot High School in Omaha. Their winningapp, SEL Central, helps facilitate social and emotional learning and create a more positive classroom environment. The app has a version for the students and teachers. Rep. Bacon called the students via Zoom in December to let them know they had won. A recap of the video call can be seen here. 

Finishing in second place is Edgar Del Cid Lutin of Omaha South High School, whose app “Mi Agri” helps to promote an appreciation for agriculture. On Thursday, January 6 Rep. Bacon was able to congratulate Lutin in person. A video about Edgar’s app can be seen here.  

Third place winners are Ellie Demulling and Danielle Carrol from Marian High School in Omaha. Their app is called DPA (Digital Personal Assistant). Rep. Bacon sent them a congratulatory video that can be seen here.

“There is a growing need to fill high-paying jobs in STEM career fields and the app challenge is a fun, engaging way to get our youth motivated to pursue those opportunities,” said Bacon. “All of the students who entered the challenge showed innovation with their ideas and commitment to the task. We have some real future leaders who will make a mark in the STEM world.”

About the Congressional App Challenge (CAC)

The CAC is an initiative of the U.S. House of Representatives, where Members of Congress host contests in their districts for middle school and high school students, encouraging them to learn to code and inspiring them to pursue careers in computer science. Data from 2016 to 2019 shows that thousands of students have been involved in the program and participation has increased 164percent.  According to research shared by the CAC, the CAC outpaces Silicon Valley by reaching out to a wide range of students in terms of gender, race, ethnicity, and geography. 

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