Capitol Hill Lights Up with STEM Brilliance at #HouseOfCode 2024
On April 10-11, 2024, Capitol Hill was abuzz with excitement as #HouseOfCode, the annual celebration of the Congressional App Challenge winners, took center stage at the U.S. Capitol. Over 350 talented young coders from across the nation descended on Washington to demonstrate their award-winning apps, engage with Congress, and explore the future of STEM.
#HouseOfCode kicked off with industry panels, engaging workshops, and a STEM Inspiration Fair. Participants had the unique opportunity to connect with leaders from Congress, the federal government, and across the private sector, setting the stage for two days of learning and inspiration.
The panel sessions featured notable speakers from AWS, theCoderSchool, CollegeWise, MIT App Inventor, and Palo Alto Networks and covered topics like career development, data privacy, the modernization of Congress, and the future of AI. Concurrently, Snap, Inc. presented a chaperone session aimed at educating parents and caregivers on safety features and parental controls on the platform.
Day two at #HouseOfCode was dedicated to celebrating the 2023 App Challenge winners. Representatives Ted Lieu, Zach Nunn, Jasmine Crockett, Deborah Ross, Jen Kiggans, and Becca Balint took the stage to congratulate the students, discuss the Congressional App Challenge’s impact, and share their vision for the future of STEM education. Additional keynotes from AWS, Omidyar Network, Snap, Meta, theCoderSchool, United States Digital Service, and USC underscored the importance of fostering innovation, supporting STEM education, and empowering the next generation of tech leaders.
#HouseOfCode culminated with two incredible student demonstration sessions. Over 350 Congressional App Challenge winners from 47 states gathered to showcase their winning apps to Congress and the general public – with over 50 Members of Congress joining for the student demonstrations. App topics ranged from using AI to assist the visually impaired to protecting pets from overheating cars, with an estimated 1,000 attendees dropping in to see what these future tech leaders are creating today.
#HouseOfCode is a testament to the creativity, ingenuity, and passion of young coders from across the country – and the commitment of Congress to ensure that every student has an opportunity to pursue a pathway in STEM. A huge thank you to all participants, sponsors, and organizers for making #HouseOfCode 2024 a resounding success.
Stay tuned for more updates and highlights as we gear up for the launch of the 2024 Congressional App Challenge on May 1, 2024.