WSJM: Walberg announces Congressional App Challenge for students
Congressman Tim Walberg is inviting middle and high school students in Michigan’s Fifth District to enter the 2026 Congressional App Challenge.
Walberg tells us the challenge asks students to demonstrate their tech skills and creativity by developing a software application on a platform of their choice. He says it’s always impressive to see what our young people come up with.
“It’s amazing,” Walberg said. “It’s amazing, doing things that I wouldn’t think of doing. It’s not in my background to think in the way some of these students think. And to do it in a positive way is what’s so special.”
Winners of the App Challenge are selected from each state. Last year’s Michigan winners included a Comstock STEM Academy student who designed Study Oasis, which helps users study, create to-do lists, and get answers to questions from an AI Tutor chatbot.
Walberg says he knows the Fifth District can produce a winner.
“These type of challenges sometimes bring out the best in our educational system, whether it be public, private, parochial, homeschool. There are some smart kids out there if they’re given a chance to use the tools, the platforms that we have today.”
The deadline to enter the competition is October 26, after which local judges selected by Congressman Walberg’s office will evaluate the submissions and select a winning app. The competition is open to all eligible middle and high school students, regardless of coding experience.
The winning app from Michigan’s 5th District will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol alongside winning entries from congressional districts across the country.