Local students win district’s Congressional App Challenge

GN1 staff
U.S. Rep. Brett Guthrie announced the winners of the Congressional App Challenge from Kentucky’s 2nd Congressional District during Computer Science Education Week.
Guthrie and other participating U.S. representatives host the Congressional App Challenge annually in their respective districts. Barren County High School student team Megan Shirley and Clay Madison won overall first place with their app, PAT — Parkinson’s Assistive Technology. This app to help patients living with Parkinson’s disease was inspired by the personal experience of one of the team’s students seeing the impact of Parkinson’s disease on a loved one, according to a news release from Guthrie’s office.
“During Computer Science Education Week, I’m pleased to announce Barren County High School students Megan Shirley and Clay Madison are the overall winners with their app, PAT — Parkinson’s Assistive Technology. Congratulations to all of the high school and middle school 2022 Congressional App Challenge winners for Kentucky’s 2nd District, and thanks to everyone involved in this year’s Congressional App Challenge. This would not be possible without the incredible students, educators, and judges from the 2nd District,” Guthrie said, via the announcement.
In addition, three Glasgow High School students completed the local sweep of the high-school category.
Anna Kunkle won overall second place with her app, Donateer; Autumn Pollard took overall third with Learnable; and Maddox Muhlenkamp got overall fourth place with TJ Samson.
Links to the students’ app presentation videos are available by clicking on the name of each one above.
Guthrie hosts this competition annually to inspire students through a fun competition to advance their coding skills and their interest in computer science careers. The winners of the Congressional App Challenge were chosen by a panel of local computer science experts. The winning app, PAT.- Parkinson’s Assistive Technology, will be displayed on the U.S. House of Representatives website — https://www.house.gov/ — with other winning apps across the country and is eligible to be displayed in the U.S. Capitol.
BCHS team Shirley and Madison will be invited to join the #HouseofCode Capitol Hill reception in Washington, D.C., with app challenge winners in other congressional districts.
Students from Hebron Middle School in Shepherdsville swept the middle school category of entries, all according to the news release.