WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA) announced today that Zarie Shelvin, Damarkus Webster, Dontaye Washington, and Rena Celestine are the overall winners of the 2020 Congressional App Challenge for Louisiana’s 3rd District. The students attend Lafayette High, Lafayette Renaissance Charter Academy, David Thibodaux STEM Magnet Academy, and Edward J. Sam Accelerated School of Lafayette respectively. The team’s app titled “Recovr” is designed to connect victims of natural disasters with essential resources in their community.
The “Recovr” app will be featured in an exhibition at the U.S. Capitol. The students are also invited to participate in the annual “House of Code” reception, which features winning teams from across the country. That event is scheduled for Spring 2021.
Congressman Higgins issued the following statement:
“Congratulations to Zarie, Damarkus, Dontaye, and Rena on their winning app. They were able to design an app to help natural disaster victims find crucial resources in their community. This was a tremendous need following Hurricanes Laura and Delta. The students recognized this challenge and used their coding skills to provide a solution.”
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About the Congressional App Challenge
The U.S. House of Representatives officially launched the Challenge in 2015 to help inspire innovation and learning in computer science and coding. The Challenge is a nationwide effort that allows students to compete against their peers by creating an application or “app” for mobile, tablet, or computer devices. Student teams compete against each other by congressional district, and the winning apps are showcased at the U.S. Capitol each year.
