Press Releases

On Tuesday, Congressman Larry Bucshon, a physician from Southern Indiana, announced he is inviting high school students in Indiana’s Eighth District to participate in, “The House STEM APP Challenge,” his first annual Congressional Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Academic Competition.  The competition is designed to engage student’s creativity and encourage their participation in STEM education fields through the process of creating and exhibiting a software application, or “app,” for mobile, tablet, or computer devices on a platform of their choice. 

“As someone who was active in science as a student, I’m excited to invite Eighth District students to participate in our inaugural STEM Challenge,” said Bucshon. “In my role as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Research and Technology, I’ve worked extensively on ways to encourage our young adults to pursue fields related to science, technology, engineering, and math.  This competition is an exciting and challenging opportunity for students to engage in innovative, fun activities that will prepare them to be future leaders in these industries. We have the best and brightest students right here in the Southern Indiana and I look forward to reviewing their great work.”

The challenge is open to all high school students in Indiana’s Eighth District. Students entering the competition must create an account on www.challengepost.com and submit their app’s source code online by 11:59 PM Eastern Daylight Time on April 30, 2014, as well as provide a YouTube or VIMEO video demo explaining their app and what they learned through the competition process.

The submissions will be judged by a panel from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, Indiana and the winner will be featured on the U.S. House of Representatives website and displayed in an exhibit in the U.S. Capitol. 

Participants can access the application packet here and review more extensive directions and information at www.bucshon.house.gov/STEMchallenge. 

BACKGROUND:

Most recently, Dr. Bucshon held a hearing about how private sector organizations can assist with the engagement and retention of America’s youth in STEM related careers. Bucshon invited Dr. Phillip Cornwell, vice president of academic affairs at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, to provide testimony before the House Subcommittee on Research and Technology.  More information on the hearing can be found here. 

Furthermore, in March of 2013, Dr. Bucshon also held a hearing to examine industry and non-profit philanthropic science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education initiatives. One of the key witnesses Bucshon invited to give testimony was Dr. Vince Bertram, President and CEO of Project Lead the Way (PLTW) and former Superintendent of the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation (EVSC).  More information on the hearing can be found here.