Hal Rogers U.S. House of Representatives from Kentucky's 5th district | Official U.S. House Headshot
Hal Rogers U.S. House of Representatives from Kentucky's 5th district | Official U.S. House Headshot
U.S. Representative Harold “Hal” Rogers recently announced that a group of students from Barbourville Independent High School emerged as the winners of the Congressional App Challenge for Kentucky’s Fifth District. The students designed "Downtown Barbourville," an app aimed at enhancing tourism in their local area. The team is set to present their creation during the annual #HouseofCode Festival, which celebrates winners from all participating congressional districts.
"I’m so proud to host these innovative students from Barbourville on Capitol Hill this week, as they represent Kentucky’s Fifth District at the House of Code Festival in the Capitol Building. If you plan to visit Barbourville, I encourage you to download their app to learn more about the history of our region, as well as fun things to do with family and friends," Rogers expressed. He further commended the advanced STEM education in Kentucky’s Appalachian region, emphasizing the students' capabilities in high-tech fields.
The team behind the app includes Barbourville students Wendi Smith, Raegan Howard, Ayla Urton, and Presley Reeves, supported by classmates Gabe Farmer, Avonni Phillips, Emily Philyaw, Kyra Newsome, Kyrstin Newsome, Madalyn Taylor, Makayla Taylor, Tori Wilson, Emily Warren, Madison Deaton, Jackson Mills, Jenna Smith, and Lacey Feltner. "Through the experience of creating the app for tourism, I learned the importance of teamwork," shared Wendi Smith. Similarly, Raegan Smith highlighted the experience as an achievement of their goals.
The students' trip to the House of Code Festival was backed by regional and local sponsors like SOAR - Shaping Our Appalachian Region and The Center for Rural Development. The app was developed with help from Partners for Rural Impact. Diana Mills, Project Coordinator for Partners for Rural Impact, noted, "Barbourville Independent High School students, participating in the Rural Postsecondary Economic Development Grant and Partners for Rural Impact's 2024 Summer Internships, have achieved remarkable recognition for their community-focused app, 'Downtown Barbourville.'"
The Congressional App Challenge is a U.S. House of Representatives initiative, aiming to instill coding skills in middle and high school students, while promoting careers in computer science. Last year, it saw participation from over 12,600 students nationwide. The upcoming edition of the challenge will commence in May 2025, and pre-registration is now open.
For those wishing to learn more about Congressman Rogers’ efforts, his official website and social media platforms provide useful information.
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