Kalispell Middle School girls win app challenge

To close out Computer Science Education Week last week, Rep. Greg Gianforte, R-Mont., announced Montana’s winners of the 2019 Congressional App Challenge — Zoe Wendt, Beatrix Poitra and Anna Bergstedt from Kalispell Middle School.

“Congratulations to Zoe, Beatrix, and Anna, who used block code to create an interactive app that showcases Montana’s birds,” Gianforte said in a press release. “They developed a fantastic app to serve as a resource for birders. The talent and creativity of our young programmers really impresses me. Thank you to Montana’s educators and mentors who encourage our students to learn computer science and other STEM fields.”

The three students designed their app to help birders identify birds in Northwest Montana by their calls.

The Congressional App Challenge is an annual contest to engage student creativity and encourage their participation in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education fields. This nationwide event allows high school students from across the country to compete against their peers by creating and exhibiting their software application for mobile, tablet or computer device on a platform of their choice.

Winning apps from each congressional district will be on display in the U.S. Capitol.

The Congressional App Challenge is sponsored by the Internet Education Foundation. For more information on the Congressional App Challenge, visit Gianforte’s website, gianforte.house.gov/appchallenge.