Press Releases

WICHITA – Today Rep. Ron Estes (R-Kansas) announced the Kansas 4th District winner of this year's Congressional App Challenge, Lily DeHaven. 

"Technological advances continue to shape the way we work and interact with others, and the Congressional App Challenge is a great way for students to showcase their coding talent and hone their tech skills," said Rep. Estes. "Now more than ever, we're seeing the need for STEAM education as demand grows for tech-based jobs. Lily's app not only highlights her technical abilities, but it is a helpful, practical browser extension for everyday lives." 

This was the third year the 4th District participated in the national Congressional App Challenge. The competition offers middle school and high school students an opportunity to showcase their creativity and technical skill by submitting the app of their choosing that they have created in the last calendar year, either for a class project, extracurricular or specifically for the App Challenge. Students living in or attending school in Kansas' 4th District were eligible to compete as individuals or teams of up to four. The winning app will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol Building and featured on House.gov.

First place winner Lily DeHaven's Focus City is a focus timer browser extension that encourages users to stay focused on important tasks. DeHaven used JavaScript and other languages to develop the app. She says her mother's experience with a mobile-based app that could also introduce distractions inspired her to build the web-based extension. DeHaven is a student at Andover eAcademy.