Winners of the First Annual Fifth District Congressional App Competition
Congressman Steny H. Hoyer announced the inaugural winners of the First Annual Fifth District Congressional App Competition: Paris Ferguson, Kamesha Hicks, Rainbow Lewis, Señora Louis, Jameia Lynn, Elizabeth Pratt, and Kayla Young, all students from Great Mills High School in St. Mary’s County, Maryland. The students will soon receive certificates from Congressman Hoyer at a reception in their honor, and a video presentation of their app will be on display in the U.S. Capitol for the following year.
“I’m pleased to announce that an impressive group of bright and innovative young women from Great Mills, Maryland have been selected as our inaugural Fifth District Congressional App Competition winners,” stated Congressman Hoyer. “I’m also pleased that they chose to confront such a critical issue with their work. Cyber bullying is an issue that needs more attention so that we can better protect our children in this digital era. I’m excited by the success of our first year hosting this Congressional App Competition, as it encourages students to be creative and innovative in computer science and other STEM fields – areas of increasing importance where we see significant growth in well-paying job opportunities. I look forward to seeing the winning app on display in the Capitol building, and I thank all who participated in the competition.”
The students created Stand Up!, an app aimed at raising awareness of cyber bullying for teen girls, bystanders, and parents. The Stand Up! app includes different ways to raise awareness, share experiences, reach out for help, and prevent or stop cyber bullying. The students created both a
pitch video and a
hands-on demonstration video for the app.
Established by the U.S. House of Representatives in 2013, this competition is a nationwide event that invites students from all participating Congressional districts to compete, either individually or in a group, by creating and presenting an original software application, or “app,” for a mobile, tablet, or computer platform of their choice. The contest, modeled off the long-successful Congressional Art Competition, is designed to promote innovation and engagement in the STEM education fields. Students entering the competition submit source code along with an online video that explains and demonstrates their app and what they learned through the competition process.
More details on the competition and helpful programming resources can be found on Congressman Hoyer’s
app competition webpage or on the
national app competition webpage.
Hoyer Announces Over $135,800 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Award for Ridge Volunteer Fire Department
Congressman Steny H. Hoyer announced that the Ridge Volunteer Fire Department has been awarded $135,850 in federal grant funds through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program to improve operations and safety.
“I’m pleased to announce that Ridge Volunteer Fire Department has been awarded a substantial grant to support operations and improve safety,” stated Congressman Hoyer. “As co-chair of the Congressional Fire Services, I’m proud to work closely with fire fighters from the Fifth District and around the country to understand the resources they need to do their jobs safely and effectively. This grant will do just that and help to ensure that fire services in Ridge can keep St. Mary’s County businesses and residents safe.”
“The Department is overwhelmed by receipt of this grant, which will provide our fire fighters with additional training and tools we need to stay safe, especially the upgrade of SCBA air bottles to help fire fighters breathe while fighting a fire,” said Charlie Bradburn, President of the Ridge Volunteer Fire Department. “The Department is in a smaller, rural area so this carries a lot of weight – it will make it easier for us to do our job and keep our volunteers safe.”
AFG funding, which Congressman Hoyer helped establish in 2001, is awarded to fire departments and EMS organizations to enhance their response capabilities and more effectively protect the health and safety of the public and emergency response personnel. Over $15 million has been awarded to Fifth District fire departments since the program was established. Click here for more information.