WALL, NJ —"Wilderly," a new app that teaches kids about invasive or endangered species in the area, is a winner.
Rep. Chris Smith (R-Manchester) this week announced his 2023 Congressional App Challenge award - and they're students at Communications High School in Wall who developed the app. The school is part of the Monmouth County Vocational Schools District.
The annual competition hosted by Smith promotes STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) skills among high school students and emphasizes the importance of these skills for the future, especially in areas of the economy, such as cybersecurity and intellectual property.
Charlie Brekke, Jordan Denzler, and Garrett Stemetzki from Communications High School in Wall won this year’s competition with their app called "Wilderly," said Smith's office.
“Their app is not only innovative and creative but also educational, as it is designed to teach young children about the invasive as well as endangered species in our area through interaction with environmental organizations and nature,” Smith said.
Communications High School is one of five career academies operated by the Monmouth County Vocational School District, and students come from all municipalities in Monmouth County.
“We were inspired to create this app from our own experiences learning about these topics in school,” the winning team said. “We felt that this education would have been further improved had we been able to go out and find these species in nature. . . . We believe that providing an outlet where kids could learn while simultaneously having fun would provide the best environment for developing a love for and knowledge of . . . nature.”
The winning team was selected by a panel of judges that evaluated the app submissions from high schools across the Fourth Congressional District.
“In their description of the project, the students used information they learned in the classroom about invasive threats to the Garden State and how invasive species impact all of us,” said Smith.
The Congressional App Challenge - simultaneously held in multiple congressional districts across the United States - is intended for students to showcase their software app-developing skills as part of a nationwide competition administered by Members of Congress.
Established in 2014, the Congressional App Challenge has become the largest student computer science competition in the world.
Middle and high school students from our Fourth Congressional District who are interested in participating in next year’s contest should contact Rep. Smith’s Toms River Office at 732-504-0567 or his Middletown Office at 732-780-3035.
https://patch.com/new-jersey/wall/wilderly-app-wins-prize-walls-communications-hs-students