WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Rep. Harold “Hal” Rogers (KY-05), Dean of the House, selected a team of students from Barbourville High School as Kentucky’s Fifth District winners of the Congressional App Challenge. The students designed a fully functional mobile application called, “Downtown Barbourville,” to highlight tourism opportunities in their hometown. This week, the students will present their app during the annual #HouseofCode Festival, a national event to celebrate the winners from every participating congressional district. 
 
“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,” said Congressman Rogers. “This win is also a testament to the advanced STEM education that is available in Kentucky’s Appalachian region. Our students are highly capable of competing in high-tech operations when they are given the opportunity.” 
 
You can explore the student-created “Downtown Barbourville” app by visiting: barbourvilletourism.stqry.app
 
Barbourville’s winning team included students: Wendi Smith, Raegan Howard, Ayla Urton, and Presley Reeves of Barbourville Independent High School. The team also had help from their classmates, including 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. Being a part of something that was bigger than myself taught me to value my teammates and work hard to better my community.  I am excited for our community and visitors to enjoy this app for years to come,” said Wendi Smith, a senior at Barbourville Independent High School.
 
“Through the process of creating this app with my team, I have learned that you can really do anything you set your mind to do.  I loved making this app with my team about everything I love about our town,” said Raegan Smith, a senior at Barbourville Independent High School.
 
Several regional and local sponsors supported the students’ trip to Washington to participate in the House of Code Festival, including SOAR - Shaping our Appalachian Region and The Center for Rural Development. The students designed and launched the app with support from Partners for Rural Impact. 
 
“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.' Developed in collaboration with Knox County Tourism, the app serves as a digital spotlight, showcasing the unique attractions and opportunities within Barbourville and Knox County. Their win for Kentucky’s Fifth District is a testament to the students' computer science skills and dedication to their community,” said Diana Mills, Project Coordinator for Partners for Rural Impact. 
 
The Congressional App Challenge is an official initiative of the U.S. House of Representatives, encouraging students in middle and high school to learn to code, and inspiring them to pursue careers in computer science. More than 12,600 students from across the country participated in the challenge last year, showcasing their creativity, passion for technology, and the limitless potential of America’s next generation of innovators. 
 
The program is a public-private partnership made possible through funding from the Broadcom Foundation, AWS, Rise, theCoderSchool, Apple, and others.
 
The 2025 Congressional App Challenge will launch in May of 2025, and eligible students can pre-register for the competition now.

For more information about Congressman Rogers’ work in Washington and at home in Kentucky, visit halrogers.house.gov and follow him on social media.