On November 18, 2023, U.S. Congressman Matt Gaetz announced Niceville High School Junior Andrew Putman as the 2023 Congressional App Challenge winner in Florida's First District at Northwest Florida State College. Andrew's app, Assets4Kids, won first place in the competition, which aims to alleviate child poverty. He was inspired to develop the app after witnessing child poverty during a mission trip to the Dominican Republic.
Congressman Matt Gaetz invited Andrew and his teacher, Carrie Foxhall, to the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. Accompanied by his parents and Ms. Foxhall, Andrew showcased Assets4Kids at the House of Code Reception on Friday, April 12. Reflecting on his experience, Andrew said, "This was a great experience for me, and I'm really thankful I was able to go on this trip. I look forward to participating in the app challenge again next year." The Congressional App Challenge aims to inspire, include, and innovate efforts around STEM, CODING, and Computer Science Education. It is noteworthy that this is the fourth time a Niceville High School student has won the Congressional App Challenge in their district.
"Our school district is fortunate to have talented students who continue to impress us. We are incredibly proud of Andrew's outstanding achievement in developing a meaningful app to assist impoverished children. We are equally proud of his representation of our district and Career Technical Education (CTE) at a national level," stated Superintendent Marcus Chambers.
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