The Congressional App Challenge is important to the students of the Fullerton School District in that it provides a relevant connection to students with coding and the real world. Students are recognized by a federal congressman that students would not have ever interacted with before. The sense of accomplishment for the students is evident in the culminating event that the congressional office hosts at the end of the challenge. This program fits perfectly with vision of the district’s goal of providing students the opportunity to pursue their passions in college and career related pathways.

An innovative feature of this program is the culminating event that no other program offers. The culminating event takes place at the Richard Nixon library and allows students to present the apps the students have worked on and created over the course of three months. This program is distinct from other similar programs in that the design thinking process is emphasized and is the foundation on which students develop and create their apps. The excitement and buzz that is created by this program for students is not seen in many other programs.