Johnson announces 2024 Congressional App Challenge winner

By Mitchell Now December 24, 2023 8:36 am

U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) congratulated Congressional App Challenge winner Casie Dale from Spearfish, South Dakota. Casie coded an app called “Siren Shield.”

“As technology becomes more important in our society, so does technological literacy,” said Johnson. “I am proud to see young folks like Casie involved in these fields, and I’m impressed her app has a real-world impact.”

Casie created “Siren Shield” to wirelessly activate a Hail Protection System to protect gardens and windows. The app actively listens for the tone of the local weather siren, and once detected, a motor lowers a shield onto the garden and window to protect from hail.

Casie says, “I have lived in Spearfish, South Dakota for almost thirteen years and have had to contend with the hail season annually…Past solutions have always gotten in the way of tending to our garden though…The app/robot will detect and respond when the weather siren goes off to protect our garden and windows from hailstorms, and when it is not needed, it will retract out of the way.”

Annually, students from each congressional district compete in the App Challenge. This year, Casie’s app will be displayed in the Capitol, featured online, and she will have the chance to participate in #HouseofCode, a gathering of all the current year’s winners.

Johnson announced the Congressional App Challenge in July. For further information about the Congressional App Challenge, please visit http://www.CongressionalAppChallenge.us.

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