Boardman Students Win Congressional App Challenge
BOARDMAN, Ohio – A newly invented app, “The Ohio Gun Obtaining Quiz,” led three Boardman High School students to win the 2019 Congressional App Challenge for the 13th Congressional District.
Juniors Emma Davis and Ranean Sulebi and senior Alara Erzurum invented the Android app to create awareness about Ohio’s current gun laws. The app was inspired by the mass shooting in Dayton Aug. 4 where 17 people were killed and 27 were injured this year, the three students said.
The app gives examples of scenarios that could happen when someone is trying to buy a gun in Ohio. The user goes through a series of yes or no questions and answers whether a person can legally buy or carry a gun in the described scenario. An explanation for the correct answer appears on the screen following the users response.
“We thought people need to know and understand the current gun laws in Ohio before we can tackle what might need to be done next,” the young women explained in a statement. “The goal is to prevent future tragedies like the Dayton shooting.”
U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, who represents the 13th district, is among more than 300 members of Congress who host the annual contest in their districts. The Boardman team will be invited to Washington, D.C., in the spring to showcase their app alongside other students from around the country
“Our students in northeast Ohio are exceptional and second to none,” Ryan said in a statement. “This app not only demonstrates that, but shows our young people are actively engaging with what’s happening in our society.”
The Congressional App Challenge is an official initiative of the U.S. House of Representatives to encourage students to learn to code and inspire them to pursue careers in computer science. More than 10,000 students registered this year and more than 2,200 functioning apps were created.
“I am so proud of these three young ladies,” said Evelyn Stanton, technology teacher at Boardman High School. “They used the skills in our app class and ran with them.”
Pictured: Boardman High School students Emma Davis, Ranean Sulebi and Alara Erzurum created “The Ohio Gun Obtaining Quiz” app for the 2019 Congressional App Challenge.
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
