WASHINGTON, D.C. — Three Belfry High School students are on Capitol Hill this week for the national “House of Code” event, where their mobile app is on display in the U.S. Capitol Building.
U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers welcomed the students, Natalie Fite, Reese Varney and Ian Belcher, who won the 2023 Congressional App Challenge for Kentucky’s Fifth Congressional District. The students designed their mobile app, Sm;)e, to help meet mental health needs, specifically in Eastern Kentucky.
“I’m incredibly proud of this student team from Belfry for boldly using their talent and ingenuity to develop an app that addresses mental health, as the need for more resources continues to grow in our communities,” Congressman Rogers said. “From the Appalachian Mountains to Capitol Hill, it’s wonderful to see our students shining among the best and brightest in the country.”
The Congressional App Challenge is open to all high school students across the country to promote digital coding and STEM education. The Belfry High School team competed against 16 student teams in Eastern Kentucky for this opportunity. The apps were judged by Rogers, leaders from SOAR – Shaping Our Appalachian Region, and the Rajant Corporation in Morehead.
