Streamwood Native Hayden James Receives 2nd Place Award in Congressional App Challenge

Hayden James of Streamwood, Ill., a seventh-grader at Missouri Military Academy (MMA), was awarded second place in the 2021 Congressional App Challenge for Missouri's Fourth Congressional District, as announced recently by Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler (R-Mo.).

James received the award for his "Shortcuts" app. The application allows users to create links to their most used or favorite websites for easy access. In addition to James's recognition, Brayden Edwards from Dorsey, Ill., also a seventh-grader at Missouri Military Academy (MMA), was awarded first place for his "Avoid the Crystals!"app.

Over 300 members of the U.S. House of Representatives hosted Congressional App Challenge events in their districts, which aims to engage students in computer science. During the last four months, thousands of students coded original apps nationwide as part of the contest.

According to MMA Business Department Chair and Instructor Keith Morgan, MMA's Project Lead the Way (PLTW) curriculum and App Creators coursework dovetailed perfectly with the Congressional App Challenge timeline to prepare cadets for the competition. The cadets brainstormed ideas before working to complete their apps and worked to ensure they followed the Congressional App Challenge rules.

"I was excited to see the focus and initiative each cadet demonstrated," Morgan said. "It is satisfying to see these cadets do so well in this competition. This achievement will motivate them on to even deeper learning and personal growth."

Providing private, college preparatory education for boys and young men in grades 7 through postgraduate, the Missouri Military Academy is one of few such select academies in the United States. MMA's 360 Education® program is designed around the needs of boys during their formative years, tapping into what motivates them - positive reinforcement, structure, consistent physical and mental challenge, loyalty and a team mentality. MMA inspires boys from around the world to reach their potential by fostering academic excellence, character development and leadership training in a safe, structured environment. For more information, visit MissouriMilitaryAcademy.org.