The Congressional App Challenge spotlights youth in every house district with an interest in coding or software design. With an at-large district, South Dakota’s winner represents the whole state.
Casie Dale, a homeschool junior from Spearfish, is the states winner for 2023, but she said it’s not her first rodeo.
“In 2021, my sister and I submitted our first application we made for the Congressional App Challenge," Dale said. "In 2022 we submitted again with Lighthouse, which is an app to help crowdsource the review of materials in our local library.”
Dale is now a three-time winner of the challenge. She said coding runs in the family.
“My dad is a software engineer, he studied it in school," Dale said. "So, in 2021 with the first app challenge he assigned it to my sister and I as a homeschool project. Tech is everywhere and it’s so important, so it’s a good thing to be versed in.”
Dale said she knows not everyone has the same access that she has, but said technology is a career path worth following.
“Try to jump in wherever you can," Dale said. "There are so many different online resources like Kahn Academy. Me and my family use Kahn Academy for homeschool and they have coding lessons. Your school and online resources, and don’t be afraid to be creative.”
Dale, who is familiar with South Dakota’s weather, made “Siren Shield” as her 2023 entry. It’s programmed to wirelessly turn on hail protection systems for windows and gardens.