LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — Local students got a hands-on introduction to app and game development Friday at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, as part of “Build the Challenge Las Vegas,” a national event tied to the 2026 Congressional App Challenge.
The event, organized in partnership with Congress, Roblox and Nevada lawmakers, gave middle and high school students the opportunity to develop ideas for apps and games they can submit to this year’s competition. Organizers said it is one of only six events of its kind being held across the country.
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Students learn from experts and each other
Joseph Alessi, director of the Congressional App Challenge, said the goal of the in-person event is to help students begin building entries that address real-world problems in their communities.
“The opportunity for students to come together and to learn, not just from the experts who are here with Roblox and with UNLV and everywhere else, but also from each other is incredibly important,” Alessi said. “The ideas that they work on today or come up with today will, over the next series of months, be built into something real that can aid their communities.”
Alessi said the Congressional App Challenge brings together members of Congress each year to host a national hackathon. Thousands of students participate annually. This year marks the first time organizers have traveled to communities to help students kickstart their entries ahead of the October deadline.
Nevada lawmaker highlights local talent
Nevada State Assembly Member Duy Nguyen, who represents District 8, attended the event and said it reflects a broader opportunity for Las Vegas youth.
“I’ve always been behind innovation,” Nguyen said. “Innovation is what drives our economy, drives our future. And these young minds that we have right here in our own backyard are so talented. They’re problem solvers.”
Nguyen said the partnership between Roblox and the Congressional App Challenge creates an access point for students who already have problem-solving skills.
“I’m glad this happened right here in our own backyard,” Nguyen said. “People think that Las Vegas is a one-hit wonder when it comes to just entertainment and hospitality… but it’s also so much more than that. The people who build things behind the scenes are these young minds here.”
Parents see results at end-of-day reveal
Parents were invited back into the session at the end of the day to see what their children built during the event. Alessi said the reveal is a highlight of the program.
“They are always shocked by how much these kids can create in such a short period of time, how creative they are, how collaborative they are,” Alessi said.
The deadline to submit entries to the 2026 Congressional App Challenge is Oct. 26. Middle and high school students can register at congressionalappchallenge.us.
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