Latest News

This week, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02) hosted two events to celebrate and honor the winners of both the 2024 Congressional App Challenge and the 2025 Congressional Art Competition. Both events were held on the campus of Barren County High School. 

“I am so proud to see the hard work that our local students put into their submissions for both the Congressional App Challenge and Congressional Art Competitions,” said Congressman Guthrie“It was an honor to host these extraordinarily talented students, their families, teachers, and friends this week to celebrate their incredible accomplishments. I know that all of these students have bright futures ahead, and I look forward to seeing their continued success in whatever their futures hold. Keep up the great work!" 

2024 Congressional App Challenge Awards Ceremony

The Congressional App Challenge allows middle and high school students to compete with peers in their own Congressional District by creating and exhibiting their software applications, or “apps,” for mobile, tablet, or computer devices on a platform of their choice. 

It was established by Members of the U.S. House of Representatives in 2015 and is a nationwide competition intended to engage students’ creativity and encourage their participation in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) fields. Eligibility is limited to students currently enrolled in middle or high school and either reside or attend school in the district.

OVERALL FIRST PLACE: Allergy Aware by Emmaline Phelps, Brooke Gibson and Cole Young from Barren County High School. Their app helps connect individuals with food allergies, as well as their friends and family members, with resources to identify and even treat common allergic reactions. This includes making users aware of risk factors and instructions to administer epinephrine and even contains alternative recipes to avoid the selected allergen.

All three students from the winning student group recently had the opportunity to travel to the U.S. Capitol to participate in the Congressional App Challenge 2024 House of Code Showcase, where winning submissions from across the country were highlighted.

OVERALL FOURTH PLACE: Serving Society by Danica Stephens from Glasgow High School. Their app creates a platform to connect individuals looking for service opportunities with churches, volunteer organizations, and community groups to solve the needs of their broader community. 

Congressman Guthrie recently presented other winning students with their awards at a March event at Hebron Middle School. Information about the winners honored at that event can be found here. 

Photos from the Congressional App Challenge Awards Ceremony can be found here.

2025 Congressional Art Competition Reception and Awards Ceremony

The Congressional Art Competition allows high school students in Kentucky’s Second Congressional District to compete for the chance to have their artwork displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year. This week’s reception gave artists from across the district to showcase their artwork for their peers, family members and judges. 

The competition is judged by art professionals and professors from colleges and universities in the district. The "Overall First Place" winning artwork will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year. The second and third place submissions, in addition to the "Facebook Favorite" will be displayed in Congressman Guthrie's various Congressional offices.

All submitted artwork for the 2025 Congressional Art Competition can be found here.

Pictures from this week’s reception can be found here.

OVERALL FIRST PLACE: Liliana Garcia – "Dry Road"
 
OVERALL SECOND PLACE: Ava Alford – “Sea to Shining Sea”

 
OVERALL THIRD PLACE: Heloisa Almeida – “Onca Pintada”
Almeida –
 
FACEBOOK FAVORITE: Heloisa Almeida – “Run for the Roses”
 
OVERALL HONORABLE MENTIONS:
1.    Heloisa Almeida – “Run for the Roses”
2.    Braden Bratcher – “Alone”
3.    Serenyty Johnson – “Artist Inspiration Project”

COUNTY WINNERS:

Bullitt County: 
1.    Hannah Sharrill – “Born in Ancient Giza”
2.    Tatum Barrow – “Reach for the Stars”

Butler County:
1.    Heloisa Almeida – “Onca Pintada”
2.    Heloisa Almeida – “Run for the Roses”
3.    Braden Bratcher – “Alone”

Hardin County: 
1.    Liliana Garcia – “Dry Road”
2.    Greta Warren – “Emerald Tree Boa”
3.    Emily Armstrong – “World Wide Pollution”

Hart County:
1.    Braydon Thompson – “Aged to Perfection”
2.    Braydon Thompson – “Modern Dragon”
3.    Katie Matthews – “The Liderung”

Nelson County:
1.    Ava Alford – “Sea to Shining Sea”
2.    Ava Alford – “Dreaming of Travel”
3.    Zoey Kirchner – “The Warmth of Your Grasp”

Warren County:
1.    Liam McDonald – “Chevelle”
2.    Bella Dillinger – “AI: Alternate Identity”
3.    Shantel Isomura – “Our Lady’s Welcome”
 
###