Bentz Announces Winner of 2022 Congressional App Competition

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Rep. Cliff Bentz (OR-02) announced Ava Theriault from Armand Larive Middle School as the 2022 winner of the Congressional App Challenge for District 2.

Ava, a 6th grader, created Math Class, an all-in-one app designed to help kids learn math in a single player game with in-game characters and a school like experience.  App users can choose multiplication or addition and at which level to practice and learn math.  Robert Theriault, Hermiston High School computer science teacher and mentor, said: “Ava surprised me when she asked if she could compete in the Congressional App Challenge. She told me her idea, and I told her to go for it. She spent many hours over the summer and after school working on the app all by herself, without any encouragement. She has been tremendously excited with creating such a useful app.  I am very proud of her.”

Congressman Bentz was also pleased with Ava’s creativity and skill.

 “I applaud Ava for her coding skills and for her willingness to make math fun to learn! The judges’ evaluations included comments about how impressive the app is and how it demonstrates a great attitude toward problem solving. The Congressional App Challenge is an avenue for encouraging students to pursue careers in coding, math or science fields, and I hope Ava continues to pursue and develop her coding skills,” Rep. Bentz said.

Congressman Bentz encourages students from across Congressional District 2 to create and submit apps in the 2023 competition. Information on that will be forthcoming.