During my travels, meetings and visits to, and in, each of the 16 counties of the Third Congressional District each month I have the opportunity to meet with many inspiring young Iowans. I am consistently encouraged and inspired to see the energy and talent of our state’s youth. I know the future of Iowa and our country is bright and promising because they are showing great enthusiasm to make our communities, towns, cities, states and country a better place.
I have made it a priority to be helpful to Iowa students as they develop and discover their own life’s path. Whether through my visits to grade schools to read to classes or high schools to discuss current events and government with students, it is important to me to encourage my younger aged bosses.
As we begin another school year in Iowa, I wanted to take the opportunity to highlight some of the special services, events and opportunities available to students in Iowa’s Third Congressional District.
2017 Congressional App Challenge
Officially launched in 2015, this competition is a nationwide event intended to engage students’ creativity and encourage their participation in STEM fields. It allows students to compete with peers in their own congressional districts by creating and exhibiting their software application, or “app”, for mobile, tablet, or computer devices on a platform of their choice.
The apps will be judged by a panel of Third District judges made up of Iowa leaders in the tech/entrepreneurial community 1 Million Cups. All Third District participating students and teams will be invited to a special presentation of their product at a 1 Million Cups meeting at the Des Moines Science Center in November. And, the winning student or team will be featured on the U.S. House of Representatives website and displayed in a United States Capitol Building exhibit in Washington, D.C. for a year.
For more information please visit: Young.House.Gov/congressionalappchallenge
U.S. Military service academies
Our nation’s military service academies offer young women and men life-changing educational and career opportunities. The service academies each offer full four-year scholarships that include education, room and board, pay, exclusive benefits and training at some of the most prestigious higher education institutions in the nation.
The United States Military Academies are all top-rated four-year liberal arts institutions.
Members of Congress may nominate candidates for appointment to four of the five U.S. service academies: The Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado; The Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, New York; The United States Military Academy (Army) West Point, New York; and the Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland.
Nominations to the academies are open to residents of the Third District who are between the ages of 18 and 22 before July 1 of the year of admission. Applicants must also be U.S. citizens, legal residents of Iowa’s Third Congressional District, and unmarried with no dependents.
Please note - the October 30, 2017, application deadline for the 2018 freshman year is fast approaching. Students who wish to be considered for a nomination from my office, or who want more information on this opportunity, should visit: Young.House.Gov/services/military-academy-nominations
Annual Third District Youth Leadership Summit
The Youth Leadership Summit was started by former Congressman Tom Latham in 2007 with a goal of empowering Iowa’s youth to interact with their government, but also to help mentor the next generation of Iowa’s leaders as they look to, and prepare for, their futures. I have made it a priority to continue this yearly event so students are able to take advantage of this important resource.
This year’s Third Congressional District Youth Leadership Summit will take place on Monday, October 30th, for high school students at the State Capitol Building in Des Moines.
The one-day summit is filled with nonpartisan networking and leadership training events, and is free and open to all high school aged students who live in Iowa’s Third Congressional District. Preregistration is required - interested teachers, parents and students should contact my Des Moines Constituent Services Office (515-282-1909) for more information.
Artistic Discovery National Congressional Art Competition
Each spring, a nationwide high school arts competition is sponsored by the members of the U.S. House of Representatives. The Artistic Discovery Contest is an opportunity to recognize and encourage the artistic talent in the nation, as well as in our congressional district.
The Artistic Discovery Contest is open to all high school students in the Third District. The winning artwork of our district’s competition is displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol. The exhibit in Washington will include the winning artwork from all participating districts from around the country.
Iowa's Third District competition is judged by Iowa artist, art educators and experts in their field from throughout the district. For more information about the annual competition - and to sign up when the 2018 rules and dates are released visit: Young.House.Gov/services/art-competition
Information on all of these services, and others offered by my office, is available on my website Young.House.Gov or by calling one of my four Constituent Services Offices located in Creston (641-782-2495), Council Bluffs (712-325-1404), Des Moines (515-282-1909) and Washington, DC (202-225-5476).