Congresswoman Lee Announces 2024 Congressional App Challenge Winner From PA-12
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Vaibhav Vijay, Vaibhav.Vijay@mail.house.gov
Kyla Gill, Kyla.Gill@mail.house.gov
Congresswoman Lee Announces 2024 Congressional App Challenge Winner From PA-12
Student from Upper St. Clair High School Named PA-12 Winner of Congressional App Challenge
Washington, DC — Today, Congresswoman Summer Lee announced the 2024 Congressional App Challenge winner for Pennsylvania’s 12th Congressional District. Darcy Vilkner, a 12th grade student from Upper St. Clair High School in Pittsburgh, PA has been recognized for their outstanding app, Cosmic Armada.
Cosmic Armada is a neon, retro-style multiplayer video game designed for web, iOS, and Android platforms. The game uniquely transforms mobile gaming into a group activity, allowing up to six players to share a single touchscreen for an engaging and interactive experience. Players navigate shimmering spaceships across a futuristic hexagonal grid, competing to avoid collisions, outmaneuver opponents, and be the last ship standing.
“Darcy’s creativity and technical expertise are a testament to the brilliance of our young people in PA-12,” said Congresswoman Lee. “Their app, Cosmic Armada, reimagines the ways we use technology, turning what’s often a solitary experience into a fun, collaborative activity. Darcy has demonstrated not only impressive coding skills but also a passion for bringing people together through technology. This is exactly the kind of innovation that will keep Pittsburgh at the forefront of STEM and gaming industries.”
In developing Cosmic Armada, Darcy used JavaScript and employed advanced techniques like shader effects to create the game’s vivid visuals and immersive arcade-inspired synthpop soundtrack. Darcy’s motivation stemmed from a desire to make technology more interactive and social while practicing advanced graphic design techniques.
The Congressional App Challenge provides students across the country with an opportunity to showcase their coding and problem-solving skills. Darcy faced challenges in designing a game that accommodates multiple players on a single device while ensuring smooth gameplay and an intuitive interface, but their persistence and ingenuity paid off in the app’s final design.
Congresswoman Lee concluded, “The Congressional App Challenge highlights the immense potential of our young innovators. Darcy’s accomplishment demonstrates why we must continue to invest in STEM education to unlock the boundless talent right here in our community. Congratulations to Darcy and all of this year’s participants for their incredible work!”
The Congressional App Challenge is a nationwide competition that inspires students to engage with computer science and coding. The 2025 Congressional App Challenge is open to all students in Pennsylvania’s 12th Congressional District and will be accepting submissions until November 1, 2025.
To learn more about the Congressional App Challenge, visit our website.