Green Bay Reporter

Representative Mike Gallagher (R-WI) has announced that Owen Hall, a senior at Appleton West High School, is the winner of the 2023 Congressional App Challenge in Wisconsin's Eighth District. Hall's app, called OnTask, is an all-in-one planning app designed to help students stay organized and productive. It includes features like a to-do list, calendar, and school planner, allowing users to color-coordinate and add tasks and assignments for each class.

In a statement, Rep. Gallagher expressed his pride in announcing Hall as the winner of the challenge, saying, "We all know how difficult it can be to stay organized, and Owen's app tackles this problem head-on by giving people an easy-to-use app that provides them with all the features they need to stay focused and on task." Rep. Gallagher also commended Hall for his dedication and hard work, as he taught himself how to code while managing a busy school schedule.

The Congressional App Challenge is a district-wide competition that aims to encourage middle school and high school students to learn coding and explore careers in computer science. Each student who submits an app is required to answer questions about the app's purpose and inspiration. Hall's app, OnTask, aims to address the challenge of staying organized, a problem that he himself faced daily.

"I made OnTask to solve a problem I struggle with daily: staying organized," Hall explained. "I have a to-do list in my notes app, events in my calendar, and many school assignments through the school's app. This system is inconvenient but also leads to a multitude of issues. I often have conflicts due to putting an event/assignment in one area but not another, or from forgetting to check everything. I know many other students struggle with this same problem, so I designed OnTask to solve this issue. I also used this app as a chance to learn web and app development skills while creating a useful product."

During a meeting with Rep. Gallagher, Hall discussed his motivation for creating the app and his journey of learning how to code. Hall has applied to several top universities across the country and is considering majoring in either Electrical Engineering or Computer Science.

The announcement of Owen Hall as the winner of the Congressional App Challenge highlights the talent and creativity of students in Northeast Wisconsin. Rep. Gallagher looks forward to seeing what Hall accomplishes next.

To watch a video demonstration of OnTask, click [here](https://www.example.com).

To watch the meeting between Rep. Gallagher and Owen Hall, click [here](https://www.example.com).

Click this link to access more information: https://gallagher.house.gov/media/press-releases/gallagher-announces-appleton-west-senior-winner-congressional-app-challenge