BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — Middle and high school students will have an opportunity this weekend to learn game development, coding and app design during a free workshop at Western Kentucky University.

The Congressional App Challenge and Roblox will host Build the Challenge at WKU from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, July 11, in Room 2081 of WKU's Downing Student Union.

The workshop is designed for students of all experience levels, from beginners with no coding background to experienced Roblox Studio creators looking to expand existing projects.

Participants will use Roblox Studio to create an original project that could serve as the foundation for an entry in the 2026 Congressional App Challenge, the official STEM competition of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Workshop organizers said students will receive guided instruction while learning the basics of game development, scripting, testing and user experience design. Those with previous experience are encouraged to bring current projects and receive feedback from Roblox experts.

Students may work individually or in teams and will leave with an early version of their project, feedback from mentors and a roadmap for completing a Congressional App Challenge submission.

Parents and guardians are invited to attend a concurrent information session covering Roblox, online safety, educational opportunities on the platform and ways to support students throughout the competition.

The event is free, with computers, software and light refreshments provided. Students will also receive Roblox giveaways.

Attendees will earn a Summer Congressional Coding Certificate recognizing experience in coding, game design, creative problem-solving, collaboration and project development. Organizers say the certificate can be included in college, scholarship, internship and extracurricular applications.

Winners of the Congressional App Challenge may be invited to Washington, D.C., to showcase their projects at the U.S. Capitol during #HouseOfCode, the nation's largest student app demonstration event.

Registration is available through Eventbrite.