Hanover Middle School students win Congressional app contest with ‘The Dark Forest’

Hanover Central Middle School students Mason Burdan and Joshua Mola understood each other’s skill sets well enough to produce an award-winning app.

U.S. Rep. Frank J. Mrvan, D-Highland, said Tuesday the students won the 2023 Congressional App Challenge in Indiana’s First District.

Called “The Dark Forest,” the students’ software application, or app, takes gamers into a cabin in the woods where they must quickly close doors and windows to keep monsters out before sunrise.

Both young students are weighing STEM careers. They used JavaScript to create their winning app.

“I wanted to make a horror game for a while, as I really like to draw monsters and other creatures,” said Mason Burdan in a release.

“I used my inspiration from ‘survive the night’-style games to put my own creative spin on things. I plan to use my coding and computer skills to become an architect and design houses.”

Joshua Mola loves coding and gaming. “I plan to use my coding skills to get a job in the computer coding industry, and to also continue to make games,” he said in a release.

Principal Thomas Martin explained the students clicked as a team.

“I love the way Mason explained, with pride, how he was the creative force of the project, but was also very quick to give Josh all the credit for the technical end and complimented his coding skills. Josh spoke in the same way about how he did the coding while giving Mason the credit for the storyline. Both of them are very deserving of this award.”

“The Dark Forest” app will be part of a rotating display in the U.S. Capitol. The app will also be featured on the House.gov website for one year, and the Congressional App Challenge will also highlight the app on its website.

According to the release, 118 students across Indiana’s First Congressional District participated in the competition for middle and high school students.

“It is deeply encouraging to see such technological innovation and creativity in the youth of our region, and I thank all of the schools and teachers for their daily dedication to fostering and encouraging these skills,” said Mrvan, who met with the students recently.

Computer science teacher Suzanne Demmond stressed that STEM studies are vital to prepare students for adulthood, the workplace and society.

“Problem solving, working with technology and working with others is a broad example of what STEM really boils down to. If we want our youth to have a chance at becoming successful adults, STEM is the path they need and deserve,” she said.

To see a video demonstration, see: https://vimeo.com/879944933