U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-16th, held an awards ceremony Dec. 8 honoring the nine students of Knoch High School who finished in the top three spots in the Congressional App Challenge, a competition designed to inspire students to enter the world of STEM and computer science.

The awards ceremony was held at Kelly’s district office in Butler.

Knoch students swept the podium, taking the first, second and third spots for Kelly’s district. Two groups of students tied for third place.

The team of Quinlin Howison and Elijah Seybert took first place for its app, “The Funny.”

Gavin Danehy, Daniel Bogacz and Kaidyn Curran took second for “Homeworker.”

Abby Markiewicz and Talon Smith, who submitted the app “Frogs on a Pond,” tied for third with Elliot McMeekin and Tristen Janoski, who created “Help the Fish Escape.”