Three Great Falls students, Charlie Kotthoff, Lily Kirkaldie, and Danica Sabo, have achieved national recognition for their innovative app, Cursive Create. This app, designed to help users practice cursive reading and writing, was recently named a winner of the prestigious Congressional App Challenge. The students' journey began with a personal experience: Kotthoff received a handwritten letter from her grandparents, entirely in cursive, and realized she couldn't read it. This sparked the idea that cursive, despite being less taught, remains important. The app was developed through an after-school coding program supported by STARBASE Montana and Code Girls United, providing hands-on coding opportunities. The girls met weekly, learning coding fundamentals and collaborating on various roles, with Kotthoff focusing on coding, Sabo as the lead designer, and Kirkaldie contributing across coding, research, and presentation. The app offers features like practicing cursive letters, reading and translating cursive sentences, comparing handwriting to examples, and interactive games. Shannon McInerney, STARBASE's Advanced Coordinator, emphasizes the program's impact on students' real-world skills and confidence. The students' hard work paid off when they learned they had won the Congressional App Challenge, a moment that felt surreal. This win grants them an opportunity to present Cursive Create at the U.S. Capitol, showcasing their app alongside student innovators from across the country. However, the trip is self-funded, and the team is currently raising money to cover travel costs. Community support is vital, as it enables the students to represent not just themselves but also Great Falls and Montana on a national stage. The students encourage others to pursue their interests, stating, 'If you’re even a little interested in something, it’s worth trying.' For those interested in supporting the students' trip or learning more about the program, Code Girls United provides the necessary information.
