Imagine receiving a heartfelt letter from your grandparents, only to realize you can’t read it because it’s written in cursive. This is the exact moment that sparked a groundbreaking idea for three Great Falls students—Charlie Kotthoff, Lily Kirkaldie, and Danica Sabo. Their innovative app, Cursive Create, isn’t just helping users relearn this fading art; it’s catapulting them onto a national stage. But here’s where it gets controversial: in an age dominated by digital communication, is cursive still relevant? These students say yes—and they’ve got the Congressional App Challenge win to prove it.
The journey began when Kotthoff struggled to decipher her grandparents’ handwritten letter. ‘I had to ask my mom to read it for me,’ she recalled. ‘That’s when I realized cursive isn’t being taught like it used to be, but it’s still so important.’ This personal experience ignited a passion project that would soon gain national recognition. Cursive Create is more than just an app—it’s a tool designed to bridge the gap between generations, making cursive accessible through interactive games, handwriting comparisons, and even pencil-holding tutorials.
And this is the part most people miss: the app wasn’t built overnight. Through an after-school coding program supported by STARBASE Montana and Code Girls United, the trio dedicated hours each week to learning coding fundamentals. Kotthoff focused on coding, Sabo took the lead on design, and Kirkaldie juggled coding, research, and presentations. ‘I did a little bit of everything,’ Kirkaldie said. ‘We truly worked as a team.’ Despite their busy schedules, the girls often continued coding at home, pouring their hearts into the project.
Their hard work paid off when Cursive Create was named a winner of the Congressional App Challenge, a prestigious competition celebrating student innovation. The win comes with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: an invitation to present their app at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. But there’s a catch—the trip is self-funded, and the team needs to raise approximately $12,000 for travel expenses. This is where the community steps in, with organizations like Code Girls United rallying support. ‘This isn’t just about representing themselves,’ said Shannon McInerney, STARBASE’s Advanced Coordinator. ‘It’s about showcasing Great Falls and Montana on a national platform.’
What’s truly inspiring is the students’ message to their peers: ‘If you’re even a little interested in something, it’s worth trying,’ Kirkaldie advised. ‘You never know where it might take you.’ Their story highlights the power of curiosity, teamwork, and community support in turning small ideas into big achievements.
But here’s the question we’re left with: In a world increasingly reliant on technology, should we fight to preserve cursive writing, or is it a skill of the past? Share your thoughts in the comments—we’d love to hear your take! For those interested in supporting their journey to D.C., donations can be made through Code Girls United. Let’s help these young innovators shine and prove that every idea, no matter how small, has the potential to make a difference.
