Glenside, PA — Congresswoman Madeleine Dean (PA-04) celebrated the 2021 Congressional App Challenge Finalists. The Congressional App Challenge is an annual contest that encourages students to explore STEM, coding, and computer science through hands-on experience; engages with communities that are traditionally underrepresented in the tech community; and innovates policymaking.
Rep. Dean met with the first-place winner Sreekara, a junior from Methacton High School, and second-place winner Etienne, an eighth grader from Sandy Run Middle School.
“The intelligence and innovation of our students are inspiring,” Rep Dean said. “I’m thrilled with their participation, and it was a privilege to meet with some of our finalists. They represent the very best of our district and offer a bright glimpse into the future of our Commonwealth.”
Sreekara’a winning app, the Intelligent Plant Watering System, uses rainfall data to determine and automatically implement plant watering schedules to conserve water and save time. A demonstration of Sreekara’s app can be found here. Technology is a key to addressing our climate crisis, and ideas like Sreekara's are needed for our planet's future.
Inspired by the tornado that hit Upper Dublin Township, the App Challenge runner-up, Etienne, designed an app that organizes disaster relief and information into one platform. A demonstration of UniHelp can be found here.
Our other finalists include Anubhav, a senior from Methacton High School, and Sam, a sophomore from Upper Dublin High School. Anubhav’s app, TalkZone, enables video calls from your own TV for a better viewing experience; a demonstration can be found here. Sam’s app, Seeking Connection, is a two-player puzzle game that allows players to talk with one another during the game to foster friendship; a demonstration can be found here.
To learn more about the Congressional App Challenge, please visit Congresswoman Dean’s website. Students who are interested are strongly encouraged to apply.
Rep. Madeleine Dean is a mother, grandmother, attorney, professor, former four-term member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and U.S. Representative for the Fourth District of Pennsylvania.
