SmartBus wins Rep. Glenn Grothman’s 2023 Congressional App Challenge in Wisconsin’s Sixth District
Rep. Grothman has named Malina Zhang of Neenah Middle School, Joseph Buttron of Neenah Middle School, Roger Tang of Ladue Middle School, and Roland Hu of Springman Middle School as the winners of the 2023 Congressional App Challenge in Wisconsin’s Sixth District.
When asked what inspired the creation of SmartBus, the students said, ”We were inspired to create this app because many school buses are missed, delayed, and students can get on the wrong bus without realizing, especially for some new students. Many parents have no idea when their kid(s) will arrive home or if they have boarded on the bus. This may cause lot of anxieties for the students and parents. Imagine having an app designed just to solve that problem! Keeping students safe on their way to school is super important for parents, schools, and our whole community. This app would let parents and schools know exactly where the bus is and when it will arrive. Plus, it can send reminders about any delays or special events, so everyone knows what’s going on, even for the parents who could not speak English. technology to make sure everyone feels safe and things run smoothly. Creating this app isn’t just a good idea, it’s a big step forward in making our school journeys safer and more modern for everyone involved!”
This year’s Challenge saw an unprecedented level of participation, with 374 Members of the House of Representatives hosting competitions, surpassing the previous record of 340. A remarkable 11,334 students from across the United States competed in this year’s Challenge, marking an impressive increase of nearly 1,000 participants compared to the previous record set in 2019. The enthusiasm and creativity these students display is a testament to the growing interest in technology and signal a bright future for American innovation. The surge of ingenuity continued with a whopping 3,645 original applications flooding in, nearly a thousand more than the previous year’s high. This remarkable growth showcases the exceptional talent and innovation within our nation’s youth.
The Congressional App Challenge is an official initiative of the U.S. House of Representatives, where Members of Congress host contests in their districts for middle school and high school students, encouraging them to learn to code and inspiring them to pursue careers in computer science. This resounding show of bipartisan support emphasizes the critical importance of STEM education in today’s rapidly evolving world. Each participating Member of Congress selects a winning app from their district, and each winning team is invited to showcase their winning app to Congress during our annual #HouseOfCode festival.