BeeKind wins Rep. Brad Schneider’s 2023 Congressional App Challenge in Illinois’s 10th District
Rep. Schneider has named Ipshita Singh, Radwa Abou Ali, and Insha Kittur of Adlai E. Stevenson High School as the winners of the 2023 Congressional App Challenge in Illinois’s 10th District.
When asked what inspired the creation of BeeKind, the students said, “The inspiration behind creating BeeKind stems from a deep-seated belief in the transformative power of community and the potential for individual actions to create meaningful change. Witnessing the challenges and disconnections within our society, we felt compelled to develop a solution that could empower individuals to come together and make a positive impact. We have always been passionate about volunteering and the incredible ripple effect it can have on communities. However, we recognized that finding the right opportunities and tracking one’s contributions could sometimes be cumbersome and time-consuming. This realization fueled our determination to create a platform that would streamline this process, making it easier for individuals to engage in meaningful service work.
Additionally, the sense of disconnectedness prevalent in today’s fast-paced world weighed heavily on our hearts. We wanted to address this issue head-on, providing a space where people could not only contribute their time and skills but also forge genuine connections with others who shared their dedication to creating a better world. The Daily Inspiration Feed was born out of the understanding that staying motivated on this journey of service is crucial. We wanted to offer a source of encouragement and positivity, something that could serve as a daily reminder of the impact each person can have.
Above all, we envisioned BeeKind as a catalyst for a collective movement towards compassion, unity, and active engagement within our communities. By creating a space where individuals could find purpose and connection, we hoped to inspire a sense of responsibility for the well-being of our society. Ultimately, BeeKind is not just a mobile application; it’s a heartfelt endeavor to foster a world where kindness and service are at the forefront. It is our hope that through BeeKind, we can all contribute to building a better, more connected society, one act of service at a time. Together, we can make a difference that reverberates far beyond the boundaries of any screen.”
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.