NTRL wins Rep. Betty McCollum’s 2023 Congressional App Challenge in Minnesota’s Fourth District
Rep. McCollum has named Isaac Tsai, an 11th grader at Mounds View High School, as the winner of the 2023 Congressional App Challenge in Minnesota’s Fourth District.
When asked what inspired the creation of NTRL, the student said, “There are many dangers and damages that come with neglecting mental health issues in high schoolers. They are often expected to be tough and composed, because of the stigma that you are weak if you seek help. 7 in 10 teens are struggling with their mental health in the wake of COVID-19. Additionally, in 2022, the CDC stated that suicide is the second-leading cause of death for teens and young adults ages 10-34. In my experience as a high schooler, I often see how my peers are influenced by society’s expectations around mental health, like the notion of having everything figured out. These notions can damage our ability to communicate effectively. As I observed the objective data and my personal experiences, I began to see how the lifestyles of teens in high school could be significantly improved if they had a space to take care of their mental health. That’s why I was motivated to build something that initiates thoughtful conversations, providing a space to talk.
The idea is that this question establishes a sense of unity, that one person would feel less alone in their answer, in a sense. They would be able to talk with their families about it and there would be less of a barrier to discussing mental health because there is this established, daily question that helps break the ice. The timing component incentivizes connection with nature, something seen less of especially in a busy world.”
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. The program is a public-private partnership made possible through funding from Omidyar Network, AWS, Rise, theCoderSchool, Apple, and others.
The 2024 Congressional App Challenge will launch in May of 2024, and eligible students can pre-register for the competition now.