Nalox-Not-Alone wins Rep. Johnson’s 2023 Congressional App Challenge in Ohio’s 6th District
Rep. Johnson has named Swathi Padmanabhan, a 12th grader at Boardman High School, as the winner of the 2023 Congressional App Challenge in Ohio’s 6th District.
When asked what inspired the creation of Nalox-Not-Alone, the student said, “Overdoses affect thousands of people daily. Naloxone can reverse the effects of overdose that saves lives, yet it’s not as accessible as it should be. Drug use is stigmatized so heavily that people avoid talking about and providing resources, so a community-based app could combat that. My brother studied and works in a harm-reduction setting, and he has educated me and heightened my awareness of the issues. These issues include lack of knowledge of where to buy naloxone, as well as fear of asking for it. ”
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.