CyberpolisAI wins Rep. David Schweikert’s 2024 Congressional App Challenge in Arizona’s First District
Rep. David Schweikert has named Humaid Jaffery and Daniel Furtado of BASIS Scottsdale as the winners of the 2024 Congressional App Challenge in Arizona’s First District.
When asked what inspired the creation of CyberpolisAI, the students said, “Our inspiration to create this app came with our interest in learning about artificial intelligence. Along with the AP Computer Science course we were taking, we began seeing artificial intelligence breakthroughs with OpenAI’s ChatGPT and local news that a Taiwan Semiconductor Plant (which makes chips that power artificial intelligence) was opening close by, and we became interested in artificial intelligence, more specifically machine learning; however, we quickly realized obstacles in our studies. Most educational platforms taught under the assumption of prerequisite knowledge of advanced math and coding, like derivatives for instance. Even with our passion for the subject, it was pretty hard at times to stay motivated especially since it was a long and continued effort to fill in these knowledge gaps ourselves. Recalling that some of our peers were already struggling in our AP Computer Science class, we knew that there will have to be a better way for any person around the world to grasp artificial intelligence as AI becomes increasingly more prominent in modern society. So, in the summer of our sophomore year, we decided to begin our own educational platform Cyberpolis, to give anyone the opportunity to thrive in the future of artificial intelligence.”
This year’s Congressional App Challenge set new records, with an unprecedented 382 Members of the House of Representatives hosting competitions—surpassing the previous high of 374. An incredible 12,682 students from across the country participated, representing a growth of over 1,000 students compared to 2023. These talented students submitted an astounding 3,881 original applications, showcasing their creativity, passion for technology, and the limitless potential of America’s next generation of innovators. This surge in participation reflects the increasing excitement around STEM and highlights a bright future for American innovation.
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 the Broadcom Foundation, AWS, Rise, theCoderSchool, Apple, and others.
The 2024 Congressional App Challenge will launch in May of 2025, and eligible students can pre-register for the competition now.