Ishaan Awasthi wins Rep. Eric Swalwell’s 2024 Congressional App Challenge in California’s 14th District
Rep. Eric Swalwell has named Ishaan Awasthi, an twelfth grader at Mission San Jose High School, as the winner of the 2024 Congressional App Challenge in California’s 14th District.
When asked what inspired the creation of ZenBuddies, the student said, “Sometimes, the hardest part about feeling anxious or isolated is just not having someone to talk to. During my junior year, a misunderstanding broke up my closest friend group, and I was left dealing with pain and confusion I didn’t know how to express. I felt that no one would be able to understand what I was going through, and over time, I noticed that many of my friends were doing the same thing as me, bottling up their struggles, stress, and anxiety because they didn’t want to burden anyone.
That realization sparked the idea for ZenBuddies. In my research, I came across a report from the National Alliance on Mental Illness. I was shocked to find that 25% of teens have been diagnosed with a mental health condition, and more than a third of teens report that they don’t feel comfortable sharing their struggles with their loved ones. To solve this problem, I wanted to build something for teens who feel stuck, just like I did.”
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.