Karanveer Manihani wins Rep. Yadira Caraveo’s 2024 Congressional App Challenge in Colorado’s Eighth District
Rep. Yadira Caraveo has named Karanveer Manihani, a twelfth grader at Westgate Community School, as the winner of the 2024 Congressional App Challenge in Colorado’s Eighth District.
When asked what inspired the creation of ConnectIn, the student said, “As a high school student, I had trouble finding students who could help me with certain subjects. As a result of my small high school, almost all the students I knew had different interests, and the teachers there weren’t well-informed on some topics, so I couldn’t get assistance from them either. Consequently, I was inspired to create an app that would let students share their thoughts and ideas with one another. By reaching out, you can ask simple questions to get help on subjects like math, science, etc. as well as more specific ones like advice for finding an internship. A major motivation for me to create ConnectIn was the lack of networking opportunities available for students. Since I personally struggled to find students with similar interests, which resulted in me being alone and doing most of my work, it led me to create ConnectIn, a student networking app.”
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.