SnackShot wins Rep. Mary Miller’s 2024 Congressional App Challenge in Illinois’ 15th District
Rep. Mary Miller has named Rick Wang, an eleventh grader at Highland High School, as the winner of the 2024 Congressional App Challenge in Illinois’ 15th District.
When asked what inspired the creation of SnackShot, the student said, “Over the summer, I was watching the Paris Olympics, and realized that Olympic athletes have to track what they eat, when they eat, and how much they eat to maintain their healthy bodies. This made me wonder: how can normal, everyday people do the same? Most of us don’t have a nutritionist by our side, and it can be difficult to track calories throughout the day.
I created SnackShot as a way to inspire people to exercise and lead more healthy lifestyles. Oftentimes, people are discouraged from starting their fitness journey because it’s too overwhelming, with many things to track and learn. I believe in the power of micro habits. The app makes it easy to realize that a few minutes is all it takes to burn off a snack! By showing how small exercise sessions can make such a big impact, more people will begin their path to building a stronger, healthier body.”
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.