StreamE wins Rep. Victoria Spartz’s 2024 Congressional App Challenge in Indiana’s Fifth District
Rep. Victoria Spartz has named Vidhatri Iyer, an eleventh grader at University High School, as the winner of the 2024 Congressional App Challenge in Indiana’s Fifth District.
When asked what inspired the creation of StreamE, the student said, “The state of Indiana ranks first in the nation for water recreation impairments due to contaminated waterways. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 73% of rivers and streams and 23% of lakes and reservoirs have recreational use impairments like swimming, fishing, and boating. Increased density of urban population and agricultural activities are some of the key contributors to run-off into our urban watersheds. Thus, forecasting of E. coli contamination in urban waters is necessary to provide information to the public about their suitability for bodily contact, recreation, fishing, boating, and domestic utilization. Marion County Health Department Watershed Program has collected 20 years of water quality data based on periodic sample collection from the local streams. This data currently exists in Excel sheet format and provides a retrospective analysis of E. coli contamination in water streams, but the public needs real-time data about water quality to plan recreational activities. Currently, there are no reliable apps available to forecast water quality in our local streams. The StreamE app was developed to address this gap.”
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.