ServeIT wins Rep. Kathy Manning’s 2024 Congressional App Challenge in North Carolina’s Sixth District
Rep. Kathy Manning has named Siddarth Giridharan, Olivia Mosca, and Madeline Chandler of The Early College at Guilford as the winners of the 2024 Congressional App Challenge in North Carolina’s Sixth District.
When asked what inspired the creation of ServeIT, the students said, “The issue of food insecurity most directly impacts those in-need in our community, as well as their families who often face generational poverty. While a lack of time to volunteer and/or donate most directly impacts the teens and donors who would otherwise be participating in these activities, the food insecure are affected indirectly. The seemingly simple act of donating both time and physical goods makes a big impact in the community, and failure to do so means that someone is missing out on meaningful items that help them survive.
Our community, Greensboro, ranks 14th in the nation for food insecurity and over 13% of US households suffer from some form of food insecurity, making it a persistent problem not only in our community but across the country. Nationwide issues like these require the attention of many individuals to be solved over a course of time; they are impossible to solve overnight.
At the same time, most teenagers and donors are challenged by time crunches in their everyday lives that prevent them from being able to volunteer and donate, respectively‚ as often as they would like.”
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.