Likhitha Kosanam wins Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman’s 2024 Congressional App Challenge in New Jersey’s 12th District
Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman has named Likhitha Kosanam, an eleventh grader at Edison Academy, as the winner of the 2024 Congressional App Challenge in New Jersey’s 12th District.
When asked what inspired the creation of POLLY!, the student said, “As someone who has always been very interested in language studies, I came up with the idea of “POLLY!” after learning about the nontraditional learning technique known as immersion and comprehensible input. This method focuses on natural experiences over memorization and drilling. Two summers ago, when I visited India, I realized that I couldn’t hold proper conversations with my older relatives because whatever I learned through Telugu textbooks couldn’t be applied to daily life. There is a lot of nuance in language, from dialects to phrases of speech to cultural practices, and I hoped to create a language learning app that focuses on these aspects rather than grammar and memorization.”
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.