Emotion Matcher wins Rep. Steven Horsford’s 2024 Congressional App Challenge in Nevada’s Fourth District
Rep. Steven Horsford has named Abesalom Webb and Siddharth Mahajan of Phillips Exeter Academy as the winners of the 2024 Congressional App Challenge in Nevada’s Fourth District.
When asked what inspired the creation of Emotion Matcher, the students said, “The inspiration for Emotion Matcher stemmed from a personal experience with a family member, specifically my cousin Nate, who has Alexithymia. This neurological condition impairs an individual’s ability to identify and describe emotions in both themselves and others. The catalyst for the app’s conception was a specific incident during a family gathering in September 2024. Nate, then 27, received a gift from his mother – a vintage record player he had mentioned wanting. Despite his mother’s evident excitement, displayed through her wide smile and expectant posture, Nate’s facial expression remained neutral, and he struggled to respond appropriately. This moment highlighted the daily challenges faced by individuals with Alexithymia in social interactions. It prompted me to research the condition further, leading to discussions with three psychologists specializing in emotional intelligence and cognitive behavioral therapy. These conversations revealed a gap in existing tools for emotion recognition training, particularly those leveraging modern AI technologies. This realization, combined with my background in web development and machine learning, led to the development of Emotion Matcher as a potential aid for individuals like Nate and others seeking to improve their emotional intelligence.”
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.