EcoGuardian wins Rep. Dan Goldman’s 2024 Congressional App Challenge in New York’s 10th District
Rep. Dan Goldman has named Katherine Chang, an eleventh grader at Stuyvesant High School, as the winner of the 2024 Congressional App Challenge in New York’s 10th District.
When asked what inspired the creation of EcoGuardian, the student said, “The global average temperature is predicted to climb above 1.5°C by 2040, which would cause meters of sea level rise, stress on food production, and nearly 70 to 90 percent of coral reefs will disappear. Due to this urgency, governments are taking action to combat climate change. However, information about the legislation being passed is not easily accessible and for the ordinary person, it can be overwhelming to know how they can help. Thus, EcoGuardian was built to bridge that gap by providing users with simple tools to start a habit and everything that they might want to know about the city’s policies, animals, and green spaces. I specifically added a database of NYC parks and gardens after reading about The Elizabeth Street Garden, a one-acre community sculpture garden that is currently facing eviction to make way for a housing complex. Our city could benefit from having more green spaces and by adding this feature, I wanted to make it easier for people to discover and appreciate these natural spaces.”
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.