Civic Connect wins Rep. Brian K. Fitzpatrick’s 2024 Congressional App Challenge in Pennsylvania’s First District
Rep. Brian K. Fitzpatrick has named Ayush Panda, a ninth grader at Pennsbury High School, as the winner of the 2024 Congressional App Challenge in Pennsylvania’s First District.
When asked what inspired the creation of Civic Connect, the student said, “I was inspired to create Civic Connect because I noticed that over 50% of seniors at my high school don’t vote. This lack of civic engagement concerned me, especially once I realized that there wasn’t one comprehensive place online to find important information about local, state, and federal governments. I wanted to develop a tool that simplifies access to this information, making it easier for students to engage and participate in democracy. By providing resources on voting and civic activities, I hope to empower my peers to make their voices heard and actively participate in their communities.”
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.