AlexiLearn|Alexithymia and Autism App wins Rep. Ben Cline’s 2024 Congressional App Challenge in Virginia’s Sixth District
Rep. Ben Cline has named Iacopo Schianchi, a tenth grader at John Handley High School, as the winner of the 2024 Congressional App Challenge in Virginia’s Sixth District.
When asked what inspired the creation of AlexiLearn, the student said, “This app was inspired by my awareness of these mental conditions, the effects they have, and the limited solutions were the sources of inspiration for this app. Since there are no other apps that accomplish my goal for AlexiLearn, I decided to develop and publish it for free and ad-free.
Other educational apps like Duolingo and Khan Academy inspired several aspects of AlexiLearn.”
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.