FOCAL wins Rep. Linda T. Sanchez’s 2024 Congressional App Challenge in California’s 38th District
Rep. Linda T. Sanchez has named Ethan de la Cruz, Julina Liu, Alvin Cheng, and Nolan Huang of Glen A. Wilson High School as the winners of the 2024 Congressional App Challenge in California’s 38th District.
When asked what inspired the creation of FOCAL, the students said, “Our group was determined to develop an application that could make a real-world change, utilizing our technical programming skills to develop an app that not only benefits our community but provides a valuable resource for all people. We envisioned an app that could bridge the gap between technology and healthcare, harnessing the power of artificial intelligence to develop life-changing technology.
During our research, we stumbled upon an alarming statistic. When skin cancer is detected in the early stages, the survival rate is over 95%. However, this percentage drops drastically if the cancer is detected in later stages. Recognizing this problem and a chance to support the healthcare industry, we developed FOCAL, to enable users to take control of their health and promote early intervention for skin cancer, before it’s too late. As such, the ultimate goal for FOCAL is simple: to help save lives.”
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.