Aries wins Rep. Lou Correa’s 2024 Congressional App Challenge in California’s 46th District
Rep. Lou Correa has named Om Gupta, Theodore Vang, Rishi Mishra, and Colin Thai of Oxford Academy as the winners of the 2024 Congressional App Challenge in California’s 46th District.
When asked what inspired the creation of Aries, the students said, “What inspired us to create Aries was the growing need for digital accessibility, especially for those who are unfamiliar with technology. We’ve personally experienced how our families’ language barriers and unfamiliarity with technology has prevented them from leveraging technology to their advantage, and with Aries, we aimed to enable them and the other 16% of Americans who are digitally illiterate. Our team wanted to create an app that empowers those unable to easily browse the digital landscape by providing a voice-activated, AI-powered digital assistant that intelligently allows them to make the most of their devices. Our ultimate vision for the app is the utilization of an LLM and integration with both Microsoft Office and Google Suite to allow Aries to even be used in the workplace, giving millions access to job opportunities they otherwise would have been unable to reach.”
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.