Neighborly Network wins Rep. James A. Himes’ 2024 Congressional App Challenge in Connecticut’s Fourth District
Rep. James A. Himes has named Sahil Vora and Rohan Sareen of Staples High School as the winners of the 2024 Congressional App Challenge in Connecticut’s Fourth District.
When asked what inspired the creation of Neighborly Network, the students said, “During COVID, our grandparents were struggling to get the necessary items and foods that they needed for fear of getting sick. Every so often, my family would go grocery shopping for my grandparents and help them stock up on items such as toilet paper. This made us realize that many other families must be dealing with the same issue. We realized that creating a platform, like Neighborly Network, that relies on community support could take the stress away from certain people and spread it amongst the community. Additionally, this showed the problem of how disconnected we were from the people living next door. For example, a year ago, I barely knew the people living next to me, but once I met them, I realized what kind people they are. They just had their 75th anniversary recently, and I realized that such an app could really help them: they wouldn’t have to bear the stress of running errands on their own, relying on family, or expensive delivery services. An app like this could create a support system where everyone can contribute in their own way—whether it’s lending a hand or just checking in. ”
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.