Koko Collects wins Rep. Jim Moylan’s 2024 Congressional App Challenge in Guam’s At-Large District
Rep. Jim Moylan has named Jaydie San Jose, a twelfth grader at Simon Sanchez High School, as the winner of the 2024 Congressional App Challenge in Guam’s At-Large District.
When asked what inspired the creation of Koko Collects, the student said, “On Guam, you are required to take the CHamoru language class in the public schools as a way to prevent the language and culture from dying. As a student myself, I saw how difficult it was for students to become fully engaged in learning the language. It took until my sophomore year of high school for me to become fully immersed into the subject. I wanted to create an app or a way for teachers and students to be able to expose the language to others in an engaging way. In school we are taught the language in a more traditional route, like books, lectures, or simple websites. I hoped that the app I created would add on to these learning practices and increase students’ eagerness to learn the native language of their island.”
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.