Town Square wins Rep. Clay Higgins’ 2024 Congressional App Challenge in Louisiana’s Third District
Rep. Clay Higgins has named Rudra Karadkhelkar of Lafayette High School and Terrell Lazard of David Thibodaux Stem Magnet Academy as the winners of the 2024 Congressional App Challenge in Louisiana’s Third District.
When asked what inspired the creation of Town Square, the students said, “Local businesses are the backbone of our community. As these businesses grow, they create jobs, strengthen the economy, and improve the quality of life right here at home. We were inspired by the resilience of these local businesses and their determination to make a name for themselves. We were also inspired by how they offer services and goods that you can’t find anywhere else. The uniqueness of these businesses sets them apart and further adds to the value they bring to our community.
We wanted to build an app that could alleviate some of the stress of marketing and allow others to discover the local businesses that have brought us so much joy. Our goal was to create a platform that increases the visibility of local businesses, enabling them to grow, provide more services and jobs, strengthen our community, and help the economy flourish.”
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.