WayPoint wins Rep. Katherine M. Clark’s 2024 Congressional App Challenge in Massachusetts’ Fifth District
Rep. Katherine M. Clark has named Christopher Yoo, a tenth grader at Noble and Greenough, as the winner of the 2024 Congressional App Challenge in Massachusetts’ Fifth District.
When asked what inspired the creation of WayPoint, the student said, “Last summer, I found an opportunity to volunteer at a concert composed of exclusively visually impaired choirists by handing out pamphlets at their concerts. While doing so, I got the chance to talk to many of the members, in which I learned about their difficulties to find their way in old churches which had no guiding blocks. When looking at the neighborhood around me, I found the same problem and realized that many crosswalks also face the same issue. The visually impaired heavily rely on assistive features, such as braille blocks and audible pedestrian signals, to help them navigate crosswalks. Uninstalled or damaged braille blocks and absent or non-functional audible signals can confuse visually impaired pedestrians, which can potentially expose them to additional risks. Towns or cities put their efforts into keeping these assistive features in good condition, but identifying specific problems and their locations cast many practical challenges, including additional costs and time to monitor them.”
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.