YourPasswordStrong wins Rep. Steny H. Hoyer’s 2024 Congressional App Challenge in Maryland’s Fifth District
Rep. Steny H. Hoyer has named Thaddeus Holston, a twelfth grader at Huntingtown High School, as the winner of the 2024 Congressional App Challenge in Maryland’s Fifth District.
When asked what inspired the creation of YourPasswordStrong, the student said, “I wanted a quick way to make a strong password without having to think about it too hard, write down a bunch of random characters, or possibly make a predictable password based on my typing patterns. The time it took stood in the way of my time well spent otherwise when I would have to make an account for something. The process of making the app took me much longer than I would have spent simply making passwords, but it is an extremely convenient and strong tool to stand against bad actors, especially with new technology threatening already existing passwords because of their predictability. I hoped this app would be used to help keep the accounts holding secure information throughout the country safe. That would bring peace of mind when considering the danger that hacking in this new age of technology poses to information in accounts such as ones with the FBI, ones holding top secret documents in Congress, and control tower computers. I want the world to be a safer place.”
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.