Planetopia wins Rep. Ann Wagner’s 2024 Congressional App Challenge in Missouri’s Second District
Rep. Ann Wagner has named Serena Huang and Grace Fu of Parkway South High School as the winners of the 2024 Congressional App Challenge in Missouri’s Second District.
When asked what inspired the creation of Planetopia, the students said, “We were inspired to create Planetopia by the urgency of the climate crisis and the overwhelming challenge many people face in making sustainable choices. With CO2 emissions rising from 6 billion tonnes in 1950 to 36 billion tonnes by 2021, it’s clear that human activities have contributed significantly to environmental damage. While 77% of people want to live more sustainably, many don’t know where to start or feel that the solutions are too costly. We created Planetopia to make sustainability more accessible and manageable, guiding users through small, impactful changes that lead to a greener future.”
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.