FitterFly wins Rep. Bennie G. Thompson’s 2024 Congressional App Challenge in Mississippi’s Second District
Rep. Bennie G. Thompson has named Summer Boatman and Bryson Flowers of Grenada High School as the winners of the 2024 Congressional App Challenge in Mississippi’s Second District.
When asked what inspired the creation of FitterFly, the students said, “At a very young age we’ve had a passion for fitness and through the app we hope to inspire others. We are both in NJROTC and we understand fitness and the importance of a healthy lifestyle. We both live in the state of Mississippi and the obesity rate is high so this app could drastically improve the lives and life trajectory of some teens. There is a lack of physical engagement and education with teens and we want to make a change. We use multiple fitness apps ourselves and wanted to make an app that combines our favorite features into one. ”
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.