Mental Plus wins Rep. Donald Norcross’ 2024 Congressional App Challenge in New Jersey’s First District
Rep. Donald Norcross has named Michael Breibart, Asher Fred, and Case Hurly of Haddonfield Memorial High School as the winners of the 2024 Congressional App Challenge in New Jersey’s First District.
When asked what inspired the creation of Mental Plus, the students said, “Thanks to COVID-19, we have all experienced epidemics. We all know how they spread and affect everyone around us. Despite this, we as a society seem to ignore an epidemic right beneath our noses: the mental health crisis. Despite the interconnected world, people are more isolated than ever. The U.S. Surgeon General declared a loneliness epidemic in 2023 on the basis that 30% of adults say they have experienced feelings of loneliness at least once a week. We believe technology has gone too far to allow this which is why we created Mental Plus.”
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.