Gingerly wins Rep. Joyce Beatty’s 2024 Congressional App Challenge in Ohio’s Third District

Rep. Joyce Beatty has named Murali Pichhika, a twelfth grader at New Albany High School as the winner of the 2024 Congressional App Challenge in Ohio’s Third District.

When asked what inspired the creation of Gingerly, the student said, “The idea behind Gingerly came from the desire to make personal safety and security more unified and accessible to all people no matter the device they are holding or the situation they are in. While many people have phones these days, lack of experience on how to use or gather these tools is a prevalent issue. I also noticed that while there were plenty of safety apps out there, many were cluttered with premium fees, ads, and required stable internet connection, which isn’t always available in emergencies. I wanted to make a simple app with high reliability without any unnecessary fees or extras to help people only with their phones. Additionally, Gingerly’s real-time recommendations were inspired by the fact that many people can’t interpret simple information into potential hazards.”

 

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.

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.