Bakegeneering wins Rep. Dwight Evans’ 2024 Congressional App Challenge in Pennsylvania’s Third District
Rep. Dwight Evans has named Robert Becker, an eleventh grader at Friends Select School, as the winner of the 2024 Congressional App Challenge in Pennsylvania’s Third District.
When asked what inspired the creation of Bakegeneering, the student said, “I always have had a passion for baking, and as I would bake, I would wonder why I was doing each step or adding each ingredient. I would wonder about the chemical reactions of each addition and how that changed the final product. I was curious about what would happen if I added more or less of an ingredient, as I desired to be able to bake something without a recipe and just using what I have on hand. I would also always focus on making things that I bake a little bit healthier, for instance adding less sugar or butter, or substituting in some whole wheat flour. That being said, I would always be cautious since I never knew what exactly each change would do to the final product. Bakegeneering is the solution to this for me, and hopefully many others, providing a way to plan out how you want the final product to be while keeping health in mind. It taught me and will teach others about the science of baking and the simplicity of taking small steps to create a more healthy diet.”
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.