Querapy wins Rep. August Pfluger’s 2024 Congressional App Challenge in Texas’ 11th District
Rep. August Pfluger has named Ajay Gundlapalli, a ninth grader at Phillips Exeter Academy, as the winner of the 2024 Congressional App Challenge in Texas’ 11th District.
When asked what inspired the creation of Querapy, the student said, “The number of gun threats, shootings, suicides, and drug abuse cases has increased in recent years among teens. Numerous research studies have linked poor mental health to these tragedies. Also, mental health and behavioral issues are cited as the most important reason for teacher burnout across the country. These issues also lead to absenteeism and learning losses in schools. There is a shortage of mental health professionals in many parts of the country like West Texas.
Motivated by these findings, I wanted to create an app where anyone could access free and pertinent mental health resources. I realized many people don’t know what they feel and often hold those feelings in as they build up, leading to bigger crises. Providing medical questionnaires on common mental health conditions will address these problems, people can better understand what they are feeling and even gain access to additional information and methods to improve mental health. I wanted to bridge this gap in mental health resources and decrease the mental health inequities in these underserved communities by creating this app.”
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.