MelanomAI wins Rep. Jennifer McClellan’s 2024 Congressional App Challenge in Virginia’s Fourth District
Rep. Jennifer McClellan has named Saket Sambaraju of Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School and Abhinav Gitta of Deep Run High School as the winners of the 2024 Congressional App Challenge in Virginia’s Fourth District.
When asked what inspired the creation of MelanomAI, the students said, “One of our team members had a family member in India who was diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer. Even though melanoma skin cancer can be treated very efficiently when detected early, it can grow to a massive problem if left to develop past the initial stage. Due to this family member’s distance from adequate hospitals, as well as high costs, they did not go to a doctor about the rash that was forming on their skin, and thus the problem became worse, and, unfortunately, this family member passed away. Melanoma skin cancer has a 99% survival rate if detected in the first state, but this number drops drastically the longer you wait. In 2022, over 60,000 people died globally from a disease that is very much preventable if treated early.
Our goal is to help reduce this number by giving people a tool that can save their lives, regardless of where they live or how much money they have. Generally, people who do not have as many resources are more inclined to be reluctant to spend time and money to go find out if a minimal rash or mole is potentially harmful to their health. Our app aims to reduce this problem by providing a free, fast, and accurate way to see if they have skin cancer.”
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.