BlindSight wins Rep. Gerald E. Connolly’s 2024 Congressional App Challenge in Virginia’s 11th District
Rep. Gerald E. Connolly has named Kriesh Tivare, an eleventh grader at Langley High School, as the winner of the 2024 Congressional App Challenge in Virginia’s 11th District.
When asked what inspired the creation of BlindSight, the student said, “The idea for BlindSight came from a very personal place. My family and I have all struggled with vision problems, and these experiences have given me a great appreciation for the struggles that the visually impaired community faces on a daily basis. My grandma had severe diabetes which led to Macular Degeneration (MD) in her eyes. Despite the complexities in her life caused by the MD, she persevered and attempted to live the lifestyle she wanted.
Haben Girma also stood as a prime inspiration for me during my journey to create Blindsight. Girma was the first Deafblind person to graduate from Harvard Law, and she has utilized technology to persevere through her life and advocate for disability rights. With her use of technology (such as Braille computers) to make up for the disadvantages in her life, she has proven how useful technology can be in improving the lives of the disabled.
Their struggles and resilience left a lasting impression on me, creating a problem my brain itched to solve. As a child of first-generation immigrants, I was taught the power of technology very early on. My goal with this app was to utilize technology to provide tools that would help individuals overcome obstacles and promote self-reliance, allowing the visually impaired to face the world with confidence.”
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.