Gift8 wins Rep. Jefferson Van Drew’s 2024 Congressional App Challenge in New Jersey’s Second District
Rep. Jefferson Van Drew has named Saketh Agava, a twelfth grader at Mainland Regional High School, as the winner of the 2024 Congressional App Challenge in New Jersey’s Second District
When asked what inspired the creation of Gift8, the student said, “On a quiet Sunday, as a volunteer, I called Mr. Paul, a hospice patient. I heard the hum of a Packers game in the background. We shared laughter over plays and scores, but then his voice turned sober: ‘It’s the quiet that kills you,’ he confided. At 70 facing terminal cancer, it wasn’t the illness that weighed him down—it was the loneliness. His words stayed with me, prompting me to read more about the profound impact of isolation. I discovered a New York Times article highlighting how something as simple as an eight-minute conversation could significantly improve someone’s well-being. Inspired, I suggested to the hospice volunteer coordinator that we match patients living alone with volunteers to provide a consistent connection. Seeing the difference this made, I wanted to do more.
This led to the creation of Gift8—an app designed to remind people to reconnect with loved ones regularly. It‚’s my way of addressing the growing epidemic of loneliness, providing people with a tool to build and maintain meaningful connections. The inspiration came from witnessing firsthand how powerful even brief moments of connection can be for someone in need.”
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.