ASL Connect wins Rep. Kim Schrier’s 2024 Congressional App Challenge in Washington’s Eighth District
Rep. Kim Schrier has named Sia Gupta and Anisha Upasani of Tesla STEM High School as the winners of the 2024 Congressional App Challenge in Washington’s Eighth District.
When asked what inspired the creation of ASL Connect, the students said, “Throughout our lives, we’ve often felt as though our voices aren’t truly heard by society. Whether it’s our opinions being overlooked or not being able to communicate effectively in certain environments. This sense of isolation has made us reflect on how much more challenging expressing thoughts must be for those who rely on American Sign Language (ASL) as their primary means of communication. ASL users, who make up 2-3% of the U.S. population (6.6 million to 10 million people) face a great barrier when trying to communicate with the other 97% who understand none or very limited sign language. This language barrier can lead to feelings of exclusion, particularly in everyday interactions where others can easily take communication for granted. This realization inspired us to create a tool to better these conditions. The 3% of people who use ASL deserve the same ability to communicate effectively as anyone else. This app is a step towards making society more accessible, giving ASL users’ voice the power and influence it deserves. ”
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.