AICathDesigner wins Rep. Marilyn Strickland’s 2024 Congressional App Challenge in Washington’s 10th District
Rep. Marilyn Strickland has named Zain Shariff, a tenth grader at Curtis Senior High School, as the winner of the 2024 Congressional App Challenge in Washington’s 10th District.
When asked what inspired the creation of AICathDesigner, the student said, “As I was doing a literature review on heart sciences, which I am really fond of, I was looking through coronary venous procedures such as bypasses. I wanted to learn how these procedures even access the small coronary system in the first place and found that they gained access through the coronary ostium near the right atrium. Then I found that the opening into the coronary sinus ostium system is very small and after consulting some physicians, I found that it is difficult to navigate into the area. So I then thought of ways to easily navigate into the coronary sinus ostium. Then I learned about Computerized Tomography Scans (CT Scans). From there, after research, I was able to use CT Scans to navigate into the area. Finally, I looked for a way to automate the process using AI, and from there, I set out to create my 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.