AllergyAid wins Rep. Maxine Waters’ 2024 Congressional App Challenge in California’s 43rd District
Rep. Maxine Waters has named Bianca Cardona, an eleventh grader at California Academy of Math and Science, as the winner of the 2024 Congressional App Challenge in California’s 43rd District.
When asked what inspired the creation of AllergyAid, the student said, “Being someone who is allergic to peanuts, tree nuts, and legumes, I can attest to the fact that managing your food allergies can be challenging. More than 33 million people in the United States alone have a food allergy, and this number is only increasing as the years go by. Out of these individuals, more than 50% of adults have experienced a severe reaction, while this number is 42% for children. As evidenced in these alarming statistics, I feel that people in the food allergy community lack the resources to truly feel confident about what they eat and how to manage their allergies with confidence. This became my inspiration for AllergyAid, which aims to assist those in the food allergy community by helping them navigate their food allergies and provide valuable resources for these people.”
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.