StudyMaster wins Rep. Frank D. Lucas’ 2024 Congressional App Challenge in Oklahoma’s Third District
Rep. Frank D. Lucas has named Joshua Li of Stillwater High School, Benjamin Li of Stillwater Junior High, and Jiaze Gao of Stillwater High School as the winners of the 2024 Congressional App Challenge in Oklahoma’s Third District.
When asked what inspired the creation of StudyMaster, the students said, “We created our app because we realized there was a real need for a tool that could make studying easier and more effective, not just for ourselves but for other students around us as well. As students, we’ve faced the same struggles that so many others deal with every day. We know what it’s like to juggle multiple assignments, keep track of deadlines, and try to find time to study for exams—all while managing the pressure that comes with it. Whether it was keeping up with assignments, losing track of important notes, or struggling to stay focused during study sessions, we realized that these issues were common. Staying organized, managing time, and finding reliable resources can often feel overwhelming, and we’ve experienced firsthand how stressful it can be to balance all of these demands. That’s when we decided to take action and create a solution that would help students overcome these obstacles.
Our goal was to build an app that would simplify the study process and make it less overwhelming. We wanted to offer features that would truly make a difference in how students organize their work, manage their time, and find the resources they need to succeed. By providing tools like task and goal setting, a Pomodoro timer for focused study sessions, a note-taking feature, and access to study materials, we hoped to give students everything they need in one place.
We designed the app to be a useful tool students could rely on throughout their academic journey. Whether it’s planning out their tasks for the week, staying focused during study sessions, or accessing notes and study materials, our app was built to make the entire study experience smoother, more productive, and less stressful. We wanted to create our StudyMaster App that would not only help us but also benefit students everywhere, making studying more manageable and effective for everyone.”
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.