Scope wins Rep. Glenn Ivey’s 2024 Congressional App Challenge in Maryland’s Fourth District

Rep. Glenn Ivey has named Youssef Ali of Laurel High School, Aman Getachew of Laurel High School, and Christian Beasley of High Point High School as the winners of the 2024 Congressional App Challenge in Maryland’s Fourth District.

When asked what inspired the creation of Scope, the students said, “The inspiration for creating Scope came from the need for a reliable, centralized source of information in our community. There wasn’t an easy way to stay informed about local events, news, or updates. Information often traveled through word of mouth, making it difficult to keep up with important events like community gatherings, safety updates, or city reports.

Our city lacked a single platform that could provide real-time, accurate information. This project was born out of the desire to solve that problem by giving residents a tool to access everything they need in one place. We chose a mobile app because it’s the most accessible and convenient way for people to stay connected to their community.

Ultimately, Scope was inspired by the challenge of helping our city stay informed and engaged in an increasingly digital world, offering a solution that brings the community closer together.”

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.