EmpowerVets wins Rep. Ryan Zinke’s 2023 Congressional App Challenge in Montana’s First District
Rep. Zinke has named Abubakr Nazriev, an 11th grader at Sentinel High School, as the winner of the 2023 Congressional App Challenge in Montana’s First District.
When asked what inspired the creation of EmpowerVets, the student said, “The inspiration behind creating this app, which I affectionately named ‘EmpowerVets,’ can be traced back to a heartfelt moment involving a friend and her grandfather. This personal encounter illustrated the need for a solution that could bridge the digital divide for veterans who might not be tech-savvy.
One day, my close friend, Sarah, shared her concerns about her grandfather, a war veteran who had limited knowledge of technology. Despite lots of online resources available to veterans, he was unable to access and use them effectively due to his unfamiliarity with digital tools. The frustration and sense of isolation he experienced struck a chord in my heart.
This experience made me realize that there are countless veterans out there who face similar challenges. These brave individuals, who have served our nation with unwavering dedication, deserve easy access to the resources and support available to them in the digital age. This realization became the driving force behind the creation of EmpowerVets.
EmpowerVets is more than just an app; it’s a tribute to the sacrifices of our veterans and a means to empower them in their post-service lives. It seeks to eliminate the barriers that technological unfamiliarity can create, ensuring that veterans of all generations can effortlessly access essential resources, services, and support.
The app was conceived with a singular goal: to empower veterans and connect them with the support they rightfully deserve. It acknowledges the unique needs of veterans, from healthcare and employment opportunities to educational resources and benefits information. By providing a user-friendly interface, EmpowerVets ensures that no veteran is left behind in the digital era.
The realization that my friend’s grandfather, a true hero of his time, was missing out on the benefits of the digital age due to his unfamiliarity with technology became a reminder of the digital divide that still exists. It underscored the urgency of creating a solution that could bridge this gap, making the digital world accessible to veterans of all ages and backgrounds.
EmpowerVets is a labor of love, a tribute to our veterans, and a commitment to ensuring that they can navigate the complexities of the digital landscape with ease. It is inspired by the resilience and sacrifices of veterans, and it is our way of saying, “We stand with you, and we are here to help you thrive in the digital age.”
This year’s Challenge saw an unprecedented level of participation, with 374 Members of the House of Representatives hosting competitions, surpassing the previous record of 340. A remarkable 11,334 students from across the United States competed in this year’s Challenge, marking an impressive increase of nearly 1,000 participants compared to the previous record set in 2019. The enthusiasm and creativity these students display is a testament to the growing interest in technology and signal a bright future for American innovation. The surge of ingenuity continued with a whopping 3,645 original applications flooding in, nearly a thousand more than the previous year’s high. This remarkable growth showcases the exceptional talent and innovation within our nation’s youth.
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 Omidyar Network, AWS, Rise, theCoderSchool, Apple, and others.
The 2024 Congressional App Challenge will launch in May of 2024, and eligible students can pre-register for the competition now.