Study Genius wins Rep. Adriano Espaillat’s 2023 Congressional App Challenge in New York’s 13th District
Rep. Espaillat has named AKM Hasan of Manhattan Center for Science and Mathematics, John Chandler of City College Academy of the Arts, Kenneth Jusuf of Thomas A. Edison Career and Technical Education High School, and Saad Kashif of James Madison High School as the winners of the 2023 Congressional App Challenge in New York’s 13th District.
When asked what inspired the creation of Study Genius, the students said, “We, as high school students, are often inspired to develop study apps because of our personal experiences and a strong sense of empathy for our peers. Having faced the challenges of studying in high school, we understand the need for effective tools to stay motivated and organized. This firsthand experience, coupled with our deep empathy for our classmates and friends, serves as a powerful motivator to create solutions that can improve the learning journey for all students.”
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.