EcoTrace wins Rep. Steve Cohen’s 2023 Congressional App Challenge in Tennessee’s Ninth District
Rep. Cohen has named Kennedi Stewart of Tennessee Connections Academy, Naomi Leverette of Harding Academy of Memphis, Kennedy Jefferson, and Alan Ji of White Station High School as the winners of the 2023 Congressional App Challenge in Tennessee’s Ninth District.
When asked what inspired the creation of EcoTrace, the students said, “I created this app with the hope that it could inspire people, especially my fellow peers, to take better care of our communities. In recent years, I’ve noticed that younger generations can sometimes feel spiteful towards past generations due to the state of the world they’ve inherited, which can lead to a sense of helplessness. However, I believe that change is possible, and I’ve seen firsthand that people from different backgrounds, shapes, and sizes care about their communities and recycling.
My project’s primary goal is to keep Tennessee, my community, beautiful and green, but I also dream of extending this vision to encourage peers worldwide to do the same for their communities. It’s essential to focus on creating positive change and fostering a sense of community involvement rather than dwelling on frustration. Together, we can make a difference and create a better world for all.”
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.