Chiron wins Rep. Gerry Connolly’s 2023 Congressional App Challenge in Virginia’s 11th District
Rep. Connolly has named Amy Key, a 11th grader at Langley High School, as the winner of the 2023 Congressional App Challenge in Virginia’s 11th District.
When asked what inspired the creation of Chiron, the student said, “Less than two years ago, my life took an unexpected turn when I was diagnosed with a chronic autoimmune disorder. It was a diagnosis that altered my daily routines, tested my resilience, and, above all, profoundly changed my perspective on life. Ultimately, it was these experiences and reflections that inspired me to create an app aimed at facilitating the early prognosis of Parkinson’s disease.
The journey into the world of chronic illness was an unexpected one, marked by uncertainty, medical treatments, and an undeniable sense of vulnerability. It was during my stay in the hospital, enduring weeks of treatments and tests, that I came to fully appreciate the invaluable role of early detection in managing and potentially mitigating the impact of a chronic disease. I witnessed firsthand how the timely recognition of symptoms could be the difference between a manageable condition and a life-threatening crisis.
The pivotal moment came when a friend in school recognized the subtle but crucial signs of my illness, saving my life. This realization of the importance of early detection fueled my determination to create a tool capable of providing an early prognosis for Parkinson’s disease. With more than a quarter of Parkinson’s patients misdiagnosed, I strived to harness technology to offer a lifeline to others facing health challenges, particularly those at risk of Parkinson’s disease. The decision to create an app was not just a response to personal experience; it was a response to the countless individuals worldwide who face the challenges of chronic diseases. This app is my tribute to my friend who recognized the signs and to everyone who has faced chronic illnesses with courage and resilience, inspiring me to create a tool that could potentially change lives.”
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.