Feed Me Smart wins Rep. Sara Jacobs’s 2023 Congressional App Challenge in California’s 51st District
Rep. Jacobs has named Alex Tang of Mesa Verde Middle school, Junpeng Zhao of Pacific Trails Middle School, Andy Liang of Stratford Middle School San Jose, and Jonathon Han of Washington High School as the winners of the 2023 Congressional App Challenge in California’s 51st District.
When asked what inspired the creation of Feed Me Smart, the students said, “The United States has a long history of welcoming immigrants from around the world, and it continues to be a nation that values diversity and the contributions of newcomers. However, it’s essential to recognize that the U.S. is currently facing a complex challenge with regards to food shortage, and this challenge is particularly significant for the new immigrant population. 14% of immigrants were poor (that is, with family incomes below the official poverty threshold of $27,500 for a family of four with two children in 2021), compared to 13 percent of the U.S. born. Making informed and smart choices in food shopping, especially for new immigrants with growing kids who may have language barriers with limited budgets, is crucial for both their health and financial well-being. Learning about local grocery options with food nutrition empowers them to create balanced and affordable meal plans that support their overall well-being and long-term success in their new home. Our app assists new immigrants solve their first priority confusion for food supplies and quickly join their community and to learn how to live their new life in the United States.”
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.