Hydro wins Rep. Jim Banks’s 2023 Congressional App Challenge in Indiana’s Third District
Rep. Banks has named Malek Kamal, Braylen Waltz, and Padraic McCarthy of Homestead High School as the winners of the 2023 Congressional App Challenge in Indiana’s Third District.
When asked what inspired the creation of Hydro, the students said, “Hydro was inspired by the unfortunate consequences of dehydration and heat stroke faced by our country this past summer, caused by record-breaking heat waves in Indiana and across the country. Witnessing these consequences firsthand led us to the creation of a solution that makes it easy and convenient for people to stay hydrated. The result is Hydro.”
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.