Congressman Nick Langworthy (NY-23) announced Jessica Park of Williamsville East High School as the winner of the 2024 Congressional App Challenge for New York’s 23rd District. Her app, StandUP, addresses bullying by highlighting its emotional and neurological effects on victims, bystanders, and perpetrators.
The annual challenge, hosted by Members of the U.S. House of Representatives, encourages middle and high school students to learn coding and develop innovative solutions to real-world problems.
“The Congressional App Challenge highlighted the creativity, problem-solving, and coding skills of students in Western New York and the Southern Tier. Congratulations to Jessica Park of Williamsville East High School, the winner of this year’s Congressional App Challenge for New York’s 23rd District,” said Congressman Langworthy. “Jessica’s app, StandUP, showcases her talent and hard work to develop a solution to a critical issue facing her peers. I’m proud to support programs that encourage STEM learning and recognize the bright futures of our local students.”
Jessica’s app will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol Building and featured on the official Congressional App Challenge website, where it will serve as an inspiration for students nationwide.
Jessica shared that her motivation for creating StandUP stemmed from personal experiences and witnessing the effects of bullying in her school and community. “The inspiration for creating StandUP came from my own experiences and a deep desire to address bullying in a meaningful way,” she said.
The Congressional App Challenge serves as a platform for students to explore careers in STEM fields, with winners from across the country gathering annually for the #HouseOfCode festival to showcase their projects.
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