Deep Run HS students win Congressional App Challenge for Virginia's First District
Table of Contents
A group of Deep Run High School students won U.S. Congressman Rob Wittman's 2024 Congressional App Challenge for Virginia’s First District with their app called Fintelligent.
The students – Aleksander Kurgan, Richard John, Kartikeya Jain and Tom Cech – created the app to help recreational anglers and fisheries quickly identify healthy, consumable fish while raising awareness about water sanitation and aquatic environmental health.
(Watch a video demonstration of the app by clicking here.)
“As a recreational fisherman and former marine scientist, I applaud Aleksander, Richard, Kartikeya, and Tom for their ingenuity and desire to improve the health of our environment and quality of our waters,” said Wittman. “Their innovative app, Fintelligent, highlights the spirit of creativity and problem-solving in Virginia’s First District. I look forward to congratulating these talented students in person when they visit Capitol Hill later this year. I also want to recognize all participants for their outstanding work and commitment to making a positive difference.”
The winning app will be eligible for display in the U.S. Capitol and featured on the U.S. House of Representatives' website. The students also will be invited to the #HouseofCode Capitol Hill Reception in Washington, D.C., during which winners from across the nation will showcase their projects.
The Congressional App Challenge promotes student participation in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education by encouraging middle and high school students to design, build, and present innovative apps for mobile, tablet, or computer devices.
Last January, Wittman emphasized the importance of investing in STEM to strengthen Virginia’s education system and economy in an op-ed for the Richmond Times-Dispatch. In December 2023, he hosted a STEM education seminar at Virginia Commonwealth University – where he earned his Ph.D. in public policy and administration – to provide local educators, administrators, and parents with resources to prepare students for in-demand careers in STEM fields.
