(ROCKVILLE, MD) – Representative Jamie Raskin (MD-08) announced the winners of his 2018 Congressional App Challenge today: Montgomery Blair High School students Marie Brodsky and Suveena Sreenilaya and Herbert Hoover Middle School student Joseph Brodsky, who won for their team submission, “TimeFlies.”
The Congressional App Challenge began in 2014 as an effort to promote Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) and to encourage students to learn coding and computer science skills. Students in participating congressional districts compete against their peers by creating original software applications (“apps”). Applicants competed to win prizes, including a $250 Amazon Web Services credit that can be used toward the cost of hosting their app, and to have their work displayed in the Capitol Building. Winners from across the country will be recognized at the House of Code reception next spring in Washington, D.C. to demonstrate their app to Members of Congress and staff.
This year’s winners, Marie, Suveena and Joseph, describe their impressive app TimeFlies as a time-planning tool for people with dyscalculia who have trouble understanding time. Dyscalculia is learning disability in math which makes it very difficult to process numerical scales such as time.
The students noted, “Our brother has dyscalculia, making it difficult for him to understand time. We decided to create TimeFlies as a way to help others like him plan time in terms of their frequent activities.”
“It is an honor to represent Maryland’s 8th District, which is home to so many talented and inspired students, as evidenced by the many excellent entries submitted in this year’s Congressional App Challenge,” said Raskin. “I commend all of the student coders who submitted such innovative and creative apps, and I want to say thank you to all of the family members and educators who support these wonderful students.”
“I am especially moved by the creative genius of this year’s winners, Marie, Suveena and Joseph, who were motivated to design their breakthrough app TimeFlies as a time-planning tool for their brother and other people afflicted with dyscalculia. These students have used their hearts and minds to make technology work for people who need a little help on time issues,” said Raskin.
Congressman Jamie Raskin represents Maryland’s 8th Congressional District, which includes Montgomery, Frederick, and Carroll counties. He is the Vice Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, a Senior Democratic Whip, and Freshman Representative to the House Democratic Steering & Policy Committee. He also serves on the House Oversight & Government Reform Committee and the Committee on House Administration.