Hahira, GA. – U.S. Representative Austin Scott (GA-08) recently announced the Eighth District's 2023 Congressional App Challenge Winners at a ceremony at Hahira Middle School.

Aarin Dave, a student at Lowndes High School, and Aarav Dave, a student at Hahira Middle School, won first place for the second year in a row with their app ICUSpeak. This is Aarin Dave's third time winning the Congressional App Challenge overall.

"Congratulations to these talented students," Rep. Scott said. "It is great to see young students in our district using their creativity to participate in STEM."

ICUSpeak is an app that helps patients who are unable to communicate with their providers and families effectively after surgery. Patients use a hardware device with five buttons and a hand imprint to communicate messages to the app. The app uses Thunkable's text-to-speech technology to convey these messages to the patient's health care providers. The two winners have already been asked to present their new app at UFHealth and are working to bring their innovation into production this year.  

ICUSpeak will be featured on the U.S. House of Representatives website and displayed in an exhibit in the U.S. Capitol Building alongside winners from other participating Congressional Districts across the country.

The first runner-ups in the competition were Bleckley County High School students Axel Briones, Bryant Sawyer, Aubrey Lewis, and Nate Knox with their app Saving Seymour. The second runner-ups were Vangeesh Degala, Van Tran, Hieu Tran, and Anand Chahande from Houston County High School, with their app WizQuiz.

The Congressional App Challenge is an annual, nationwide event intended to engage students' creativity and encourage their participation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. This competition allows students to compete with peers throughout their own Congressional District by creating and exhibiting their software application, or "app," for web, PC, tablet, mobile, or other platforms.

All current middle and high school students (6-12th grade) residing in or attending school in the Eighth Congressional District are encouraged to start planning for the 2024 Congressional App Challenge. Students may compete as individuals or in teams of up to four as long as two of the teammates are eligible to participate in the district. More details will be announced this Spring.

Additional details can be found on Rep. Scott's website or by contacting Rep. Scott's Warner Robins office at (478) 971-1776.

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