HAHIRA, GA.-- Representative Austin Scott (GA-08) today announced the Eighth District's 2022 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 with their app Safeology.

Safeology is an app that authenticates registered parents or guardians in the school building securely with the use of API and QR codes. This protective measure was created to prevent unauthorized people from entering the school building. The parent or guardian will first log in to the app and proceed to use their assigned QR code with the school kiosk, located outside of the school building. The QR codes are created to match each individual student with the approved guardians that are stored in the school database. After the QR code has an accepted scan, the guardian is faced with three authenticating questions regarding the student’s personal information. If the guardian successfully completes the authentication process, then the door to the school will unlock.

A team of students from Houston County High School, Luciano Da Fieno, Saif Aslam, Tyler Nguyen, and Leo Le received first runner-up for their app Questboard.

Safeology 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 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 of their choice.

All current middle and high school students (6-12th grade) who reside in or attend school in the Eighth Congressional District are encouraged to start planning for the 2023 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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