Henrico Times

Congressman Rob Wittman announced the winner of the 2024 Congressional App Challenge for Virginia’s First District. The winning app, Fintelligent, was developed by Deep Run High School students Aleksander Kurgan, Richard John, Kartikeya Jain, and Tom Cech. This app assists recreational anglers and fisheries in identifying healthy fish while promoting awareness about water sanitation and aquatic environmental health.

“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 Congressman 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. Additionally, the students are invited to attend the #HouseofCode Capitol Hill Reception in Washington D.C., where winners from across the nation will present their projects.

The Congressional App Challenge aims to boost student involvement in STEM education by encouraging middle and high school students to design innovative apps for mobile devices or computers.

Congressman Wittman is an advocate for STEM education as preparation for modern careers. In January 2024, he highlighted investing in STEM as crucial for strengthening Virginia's educational system and economy through an op-ed in the Richmond Times-Dispatch. He also hosted a seminar at Virginia Commonwealth University in December 2023 to provide educators with resources needed to prepare students for careers in STEM fields.