Press Releases

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-01) welcomed the winners of the 2024 Congressional App Challenge for Virginia’s First District to Capitol Hill and congratulated them in person for their achievement. The winning app, Fintelligent, was developed by Deep Run High School students Aleksander Kurgan, Richard John, Kartikeya Jain, and Tom Cech.

Earlier in the day, the students were recognized at the national #HouseOfCode event, where top winners from across the country gathered in Washington, D.C. to showcase their apps, meet with tech industry leaders, and engage with lawmakers.

“As a recreational fisherman and former marine scientist, I was especially impressed by Aleksander, Richard, Kartikeya, and Tom’s creativity and their commitment to protecting our natural resources,” said Congressman Wittman. “It was a true pleasure to congratulate them in person and to introduce them to the many fish displayed in my D.C. office. Their app is a stellar example of how innovation and environmental conservation go hand in hand.”

Fintelligent is designed to assist recreational anglers and fisheries in identifying healthy, consumable fish while raising awareness about water quality and environmental health. As the winning app for Virginia’s First District, Fintelligent is featured on the official website of the U.S. House of Representatives. 

The Congressional App Challenge is a nationwide competition that encourages middle and high school students to explore coding and computer science by creating original software applications. The program aims to promote STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) education and prepare the next generation for careers in high-demand technology fields.

Congressman Wittman is a longtime advocate for strengthening STEM education across Virginia and the nation. In a January 2024 op-ed for the Richmond Times-Dispatch, he emphasized the importance of strategic investments in STEM to fuel workforce development and economic growth. In December 2023, he hosted a STEM education seminar at Virginia Commonwealth University—his Ph.D. alma mater—to provide educators, administrators, and parents with practical tools to support student success in STEM fields.

To learn more about the Congressional App Challenge, visit www.congressionalappchallenge.us. Students can pre-register for the 2025 Congressional App Challenge here.

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