Team of Three Jefferson County Students Wins 2019 Congressional App Challenge

For Immediate Release
Contact: Elizabeth Hance (202) 225-4921

Team of Three Jefferson County Students Wins 2019 Congressional App Challenge

Birmingham, AL – Congressman Gary Palmer (AL-06) is pleased to announce Katsuki Chan, Viraj Kacker, and Aniket Pant as the winners of the 2019 Congressional App Challenge in Alabama's Sixth Congressional District. This contest provides a valuable opportunity for middle and high schoolers to develop their skills in computer coding, math, science, and related subjects by creating an original application. This year's winning team attends Jefferson County International Baccalaureate School, and their app is titled "Famine Risk Index (FRI) Early Detection System."

"I'm very impressed with Katsuki, Viraj, and Aniket's work for the App Challenge," Palmer said. "They are incredibly talented and have created something valuable for humanitarian aid research that also shows ingenuity and user-friendliness. STEM skills are becoming more important every day and I'm confident these young men will go far. They should be proud of their hard work."

The FRI Early Detection System app is designed to map the relationship between drought and risk of famine in a given area. The system considers factors such as population density, vegetation data, rainfall, and more. Chan, Kacker, and Pant particularly sought to bring attention to famine and malnutrition risks in sub-Saharan Africa.

Application submissions were judged by Mr. Steven Puckett of the University of North Alabama, Dr. Kathryn Lanier of Southern Research, and Mr. Kris Bishop of Integrated Legacy Solutions. The winning students will receive recognition certificates from Congressman Palmer and will have the chance to present their app at a coding fair in Washington, D.C. in the spring.

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