Competition Encourages Students to Pursue Careers in Computer Science and Inspires the Next Generation of American Innovators
January 16, 2020, Washington, DC – Today, Vice Chair of the Democratic Caucus Katherine Clark (MA-5) announced that Debbie Lilly, a Weston resident and student at Gann Academy, won the 2019 Congressional App Challenge for Massachusetts’ 5th Congressional District.
Lilly applied her coding skills to create “Savery,” a digital app which aims to educate people on food waste and how they can reduce the amount of food that is thrown away. The app informs users on how to utilize leftover ingredients in their kitchens, providing an innovative and interactive platform for users to thoughtfully manage their food and reduce food waste.
“I commend Debbie for putting her technical skills to use on a topic that is so important to communities both in Massachusetts and around the country. 40 percent of the food produced in the United States each year is never eaten, and most of the food we throw away ends up in landfills that municipalities are struggling to contain as recycling costs continue to soar. Debbie’s creative app empowers families with the resources to make sustainable choices that can lower their food expenses, reduce their carbon footprint, and alleviate the waste treatment burdens put upon their local communities,” said Vice Chair Clark.
“I also want to thank every MA-5 student who took part in this competition – all of your achievements were unique and impressive, and I am inspired by the enthusiasm you’ve shown to tackle some of the most pressing issues facing our country with your STEM knowledge and skills. The Congressional App Challenge is a fantastic way of encouraging today’s students to become tomorrow’s innovators.”
The Congressional App Challenge is hosted yearly by Vice Chair Clark’s Office in partnership with the Internet Education Foundation, and is open to all middle school and high school students in Massachusetts’ 5th Congressional District. The winning app is displayed in the U.S. Capitol Building and featured on the House of Representatives’ website. Winning students are invited to the #HouseofCode Capitol Hill Reception in DC and will receive $250 in Amazon Web Services credits.