WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA) announced that Lily (Gyeongyun) Min, a student at Alfred M. Barbe High School, is the overall winner of the 2023 Congressional App Challenge for Louisiana’s 3rd District.
Lily’s project, titled “Freshmate,” is an app designed to prevent unintentional food waste. As a food enthusiast, Lily created “Freshmate” after finding herself purchasing a variety of products at once that eventually went unused and wasted. This app promotes better food management by helping users track expiration dates.
“Congratulations to Lily on her winning app,” said Congressman Higgins. “Lily used her artistic and creative talent to create a user-friendly app interface that helps individuals of every age keep track of the food in their kitchen. In times of economic uncertainty, apps like this can help families save money and time sorting through their refrigerators and pantries. This year saw some high levels of competition and was a tough choice for our judges.”
“Inspired by a love for exploring new food and a commitment to reducing food waste, I embarked on the journey of creating this app,” said Lily Min. “Witnessing the impact of food waste on both the environment and our wallets, I aimed to develop a solution that not only organizes our kitchens but also contributes to a more sustainable and economical lifestyle. Freshmate is a reflection of my passion for innovation and my belief in the power of technology to address real-world challenges.”
Watch Lily demonstrate her “Freshmate” app here.
About the Congressional App Challenge
The U.S. House of Representatives launched the Congressional App Challenge in 2015 to help encourage middle school and high school students to learn to code and inspire them to pursue careers in computer science. The Challenge is a nationwide initiative that allows students to compete against their peers by creating an application or “app” for mobile, tablet, or computer devices. Student teams compete against each other by congressional district, and the winning apps are showcased at the U.S. Capitol each year.
