WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA) announced that Rudra Karadkhelkar, a student at Lafayette High School, and Terrell Lazar, a student at David Thibodaux STEM Magnet Academy, as the overall winners of the 2024 Congressional App Challenge for Louisiana’s 3rd District.
Rudra and Terrell’s project, “Town Square,” is a local business directory app that helps residents connect with nearby businesses that fit their needs. The app allows users to search local shops by name, industry, ratings, and most visits. The students created “Town Square” to increase the visibility and engagement of local businesses and help alleviate some of the stress of marketing.
Watch the students demonstrate their app here.
“Congratulations to Rudra and Terrell on their winning app,” said Congressman Higgins. “Town Square’s mission to help local businesses succeed is admirable. Rudra and Terrell’s app has the potential to connect citizens to local businesses, boosting our economy and bringing prosperity to communities across South Louisiana.”
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.
