Maui High STEMworks Team Wins Congressional App Challenge

US Representative Tulsi Gabbard today announced the Maui High School STEMworks Team as the winner of her 2018 Congressional App Challenge.

Maya Hickman, Johnel Torrejas, Dane Payba and Katherine Stevens of Maui High created and developed QuadSolver, a tool to check answers for math problems involving the quadratic formula, without using a calculator.

The winners of the Congressional App Challenge will be invited to Washington, DC in the Spring of 2019 to showcase their apps at the #HouseofCode event in the US Capitol.

“The Congressional App Challenge provides us the opportunity to recognize the creativity, innovation, and coding abilities of our students across Hawai‘i and around the country,” said Rep. Gabbard. “Hoʻomaikaʻi to Maya, Johnel, Dane, and Katherine and mahalo nui loa to all of the students who submitted an app, all of the judges, teachers, and parents who support our students, and our community for prioritizing STEM skills that set our future leaders up for success in the 21st century economy.”

This year’s panel of judges included Cheyenne Ehrlich, Founder and CEO of SaferKid; David Brookshire “Brook” Conner, Assistant Superintendent and Chief Information Officer of the Hawaiʻi Department of Education; and Mellanie Soriano, Software Developer for Jr. DevLeague.

The Congressional App Challenge inspires, includes, and innovates efforts around STEM, coding, and computer science education among middle and high school students in Hawai‘i and across the country.