Shreveport Reporter

Today, Speaker Mike Johnson announced the winners of the 2024 Congressional App Challenge for Louisiana’s Fourth Congressional District. The initiative, which began in 2013, aims to encourage young Americans to delve into STEM fields, coding, and computer science while connecting Congress members with new technologies.

This year's competition saw participation from four students from Caddo Magnet High School and Caddo Middle Magnet in Shreveport. A panel of judges comprising professors from local universities selected the winners.

The first-place app, "Cal Capture," was designed by Maya Trutschl, a senior at Caddo Magnet High School. The app simplifies converting dates on paper documents into calendar entries using optical character recognition (OCR) technology and machine learning. Maya will be invited to the House of Code event and will receive a copyright fee waiver through the ARTS Act. Her app will also be displayed in the U.S. Capitol Building for one year.

Speaker Johnson encourages all students in Louisiana’s Fourth Congressional District to participate in future challenges. More information about application deadlines for 2025 can be found at www.congressionalappchallenge.us or on their website.

First Place Category:

- App: Cal Capture

Designer: Maya Trutschl (Caddo Magnet High School)

- App: Smart Bus Finder

Designer: Kevin Zhao (Caddo Magnet High School)

Runner Up Category:

- App: Kirby and the Rainbow Star

Designer: Steward Lokitz (Caddo Magnet High School)

- App: Piano Practice Journey

Designer: Aiden Zhao (Caddo Middle Magnet School)

"Cal Capture" has been selected to represent the LA-04 Congressional District in the U.S. Capitol Building.