**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**

January 18, 2023 

CONTACT: Emilia Rowland, Emilia.Rowland@mail.house.gov

Congresswoman Lee Announces 2023 Congressional App Challenge Winner From PA-12

[PITTSBURGH, PA] — Today, Congresswoman Summer Lee announced the 2023 Congressional App Challenge winner for Pennsylvania’s 12th Congressional District. Seventh-grade students Vivek Sattuluri and Enoch Katru from Fort Couch Middle School have been recognized for their innovative and environmentally conscious app, “GettingGreener.

“GettingGreener” is an app designed to empower individuals who are passionate about the environment. It features four slides of tasks, each with 14 actionable items, complete with a checkbox for users to mark their progress. The app also includes an achievements page and a journal feature where users can reflect on their experiences and the environmental tasks they have accomplished.

“The ingenuity and creativity shown by Vivek and Enoch is truly inspiring. Their commitment to environmental stewardship through technology is a shining example of the potential in our young people,” said Congresswoman Lee. “GettingGreener’s concept of motivating users to take actions that contribute to a healthier planet reflects a deep understanding of the urgent need for each of us to act on climate change and clean our environment of pollutants. Their work exemplifies why we must never stop fueling the passion for STEM in these bright young minds. As Pittsburgh is rapidly becoming a hub for innovation and technology, its initiatives like the GettingGreener app that are leading the way!”

Vivek and Enoch, inspired by the increasing number of natural disasters and a desire to offer practical solutions for environmental preservation, faced challenges in learning Block Code, a new programming language, to develop their app. Despite these hurdles, their dedication and hard work paid off.

Congresswoman Lee concluded, “The Congressional App Challenge is a fantastic platform for students like Vivek and Enoch to showcase their talents. Their success is a testament to the importance of STEM education and its role in shaping a brighter, more sustainable future. We are incredibly proud of their achievement.”

The Congressional App Challenge is a nationwide competition designed to encourage student participation in computer science and coding. Student participants compete against their peers to create an application or “app” for mobile, tablet, or computer devices.

The 2024 Congressional App Challenge is open to all students in Pennsylvania’s 12th Congressional District and will be open for submissions now until November 1, 2024. Learn more about the Congressional App Challenge here.

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