Grant Harper, an incoming sophomore at Barren County High School, speaks to a crowd gathered for a presentation about this year’s Congressional App Challenge at Glasgow High School on Monday, June 27, 2022. Harper, alongside Madeline Prichard, created an app called Smart-Q, which streamlines school dismissal efficiency. Emma Bunch, a Glasgow High student, created the other app being recognized, which is called Cure, a cancer resource app.
(BRENNAN CRAIN/WCLU NEWS)
BY BRENNAN D. CRAIN, WCLU News
GLASGOW — Area students were recognized Monday during a press conference as winners in this year’s Congressional App Challenge, a contest hosted by Congressman Brett Guthrie’s office.
Emma Bunch, an incoming senior at Glasgow High, was named the first place overall winner in the challenge. She designed an app called “Cure,” which provides resources for providers and cancer patients.
“The most challenging part really was the coding, probably, itself,” she said. “Trying to make the interface where it would communicate with the backend information that I had and trying to program to work probably would probably be the hardest thing.”
Fifty-five apps were submitted for this year’s app challenge, which is the highest participation since the congressman began hosting the competition in 2019, according to a December news release. The competition seeks to encourage middle and high school students to develop coding skills.
Grant Harper and Madeline Prichard, incoming sophomores at Barren County High School, placed second overall. Their app, entitled Smart-Q, streamlines school dismissal efficiency. The two created the app in response to the bustle associated with afternoon dismissal schools.
“We plan to make it just as easy to use as possible, make it accessible to everybody we can, and then giving it to more districts that way they can, hopefully, update their system just like we have,” Harper said.
The two said Metcalfe County Schools has expressed interest in their app, and they may work to further test the app with the school system.
Guthrie commended the students’ work and described how technology and apps continue to change several industries. Among the entries this year, the three locals performed the best due to their apps’ applicability and efficacy.
“Not only are they thinking and doing well, they’re thinking about something’s that applicable and can be put into practice,” Guthrie said.
Bunch plans to pursue an MD/ Ph.D. in pediatric neuro-oncology. Harper said computer science or technological services are likely in his future. Prichard plans to become a speech therapist.
