Lawrence Woodmere Academy student places second in app challenge

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Samuel Schwartz, a Lawrence Woodmere Academy sophomore, captured second place  in the 2020 Congressional App Challenge for the 4th Congressional District represented by Rep. Kathleen Rice (D-Garden City).

Schwartz’s app, “Covid Collaborator,” was designed to help businesses and schools reduce the potential spread of  Covid-19 by having staff, faculty or students answer health screening questions before entering a facility.

The app challenge is hosted by Congress members to challenge students in their districts to create and submit apps for a  peer competition. More than 6,000 students competed nationwide the 2020 contest. Each competition is judged district by district. The first place winner in each district has their app displayed in the U.S. Capitol Building for one year and is invited to participate in the #HouseOfCode science fair, where they demonstrate the app to members of Congress. This year’s event was held remotely, from April 7 to 9. 

“We hold this competition to encourage students to learn to code and inspire them to consider careers in computer science,” Rice stated in a news release. “And judging by the quality of app submissions we received this year, it’s clear many students in [the district] are already ahead of the game. These entries not only displayed a high level of technical expertise, they also illustrated a strong commitment to helping others, which was truly inspiring to see. I’m so proud of all the students who participated, and I send my congratulations to this year's winners!” 

Garden City High student James Nagler took first with his "Mineola Menu” app was created to allow students to electronically submit their lunch orders to their school kitchen, rather than by paper. Peyton Elie, a student at Buckley Country Day School was third with the “Covid Wellness” app that  promotes mental health among younger students by having them answer questions designed to indicate to a parent or teacher whether a student might be in need of wellness assistance. 

Winners of the competition were chosen by a panel of judges: Andrew Parton with the Cradle of Aviation Museum; Tess Edwards with Policy Research Associates Inc.; and Geovanny Vera Pazmino, a computer science student from Hofstra University.