Season Cheer: Edina Student Wins the Congressional App Competition

I got a constituent email from Congressman Erik Paulsen that has some good news about an Edina student, as well as other terrific high school students. A little cheer for the Christmas season.

For better or for worse, Congress has a “Congressional App Competition.” I love the winning “app” and hope it is on the market soon. I could use it—and so could all the students I know. Technology is great but this app could help with the downside: Distraction!

Here is Congressman Paulsen’s report.

Congratulations to the winner of this year’s Congressional App Competition, Jack Hong of Edina High School. Jack invented an app called Pomo Timer that helps students increase their productivity by blocking distracting websites for periods of time. The App Challenge is annual effort to inspire, include and innovate efforts around STEM, coding and computer science education.

I want to also recognize runner-up Madeeha Rizvi from Brooklyn Park, Zara Thomas and Omar Elamri from Minnetonka Middle School on earning Honorable mention for their app creations, as well as all of the other students in our community that entered the competition. We need talented young programmers and STEM students now more than ever to fill our workforce needs for the future. You can watch me recognizing these impressive students on the House floor here.

Congratulations to all these terrific young Minnesotans! (Memo to Kim: Send them a subscription to Thinking Minnesota.)