Press Releases

Rep. Balint Names Williston High Schooler 2023 Congressional App Challenge Winner 

BRATTLEBORO, VT — On Tuesday, Congresswoman Becca Balint virtually hosted a reception for the Congressional App Challenge. The winner, Clay Nicholson of Williston, submitted an app titled Lexiscan, an app that helps dyslexic people read books and signs. 

Clay was inspired to make Lexiscan after a conversation with a friend, who shared his struggle with dyslexia and how it affected his reading. Using Lexiscan, the user can take a photo of the text they want to read, and the app will identify the text in the image, display the text on the screen, then read the text out loud in one of eight different languages. Judges were impressed that this app showed great technical skill and practicality.  

“I am excited by all the students who developed creative and forward-thinking apps,” Congresswoman Balint said. “I am so proud to see Vermont’s students finding innovative solutions to everyday challenges.” 

Officially launched by the U.S. House of Representatives in 2015, the Congressional App Challenge is a nationwide effort that allows students to compete against their peers in each Congressional district by creating an application (also known as an “app”). The Challenge is designed to promote innovation and engagement in computer science. The competition is open to all middle and high school students in the United States. The app designed by Vermont’s first-place winner is featured alongside the winners from other Congressional districts in the United States Capitol Building and on the main website for the U.S. House: House.gov. 

Judges for the 2023 Vermont Congressional App Challenge include:  

·         Denise Reilly-Hughes, Vermont Secretary of Digital Services 

·         Vincent Moeykens, Beta Technologies 

·         Kevin Feal-Staub, Vermont Agency of Education Math Programs Coordinator 

For more information, please visit the official Congressional App Challenge website at CongressionalAppChallenge.us.  

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