An interest in nature and technology came together for four Richmond Hill Middle School students to help them become winners in the 2017 Congressional App Challenge.
The team of Cole Goldhill, Luca Dichiera, Joseph Kim and Ryan Cranford were named winners in Georgia’s First Congressional District for creating “Wing Finder,” an app that lets users identify butterflies.
Congressman Buddy Carter was at the school Friday morning to recognize the team. More than 4,100 students on some 1,000 teams in 190 congressional districts nationwide competed.
Each team had to create a video explaining how the app works. Wing Finder’s can be seen at https://vimeo.com/240677512#t=0s.
By uploading a picture of a captured butterfly, users can link to a database and search throughout Georgia to find information about butterflies, including host plants, wing span and if it is a male or female.
The boys agreed that the app could be expanded to other states, as well as to other wildlife. They said they spent about three weeks working on it.
Carter’s presentation included a signed copy for each student of his remarks that were read into the Congressional Record on Wednesday.
“I am proud of these students in Richmond Hill for doing such a great job coding and creating this app,” Carter said in his remarks. “Seeing what these students can achieve through technology truly gives me great hope for the future of our country.”
The Congressional App Challenge is now in its third year.
