Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District

Saratoga High School Student Places 2nd in
2022 Congressional App Challenge

Los Gatos, January 26, 2023: The Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District (LGSUHSD) is proud to announce that Saratoga High School Junior Grant Hough has been awarded 2nd place for the 2022 Congressional App Challenge for the 18th Congressional District with his entry, SpeakEasy. Honored in December 2022, Grant competed against middle school and high school entries throughout Santa Clara, San Mateo, and Santa Cruz counties. 

 

Grant’s app, SpeakEasy, is a personal digital writing assistant that detects potentially offensive content in real-time and suggests alternative wording that can be easily and instantly adopted into a user’s text. Grant shares that his creation was intended for our diverse and often divided world where unintended offenses can lead to serious consequences. By implementing research-proven methodology and three world-class Artificial Intelligence (AI) engines, SpeakEasy can also be added as a Chrome browser extension so people can see the benefits in platforms such as Gmail and Google Docs.

 

“Grant’s ability to combine diverse and inclusive language into an easy-to-use platform is such a testament to the character and creativity of our students,” shared Superintendent Bill W. Sanderson. “I am so proud of our students’ ability to find meaningful opportunities for success both inside and outside the classroom.”

 

In addition to being a Congressional App winner,  SpeakEasy is a secure, well-functioning extension available for free on the Chrome Web Store. 

About the Congressional App Challenge
The annual Congressional Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Academic Competition, or the “Congressional App Challenge” is a competition designed to engage student’s creativity and encourage their participation in STEM education fields. Established by Members of the U.S. House of Representatives in 2013, Congresswoman Eshoo was the original co-chair of this competition and ran the pilot competition in 2014.

The Congressional App Challenge allows middle and high school students from across the country to compete by creating and exhibiting their software application, or “app,” for mobile, tablet, or computer devices on a platform of their choice. Throughout the competition period, participating students will be provided opportunities to engage with various STEM educational partners located within the community to mentor and assist them with their app development. The winners have their app displayed in the US Capitol Building and on House.gov for a year. Additional prizes may be announced at a later time.

About Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District
Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District is a thriving learning community that supports all students to develop the skills, passions, confidence, and resiliency to pursue college and/or career pathways. Home to Los Gatos High School and Saratoga High School, our students are lifelong learners who demonstrate personal integrity, social responsibility, and positive physical and mental health. Members of the LGSUHSD community make meaningful and positive contributions to the world.