Womack Honors Winner of 2024 Congressional App Challenge

Washington, DC—January 30, 2025…Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) today honored Ronak Pai—a 12th grader from Bentonville West High School—for winning the 2024 Congressional App Challenge. The annual and nationwide coding competition for middle school and high school students aims to encourage our nation’s youth to pursue Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education and computer science careers.

Congressman Womack said, “Congratulations to our winner, Ronak, on his impressive achievement. I deeply admire his work to support those who courageously and selflessly served our great nation. For 10 years, I’ve been blown away by the coding talent, innovation, and creative problem-solving displayed by the participants in Arkansas’ Third. This challenge is hard work – and I couldn’t be prouder of those who applied. I have no doubt that Ronak and the rest of the participants have bright futures ahead, creating a smarter, more efficient nation.”

Dr. Debbie Jones, Superintendent, Bentonville Schools, said, “The Congressional App Challenge Award is widely recognized as one of the most prestigious accolades in computer science. We're grateful for Congressman Steve Womack and his colleagues in the House of Representatives who make this honor possible for our students.”

Dr. Jonathon Guthrie, Principal, Bentonville West High School, said, “Ronak Pai is one of the most academically gifted and compassionate students to matriculate through Bentonville West. His app demonstrates his commitment to America's veterans intheirefforts to more readily secure healthcare.”

Startup Junkie Managing Director, Brett Amerine, said, “This year was very exciting for the Congressional App Challenge. Many talented students who will be this nation's next top scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs participated. After significant review and deliberation we are excited for the winner, Ronak Pai, founder of Veteran Connect. We need to serve our veterans as best we can, and we need as many smart entrepreneurs and engineers as possible working to solve government efficiency and effectiveness challenges, and Veteran Connect does just that.”

Ronak’s winning app, Veteran Connect, is an all-in-one resource tailored to help veterans overcome the challenges they often face when accessing essential benefits and services. Built using Dart and Flutter, with integrated C++ and Swift components, the app provides a seamless, user-friendly experience across Android, iOS, and desktop platforms. Key features include precise GPS directions to nearby VA offices, a detailed questionnaire that evaluates and predicts eligibility for various benefits, and a curated list of veteran-specific benefits with clear descriptions. Veteran Connect is designed to simplify and enhance veterans’ access to the support they deserve.

Womack honored Ronak with a certificate and congressional medallion at a ceremony at Bentonville West High School. Entries were reviewed by a panel of local technology experts and judged on the originality, creativity, and quality of the app design. The judges included Jeff Amerine, Brett Amerine, and Phyl Amerine of Startup Junkie. Veteran Connect will be featured on a digital display in the U.S. Capitol and on the Congressional App Challenge website.

Additional honorees include:

• 2nd Place: Veera Unnam, a junior at Bentonville West High School, and Harshith Guduru a senior at Bentonville West High School – AiDA

• 3rd Place: Sanjay Javangula, a junior at Bentonville High School, Avinash Devineni, a junior Bentonville High School, and Sripath Badhika, a junior at Bentonville High School– ParkinDetect

This is the 10th year Womack has hosted the Congressional App Challenge in Arkansas’ Third Congressional District. The Natural State has consistently had every congressional district partake in the competition, making Arkansas one of the top Congressional App Challenge participants per capita from across the United States. The 2025 edition of the competition will open later this year.

Faulkner County teen wins Arkansas 4-H Governor's Award

By Tracy Courage
U of A System Division of Agriculture

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Kacie Clark of El Paso is the third member of her family to be a finalist for the Arkansas 4-H Governor’s Award, and on July 24, she clinched the highest honor awarded in Arkansas 4-H and received a $3,000 scholarship.

WINNER — Kacie Clark of Faulkner County is the 2024 Arkansas 4-H Governor's Award winner. Left to right: John Thomas, managing director of the Arkansas 4-H Foundation; John D. Anderson, Cooperative Extension Service director; Debbie Nistler, assistant vice president for 4-H and youth development for the Division of Agriculture; Joel Anderson, chancellor emeritus of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and award sponsor; Kacie Clark; and Deacue Fields, vice president of the Division of Agriculture. (Division of Agriculture photo.) 

Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced Clark, 18, as the winner in a recorded message played during the Arkansas 4-H Awards of Excellence ceremony at the University of Arkansas.

More than 250 4-H members from across the state are convened on the campus for the annual Arkansas 4-H State O-Rama. During the week-long event, 4-H members elect new officers and participate in more than 30 competitive events, ranging from archery and ATV safety to public speaking, poultry judging and performing arts.

“I feel like I’m going out with a bang,” Clark said of her 13 years in 4-H. “I feel very honored. All of us have done so much in 4-H. Any one of the other finalists would have deserved it.”

Three other 4-H members were finalists for the award with Clark: Connor Henry of Arkansas County; Josiah Lillard of White County; and Zach Gardner of Washington County. They each received a $1,000 scholarship.

“All four of you have achieved amazing things for yourself and your communities,” Gov. Sanders said. “I’m proud of each of you.”

Finalists are chosen based on their accomplishments in leadership, citizenship, community service, 4-H projects and activities, and overall contributions to Arkansas 4-H. The four scholarships are sponsored by 4-H alumni Dr. Joel Anderson, chancellor emeritus of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. The 4-H Governor’s Award winner’s silver tray is sponsored by former 4-H member and agent Darlene Millard.

A winning spirit

“I am struck by the level of passion and excitement each of our finalists demonstrated,” said Debbie Nistler, assistant vice president for 4-H and youth development for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. “They are amazing examples of the spirit of 4-H, and Kacie truly embodies that spirit.”

Earlier Thursday, Clark competed in the performing arts vocal competition, singing “Deeper than the Holler” by Randy Travis. After she took her seat, she clapped and called out encouragement to her competitors. 

The 4-H way is to learn by doing through project work, and Clark has learned something new every year. On Thursday, she competed in interior design for the first time.

Clark joined 4-H when she was 5 years old, and she showed a pig at a county fair during her first year. She has had projects in healthy living, fine arts, performing arts-vocals, public speaking, forestry and poultry. She helped organize the first 4-H Food Challenge team to compete in culinary skills and has served as a 4-H camp counselor and a Teen Leader. For the past year, she has served as vice president on the 4-H State Officer Team.

Clark plans to attend Arkansas State University-Beebe this fall and then transfer to ASU-Jonesboro or the University of Arkansas to pursue a degree in agricultural business.

That doesn’t mean she’s done with 4-H. Clark said she plans to remain active in 4-H as a volunteer and wants to lead a Cloverbud Club in Faulkner County.

Clark’s two older brothers, Brent and Travis, both previously served as 4-H state presidents and were finalists for the Governor’s Award.

Shortly after Clark received the award, text messages began arriving from her family watching via livestream.

Her brother, Travis, texted his one-word congratulations: “Nice!”

To learn about 4-H, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit 4h.uada.edu.  

To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on X and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu. Follow on X at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on X at @AgInArk.