McDowell Announces NC-06 Congressional App Challenge Winner
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Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Addison McDowell (NC-06) announced Haashini Balasubramanian, a 10th-grade student at Cox Mill High School in Concord, as the winner of North Carolina’s 6th Congressional District in the 2025 Congressional App Challenge. Balasubramanian’s app, “Nestling: Your NICU Parent Copilot,” is an AI-powered mobile platform designed to support families after a newborn’s discharge from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The app helps parents track growth, feeding, sleep, and recovery while transforming complex medical data into clear, compassionate guidance. “Haashini represents the very best of our next generation,” said Congressman McDowell. “She combined advanced technology with empathy and real-world impact. Nestling is not just innovative, it provides peace of mind for parents during a stressful moment in their families' lives.” Judges praised the app for both its technical execution and human focus. “This was a very close competition with each application showcasing the skills of the students and addressing real problems,” said Dr. Michael Oudshoorn, Founding Dean of the School of Engineering. “Nestling used AI effectively to create a useful and empathetic application to help new parents navigate the transition from the NICU to home. It was a comprehensive and well-rounded application that addressed a real need.” Another judge highlighted the broader impact of the competition and the students involved. “It was wonderfully refreshing and encouraging to see the creativity and technical expertise put into each of these projects,” said Simon Arkley, President of The Lantern Project. “Each of the applicants did a great job developing and communicating their ideas in a fun and engaging way. It was truly a joy to explore their work.” Nestling allows parents to log daily health data, store milestone photos, visualize growth against medical standards, scan discharge papers, and generate secure reports for pediatricians. The app also includes a resource hub covering topics from feeding and bonding to mental health, helping families feel informed and supported. Balasubramanian developed the app independently using Python, JavaScript, React Native, FastAPI, and Firebase. As the district winner, Balasubramanian’s app is recognized nationally through the Congressional App Challenge program and received the following prizes.
The Congressional App Challenge is a nationwide initiative designed to inspire students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics while solving real-world problems. |
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