When passion meets innovation, incredible things happen. A group of Dublin High School seniors has turned their love for chess and technology into something bigger—an award-winning app designed to help those with ADHD improve focus and strategic thinking. Their creation, NeuroChess, recently won the 2024 Congressional App Challenge, gaining national recognition for its impact and ingenuity.
A team of Dublin High School seniors—Anish Ummadi, Josh Zeng, Vikrant Ganesan, and Sudith Thota—has been recognized for their innovative app, NeuroChess, which won the 2024 Congressional App Challenge for California's 10th District.
NeuroChess is designed to help individuals with ADHD improve focus and cognitive skills through chess. The app provides personalized game insights, breaking down moves in a way that makes strategic thinking more accessible. It also includes instructional videos, allowing users to practice at their own pace while developing patience and decision-making abilities.
The inspiration behind the app came from a close friend of the team who struggles with ADHD. Seeing firsthand the difficulties in maintaining focus, they wanted to create a tool that not only made chess more engaging but also served as a way to strengthen attention and critical thinking. Since its launch, NeuroChess has grown significantly, now reaching over 36,000 visits from users who find it both enjoyable and helpful. Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with many praising how it makes chess feel more interactive and educational.
Congressman Mark DeSaulnier commended the students’ creativity and problem-solving skills, emphasizing how competitions like the Congressional App Challenge highlight the talent and innovation of young developers.
The Congressional App Challenge, organized by the U.S. House of Representatives, encourages middle and high school students to explore coding and computer science. The 2024 competition had a record number of participants, with thousands of students submitting their own unique apps.
