Two students from Holy Child won a congressional award for an app they created that helps students navigate the challenges of using AI-generated images.
Sisters Leila and Victoria Saxby captured the 2024 App Challenge for the NY-16 Congressional District thanks to their “innovative” and “groundbreaking tool,” “Torlei Tech: All About AI,” according to Colleen Pettus, Holy Child’s head of school. The app includes comprehensive guides on the ethical use of AI, the history of generative AI, and a citation gender for AI images to help students avoid plagiarism.
“Finding a reliable way to verify how your source/image was created became increasingly necessary,” the Saxbys said about need for the app.
Considered its centerpiece, the application includes a cutting-edge image classifier that determines whether an image is AI-generated, human-generated, or undetermined, complete with a confidence percentage. Ultimately, the app empowers students and educators to responsibly integrate AI into academic and creative endeavors.
At Holy Child, the sisters embraced STEM learning, progressing through the school’s four-year Middle School technology sequence and excelling in Upper School computer science courses and the Engineering, Architecture, and Design for the Common Good Signature Program (EAD).
“Holy Child’s curriculum has provided them with a strong foundation to nurture their creativity, practice the iterative design process, and build resilience in the face of challenges,” said Kristine Budill, director of the EAD program. “Their accomplishments are a testament to their hard work and perseverance, and we couldn’t be more proud of what they’ve achieved.”
The sisters will represent Holy Child at #HouseOfCode, the congressional celebration for winners, on April 8 and 9, at the U.S. Capitol.
There, winners will showcase their achievements to members of Congress, the D.C. tech community, and beyond. The Saxby sisters’ app will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year and is now showcased on the Congressional App Challenge website. In recognition of their innovation, the sisters have also received a copyright fee waiver through the ARTS Act.