South Fayette senior takes first in international competition
An app geared toward high-functioning autistic children created by a South Fayette High School senior has captured national attention.
Nandana Menon, 18, won first place in the South by Southwest (SXSW) EDU Expo’s Student Impact Challenge.
The Student Impact Challenge provides high school students who are making an impact in their community with an opportunity to share their talents, validate and refine their ideas, and gain experience. This year’s competition was presented by the Allstate Foundation.
Menon was one of five finalists selected to make presentations before a panel of industry experts at the expo, held in early March in Austin, Texas. The expo offers an opportunity for students to showcase their skills with innovative events by displaying projects based on different subjects that they learn.
Menon was one of two presenters from the United States, with the other being from Washington, D.C.
“I was lucky enough to be a finalist,” Menon said. “It was awesome. It was a five-minute pitch, and the (judges) asked some questions on the spot. I was so nervous. I was so stressed.
“It was rough, but it was a good outcome,” she said. “I really love entrepreneurship and making pitches like this. It’s so natural to me. I think this really affirms my mission, and this really has the potential to help a lot of people.”
For taking first place, Menon received $5,000 in funding for the progress of her project along with a trophy.
The idea for the app came about when Menon noticed a lack of interaction in some children as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since so many are avid users of electronic devices, Menon created a platform with comprehensive resources and engaging activities tailored for autistic children to help them use their online time more constructively. The app can be used to supplement existing therapies for those with autism.
“The app is something for the caregivers and the parents,” Menon explained. “There’s a list of resources and articles and a series of interviews that I conducted with professors. There’s also a list of local therapy centers and autism advocacy groups.
“Getting the diagnosis that a child has autism is so overwhelming. The app is a one-stop shop for almost anything. It’s not a replacement for therapy; it’s a supplement for it.”
The app has been built out and is now a prototype. “We’re working with lawyers to determine the HPPA complications because we’re storing medical data. We hope to push it out by the end of 2026,” Menon said.
Menon plans to attend college to major in neuroscience and also study either public policy, political science or something in business or entrepreneurship fields.