In the News

Texas High School Freshman Honored by Rep. Moran for Community Service App
Texarkana Gazette
By Mallory Wyatt
January 30, 2025

A local high schooler received accolades yesterday for creating a community service app.

Nirav Neupane, a ninth grader at Texas High School, was recognized for his app "Serve Smart" by his district, as well as Texas District 1 Congressman Nathaniel Moran. Neupane entered in the Congressman's App challenge, which was spurred on to encourage students to learn about STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.)

Neupane said teaching himself about coding and programming took him several months, but that the app itself took him one to two months to create.

"I was always interested in programming, but I just started to create apps and I kind of found a passion for it," Neupane said.

The ninth grader came up with the concept of the app because of his time in Student Council.

"One of the roadblocks usually is having to come up with new ideas for fundraising or helping out with school events," Neupane said. "I wanted to create something that could help speed up that process."

Neupane said his app helps with creating a plan of action for volunteering.

"It'll give you the steps you need in order to complete that," Neupane said.

He said the app will be accessible through mobile or on desktop devices and that he plans to make it an official domain soon. Neupane is also working on creating an app that will help users improve their public speaking.

Neupane's father, Ram, was present for the teen's certificate presentation. Ram said he and his wife just provided an environment where Nirav could complete work but also gave him guidance when he needed help.

"One of the nice things, he has an older sister, and he has learned some important things from her, too," the elder Neupane said.

The father said he was really proud of his burgeoning programmer.

"The honor of something like this is exceptional," Ram said.

Congressman Moran said he was blown away by the app and how Nirav created it to help serve people.

"As I began to review the development of this app, it is to serve- I love that," Moran said. "I love the concept of service. Because as Nirav, I'm sure began to think about all the different apps he could develop, it was intriguing to me, and telling to me that he said: 'how can I serve my community and how can I help others serve my community?'"

Moran bestowed a challenge coin and an award certificate to Neupane and encouraged him to "find, follow and fulfill his call in this world."

"It looks like you're on your way to doing that," Moran said.

Neupane was additionally gifted items from Red River Credit Union, which sponsored the celebration, as well as a gift basket of TISD gear from the district.

You can read the full story from the Texarkana Gazette here.