RogerThat wins Rep. Nikema Williams’ 2025 Congressional App Challenge in Georgia’s Fifth District
Rep. Nikema Williams has named Owen Daum of Westminster Schools as the winner of the 2025 Congressional App Challenge in Georgia’s Fifth District. Their app RogerThat works to solve a significant problem the airline industry currently faces: the shortage of air traffic controllers.
When asked what inspired the creation of RogerThat, Owen Daum said, “Recent headlines highlight the fatal errors in communication between Air Traffic Control and pilots. The shortage of air traffic controllers also means commands, requests, and responses must be prompt and unequivocal, so they can safely service numerous aircraft in their zone. As a result, pilots need an easy way to practice and improve their communication with Air Traffic Control. I was inspired to create this app because I have seen firsthand how difficult it is to learn and perfect communication with Air Traffic Control. There is a steep learning curve with little room for error, and there aren’t many low-stress environments for pilots to practice a wide range of scenarios. RogerThat is a direct result of these issues because it allows pilots to take out their phone and immediately and effectively start practicing their communications, regardless of their location, and they can practice in a personal environment where there is no penalty for error.”
The 2025 Congressional App Challenge marked another record-setting year for the program. A total of 394 Members of the U.S. House of Representatives hosted App Challenges in their congressional districts, the highest level of participation in the program’s history. More than 13,800 students from across the country participated, submitting over 4,600 original apps focused on real-world challenges ranging from health and accessibility to education, sustainability, and civic engagement.
The Congressional App Challenge is an official initiative of the U.S. House of Representatives that encourages middle school and high school students to learn to code, explore computer science, and build practical technology solutions for their communities. Each participating Member of Congress selects a winning app from their district, and winning teams are invited to showcase their projects to Members of Congress, staff, and industry leaders at the annual #HouseOfCode celebration on Capitol Hill.
The Challenge is proudly bipartisan and reflects a shared commitment to expanding access to STEM education and preparing the next generation of American innovators for the future workforce. The program is a public-private partnership made possible through funding from the Broadcom Foundation, AWS, Infosys Foundation USA, theCoderSchool, Apple, and others.
The 2026 Congressional App Challenge will launch in May, and eligible students can pre-register for the competition now.