Ripple Effect wins Rep. Warren Davidson’s 2025 Congressional App Challenge in Ohio’s Eighth District
Rep. Warren Davidson has named Emma Amend of Bishop Fenwick High School as the winner of the 2025 Congressional App Challenge in Ohio’s Eighth District. Their app Ripple Effect tackles issues like social isolation and negativity by turning acts of kindness into an engaging, rewarding game.
When asked what inspired the creation of Ripple Effect, Emma Amend said, “I was inspired by a disconnect in the people around me. While we’re more digitally connected than ever, rates of loneliness, bullying, and mental health struggles among teens continue to rise. I read a statistic that a simple act of kindness can significantly improve the well-being of both the doer and receiver, yet we often don’t make the time for something so small. I wanted to find a way to incentivize and celebrate kindness, using a language my generation understands: gaming. The concept of a ‘ripple effect,’ where one small action can create a larger wave of impact, is the perfect metaphor. I combined this with elements from games I enjoy, like daily quests, experience points, and badges, to create Ripple Effect. My goal was to build a platform that makes being kind feel as rewarding and engaging as winning a game.”
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.