Memory Buddy wins Rep. Frank Lucas’ 2025 Congressional App Challenge in Oklahoma’s Third District.
Rep. Frank Lucas has named Rachel Kim of Stillwater Middle School as the winner of the 2025 Congressional App Challenge in Oklahoma’s Third District. Their app Memory Buddy helps people who have memory loss, like those in the early stages of dementia or Alzheimer’s.
When asked what inspired the creation of Memory Buddy, Rachel Kim said, “When I visited my grandmother last summer, I noticed that her dementia had gotten worse and she needed more help with her daily routines. She often asked my grandfather or my mom to check her pills, find her favorite songs, or help her call someone. She had a hard time finding the phone numbers of her most important people. When she looked at old photos, she could remember people and moments from the past, which really helped her memory. But her phone was too complicated for her to use on her own.
‘That made me think about how many people have memory problems or get stuck using apps that are too hard or confusing. Many older people, and even busy people in general, need something simpler to help them manage their lives. So I decided to create an easy app that keeps all the important things in one place. It includes brain exercises, notes, music, photos, calls, and reminders for food and medicine. This app can also lessen the burden on caregivers by helping people do more things on their own. I hope it can make life easier and more peaceful for both the users and the people who care for them.”
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.