ConvoWise wins Rep. Tom Cole’s 2025 Congressional App Challenge in Oklahoma’s Fourth District
Rep. Tom Cole has named Andrew Zhang and Albert Tang of Norman North High School and Marriotts Ridge High School as the winners of the 2025 Congressional App Challenge in Oklahoma’s Fourth District. Their app ConvoWise is a free mobile app designed to help people, especially students and job seekers, build confidence and improve their communication skills.
When asked what inspired the creation of ConvoWise, the students said, “The idea for ConvoWise was born out of a simple observation in our own high schools. We saw our friends, who are really talented people, get incredibly nervous when it was time to interview for jobs or college. They knew their stuff, but when it came to talking about their skills and experiences out loud, they’d get a little stuck. It wasn’t a lack of knowledge; it was a lack of confidence.
“As we looked into it, we realized this wasn’t just a problem for our friends. Millions of people in the U.S. are job hunting right now, and the pressure of an interview is a huge hurdle for so many. We started thinking about how we could help. There are plenty of online articles and expensive coaching services, but what if you just want to practice in a safe and private environment? We wanted to build something that was both effective and accessible to everyone.
“That’s when we decided to create ConvoWise. Our goal was to build a tool that could bridge the gap between just reading about interview tips and paying for a professional coach. We wanted to give people a free way to practice as much as they need to, so they can walk into any conversation feeling ready and confident. It’s a mission that goes beyond just an app: it’s about giving people the tools they need to succeed and helping them find their voice.”
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.