NextMission wins Rep. Jennifer Kiggans’ 2025 Congressional App Challenge in Virginia’s Second District
Rep. Jennifer Kiggans has named Victor Tang, Derek Heberley, Larry Lee, and Matthew Barnes of Math and Science Academy at Ocean Lakes High School, Governor’s STEM Academy at Landstown High School, Texas Academy of Mathematics & Science, and Dickinson High School as the winners of the 2025 Congressional App Challenge in Virginia’s Second District. Their app NextMission is an AI-powered self-discovery and career reinvention tool, helping military personnel and veterans transition to civilian careers.
When asked what inspired the creation of NextMission, the students said, “The app was inspired by a significant challenge faced in our local community. Most of our team members live in a military town, and two of us come from military families. Through both personal experience, interviews, and research, we learned that each year approximately 200,000 military personnel transition out of active-duty service. And many of them struggle to identify suitable career paths and to prepare for the civilian job market—especially younger service members with limited civilian work experience. Only about 25–30% have a job secured at the time of separation, and roughly one-third of veterans report being underemployed. Supporting military personnel and veterans in finding fulfilling career paths and preparing effectively for civilian employment is essential for their long-term well-being and career success. Our app was developed to address this critical need.”
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.