Cryptids of West Virginia wins Rep. Carol Miller’s 2025 Congressional App Challenge in West Virginia’s First District.
Rep. Carol Miller has named Hezekiah Riazi of Cabell Midland High School as the winner of the 2025 Congressional App Challenge in West Virginia’s First District. Their app Cryptids of West Virginia shows the various cryptids from West Virginia,their locations, and facts about them.
When asked what inspired the creation of Cryptids of West Virginia, Hezekiah Riazi said, “I am interested in West Virginia and its unique and interesting history, specifically with its vast amount of cryptids. I originally had this idea as I saw many shows and video games showcasing local cryptids, and I thought it would be entertaining to educate those who may not know my home state’s monsters. I also have been amazed at how much cryptids and cryptid tourism impact West Virginia and my Congressional district. It brings tens of thousands of visitors and millions of dollars directly to our state, especially places that are rural and need this economic impact the most.
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.