Help Out wins Rep. Clay Higgins’ 2025 Congressional App Challenge in Louisiana’s Third District.
Rep. Clay Higgins has named Rubi Johnson of Elton High School as the winner of the 2025 Congressional App Challenge in Louisiana’s Third District. Their app Help Out is a game that combines fun with productivity, turning routine chores into engaging challenges, making it easier and more enjoyable to stay on top of daily tasks.
When asked what inspired the creation of Help Out, Rubi Johnson said, “My inspiration for the app came from the problem-solving themed TV shows and games I grew up with as a child, like Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, which was one of my favorites. I want the app to help other people solve problems and learn responsibility, especially people with disabilities like Autism, ADHD, or others. This is an important skill for children, teens, and young adults to have because it helps them take care of themselves, help other people in their family or their friends, get work done faster and more effectively, and can help them focus. This is important and needed, so they are able to be successful in life.”
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.