Celebrating a Decade of Innovation: App Challenge Names ‘25 for ’25’ Alumni
The Congressional App Challenge, the U.S. House of Representatives’ official coding competition, today announced the launch of “25 for ’25”, a campaign celebrating 25 extraordinary young App Challenge alumni whose journeys since competing in the Challenge have redefined what’s possible for America’s next generation of technologists.
Since its founding in 2015, the Congressional App Challenge has grown into the nation’s largest student computer science competition. Over the past decade, more than 70,000 students have participated, submitting nearly 15,000 original applications to their Members of Congress. Today, as the CAC marks its tenth anniversary, the “25 for ’25” honorees exemplify the breadth, creativity, and impact of its alumni community.
The stories of these 25 honorees highlight recurring themes that illustrate a decade of impact from the Congressional App Challenge.
From Prototypes to World-Changing Products
Several honorees transformed their App Challenge projects or the skills they built while competing into real-world solutions used by millions. From AI-powered education platforms like MathGPT, serving over 4 million students, to humanitarian technologies like the A.I.D. app, built to connect communities during disasters, these alumni prove that ideas born in high school can scale to solve urgent global challenges.
Building the Future of AI and Emerging Tech
The class includes multiple AI entrepreneurs and engineers pushing boundaries at the world’s leading research labs, companies, and startups. Whether pioneering adversarial machine learning at Google Brain, launching AI receptionist platforms at Y Combinator, or working on cutting-edge infrastructure at OpenAI, these alumni represent the front lines of the artificial intelligence revolution.
Bridging Technology and Public Service
Many honorees chose careers in government, civic tech, and policy. Alumni now serve in roles at the U.S. Digital Corps, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and as STEM policy advocates, reflecting a shared commitment to harnessing technology for equity, transparency, and citizen engagement.
Education, Empowerment, and Access
A striking theme across the honorees is the drive to open doors for others. From founding nonprofits that provide free STEM kits in underserved schools to creating global platforms that empower young scientists with free research tools, these alumni are not only technologists, they are mentors, educators, and advocates shaping the next generation of innovators.
Global Roots, Local Impact
The group represents communities across the United States and its territories, from rural Kentucky to Puerto Rico, from Montana to Silicon Valley. Some honorees are first-generation Americans, others are global scholars and Fulbright awardees, but all share a commitment to making a difference both at home and abroad.
The “25 for ’25” campaign highlights the enduring legacy of the Congressional App Challenge: sparking curiosity, building confidence, and empowering students to see themselves as creators of technology, not just consumers. These honorees are founders, engineers, researchers, civic leaders, and educators who embody the Challenge’s bipartisan mission to inspire the next generation of STEM leaders.
“Over the past ten years, the Congressional App Challenge has proven that when young people are given the tools and encouragement to innovate, they can change the world,” said CAC Director Joseph Alessi. “The 25 for ’25 alumni are living proof that investing in student creativity pays dividends not only for our tech workforce, but for our democracy, economy, and communities.”
About the Congressional App Challenge
The Congressional App Challenge is the official STEM competition of the U.S. House of Representatives, designed to inspire students in every congressional district to explore coding and app development. Each year, thousands of students participate, creating original apps that address community challenges, solve real problems, and showcase their creativity. The CAC is supported and managed by the Internet Education Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
To read more about the “25 for ’25” campaign and this year’s honorees, click here.