Kaptur Announces Winners of 2025 9th Congressional District Congressional App ChallengePress ReleaseJobs and the Economy

Sandusky, OH - Today, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), announced Alexander Preston of Perkins High School in Erie County as the winner of the 2025 Congressional App Challenge form Ohio's 9th Congressional District for his app "Light Teachings." Congresswoman Kaptur received a total of 16 applications this year from six schools in Ohio's 9th Congressional District including: Bryan High School, Sandusky High School, Perkins High School, Tinora High School, Sylvania Northview High School and Sylvania Southview High School. Defiance, Erie, Lucas and Williams Counties were each represented. The top 3 finalists included representatives from Perkins High School, Bryan High School, and Sandusky High School.

This year's 1st Place winner was Alexander Preston of Perkins High School in Erie County, Ohio. Alexander submitted the mobile application, "Light Teachings" which is an interactive app that helps users understand the fundamentals of ray tracing, a computer graphics technique that simulates how light interacts with objects to create realistic images. The winners of the 2025 Congressional App Challenge will be invited to attend a #HouseofCode reception in Washington, DC in the Spring of 2026. Alexander's app will be on display in the US Capitol Building and will be featured on House.gov for one year. In addition to this, his app will be featured on CongressionalAppChallenge.us.

"Congratulations to Alexander Preston of Perkins High School for winning Ohio's 9th District 2025 Congressional App Challenge. Mr. Preston's app, 'Light Teachings' brings 3D imagery to life," said Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09). "This 'app' adds to the science and innovation achievements demonstrated by the students at Perkins High School. I appreciate all 16 submissions this year. Each year, students' creativity, ingenuity, and intellectual curiosity continue to astound. Every student demonstrates integral computer science, engineering, and coding skills that will prepare them for the 21st Century workforce. I also want to extend special thanks to the outstanding computer science professionals from Actual Reality Technologies, Engage Studio Architects, and Toledo Lucas County Public Library for judging this year's competition."

This year's 2nd place winner was Harrison Spitnale of Bryan High School in Williams County with his new calorie counting app, "Snackulator." Last year Harrison and his brother Luke won with their app "Beekeper." This year's 3rd place winner was Ishan Chopra of Sandusky High School in Erie County with his app "TADOO." Ishan previously won the 2023 9th District app challenge and was runner up in 2024. This year, outstanding submissions were also received from Tinora High School, Sylvania Northview High School and Sylvania Southview High School.

This year's panel of judges included computer science, engineering and educational professionals from within the 9th Congressional District including: LeSean Shaw, COO of Actual Reality Technologies, Erin Curley, CEO of Engage Studio Architect, and Lucas Camuso-Stall, Director of Government Relations & Advocacy for the Toledo Lucas County Public Library.

The Congressional App Challenge is a yearly competition open to every Congressional District across the United States. The purpose of this challenge is to encourage students from schools across Congressional Districts to compete by creating and submitting a mobile application that will have the opportunity to be chosen as the winner. This competition is an opportunity for young adults to explore coding and computer sciences as a STEM education field. This student engagement gives them an opportunity to learn and expand new skills that are advantageous to future careers, and educational opportunities.

In 2013, leaders of the House of Representatives and the Internet Education Foundation sought avenues to acknowledge and celebrate computer science and STEM education. Later that year, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed House Resolution 77 - Academic Competition Resolution of 2013. This resolution was the architect for designing a computer science, or "app" competition that each House member could compete in. The inaugural Congressional App Challenge was held in 2015. Ohio's 9th Congressional District has participated in the Congressional App Challenge since 2019. This year, the Congressional App Challenge broke new records with 13,830 students from 394 congressional districts participating. That is a 20% increase from 2024.

More information on the Congressional App Challenge can be found by clicking here. Information about the 2023 9th District Congressional App Challenge winners and participants can be found by clicking here. Information about the 2024 9th District Congressional App Challenge winners and participants can be found by clicking here. Photos of the 9th Congressional District Congressional App Challenge 2024 recognition can be found by clicking here.

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