Suozzi Announces Student Winners of the 2025 Congressional App Challenge
Glen Cove, NY - Today, Congressman Tom Suozzi (D–Long Island, Queens) announced the winners of the 2025 Congressional App Challenge, a national competition that encourages high school students to use computer programming to create applications for PCs, the web, tablets, mobile devices, and other platforms.
First place was awarded to a team comprised of Michael Cole of Glen Head, a student at Chaminade High School; Emma Ding of Great Neck, a student at Great Neck South High School; Christine Chen of Manhattan, a student at Hunter College High School; and Caren Ye of Jericho, a student at Jericho High School.
Their winning app, “HealthBridge,” connects underinsured individuals with affordable healthcare resources, clinics, and insurance information. Designed for use in all 50 states and currently available in 15 languages, the app provides personalized recommendations based on household size, income, and place of residence, while also accounting for extenuating circumstances. HealthBridge aims to help individuals and families navigate the healthcare system with clarity and dignity—so they can access the care they need without sacrificing time or financial stability.
“Since 2017, my office has been proud to host the Congressional App Challenge, encouraging students across New York’s Third Congressional District to pursue their passion in STEM fields,” said Suozzi. “I am constantly amazed by the talent of our students and the creativity they bring to addressing real-world challenges through technology—especially their focus on improving access to healthcare. Congratulations to Michael, Emma, Christine, and Caren on this outstanding achievement, and thank you to all the students who participated this year. You are our future.”
Suozzi’s office received applications from 41 students, including 35 teams, representing 19 high schools across New York’s Third Congressional District.
The Congressional App Challenge is an annual competition hosted by the U.S. House of Representatives to encourage students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Since its inception in 2015, the Challenge has grown into the largest student computer science competition in the United States. The 2025 Congressional App Challenge set multiple records, with participation from 13,830 students and 4,650 original applications submitted from 394 congressional districts nationwide.
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