Press Releases

WASHINGTON — Today, Speaker Johnson announced the winners of the 2025 Congressional App Challenge for Louisiana’s Fourth Congressional District. Since 2013, the Congressional App Challenge has encouraged tens of thousands of young Americans to explore STEM, coding, and computer science and has connected Members of Congress with emerging technologies. 

First place winners, brothers Aiden Zhao & Kevin Zhao.

This year’s applicants, six students from Caddo Magnet High School and Benton Middle School, were selected by a panel of four judges comprised of professors from local universities. 

“OpenNeuroLens,” the first-place app designed by Caddo Magnet High School students Aiden Zhao and Kevin Zhao, automates EEG data analysis and visualization to make advanced brain research accessible and affordable to students and labs. Aiden and Kevin’s web-based app was originally developed as part of a research project at LSU Health Shreveport, studying firefighters’ cognitive performance after physical exertion.

Aiden and Kevin will be invited to the House of Code and will receive a copyright fee waiver through the ARTS Act, and their app will be on display in the U.S. Capitol Building for one year.

Speaker Johnson encourages all students across Louisiana’s Fourth Congressional District to participate in the annual Congressional App Challenge. To learn more, visit www.congressionalappchallenge.us or our website for more information on the 2026 application and submission deadlines.

First Place

App: OpenNeuroLens*

Designers: Aiden Zhao and Kevin Zhao (Caddo Magnet High School)

Second Place

App: SafER Connection

Designers: Sara Kilpatrick, Nora Butler, & Hannah Schaefer (Benton Middle School)

Third Place

App: Tank Survival 

Designer: Steward Lokitz (Caddo Magnet High School) 

*Selected to represent the LA-04 Congressional District in the U.S. Capitol Building.