BETHLEHEM, PA — Congressman Ryan Mackenzie (PA-07), representing the Lehigh Valley and the Poconos, recently hosted a celebration at his Northampton Office to recognize local students who participated in the 2025 Congressional App Challenge, a nationwide competition that encourages middle and high school students to explore coding and technology.
During the event, Congressman Mackenzie welcomed student participants and their families, as well as Melissa Whitman, Director of Digital Technology and Innovation for the Nazareth Area School District, to celebrate the creativity and innovation demonstrated by students across Pennsylvania’s 7th District.
Students who attended the event gave live demonstrations of the apps they developed and spoke about the inspiration behind their projects, the challenges they encountered while building their apps, and their interest in pursuing careers in technology and STEM fields. The celebration also included a question-and-answer discussion between Congressman Mackenzie and the students about their development process.
This year’s winning app, SafeStep, was created by Devansh Garg, who designed the app to help individuals who struggle with balance or are at risk of falling.
“The app I created is called SafeStep. It’s an app that can help anyone who struggles with balance or falls,” said Devansh Garg. “My motivation for creating this app came in response to real situations that my family has faced. My mother and grandmother have both experienced falls that caused injuries. I wanted to create something that wouldn’t just benefit them, but also the millions of others who suffer from the same problems.”
“The Congressional App Challenge is a great way for students to explore the possibilities of technology and innovation,” said Congressman Mackenzie. “It was great to meet with these talented students, hear about the inspiration behind their apps, and see the creativity and hard work that went into their projects. Opportunities like this help encourage the next generation of innovators and problem-solvers in our communities.”
Congressman Mackenzie congratulated all participating students and thanked the families, educators, and school leaders who continue to support STEM education across the Lehigh Valley and the Poconos.
Information provided to TVL by:
Lexie Manning
