Legacy student wins 2025 Congressional App Challenge

U.S. Representative Gabe Evans named Aditi Muthukumar of Legacy High School as the winner of the 2025 Congressional App Challenge in Colorado’s Eighth District. Aditi's app ClearMind is a data-driven resource hub that gives teens, parents, and schools credible tools to understand the effects and risks of teenage cannabis use.

When asked what inspired the creation of ClearMind, Aditi Muthukumar says she developed the app to support teenagers, parents and schools in having open and safe conversations regarding the causes and effects of teenage cannabis use.

"In my own community, I am working with a youth research team studying teenage substance use in students of color," said Muthukumar. "Through this research, I have learned that while statewide data shows declining usage rates, those numbers do not always capture the lived experiences of teens who might feel unsafe reporting their use due to stigma or potential consequences."

This realization inspired her to design ClearMind as a space that not only shares credible information, but also encourages honest dialogue and understanding between teens, parents, and schools. 

The app begins with a home screen, from which the user can either choose to explore resources for teens, parents, or for schools. We want to congratulate sophomore, Aditi Muthukumar, for her effort in building this tool to help families and schools engage in better conversations regarding teenage cannabis use by providing data-driven resources, conversational guides, and safety briefings.

Hear from Aditi and see the ClearMind app in action

The 2025 Congressional App Challenge marked another record-setting year for the program. A total of 394 Members of the U.S. House of Representatives hosted App Challenges in their congressional districts, the highest level of participation in the program’s history. More than 13,800 students from across the country participated, submitting over 4,600 original apps focused on real-world challenges ranging from health and accessibility to education, sustainability, and civic engagement.

About the Congressional App Challenge
The Congressional App Challenge’s mission is to inspire, include, and innovate efforts around STEM, coding, and computer science education.

Every year students are challenged to create and submit their original apps for a chance to win the Congressional App Challenge (CAC). Each challenge is district-specific. U.S. Representatives publicly recognize winning teams and each winning app may be put on display in the U.S. Capitol Building for one year. Additional prizes may be available. The Congressional Internet Caucus initiates the annual CAC.