[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 4 (Wednesday, January 7, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E7]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING THE SUPPORTERS OF THE 2025 CONGRESSIONAL APP CHALLENGE IN 
                              PUERTO RICO

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. PABLO JOSE HERNANDEZ

                             of puerto rico

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, January 7, 2026

  Mr. HERNANDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and commend the 
dedicated judges and STEM leaders who supported the 2025 Congressional 
App Challenge in Puerto Rico, a national coding and computer science 
competition designed to inspire middle school and high school students 
to explore technology, innovation, and problem-solving.
  The Congressional App Challenge provides students in grades 6 through 
12 with a unique opportunity to develop original applications that 
address real-world challenges through coding, creativity, and critical 
thinking. This year's competition in Puerto Rico reached a historic 
milestone, with a record total of 20 applications submitted and more 
than 30 students participating from 16 municipalities across the 
island, reflecting the growing interest in STEM education in Puerto 
Rico.
  Behind the success of this program stands an exceptional group of 
judges, professionals, and leaders in science, technology, engineering, 
and mathematics, who generously volunteered their time and expertise. 
They carefully reviewed student submissions, evaluating technical 
execution and creativity, and offered thoughtful feedback grounded in 
industry knowledge and academic rigor--ensuring a fair, thorough, and 
meaningful evaluation for every participant. Beyond judging, these STEM 
leaders demonstrated a deep commitment to mentorship and youth 
development. By exposing students to professional pathways in 
technology and innovation, they reinforced the message that Puerto 
Rico's young people can compete, create, and excel at the highest 
levels--helping to cultivate the next generation of engineers, 
innovators, and problem-solvers who will shape Puerto Rico's future and 
contribute to our technological advancement. On behalf of the people of 
Puerto Rico, I extend my sincere gratitude to the judges and STEM 
leaders who offered their perspectives and expertise in the industry in 
our 2025 Congressional App Challenge: aerospace engineer and CDS 
Manager at Pratt & Whitney Puerto Rico Inc., Ms. Shirley Skerrett 
Ramirez; Executive Director of Grupo Guayacan, Ms. Laura Cantero, 
Founder of Terminal34 and 2019 CAC winner of Puerto Rico, Mr. Bryan 
Garcia; Former Executive Director of the office of Puerto Rico 
Innovation and Technology Services (PRITS), Mr. Antonio Ramos 
Guardiola; and former Chief Information Officer and Advisor to the 
Governor, Mr. Giancarlo Gonzalez Ascar.
  Their service reflects the very standards we hold our student 
innovators to: analytical rigor, ethical judgment, creativity, 
collaboration, and a commitment to applying technology to solve real-
world challenges.

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