For the second consecutive year, students at Hill Country College Preparatory High School in Comal ISD are proving that innovation is alive and well in the Texas Hill Country.

A team of three seniors — Ty Fonseca, Luke Ringlein and Keshav Singh — has been named the 2025 Congressional App Challenge winner for Texas District 21 through U.S. Representative Chip Roy’s office. Their winning app, The American Dynamism Tracker, combines advanced coding, STEM research and strategic marketing to analyze America’s progress in re-industrialization.

For families across Comal ISD and the broader Texas District 21 community, the achievement signals more than a trophy. It reflects the kind of workforce readiness, computer science education and real-world problem solving that many parents hope local schools can deliver — and that future industries demand.

What Is the Congressional App Challenge?

The Congressional App Challenge is a nationwide initiative of the U.S. House of Representatives designed to encourage middle and high school students to pursue careers in computer science, software development and STEM fields. Members of Congress host district-level competitions across the country.

The Challenge receives more than 83,000 entries from all 50 states, making it one of the most competitive student coding competitions in the nation. Winners from each congressional district are invited to attend the annual #HouseOfCode event at the United States Capitol, scheduled this year for April 21–22.

For Hill Country College Prep, this marks the second straight year earning the district’s top honor — with Singh and Fonseca securing the recognition for a second time.

Inside the Winning App: The American Dynamism Tracker

The team’s app, The American Dynamism Tracker, provides real-time intelligence on the United States’ path toward re-industrialization. The platform scans RSS news feeds, classifies articles and measures progress in critical sectors such as defense technology and workforce innovation.

According to a press release announcing the winners, “Congressman Roy recognizes the timeliness of this app’s release with the comeback of our national industries.”

Ringlein admitted the victory was not something the team assumed.

“We were really surprised to win this year,” he said. “I thought we would be at a disadvantage, but I think our focus on American issues helped.”

Singh, who also won last year’s competition, said the team’s belief in the purpose behind the app played a defining role.

“I was really happy when we won,” Singh said. “We are very passionate about our app, because we do need to bring manufacturing back to the United States; and we had a clear vision and story behind the app’s existence. That is what speaks to the heart of the app itself.”

Fonseca, the team’s lead programmer, tackled the technical challenges head-on — including learning new programming languages during development.

“When I started working on this project,” Fonseca explained, “they were using typescript for web development, and I had never programmed with java or typescript. I had to learn as I went.”

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A Teacher’s Impact in Comal ISD

Behind the app’s success is Hill Country College Preparatory High School computer science teacher Rena Keinrath, who assigned the Congressional App Challenge to her Computer Science 2 class this year. Eight students participated, submitting three total apps.

Her students are quick to credit her influence.

“Mrs. Keinrath is the best computer science teacher of all time,” Singh said. “I generally don’t know what our project would have looked like without her. I am so grateful to her for giving us the opportunity to build our own projects. That is where I have learned the most.”

For Comal ISD families exploring STEM programs, advanced placement computer science courses, or college and career readiness pathways, the story offers a tangible example of what happens when students are given both autonomy and mentorship.

Built in the Hill Country, Recognized in Washington

As winners, Fonseca, Ringlein and Singh will attend the annual #HouseOfCode celebration at the United States Capitol alongside other Congressional App Challenge champions from across the country.

In their submission video, the team summarized the philosophy behind their work:

“America’s future will be built by those who choose to build,” says Singh; “The American Dynamism Tracker gives every citizen the tools to understand and strengthen the nation’s industrial revival,” says Fonseca; and “The future of freedom is built, not bought,” says Ringlein.

For the Hill Country College Preparatory High School community, the recognition reinforces a growing reputation for innovation within Comal ISD. For parents and younger students watching, it offers something even more personal: proof that national-level achievement can begin in a local classroom.

What Happens Next

The team will travel to Washington, D.C., in April to participate in the 2026 #HouseOfCode event at the U.S. Capitol.

Meanwhile, each student is already looking ahead:

• Fonseca plans to study computer science or computer electronics with the goal of becoming a video game developer.
• Ringlein intends to pursue industrial engineering and business, with interests in marketing and outreach.
• Singh is exploring artificial intelligence, machine learning and data science.

Their paths may take them far beyond Texas District 21, but their foundation was built here — in a Comal ISD classroom where coding skills met curiosity, and vision met opportunity.

As Hill Country College Prep celebrates another Congressional App Challenge victory, the broader community is reminded that local investment in STEM education doesn’t just prepare students for the future — it allows them to help shape it.

Stay tuned to My Neighborhood News for continued coverage of Comal ISD student achievements and local education milestones.

By Tiffany Krenek, My Neighborhood News 

Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.