Congratulations to Omar Halwani and Gabriel Raym Cacho, in Lennard’s Collegiate Academy, who have been selected as 2025 Congressional App Challenge winners for Florida’s 16th District, earning national recognition for their innovative work at the intersection of technology and healthcare.
The Congressional App Challenge is a nationwide competition organized by the U.S. House of Representatives to encourage middle and high school students to create original applications that address real-world problems through coding, creativity, and public-impact solutions.
Award-Winning App: Smart Walking
Omar and Gabriel’s winning app, Senior Health Guardian – AI, later rebranded as Smart Walking, is a wearable-based health application designed to identify early indicators of neurological disorders using gait analysis and artificial intelligence.
The app analyzes smartwatch sensor data to track walking patterns such as rhythm, stability, symmetry, and stride length. By monitoring subtle changes over time, Smart Walking can flag potential neurological concerns when intervention is most effective—helping seniors maintain independence and improve long-term health outcomes.
Collaboration with Purpose
Each student contributed unique expertise to the project, focusing on:
Researching the neurological and real-world impact of early gait analysis
User engagement and accessibility
UI/UX design
Impact strategy and responsible, privacy-conscious technology use
Together, they ensured the app addressed real senior-care needs while remaining intuitive, motivating, and accessible for everyday use.
National Recognition and Opportunities
As winners of the Congressional App Challenge, Omar and Gabriel will receive significant national recognition, including:
Display of their app in the U.S. Capitol Building for one year
Feature on House.gov and CongressionalAppChallenge.us
An official Certificate of Achievement
An invitation to attend #HouseOfCode at the U.S. Capitol in April 2026
A virtual meeting with Congressman Vern Buchanan to present their work and discuss its impact on senior healthcare, preventative technology, and public benefit
Learn More
Watch a demonstration and learn more about Smart Walking here:
https://youtu.be/CDd83e0d3oI
Preparing Students for Life
This achievement highlights the innovative spirit of Lennard’s Collegiate Academy students and the power of applying classroom learning to meaningful, real-world challenges. Omar Halwani and Gabriel Raym Cacho exemplify how students can leverage technology to improve lives and create lasting public impact.