CONGRESSMAN PAT RYAN CELEBRATES NEWBURGH FREE ACADEMY 11TH GRADER AARNA PATEL ON WINNING NY-18 CONGRESSIONAL APP CHALLENGE WITH “HUDSON CONNECT”

Congressman Pat Ryan Celebrates Newburgh Free Academy 11th Grader Aarna Patel on Winning NY-18 Congressional App Challenge with "Hudson Connect"

The Congressional App Challenge encourages tech innovation among middle and high school students as they compete for a chance to have their app displayed in the U.S. Capitol

"Hudson Connect" is a community resource navigation tool designed to help residents quickly find local services and programs across New York's 18th Congressional District

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congressman Pat Ryan is congratulating Aarna Patel, a Newburgh Free Academy 11th grader from New Windsor, on winning the 2025 NY-18 Congressional App Challenge. Patel's app, "Hudson Connect," is a community resource navigation tool designed to help residents quickly find local services and programs across New York's 18th Congressional District. The app maps essential resources, allows users to filter by type of assistance, and makes information easier to access for families, students, and seniors.

"I am incredibly proud to congratulate Newburgh Free Academy 11th grader, Aarna, on winning this year's Congressional App Challenge with her amazing program, Hudson Connect," said Congressman Pat Ryan. "Not only did Aarna demonstrate immense entrepreneurial spirit - and build a functioning, well-made app - but she created something specifically designed to help members of our community. That is certainly worth celebrating. Well done, Aarna - our entire Hudson Valley community can't wait to see what you do next!"

"Participating in the Congressional App Challenge and attending the House of Code has been an incredible honor. I created Hudson Connect to help people find local and accessible resources and to bring the community closer together," said Aarna Patel of New Windsor. "Having the app recognized on a national stage was both exciting and deeply meaningful. Connecting with other student innovators and speaking with Congressman Ryan and his team reinforced how powerful technology can be in supporting and uplifting a community. The support from Congressman Ryan's team throughout the process made the experience even better and truly memorable."

Hudson Connect is designed to be a community focused app that helps residents of New York's 18th Congressional District easily access local resources and services. Through an interactive map, users are enabled to locate assistance in specific categories. Additionally, the app encourages community involvement by allowing users to suggest new resources, making the platform responsive and adaptable to local needs. Hudson Connect is more than a tool, it permits the residents of New York's 18th District to foster connectivity and growth.

The Congressional App Challenge is a competition organized by Members of Congress across the country for middle school and high school students to create their own software applications and gain experience with computer coding. Registration for the 2026 App Challenge opens on May 1, 2026, and submissions are due by October 26, 2026. More information on the 2026 Congressional App Challenge can be found here.

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