Brookings Student Wins Congressional App Challenge with Health-Focused App

Northeast Radio SD News – Brookings, SD - U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson announced today that Nana Kwame Dwomoh of Brookings has been named the South Dakota winner of the 2025 Congressional App Challenge.

Dwomoh earned the top spot for his creation of “WorkWellness,” an application that balances productivity with physical health for desk-bound students and professionals.

The app manages timed work sessions and prompts users to take stretch breaks, offering suggested exercises for specific areas of physical discomfort. Additionally, “WorkWellness” features an AI-driven wellness assistant that provides real-time advice on ergonomics, posture, and maintaining healthy daily routines.

“Congratulations to Nana Kwame on being selected as this year’s Congressional App Challenge Winner from South Dakota,” Johnson said. “He overcame several obstacles in developing his product and learned more about coding in the process. Technology is increasingly important in career fields, and the App Challenge is a great opportunity for students to test and improve their skills.”

Inspired by Personal Experience

For Dwomoh, the inspiration for the app came from the physical toll of modern academics.

“As a high school student who spends long hours at a desk and on a computer, I’ve felt back pain myself,” Dwomoh said. Millions of students and office workers share this same discomfort from ignoring what their bodies need during work sessions. I created WorkWellness to help solve that problem, allowing people to stay focused and productive while also reminding them to take care of their health through consistent stretching.”

National Recognition

As the state winner, Dwomoh’s work will receive national exposure. The “WorkWellness” app will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol building and featured on the official Congressional App Challenge website.

Dwomoh will also be invited to participate in #HouseofCode, an annual gathering in Washington, D.C., where winners from across the country demonstrate their apps to members of Congress and industry leaders.

The Congressional App Challenge is a nationwide competition intended to encourage students to learn to code and inspire them to pursue careers in computer science and technology. For more information on the program, residents can visit www.CongressionalAppChallenge.us.