Wylie High Junior Wins Second Place in State App Challenge Contest

What started as a response to growing digital distractions earns state recognition.

Wylie High School junior Mohammad Syed placed second in the TX-03 2025 Congressional App Challenge for the app he designed and built, Unplugged.

“I am truly grateful for this app challenge, as it has allowed me to learn such a wide variety of concepts and skills that I would not have learned without a motivating factor,” Syed said.

According to their website, the Congressional App Challenge is the most prestigious prize in student computer science. Participation in the challenge has grown exponentially, reaching underserved, diverse, and rural student populations.

Alongside Wylie High administration, Syed was honored for his achievement by Congressman Keith Self’s District Director, Michelle Bishop.

“We are so proud of Mohammad,” Bishop said. “This is quite an honor to receive second place in the state of Texas.”

Unplugged is an artificial intelligence-powered focus and wellness app designed to help students manage digital distractions at home and build healthier, more productive habits. Created using Python, TypeScript, and C++, the project is Syed’s first app.

“The app combines personalized AI focus plans, guided mindfulness tools, study spaces, and interactive mental training to transform the smartphone from a source of distraction into a tool for balance, discipline, and productivity,” Syed said. “The app contains server-hosted group study sessions, interactive mental exercises, cognitive tests, and keeps track of mental progress.” 

Texas’ recent statewide ban on cell phones in public schools inspired Syed to create Unplugged.

“After the phones were banned, I noticed that students do better in school because the distraction was removed,” Syed said. “However, I hypothesized that because of the ban, students might even spend longer hours at home on their phones to feel that they are making up for lost phone time.”

Syed surveyed more than 55 of his peers and confirmed his suspicion.

“To combat this, I designed a clean UI app with smooth features to streamline all productivity needs, from timers to meetings, all in one app,” he said.

Syed said that he couldn’t have completed this app challenge without the help of his student support advocate at Wylie High, Shannon Dozier.

“I am so proud of Mohammad earning second place in the Congressional App Challenge,” Dozier said. “Mohammad is an amazing young man who has a fantastic work ethic. He was able to maintain high grades in AP and dual-credit classes while working on this App challenge as well, which speaks to his character and ability to carry on a heavy workload. AHMO!”

Upon his graduation next year, Syed plans to study computer science at the University of Texas at Austin.