U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Howland, left, looks at an app created by Boardman High School students for a Congressional App Challenge. The winning group, including senior Alara Erzurum, and juniors Emma Davis and Ranean Sulebi, pictured right, met with Ryan on Tuesday morning. The trio will head to Washington, D.C., in May to be honored with other winners from around the country. Staff photo / Ashley Fox

BOARDMAN — Three Boardman High School students were surprised and excited to meet U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan on Tuesday, showing off an app that made the meeting possible.

“It’s really amazing to meet him. It’s not every day you get to meet Congressman Tim Ryan,” Ranean Sulebi, a junior, said.

Sulebi, along with Emma Davis, also a junior, and senior Alara Erzurum, created The Ohio Gun Obtaining Quiz for the Creating Mobile Apps class, taught by Evelyn Stanton.

Ryan, D-Howland, presented the three students with certificates for winning the Congressional App Challenge for the 13th Congressional District.

“I loved it. I like how it just laid out the facts,” Ryan said.

Spurred by the mass shooting in Dayton last August, programming teacher Stanton previously told The Vindicator that the trio didn’t want to approach the controversial topic in a political way, but rather outline an educational aspect.

The three students said they were impressed that Ryan sat and chatted about the app. “It was nice to know what he thought about the app,” Sulebi said. “Hearing it from him, I can understand why he thought it was important.”

Ryan said he likes the idea of using technology to create solutions. “We’re going to have to innovate” and use technology to try solving problems stemming from not only gun control, but global warming among other topics.

“To see these kids … That’s why we picked them. This is pretty cool,” he said.

The Android application gives 10 scenarios of someone trying to purchase a gun in Ohio. If the user gets the answer right, a chime sound is made. A buzzer sounds if the user gets a question wrong.

Regardless of the right or wrong answer, an explanation is given, as some people tend to guess their answers.

The girls will head to Washington, D.C., in the spring to show their app, along with students from around the country who won in their congressional districts.

afox@tribtoday.com