The Swift Student Challenge, an annual event organized by Apple, invites students worldwide to explore their creativity through app playgrounds using the Swift coding language. This year, 350 winning submissions from 38 countries showcased a wide array of tools and technologies. Susan Prescott, Apple's vice president of Worldwide Developer Relations, stated: "We’re always inspired by the talent and perspective young developers bring to the Swift Student Challenge."
Fifty Distinguished Winners will attend the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) at Apple Park for a curated three-day experience. They will participate in various activities including watching the Keynote live on June 9.
Among this year's winners are Taiki Hamamoto, Marina Lee, Luciana Ortiz Nolasco, and Nahom Worku. Their projects address real-world issues and demonstrate how coding can drive change.
Taiki Hamamoto's project was inspired by a traditional Japanese card game called Hanafuda. His app playground, Hanafuda Tactics, aims to familiarize users with the game's rules and cards. "I found that very few people in my generation know how to play Hanafuda," said Hamamoto.
Marina Lee created EvacuMate after her grandmother received an evacuation alert during Los Angeles wildfires. The app helps users prepare emergency checklists and upload important documents. Lee emphasized accessibility: “I’d like to add support for different languages.”
Luciana Ortiz Nolasco developed BreakDownCosmic to make astronomy more accessible. Her app allows users to track astronomical events and engage with fellow enthusiasts. "The universe is full of mysteries we have yet to discover," she said.
Nahom Worku's AccessEd addresses educational access issues in Ethiopia by offering learning resources both online and offline. "Growing up in Ethiopia, I witnessed firsthand how many students lacked quality education," he explained.
Apple continues its commitment to nurturing future developers through initiatives like the Swift Student Challenge program.