The Swift Student Challenge, an annual event organized by Apple, encourages students worldwide to explore their creativity and curiosity through the development of original app playgrounds using Apple’s Swift coding language. This year, 350 submissions from 38 countries were recognized for their innovative use of tools and technologies.
Susan Prescott, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Developer Relations, expressed admiration for the young developers’ talent and perspective: “We’re always inspired by the talent and perspective young developers bring to the Swift Student Challenge,” she said. “This year’s winners show exceptional skill in transforming meaningful ideas into app playgrounds that are innovative, impactful, and thoughtfully built — and we’re excited to support their journey as they continue building apps that will help shape the future.”
Among the winners invited to attend a three-day experience at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) are Taiki Hamamoto, Marina Lee, Luciana Ortiz Nolasco, and Nahom Worku. Each winner has created an app addressing real-world issues.
Taiki Hamamoto’s project is Hanafuda Tactics, which aims to preserve the traditional Japanese card game Hanafuda by making it accessible on smartphones. “I found that very few people in my generation know how to play Hanafuda,” Hamamoto explained. His app uses modern gaming concepts to engage younger audiences while staying true to traditional iconography.
Marina Lee developed EvacuMate after her grandmother received a wildfire evacuation alert in Los Angeles. The app provides users with emergency checklists and resources during crises. Lee plans to add multilingual support: “Thinking back to my grandma… I realized a translation feature could really help others in the community who face the same challenge.”
Luciana Ortiz Nolasco’s BreakDownCosmic offers a virtual space for astronomy enthusiasts. Inspired by her childhood experiences with stargazing in Nuevo León, Mexico, Ortiz Nolasco seeks to make astronomy more accessible globally: “The universe is full of mysteries we have yet to discover… everybody should be able to get to know it.”
Nahom Worku’s AccessEd tackles educational accessibility issues he witnessed growing up in Ethiopia. The app provides learning resources with or without internet connectivity using machine learning tools like Core ML: “I hope my app will inspire others… especially in education,” Worku stated.
Apple continues its commitment through initiatives like the Swift Student Challenge program, supporting young developers’ careers and encouraging technological democratization.
