May 8, 2025
UPDATE
Local Inspiration, Global Impact: Meet Four Swift Student Challenge Winners
Each year, the Swift Student Challenge encourages students worldwide to unleash their creativity by developing original app playgrounds using Apple’s user-friendly Swift programming language. This year, the challenge received 350 winning submissions from 38 countries, drawing inspiration from various sources—from a starry sky viewed through a telescope in Nuevo León, Mexico, to a pack of cards discovered in a Japanese game shop.
“We’re continually amazed by the talent and insights that young developers bring to the Swift Student Challenge,” noted Susan Prescott, Apple’s Vice President of Worldwide Developer Relations. “This year’s winners have showcased exceptional abilities in transforming meaningful ideas into innovative and impactful app playgrounds. We’re excited to support their journeys as they develop apps that will help shape the future.”
Fifty Distinguished Winners have earned invitations to attend the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) at Apple Park, where they will engage in a specially curated three-day experience. Throughout the week, attendees will watch the Keynote live on June 9, gain insights from Apple experts, and participate in hands-on labs.
Many winners drew inspiration from their local communities, creating tools aimed at making a global impact. Below, Distinguished Winners Taiki Hamamoto, Marina Lee, Luciana Ortiz Nolasco, and Nahom Worku share insights into their app playgrounds and the real-world issues they aim to address, showcasing how coding can drive lasting change.
Taiki Hamamoto, 22, was inspired by a Hanafuda deck he discovered at a local game shop. Having grown up playing the traditional Japanese card game, he recognized a gap in knowledge among his peers. “Very few of my generation know how to play Hanafuda, despite its cultural significance,” he explained. His app, Hanafuda Tactics, helps newcomers learn the rules and gameplay. Incorporating dynamic effects and modern gaming concepts, Hammamoto aims to preserve this centuries-old game for future generations.
When Marina Lee, 21, received an evacuation alert for her grandmother during a wildfire scare in Los Angeles, it motivated her to create a solution. Her app, EvacuMate, assists users in preparing for emergencies by providing checklists, resources, and an easy way to store important documents. With plans to add multilingual support, Lee hopes to make her app accessible to everyone.
Luciana Ortiz Nolasco, 15, developed a love for astronomy with her first telescope but faced challenges in finding a local community. Her app, BreakDownCosmic, serves as a virtual hub where users can track astronomical events, earn medals for achievements, and connect with fellow enthusiasts. She hopes to launch it on the App Store after further development.
Lastly, Nahom Worku, 21, found his passion for coding and web design during the pandemic. His app, AccessEd, addresses the lack of quality education by providing learning resources that work with limited or no internet access. Built using machine learning tools, AccessEd offers personalized course recommendations and a task management system to help students navigate their education effectively.
Apple is dedicated to empowering the next generation of developers, creators, and entrepreneurs through its Swift Student Challenge. Over the past five years, countless participants have embarked on successful careers and initiatives aimed at democratizing technology for a better future.
For more information, visit developer.apple.com/swift-student-challenge.
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