Swift Student Challenge Spotlights Young Innovators Using Code for Real-World Impact
Apple's Swift Student Challenge continues to be a launchpad for the next generation of developers, showcasing the innovative ways students are using code to tackle real-world problems. This year's winners have created apps ranging from tools for managing anxiety to educational resources accessible without Wi-Fi. Let's delve into the inspiring projects and the students behind them.
Every year, the Swift Student Challenge invites students from around the world to follow their curiosity and explore their creativity through original app playgrounds built with Apple’s intuitive Swift coding language. This year's 350 winning submissions represent 38 countries and regions, incorporating a wide range of tools and technologies.
Susan Prescott, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Developer Relations, emphasized the talent and perspective young developers bring to the challenge. "This year’s winners show exceptional skill in transforming meaningful ideas into app playgrounds that are innovative, impactful, and thoughtfully built," she said.
One such winner is Taiki Hamamoto from Japan, who created Hanafuda Tactics, an app playground designed to preserve the traditional Japanese card game Hanafuda. Frustrated by the lack of awareness of the game among his generation, Hamamoto aimed to make it accessible and engaging through a smartphone app. He incorporated video game concepts like hit points and used SwiftUI's DragGesture to create dynamic effects. "Hanafuda is unique in that it allows you to experience the scenery and culture of Japan," Hamamoto explains. "I want users of my app to feel immersed in it, and I want to preserve the game for generations to come."
Another winner, Marina Lee from the University of Southern California, developed EvacuMate, an app playground that helps users stay organized and informed during natural disasters. Inspired by her grandmother's panicked reaction to an evacuation alert, Lee created an app that allows users to prepare emergency checklists, upload important documents, and import emergency contacts. She is also working on adding support for different languages to make the app more accessible.
Luciana Ortiz Nolasco, a 15-year-old from Mexico, created BreakDownCosmic, a virtual gathering place for astronomy enthusiasts. Her app allows users to add astronomical events to their calendars, earn medals for completing missions, and chat with fellow astronomers. She used Swift because it was easy to learn, stating, "Swift is very easy to learn, and using Xcode is very intuitive."
Nahom Worku, a student from Ethiopia and Canada, developed AccessEd, an app playground that aims to unlock new educational possibilities for students around the world, even without Wi-Fi connectivity. The app uses Apple’s machine learning and AI tools to recommend courses based on a student's background and create flashcards from photos of notes. "I hope my app will inspire others to explore how modern technologies like machine learning can be used in innovative ways, especially in education," Worku shared.
Meanwhile, in Australia, eight talented young developers have also been recognized for their coding prowess in the WWDC25 Swift Student Challenge. Among them, four hail from Queensland's Sunshine Coast and three from the same school. Their winning apps tackled a range of real-world issues from anxiety management to visualizing woodworking projects with Apple Vision Pro.
The Swift Student Challenge highlights the transformative power of coding and the potential of young developers to create solutions that address pressing issues. From preserving cultural heritage to improving disaster preparedness and enhancing education, these students are using their skills to make a real difference.
What innovative solutions do you think coding can provide? Share your thoughts and ideas in the comments below!
