YOUTH EMCEES

Kyla Goode

19 from Kenwood
HS Graduate
Everyone Can Code Chicago | Participant

Eathan Howard

17 from West Garfield Park
Junior @ Al Raby HS
Everyone Can Create Chicago | Participant

APPS

43 teams competed  |  2 rounds of judging to identify the top 4

FOLIAGE FINANCE
an innovative and engaging financial education platform

THE CONCEPT

click to view app pitch competition video

THE 'FOLIAGE FINANCE' DEVELOPMENT TEAM
from the Central States SER training location hosted at Ed Kaplan Family Institute for Innovation and Tech Entrepreneurship

Alexis Aguilar

20 from South Lawndale
Sophomore @ DePaul University

Victor Barich

18 from Armour Square
Senior @ Jones College Prep

Imani Abdul

17 from West Town
Senior @ Whitney Young HS

ALERTIFY
a safety app

THE CONCEPT

click to view app pitch competition video

THE 'ALERTIFY' DEVELOPMENT TEAM
from the Central States SER training location hosted at Ed Kaplan Family Institute for Innovation and Tech Entrepreneurship

Melvin Aplizar

21 from Brighton Park
Sophomore @ University of Illinois
​Urbana-Champaign

Edison Chiu

19 from Bridgeport
Freshman @ University of
Wisconsin-Madison

Ahmed Yousef

18 from Jefferson Park
Senior @ Taft HS

Dillon Hittesdorf

19 from Near West Side
Freshman @ University of Illinois
Urbana-Champaign

PAIR 65
retire with ease, pair with students

THE CONCEPT

click to view app pitch competition video

THE 'PAIR 65' DEVELOPMENT TEAM
from the Chicago Housing Authority training location hosted at Ed Kaplan Family Institute for Innovation and Tech Entrepreneurship

Serena Williams

21 from Roseland
Junior @ Bradley University

Keirra Williams

19 from West Englewood
Freshman @ Oberlin College

Karen Sarmina

20 from Lower West Side
Sophomore @ University of Illinois Chicago

PROTECT ME
your safety - our priority

THE CONCEPT

click to view app pitch competition video

THE 'PROTECT ME' DEVELOPMENT TEAM
from the Digital Scholars training location hosted at Discovery Partners Institute

Aizah Ahmad

16 from Near South Side
Junior @ Jones College Prep HS

Solena Ornelas Pagnucci

16 from Lincoln Park
Sophomore @ Francis W Parker School

Olivia Kenoun

16 from Buffalo Grove
Junior @ Buffalo Grove HS

SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKERS

Marco Torres

Learning & Leadership Executive | Apple
​

Charles Mayfield

Chief Operating Officer | Chicago Public Schools

Paul Hamilton

Creativity Wizard | Using Technology Better
​

Maria Holmes

Managing Director and Regional Director | JPMorgan Chase

Brandie Knazze

Commissioner  | Department of Family & Support Services

Aleena Agrawal

VP of Talent Solutions | P33
​

Jonah Zeiger

Deputy Commissioner | Chicago Film Office
​

Sonia Mathew

Director of Partnerships | McCormick Foundation

Troy Williams

Director of Institutional Partnerships | AnitaB.org

Dr. Shawn L. Jackson

President | Truman College
​

Adrienne Nazon

VP of External Relations and Communications | University of Illinois

Jen Johnson

Deputy Mayor of Education, Youth & Human Services | City of Chicago

Brenda Wilkerson

President and CEO | AnitaB.org

PHOTOGRAPHY FOR ALL

experiencing Chicago through the lens of people with low vision

OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH OUR LENS

THE 'PHOTOGRAPHY FOR ALL' GROUP
from the Photography For All program in partnership with The Chicago Lighthouse, SGA Youth & Family Services, and Department of Family and Support Services

Devon Norris

16 from South Shore
Sophomore @ Curie HS

YOUTH PHOTOGRAPHERS

Lilah Bonilla
17 from West Pullman
Junior @ Curie HS
Elaine Chao
16 from Lincoln Park
Sophomore @ Walter Payton College Prep HS

Malik Mitchell
16 from Roseland
Junior @ Curie HS
Georik Sanchez
17 from Brighton Park
Junior @ Thomas Kelly HS

AUGMENTED REALITY

a demonstration project exploring what is possible in augmented reality on an iPad

click here to view an introductory video to augmented reality

THE MASKS WE WEAR

(click image to view the short film)

THE 'AUGMENTED REALITY' GROUP
in partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of Chicago and SGA Youth & Family Services hosted at Ed Kaplan Family Institute for Innovation and Tech Entrepreneurship

Shonni Watkins

19 from Austin
Freshman @ Illinois Institute of Technology

AUGMENTED REALITY YOUTH

Asal Abdulkadir
16 from West Ridge
Junior @ Chicago Math and Science Academy HS
Ronald Berry Jr.
14 from Washington Park
8th Grade @ Carter Woodson South ES
Nyema Bullette
14 from Avalon Park
8th Grade @ William Goudy ES
Cindy Chen
19 from Bridgeport
Freshman @ University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Nia Davis
14 from Roseland
8th Grade @ Kershaw ES
Makaylah Dunn
14 from Grand Boulevard
8th Grade @ Horace Mann ES

Rafael Gutierrez
16 from Chicago Lawn
Sophomore @ Cristo Rey Jesuit HS
Martin Guzman
18 from McKinley Park
Senior @ Walter Payton College Prep HS
Joshua Jackson
14 from Auburn Gresham
8th Grade @ William Ryder ES
Taymone Kelly
14 from Grand Boulevard
8th Grade @ Melville Fuller ES
Josilynn Pickens
14 from Greater Grand Crossing
8th Grade @ Walter Newberry ES
Tierynn Wells
14 from Greater Grand Crossing
8th Grade @ Walter Newberry ES

​Marquarius Williams
14 from Englewood
8th Grade @ Melville Fuller ES

SHORT FILMS

14 short films | 2 rounds of judging to identify the top 4

FLYING COLORS

(click image to view the short film)

THE 'FLYING COLORS' PRODUCTION TEAM
from the Shifting Chicago Narratives program in partnership with Chicago Public Schools - Career Technical Education @ Clemente HS

Katrice Yarber

17 from Grand Boulevard
Senior @ Clemente HS

Alexandro Muniz

17 from Humboldt Park
Junior @ Clemente HS

Arion Hutchins

18 from West Garfield Park
Senior @ Clemente HS

Ciyandrea Riley-Davis

16 from Logan Square
Sophomore @ Clemente HS

Jailene Nieves

17 from Austin
Senior @ Clemente HS

Richard Marquez

17 from Logan Square
Junior @ Clemente HS

India Williams

16 from Grand Boulevard
Sophomore @ Clemente HS

Mya Maldonado

17 from Grand Boulevard
Senior @ Clemente HS

Alexander Colin

16 from Humboldt Park
Sophomore @ Clemente HS

Samuel Cruz

16 from Humboldt Park
Sophomore @ Clemente HS

Catalina Pacheco

16 from Humboldt Park
Sophomore @ Clemente HS

Arina Koleiko

16 from Humboldt Park
Sophomore @ Clemente HS

UNSELFISH MIND

(click image to view the short film)

THE 'UNSELFISH MIND' PRODUCTION TEAM
from the Shifting Chicago Narratives program in partnership with Chicago Public Schools - Career Technical Education @ Curie HS

Anthony Williams

18 from North Lawndale
Senior @ Curie HS

Mia Gallegos

18 from West Eldson
Senior @ Curie HS

Nina Kick

18 from West Lawn
Senior @ Curie HS

Jesus Rangel

19 from Garfield Ridge
Senior @ Curie HS

PTSD

(click image to view the short film)

THE 'PTSD' PRODUCTION TEAM
from the Shifting Chicago Narratives program in partnership with Chicago Public Schools - Career Technical Education @ Al Raby HS

Travanti Cooper

18 from North Lawndale
Senior @ Al Raby HS

Eathan Howard

17 from West Garfield Park
Junior @ Al Raby HS

Anton Beck

20 from Near West Side
Freshman @ Northeastern Illinois University

Daniel Romero

18 from New City
Senior @ Kelly HS

Breanna Mintz-Main

18 from South Lawndale
Senior @ Al Raby HS

Avion Floyd

17 from Austin
Sophomore @ Al Raby HS

Samuel Holmes

16 from Humboldt Park
Junior @ Al Raby HS

Roderick Haygood III

19 from Roseland
Freshman @ Tennessee State University

Amari Reed

17 from East Garfield Park
Junior @ Al Raby HS

WASH AWAY THE BARRIERS

(click image to view the short film)

THE 'WASH AWAY THE BARRIERS' PRODUCTION TEAM
from the Shifting Chicago Narratives program in partnership with Chicago Public Schools - Career Technical Education @ Clemente HS

Katrice Yarber

17 from Grand Boulevard
Senior @ Clemente HS

Alexandro Muniz

17 from Humboldt Park
Junior @ Clemente HS

Arion Hutchins

18 from West Garfield Park
Senior @ Clemente HS

Ciyandrea Riley-Davis

16 from Logan Square
Sophomore @ Clemente HS

Jailene Nieves

17 from Austin
Senior @ Clemente HS

Richard Marquez

17 from Logan Square
Junior @ Clemente HS

India Williams

16 from Grand Boulevard
Sophomore @ Clemente HS

Mya Maldonado

17 from Grand Boulevard
Senior @ Clemente HS

Alexander Colin

16 from Humboldt Park
Sophomore @ Clemente HS

Samuel Cruz

16 from Humboldt Park
Sophomore @ Clemente HS

Catalina Pacheco

16 from Humboldt Park
Sophomore @ Clemente HS

Arina Koleiko

16 from Humboldt Park
Sophomore @ Clemente HS

2024 GRACE HOPPER CELEBRATION SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS

34 submissions | 4 winners

Yanelli Cervantes
19 from Lower West Side ● Sophomore @ University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

"My goal is to become a world-class engineer, equipped with the skills and knowledge to make a positive impact on minority communities.  Focused on continuous growth and community empowerment..."

Janice Mei
20 from Bridgeport ● Junior @ University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

"There seems to still be preconceived notions of what a programmer looks like and who belongs in computer science.  I would like to work to fight these misconceptions and change the narrative of what the technology industry looks like."

Megan Tran
18 from New City ● Freshman @ University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

"Although the computing field is still new and sometimes intimidating, being part of a conference focused on women and non-binary people would provide me with guidance and motivation to change the world as a woman in a male-dominated field, shaping my perspective on how my success can look."

Katharine Bonilla
21 from Avondale ● Senior @ Rice University

"As a Hispanic woman from a low-income household, I have faced unique challenges in the tech field, and these experiences have motivate a passion for educational opportunities for others.  I hope to support and mentor students from underrepresented backgrounds..."