​Over 300 students spent 6 weeks this summer taking on the challenge of designing solutions around a unifying theme...

Help Shape a Healthier Society
introduced by Dr. Sumbul Ahmad Desai, Apple’s Vice President of Health
click here to view video

​This showcase features the top projects in apps, video storytelling, spatial computing, and photography, selected through a competitive process.

#ChallengeForChange

YOUTH EMCEES

Alika Nicosia-Stone

19 from Austin
Freshman @ Northern Illinois University
Everyone Can Code Chicago | Alumni

Chaice Hannon

24 from South Chicago
HS Graduate
Everyone Can Code Chicago | Participant

APPS

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

CurrentU
destigmatizing eating disorders without glamorization

THE CONCEPT

click to view app pitch competition video

THE 'CurrentU' DEVELOPMENT TEAM
from the from the Digital Scholars: iOS App Design training location hosted at Discovery Partners Institute

Deniana Clemente

16 from Lake View
Sophomore @ Lane Tech HS

Miguel Garcia

18 from Irving Park
Senior @ Intrinsic Charter

Dawnisiyah Songo

16 from Woodlawn
Junior @ Dunbar HS

STIMTELLIGENT
know the why behind ever stim

THE CONCEPT

click to view app pitch competition video

THE 'STIMTELLIGENT' DEVELOPMENT TEAM
from the SGA Youth & Family Services training location hosted at Ed Kaplan Family Institute for Innovation and Tech Entrepreneurship

Roy Love

20 from Morgan Park
Sophomore @ Olive Harvey College

Ben Loza

22 from South Deering
Senior @ Eastern Illinois University

Shahrukh Shahid

17 from Lincoln Square
Junior @ Amundsen HS

Zona Noman

19 from Edgewater
Freshman @ University of Illinois Chicago

INSURELIT
health literacy, simplified

THE CONCEPT

click to view app pitch competition video

THE 'INSURELIT' DEVELOPMENT TEAM
from the Digital Scholars: iOS App Design training location hosted at Discovery Partners Institute

Noah Olmos

17 from Norwood Park
Senior @ Taft HS

Ishaanvi Vemula

16 from Aurora, Illinois
Junior @ Metea Valley HS

Lynnette Williams

16 from Grand Boulevard
Junior @ Kenwood HS

FINKA
your personalized skincare companion

THE CONCEPT

click to view app pitch competition video

THE 'FINKA' DEVELOPMENT TEAM
from the SGA Youth & Family Services training location hosted at Truman College

Jacob Nemirovsky

16 from Rogers Park
Junior @ Senn HS

Hriman Shrestha

16 from Edgewater
Junior @ Senn HS

SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKERS

Don Henderson

Learning & Leadership Executive | Apple
​

Denika Wilson

Executive Director of Education and Strategic Programs | Truman College

Dana Bolton

Managing Director and Regional Director | JPMorgan Chase

Frankie Shipman-Amuwo

Managing Deputy Commissioner | Department of Family & Support Services

Eric Williams

Founder and Creative Director of The Silver Room​

Carmen Edwards

Vice President, People and Culture | AnitaB.org​​

Megan Hougard

Chief of College and Career Success | Chicago Public Schools​

Lonnie Edwards

Filmmaker, Artist and Entrepreneur​​

PHOTOGRAPHY FOR ALL

experiencing Chicago through the lens of people with low vision

OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH OUR LENS

click to view video slide show presentation

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

Georik Gabriela Sanchez

18 from Brighton Park
Senior @ Thomas Kelly HS

Finn Schulz

22 from West Town
Junior @ Columbia College

YOUTH PHOTOGRAPHERS

Coryon Copeland
17 from South Shore
Junior @ South Shore College Prep HS
Zeineb Khellil
18 from Portage Park
Senior @ Walter Payton College Prep HS

Devon Norris
17 from South Shore
Junior @ Curie HS
Alexa Romero
19 from South Lawndale
HS Graduate

Isaac Souchet
18 from Humboldt Park
Senior @ Curie HS

SPATIAL COMPUTING

a demonstration project exploring what is possible with spatial computing

click here to view the video—Chicago & Spatial Computing the Possibilities

HELP SHAPE A HEALTHIER SOCIETY
a montage video of selected spatial computing projects

(click image to view the short film)

THE SPATIAL COMPUTING GROUP
in partnership with Project: VISION and SGA Youth & Family Services hosted at Ed Kaplan Family Institute for Innovation and Tech Entrepreneurship

Ashley Lee

19 from Bridgeport
Freshman @ University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

SPATIAL COMPUTING YOUTH

Andres Aldana
16 from West Eldson
Sophomore @ John Hancock HS
Sabeen Khan
19 from Near North Side
Freshman @ DePaul University
Simon Mayorga
17 from Chicago Lawn
Junior @ Hinsdale HS

Edwin Navarro
23 from South Lawndale
HS Graduate; Completed Certification Program
Stephanie Vega
​19 from Humboldt Park
Freshman @ University of Chicago
Ethan Wen
​18 from Bridgeport
Freshman @ Princeton University

SHORT FILMS

22 short films | 2 rounds of judging to identify the top 5

HEAL THE HOOD

(click image to view the short film)

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

Shantul Steward

17 from North Lawndale
Senior @ Al Raby HS

Tamia Williams

18 from Humboldt Park
Senior @ Al Raby HS

THE BUS BENCH

(click image to view the short film)

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

Tiala Amen

14 from West Garfield Park
Freshman @ Clemente HS

Kayla Hernandez

16 from Austin
Junior @ Clemente HS

Neisa Arvealo

18 from Humboldt Park
Sophomore @ Clemente HS

Geovanie Nazario

14 from Avondale
Freshman @ Clemente HS

Noah Correa

17 from Garfield Ridge
Sophomore @ Infinity HS

Tajahnae Sanders

18 from Austin
Junior @ Clemente HS

BLACK BOYS DON'T CRY

(click image to view the short film)

THE 'BLACK BOYS DON'T CRY' PRODUCTION TEAM
from the Shifting Chicago Narratives program in partnership with Chicago Public Schools - Career Technical Education @ Al Raby HS

Avion Floyd

18 from Austin
Junior @ Al Raby HS

Samuel Holmes

17 from Humboldt Park
Senior @ Al Raby HS

Eathan Howard

18 from West Garfield Park
Senior @ Al Raby HS

Jayden Petterson

18 from Humboldt Park
Senior @ Al Raby HS

LITTLE GESTURES

(click image to view the short film)

THE 'LITTLE GESTURES' PRODUCTION TEAM
from the Diverse Studios program in partnership with Central States SER @ Arturo Velasquez Institute

Jaime Aguilar

20 from South Lawndale
HS Graduate

Cristian Hernandez

21 from South Lawndale
HS Graduate

Paris Michalios

20 from South Lawndale
Sophomore @ Harold Washington College

Christopher Mazon

Ariel Rodriguez

21 from South Lawndale
Sophomore @ Richard J Daley College

22 from South Lawndale
Junior @ University of Illinois Chicago

THE WHISPER

(click image to view the short film)

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

Jaythen Acevedo 

16 from West Town
Sophomore @ Clemente HS

Jacob Lambert

14 from Avondale
Freshman @ Clemente HS

Tiali Amen

14 from West Garfield Park
Freshman @ Clemente HS

Geovanie Nazario

14 from Avondale
Freshman @ Clemente HS

Noah Correa

17 from Garfield Ridge
Junior @ Infinity HS

Josie Ramirez

17 from Logan Square
Junior @ Clemente HS

Ciyandrea Riley-Davis

17 from Edgewater
Junior @ Clemente HS

Arianna Rogers

17 from Humboldt Park
Junior @ Clemente HS

India Williams

17 from Grand Boulevard
Junior @ Clemente HS

2025 SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS
TO GRACEHOPPER CELEBRATION

34 submissions | 4 winners

Warda Aftab
20 from Rogers Park ● Sophomore @ Princeton University

"By attending the Grace Hopper Celebration, I hope to connect with other women who have also carved their own paths in technology. I want to learn from their stories, see the many different journeys to success, and be part of a community that proves there is not one way to be a woman in tech. Every path is different and powerful."

Aditi Bhatt
20 from Albany Park ● Junior @ University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

"Now, as a rising senior, I look back with pride, not because everything went right, but because I didn't quit when things went wrong. Attending GHC would be a full-circle moment.  I want to connect with women who've carved space in this industry, find mentors, and use my story to uplift others questioning their place in tech."

Litzy Corona
24 from Englewood ● College Graduate

"Being surrounded by women at Grace Hopper who have faced the odds would be transformative.  I want to learn from them and pass that strength on to others who do fit 'fit the norm'. Grace Hopper is not a celebration to me. It is a reminder that women belong, can lead, and are shaping the future in tech."

Zona Noman
19 from Edgewater ● Freshman @ University of Illinois Chicago

"I want to guide other women into tech--giving them the intros and support I wish I had.  I want to life others up, create space, and show them they belong."

that's a wrap...

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