Whiz kid heading to Silicon Valley
Falls 13-year-old selected to Apple’s California conference
Danny Moutilika’s interest in computer science began at a young age.
“My parents have a VHS video of me just bashing on a keyboard when I was three,” the 14-yearold said with a laugh.
Now in Grade 9, he still enjoys sitting at the keyboard — but this time it’s for a specific purpose.
Danny is a coding whiz with a goal of promoting digital literacy to his peers.
Last year, at 13, he was selected as one of 350 young people from around the world to attend Apple’s Worldwide Developer’s Conference in California.
He earned a full scholarship to attend the tech giant’s annual event by submitting an app he created.
“I did an app that taught you how to write in Swift, the language Apple uses,” he said.
Inspired by what he experienced the first time around, the Westlane Secondary School student applied this year and was again awarded a scholarship to attend.
“It has been the 10th year since Apple introduced the operating system on its phones,” he explained. “I made an app that was a simulator that would show you what it would like 10 years ago.”
He’ll return to Silicon Valley next week for the 29th annual WWDC where he’ll be discovering the latest from Apple alongside thousands of developers from around the world.
Danny said he became hooked on coding three years ago when his parents bought him a Mac computer.
“The new challenge I wanted to take on then was making apps for the iPhone. I just explored until I figured everything out by myself.”
In 2017 he launched App Camp with Pranav Parakh, a Grade 10 student at A.N. Myer Secondary School, with the support of iHub Niagara, a collaborative organization involving the District School Board of Niagara, Brock University and Niagara College.
Through their connection with iHub Niagara, which provides technical assistance, professional services and business connections, the two teens began offering coding classes to their peers.
“It is run by students, for students,” said Anamaria Dragoi, manager of innovation and academic engagement at iHub Niagara.
“Students usually get more engaged and interested in something if they get to connect with peers of their own age.”
Using iPads and Swift coding language, App Camp teaches students in grades 7 through 10 how to create their own apps.
“I think every kid out there should give it a try,” Danny said of coding. “It’s a skill that’s going to become essential to have.”