Pre-teen coding prodigy celebrates international competition win with free trip to Dallas
Fresh off the plane from Dallas, Texas, 12-year-old Aadil Onaolapo from Borehamwood is brimming with excitement after emerging victorious in Code Ninjas’ Prodigy Program. In this year’s drone-themed game competition, Aadil stood out as the only UK student to earn an all-expenses-paid transatlantic trip to attend the Sky Elements Drone Light Show – wowing judges with his game creation, Overheat.
In partnership with Sky Elements, the leading drone light show provider across the pond, this year’s Prodigy Program Game Jam inspired young coders – affectionately referred to as Ninjas – to develop and design their own games incorporating the rapidly evolving world of drone technology. Among those who participated across the UK, Aadil’s game garnered rave reviews.
“What sets the Prodigy Program apart is its focus on fostering creativity and practical application, empowering students to hone the critical thinking and creative skills essential in today’s tech-centric world,” said Meha Meghani, Co-Owner of Code Ninjas Borehamwood. “Aadil’s game perfectly exemplifies this approach. With his strong design mindset, Aadil showcased remarkable innovation and proved himself to be an adept problem solver. His unwavering commitment to pushing boundaries was evident throughout the project, and we couldn’t be prouder of his achievement.”
Not only did Meha and the Code Ninjas Borehamwood team recognise Aadil’s excellence in the Prodigy Program Game Jam, but the judges of this year’s competition also echoed the same sentiment. “The judges praised Aadil’s game as a vibrant showcase of innovation, skill and a profound grasp of what makes gaming captivating and enjoyable,” explained Meha. “His project distinguished itself with its originality, creativity, playability and, of course, the integration of drones, truly capturing the essence of what the judges aimed to celebrate with this competition.”
As the UK winner, Aadil embraced the chance to journey to Dallas and watch his own design illuminate the night sky at the Sky Elements Drone Light Show. Marking the second triumph for Code Ninjas Boreamwood in the Prodigy Program, following the success of one of their Ninjas in last year’s collaboration with Microsoft, Aadi’s success is an equally exciting time for the team. “Aadil's trip to the US, accompanied by his siblings, was generously provided by Code Ninjas,” said Meha. “It’s an incredible opportunity for both Aadil and the Borehamwood team, especially as it marks our second Prodigy Program victory in two years! With two wins secured, we’re eagerly anticipating what lies ahead for our Ninjas!”
At Code Ninjas, kids learn how to code in a safe, inclusive and social learning environment where gaming is celebrated and STEM is cool. With the help and encouragement from Senseis – the name given to instructors – Code Ninjas allows kids to dive into fun, challenging, and rewarding projects and activities that will engage them and bring out skill sets that will benefit them as they grow.
Since enrolling in Code Ninjas a little over a year ago, Aadil’s parents have observed a remarkable transformation in him and are incredibly proud of what he has achieved so far. “Winning the Prodigy Program has boosted his level of confidence and aspiration to become a software engineer,” said Aadil’s mum. “It’s definitely put a spring in his step. We’re looking forward to Aadil transitioning to learning programming languages that will help him build games and application development platforms in the future.”
As for the trip, Aadil found that his hard work and perseverance truly paid off as the place and people certainly did not disappoint. “Getting the chance to visit the US and attend the drone show was an awesome experience!” explained Aadil. “Seeing the technology first-hand has sparked my imagination and fuelled my passion for coding even more. I can’t wait to create more projects!”
To play Aadil’s Prodigy Sky Elements Game Jam project, Overheat, visit https://forms.codeninjas.com/prodigyskyelements
To learn more about Code Ninjas Borehamwood and find a Code Ninjas near you visit www.codeninjas.co.uk