#CodingLabStudents: Ryland Etheredge, 12, Platinum Award Winner, HCIC 2025
Meet Ryland Etheredge, our amazing #CodingLabStudent who loves coding, bouldering, tennis and reading is now a proud Platinum award winner at HCIC 2025!
At just 12 years old, Ryland Etheredge from St Stephen's Primary School has already carved his name among the top young coders in Singapore. Winning the Platinum Award (only given to the top 1.5% of participants) at the prestigious Hwa Chong Infocomm Challenge (HCIC) 2025, his inspiring journey is one of perseverance, determination, and big dreams.
Ryland’s coding journey began when he was just six years old, in a Lego robotics class his mom signed him up for. It wasn’t long before he was yearning for more serious coding knowledge. He joined Coding Lab where he has since attended our weekly classes, holiday camps, taken on countless projects and the rest is history!
“Coding has made a big difference in my life. It’s helped me become more focused, more patient, and a better problem-solver.”
Congratulations on winning an award at the HCIC! How did you feel about your achievement?
I felt really proud and happy when I won the top prize at Hwa Chong Infocomm Challenge! At first, it was tough, especially when I came across the Arduino questions. Some parts were really challenging, and I spent a lot of time preparing and fixing bugs. But that’s why winning felt so amazing. It showed me that all the effort and practice was worth it.
It also gave me a big confidence boost. Now I feel even more motivated to push myself, learn more, and take on bigger challenges in coding and tech!
When asked about his HCIC experience, Ryland shared:
During the Hwa Chong Infocomm Challenge, I got stuck on the last question. I didn’t understand it at first, and there were only 10 minutes left. It would’ve been easy to give up, but I kept trying. I stayed focused, and in the last 3 minutes, I finally solved it. That moment taught me something really important: even when you feel stuck, keep going. You never know how close you are to figuring it out.
Not just joining tech, but shaping it — Ryland dreams of creating his own company.
How did you start coding?
When I was 6, my mom signed me up for a Lego robotics class. That’s where it all began. I remember building robots and learning how to make them move using code—it felt like magic. Since then, I’ve never looked back.
I started going to weekly classes and holiday camps. The more I learned, the more I realized how much more there was to learn. Every time I figured something out, it opened up ten new questions. That’s what I love about coding. It keeps pushing me to go further. There’s always a new challenge, and I don’t want to stop until I can solve it.
What do you like about coding? How has coding made a difference in your life?
What I like most about coding is that it gives me the power to create anything I imagine. Games, websites, tools etc. I also enjoy the logic behind it. Code is either right or wrong. If there’s a bug, I know I can track it down and fix it. That kind of thinking really makes sense to me.
Coding has made a big difference in my life. It’s helped me become more focused, more patient, and a better problem-solver. It’s also made me think bigger. I don’t just want to work for a tech company one day. I want to build my own. I want to create something completely new, maybe even design my own programming language. That’s the dream. And every time I sit down to code, I know I’m getting a little bit closer.
“I’ve learned that with the right code, I can build real things that actually work.”
How did you get started at Coding Lab?
My mom signed me up at Coding Lab. I really like the classes there, not just because of the coding, but because of the environment. They have this giant Python soft toy, and I love hugging it while I code. It makes the whole experience even more fun and cozy.
I also want to say a big thank you to Teacher Hovan and Teacher Lakshmi. They make every lesson exciting, entertaining, and full of energy. They don’t just teach us how to code, they make it fun to learn. That’s what I love about Coding Lab.
What are your future coding aspirations?
I don’t just want to work for a tech company one day. I want to build my own. I want to create something completely new, maybe even design my own programming language. That’s the dream.
Ryland Etheredge’s first game on Love2D showcasing his creativity and skills!
His advice to future HCIC participants?
If I had to give one piece of advice to other young coders, it would be this: code every day. Even if it’s just for a little while, practicing regularly makes a big difference. The more you code, the better you get. Solving problems gets easier over time.
Here at Coding Lab, we are incredibly proud of Ryland’s achievements and growth in his coding journey. Stories like his inspire us to continue nurturing the next generation of tech leaders. Our mission is to empower children to reach their fullest potential through code—and we hope that Ryland’s journey will motivate you to invest in your child’s future through coding education!
Ryland Etheredge was already accelerated to our S112 - Python 2 class at Coding Lab by the time he was 10 years old and advanced his way to our DSA - Direct School Admission class by the time he was 12. He was awarded the Platinum Award at the Hwa Chong Infocomm Challenge (HCIC) 2025.
Our #CodingLabStudents blogs feature our ambitious students and their ongoing coding journeys – be it the budding coder or advanced Python Pro, we appreciate each and every single one’s efforts as they progress to greater heights. 🌱
Coding Lab offers an award-winning curriculum specially for ages 5 to 18 – check out our courses to begin your own coding journey today!
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