OpenStreetMap
April 15–19, 2025, proved to be a special landmark in my mapping experience when I participated in the OSM Spring Mapathon 2025, sponsored by Youth Innovation Lab. I am excited to announce that I won the Beginner Category for 22,922 map changes!
This acknowledgement is meaningful to me—not only as a personal achievement, but also as a personal reminder of my growth since first hearing about OpenStreetMap (OSM) during 2021. At that time, OSM was merely another name, still learning its way into my periphery. Little did I realize the meaning that OSM would take on as an important part of my learning and contribution trajectory.
I committed a certain amount of time each day during the Mapathon to updating map data. Anything from adding roads, perfecting building footprints, or fixing map glitches and errors. Each change adding to a sense of satisfaction that somewhere someone would benefit from finally going through something that they could map out into a community, and their community becoming visible, sharing their data.
The event itself was inspiring. While Youth Innovation Lab was the primary host, the Mapathon brought together fellow mappers from across the land, and beyond. Each day’s schedule created an exciting and competitive environment that made staying sedimentary contagious.
Though I did not expect to win the Beginner Category, I am even more so grateful. The motivation of this experience is further proof that with the appropriate due diligence, sprinkling curiosity and learning, anything is possible!