ARABIAN TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Kuwait is celebrating a significant milestone in its journey toward innovation and technology as the Valtech team from the Women’s Cultural and Social Society clinched the Judges’ Award in the High School Category at the prestigious 16th VEX World Robotics Championship 2025, held in Texas, USA.
This international competition—one of the largest of its kind—hosted over 1,200 teams from 60 countries, bringing together some of the brightest young minds in robotics. The Judges’ Award, while not one of the top competition placements, is a highly respected honor recognizing exceptional achievement in areas like teamwork, problem-solving, engineering design, and presentation skills.
The Valtech team’s victory was not just a win in robotics but a triumph for Kuwait’s growing ecosystem of youth innovation. The team comprised high school students Mohammed Al-Bannai, Fajr Al-Maqhawi, and Yousef Al-Tamimi, with essential behind-the-scenes support from team members Yousef Al-Obaid, Wedad Reda, and Mohammed Al-Ali. Their efforts were guided by the capable leadership of Latifa Al-Marzouqi, whose mentorship played a key role in the team’s success.
The judging panel commended the Valtech team for their innovative engineering solutions, detailed project documentation, and strong collaborative spirit. Their performance stood out as a model of dedication, technical skill, and creative thinking.
In a joint statement, Kuwait University and the Public Authority for Youth praised the accomplishment, describing it as a clear reflection of the nation’s investment in its young innovators. The statement acknowledged the pivotal role of Kuwait University’s Department of Computer Science at the College of Science, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Zain Kuwait, and Al-Sayer Group, in preparing the team through months of intensive training and mentorship in robotics and AI.
Looking ahead, Kuwait is set to expand its participation in global robotics forums, with an elementary-level team scheduled to compete in a seminar held alongside the VEX championship next week—marking Kuwait’s first-ever entry in that category.
