Students from Samoa's Robert Louis Stevenson Senior School have won an award at an international robotics competition in Dubai.
Team Samoa 2019, who won the 'Rajaâ Cherkaoui El Moursli Award for Courageous Achievement'. Photo: FIRST Global
The team of five placed first in the 'Rajaâ Cherkaoui El Moursli Award for Courageous Achievement'.
It's the first time Samoa has participated at FIRST Global Challenge, an international Olympics-style event established three years ago to encourage children to pursue science and engineering careers, the Samoa Observer reported.
The team was ranked 26 of 193 countries with seven wins and two losses.
Eleven countries from the Pacific region competed in the three-day event and included the Cook Islands, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, the Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu and New Zealand.
The competition takes its name from the American non-profit organisation which sponsors it: For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology.
Only Australia, which ranked 24, had a better outcome than Team Samoa with both leading the Pacific Island competitors.
The team were Aukusitino Potoi, Julius Netzler, Victoria Amosa, Alexandria Matalavea and team captain, Marion Fruean and were accompanied by teacher, Masa Fa'asau and mentor, Lemamea Sia Matalavea.
The school's principal, Fiaapia Devoe, said they were "happy and excited" for the students' achievements in Dubai.