The Pride of the PENN MÌ Ý “Eagles” at the 2024 VEX Robotics World Championship

Receiving the Judges Award, the PENN MÌ Ý team is honored to be the only and first Vietnamese team in history to win an international award at the 2024 VEX Robotics World Championship – High School Group.

On April 27, 2024, the PENN MÌ Ý team participated in the final competition day of the 2024 VEX Robotics World Championship, which took place in Dallas, Texas, USA. At the tournament, the students excellently won the Judges Award – an achievement for the team chosen by the Jury as deserving of special recognition. To achieve this achievement, the students demonstrated special qualities, most notably their admirable perseverance to overcome all obstacles and achieve their goals during the competition. Besides, the students also impressed the jury with their professional group interviews.

“The moment I saw our team’s name being honored in the international arena, my teammates and I burst into joy and happiness. We know that to achieve this result, each member had to make great efforts. This award is a great reward for our tireless efforts. We take immense pride in bringing glory to our homeland. During the competition, all teams gave their best, competing fiercely to achieve the best results. This gave us an unprecedented feeling of excitement mixed with a bit of anxiety as we participated in the world’s largest robotics tournament.” – Quoc Cuong shared on the competition day. 

Tan Loc also couldn’t help but feel emotional and proud when talking about the moment of being honored at the tournament: “The moment the name PENN MÌ Ý was announced in front of hundreds of people, we were extremely surprised and left speechless. No words can describe the joy and pride we felt at that moment because, after days of trying our best, we were able to stand in America, and our hard work paid off. When receiving the award, we felt pride in being the only Vietnamese High School team to win in this international arena. Those feelings still linger within me, and that was the most valuable moment I experienced throughout this tournament.”

Not only gaining the above achievements, but the team was also honored to meet and discuss with Mr. Dan Mantz – CEO of REC Foundation, Executive Director, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the World Robotics Competition and Education Foundation. He listened to their sharing and gave many words of encouragement. At the same time, they also make connections and learn from international friends participating in the tournament. “We had the opportunity to communicate, exchange cultures, and learn new knowledge and experiences from teams around the world. In addition, we also learned about the culture of the United States and visited monuments and landmarks associated with world history such as the Statue of Liberty and the Kennedy Memorial. This tour was a wonderful and very challenging experience for me.” – Quoc Cuong shared. Together with their teammates, they explored museums, universities, and famous landmarks in Texas. Quoc Cuong and Tan Loc also gained a valuable understanding of culture, science, and technology, as well as the lives of local people.

To achieve this proud accomplishment, Technoholics “warriors” always receive warm encouragement from their families and teachers. Thanks to that love and companionship, the team fought hard against talented opponents from many countries around the world. Quoc Cuong shared, “During my years at PennSchool, the Robotics class has always brought me many wonderful and memorable experiences. On this occasion, I would like to send my gratitude to my family, the School, and my teachers, especially Ms. Hau, for their constant help and companionship as we pursue our passions throughout our time studying at school.”

More specifically, recently, the US Consulate honored and recognized the victory of the PENN MÌ Ý team at the tournament. This is a testament to their outstanding abilities in robotics, innovation, and teamwork.

PennSchool would like to congratulate all members of the PENN MÌ Ý team including Nguyen Quoc Cuong, Nguyen An Phu, Bui Thi Minh Thao, Truong Nam Phong, Nguyen Quoc Tan Loc, Nguyen Tuan Anh, Duong Kien Quoc, Nguyen Bao Long, Bui Gia Khanh Toan, Nong Chinh Thuan. They have demonstrated their excellence throughout their journey at the 2024 VEX Robotics World Championship. We hope that this achievement will be a motivation for the students to constantly strive and excel at the next international competitions.