Six Filipino students are set to represent the country at the prestigious VEX World Robotics Championship, with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) recognizing their achievement through medals and financial assistance.
In a statement, CHED announced that six students from the Quezon City University (QCU) robotics team won the Philippine VEX Robotics National Championship, securing a spot at the VEX World Robotics Championship to be held from May 9 to 11, this year at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, Texas, USA.
In recognition of this outstanding achievement, CHED Chairman Popoy De Vera, along with Commissioners Ethel Agnes Valenzuela and Desiderio Apag III, awarded medals of excellence and grants under the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) and Tulong Dunong Program (TDP) to the QCU robotics team members: John Daniel C. Cimanes, Prince L. Docot, Raniel Rick F. Peñas, Enerjhun Q. Relon, Arturo D. Marte Jr. II, and Rencis R. Sumugat.
The students expressed their gratitude to CHED, UniFAST, and QCU for the recognition.
“I encourage other students who have a passion for science and technology to pursue their dreams and engage in activities like robotics competitions,” Cimanes said.
Relon particularly thanked CHED-UniFAST for the financial assistance. “Dahil po dito, mas gagaan ang aming pag-aaral at mas mapapabuti ang aming skills sa robotics (Because of this, our studies will become easier, and our skills in robotics will improve),” he added.
The competition
CHED noted that the VEX World Championship is one of the most prestigious robotics competitions globally, recognized by Guinness World Records as the largest robotics competition in the world.
The QCU robotics team designed and programmed robots to compete in various VEX skill challenges, including rapid relays, high-stakes matches, and design challenges.
The team will compete against over 100 universities worldwide in the VEX University Category.
Support for schools
De Vera emphasized that one of the directives of President Marcos is to “ensure that more students engage” in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)-related career pursuits.
Given this, De Vera explained that CHED is “actively supporting universities to modernize their equipment and facilities to create an environment where students can innovate and engage” in science and technology.
He highlighted that the “groundbreaking success” of QCU students, from a local university, is “proof of our strong commitment to supporting the academic development and growth of local universities and colleges (LUCs) across the country.”
Meanwhile, QCU President Theresita V. Atienza said that with the support of CHED and UniFAST, the school has provided students with an “enabling environment” through the modernization of equipment and the upgrading of facilities.
“Our robotics laboratory is open for use and benchmarking by other universities,” she added.