Singapore Pre-U students clinch global robotics prize

The Straits Times, April 17, 2007
By Ho Ai Li



SMART LIONS: The MI team has snagged at least one award for three straight years. Its winning team this year includes (from left) Albert Tan, Timothy Athanasious, Felix Yep and Navin Kumar.





MILLENNIA Institute (MI) has been making a name for itself - at an annual international robotics contest for the last three years.

The institute, which offers a three-year pre-university course, won one of the six top prizes at the First Vex Challenge World Championship held in Atlanta, United States, last week. This is the third consecutive year that MI has picked up at least one award at the contest.

About 1,000 students from five countries took part in the competition, which aims to promote science and technology among youth.

Teams had to design robots to compete in a game in which they have to pick up tennis balls and place them in high places.

MI's four-strong team - Albert Tan, Timothy Athanasious, Felix Yep and Navin Kumar - picked up the Think Award, given to the team which has the best notes on its journey in the competition.

'It's a documentary capturing what went through their minds in the process of building the robot,' said MI principal Tan Chor Pang.

The MI squad - called the 'Smart Lions' - was the only non-American team to win an award, fending off competition from 99 international teams.

For the last two years, it was part of the Winning Alliance - with CHIJ Toa Payoh and Temasek Secondary - which won the coveted championship prize.

In 2005, MI also clinched the Inspire Award for being the most sought-after ally.

The school's latest success caught the eye of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who congratulated it yesterday morning through his principal private secretary Lawrence Wong.