Antonine University’s (UA) Faculty of Engineering and Technology (FET) welcomed 180 high school students from 21 schools for an unforgettable two-day program titled “Robotics Training for High School Students: From First Code to First Podium.” Held across two Saturdays in November, the initiative introduced participants to the exciting world of robotics through hands-on learning, team collaboration, and friendly competition.

A Campus Filled With Young Innovators

Students from the following institutions took part in the experience:
Collège Mont la Salle – Ain Saadeh; La Sagesse Saint Maroun – Jdeideh; Collège de la Sainte Famille Française – Fanar; Collège des Pères Antonins – Baabda; Collège des Sœurs des Saints Cœurs – Sioufi and Hadat; Christian Teaching Institute (CTI); Mekhitarist Fathers’ School – Rawda; Val Père Jacques; Collège Notre Dame des Apôtres – Rawda; École Notre Dame de la Paix – Dora; Collège Saint Sauveur – Badaro; International School of Aramoun; Collège de la Providence – Mreijieh; Collège des Sœurs du Rosaire – Mountazah; Al-Imam Al-Hassan High School – Al-Mabarrat – Rweiss; École Saint Vincent de Paul – Filles de la Charité – Clemenceau; Antonine International School – Ajaltoun; Green Hills School; Lycée Pilote; and Collège Notre Dame de la Délivrance des Sœurs Salvatoriennes – Hadat.

UA Student Mentors Lead the Way

UA’s engineering students played a key role in shaping this experience. Second-, third-, fourth-, and fifth-year FET students guided participants through each step, supported by FET instructors who ensured a strong learning environment. Their leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving skills turned complex concepts into accessible, hands-on moments and reflected UA’s commitment to developing students who inspire and mentor others.

Building the Foundations

Saturday, November 15, was dedicated to foundations. Students were introduced to Raspberry Pi, hardware components, and the essential building blocks of electronics and programming. Guided by UA student mentors, they learned how boards operate, how sensors interpret their surroundings, and how code brings machines to life. Working in teams, participants experimented, asked questions, and gained the confidence needed to begin building their own robots.

From Learning to Action

When students returned on Saturday, November 29, the atmosphere shifted from discovery to application. Equipped with newly acquired skills, teams assembled, tested, and fine-tuned their obstacle-avoiding robots. The competition opened with Round 1, giving each robot two minutes to navigate the arena and avoid as many obstacles as possible, scoring points with every clean dodge. Maintenance stations in between rounds allowed teams to troubleshoot, adjust their robots, and improve their performance with the support of UA mentors.

Robots on the Move

Round 2 intensified the challenge by increasing obstacles and reducing the time limit to one minute and thirty seconds. The energy in the room was electric as robots navigated, hesitated, recalibrated, and occasionally collided, while teammates counted points and cheered enthusiastically.

Top Three Teams Shine

After impressive performances, three teams rose to the top:

• KC (CTI): Kegham Khozian and Charbel Yeremian – 306 points
• TTW (Val Père Jacques): Georges Hanna, Elias Nouaime, and Anthony Nawwar – 276 points
• Lil' Jumbo (CTI): Lucas Mkarzel and Joe Saab – 267 points
  
  

These results highlight not only technical skill but also creativity, perseverance, and adaptability under pressure.

A Learning Journey

Beyond robotics, the program celebrated mentorship, teamwork, and the value of experiential learning. The participating students discovered what they can achieve when given the opportunity to explore STEM with guidance, curiosity, and determination.

Advancing Education and Innovation

This initiative reinforces UA’s commitment to fostering educational experiences that empower young learners and respond to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG 4: Quality Education, SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.

By opening its doors to future innovators, the University continues to broaden access to meaningful learning opportunities while inspiring the next generation of engineers and problem solvers.