A monumental victory on the world stage
Three brilliant students from Šiauliai Jesuit School—Ausma, Rūta, and Emilis—have returned home as world champions after a stunning performance at the international FIRST LEGO League competition in Hong Kong. The talented trio conquered a field of over 320 teams from across the globe to bring home the event’s highest honor.
On July 11-12, the Šiauliai team not only secured the coveted “Invitational Champions” trophy for first place but also earned the prestigious “Team Model Award” for their creative engineering solution and professional presentation. Their victory is a testament to their hard work, innovation, and teamwork on a global scale.
From intense preparation to disbelief and joy
The road to victory was challenging, but the team’s dedication paid off beyond their wildest dreams. The champions themselves were stunned by the result.
“I was so happy. We prepared very intensively and hoped to win at least one nomination,” said Ausma. “We definitely didn’t expect to become the overall winners of the entire competition.”
Rūta shared the feeling of exhilarating surprise. “It’s an amazing feeling. At first, we didn’t even realize we had won first place, so when it finally sank in, we were even more overjoyed,” she smiled.
A celebration of community and talent
Upon their return, the young champions were honored by Šiauliai’s Vice-Mayor Justinas Švėgžda, who hailed their achievement as a victory for the entire city. He emphasized that their success was a beautiful gift for Šiauliai’s 790th anniversary and a powerful example of what can be achieved when the community unites to support its youth.
Special thanks were extended to the team’s coach, Gintautas Jazdauskas, as well as to their parents, teachers, and the local business community, whose collective support helped pave the way to Hong Kong. This remarkable win proves that world-class talent is thriving in Šiauliai, ready to shape the future of technology in Lithuania and beyond.
