Lankan students take top honours:
Think Quest International Competition
Over 33,000 participants from 52 countries tested their skills on a
global stage in the largest ThinkQuest International Competition to
date. The global competition, sponsored by the Oracle Education
Foundation (OEF), challenges students to solve a real problem using
their critical thinking, communication and technology
skills.Participants presented solutions using a variety of technologies,
including online applications and games, websites, photo essays, online
blogs and journals, animations, and videos.Prizes for the winners
include laptop computers, school grants, and a trip to ThinkQuest Live,
the inspirational awards event in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Sri Lankan students were part of two award-winning teams, including
four local students, Isuru, Sakuntha, Umesh, and Viraj of Nalanda
College, Colombo, created an entry called ‘Hope’.
Upali Karawita coached the award-winning team. ‘Hope’ was awarded
first place in the Application Development event, 19 and under age
division. The entry addressed how to rebuild a village after war by
developing an educational game where players must earn money by farming
and mining to repair damaged public facilities. Six local students Azeez,
Umar, Jazeel, Fazal, Aakil, and Rehman Abubakar of Amal International
Schools, created an entry called ‘End child labour.’ Mohammed Fazlaan
coached the award-winning team.’End child labour’ was awarded second
place in the Digital Media event, 19 and under age division.
“The Oracle Education Foundation is pleased to recognize all
ThinkQuest International Competition participants for their outstanding
achievements,” said Oracle Corporate Citizenship, Vice President Brad
Saffer. “These students identified real-world problems and accepted the
challenge to solve them through innovative, thought provoking solutions.
Throughout the process, these students developed skills that will
position them for success in the classroom and workplace,” he said.
“The ThinkQuest International Competition 2011 has opened so many new
opportunities to the Sri Lankan School Community, our students and
teachers,” said Education Ministry Education for Knowledge Society
Project Additional Secretary and Project Director Anura Dissanayake.
“Through global competitions like ThinkQuest, our teachers and students
are empowered with new knowledge and international experience that will
take their ICT Education to the next level,” he said.
“I would like to congratulate the winners of the ThinkQuest
International Competition from Sri Lanka. It’s a pleasure to see these
students being recognized for their hard work in creating projects that
address key social issues,” said Oracle South Asia Growth Economies -
West Managing Director Ahsen Javed. |