900 Volunteers – A Force Fueled by Passion
With over 900 volunteer participations, this year’s Vietnam VEX Robotics National Championship marked the largest volunteer engagement ever seen in a robotics event in Vietnam. Remarkably, many of them were just 16 years old, taking on their first-ever national event as volunteers — yet they demonstrated professionalism, energy, and a sense of responsibility far beyond their years.
The significance lies not only in the numbers but in the diversity and reach. Volunteers came from all across Vietnam – North, Central, and South, representing different regions, cultures, and educational backgrounds. But they were all united by a single spirit:
“For a STEM-powered Vietnam that is inclusive, sustainable, and future-ready.”
Every Role – A Commitment, A Journey of Growth
Volunteering at VEX Robotics isn’t just about showing up to help — each volunteer undergoes a structured process of application, selection, training, and clear task assignment. Regardless of the role, each volunteer must:
Commit to the scheduled time and be punctual and reliable;
Attend all required training sessions, both online and in-person;
Adhere to strict guidelines for ethics, data confidentiality, and event procedures;
Collaborate effectively with fellow volunteers, technical teams, and referees.
This spirit of professionalism and accountability is what distinguishes VEX volunteers — not just supporters of an event, but true partners in a national educational mission.
Over 900 volunteers filled 15 essential roles throughout the season — from inspecting robots to managing logistics and facilitating matches. Each role, no matter how small, was vital:
Emcee: Provided live commentary, energized the crowd, and connected audiences to the matches.
Judge, Inspector, Referee: Maintained fairness and professionalism (Judges evaluated teams through interviews and Engineering Notebooks; Inspectors ensured robots followed technical rules; Referees scored matches on the field).
Field Reset, Queuing, Scorekeeper: Ensured each match ran on time and accurately (Field Reset: reset the game field; Queuing: lined up teams; Scorekeeper: recorded and confirmed scores).
Pit Admin, Volunteer Check-in, Team Check-in: Friendly first faces welcoming teams and guests (Pit Admin: supported teams in the pit area; Volunteer Check-in: coordinated volunteer logistics; Team Check-in: welcomed teams and collected materials).
VEX TM Operator: Operated the Tournament Manager software with near-perfect accuracy.
Many volunteers shared that their first hands-on encounter with robotics and being entrusted with important duties in such a dynamic environment opened their eyes to new career possibilities and sparked a genuine passion for STEM.
When Volunteering Becomes Inspiration
Whether from Hanoi, Da Nang, Binh Dinh, Cao Bang, or Ho Chi Minh City — whether high school students, university seniors, teachers, or first-timers — every volunteer had something in common:
They came for the passion, stayed for the connection, and grew with the experience.
“I thought I was just helping a little behind the scenes, but when I saw students cheering, teams nervously prepping, and smiles after a win, I realized I was truly contributing to something meaningful.”
– Volunteer, 16 years old, Student from FPT School, Binh Dinh
These young people lit the path for thousands of students passionate about technology — not just through their actions, but with their kindness, dedication, and humanity.
🌱 Seeds of a Future STEM Ecosystem
At SEPA, we believe that each volunteer today is a seed of Vietnam’s future STEM community — dynamic, compassionate, and empowered. The soft skills nurtured at VEX — time management, teamwork, quick problem-solving, and cross-cultural communication — are powerful tools that will accompany these volunteers for years to come.
The Organizing Committee of the Vietnam VEX Robotics National Championship 2025 extends its deepest gratitude to all volunteers — those who chose to walk alongside us, contribute their efforts, place their trust, and help illuminate the STEM journey for future generations.
