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STEM Hero

Ayah Bdeir

About

Ayah Bdeir is the founder and CEO of littleBits, the award-winning company that invented the electronic building block and whose mission is to empower kids to be change-makers through invention and creativity. Bdeir is an engineer, interactive artist and one of the leaders of the open hardware movement. An alumna of the MIT Media Lab, and of Eyebeam Art and Technology Center, Bdeir founded littleBits in 2011, after exhibiting a prototype at World Maker Faire in New York City. Bdeir received her masters degree from the MIT Media Lab and undergraduate degrees in Computer Engineering and Sociology from the American University of Beirut.

Wisdom: STEM is ultimately about one thing and one thing only: Imagination. What if anything you imagine can come to life? Any invention, any product, any solution to a world problem, anything that you can dream up you can make happen.
Award: STEM Hero
Year: 2018
Title: Founder and CEO
Organization: littleBits
Location: New York, USA
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2025-2026 Signature Event Updates

  1. An Event Partner wanting to apply to host a Signature Event must have hosted events for at least 2 seasons prior to applying. 
  2. Signature Events must use the officially branded award banners for the Excellence Award and Tournament/Teamwork Champions Award.
  3. When hanging field skirts the VEX Robotics logo/brand name can not be covered up on the competition fields.
  4. VEX V5 Robotics Competition Signature Events may have regional capacity and max per organization restrictions lifted 8 weeks before the event if the event is not full (similar to the process already in place for VEX IQ Robotics Competition Signature Events).
  5. Minimum pit size reduced to 8’x 8’ instead of 10’x10’.
  6. Beginning in the 2025-2026 season, the REC Foundation will collect $10 instead of $5 per team registration on all Signature Events. This is to help offset travel costs for REC Foundation staff to support these larger events.

2025-2026 Signature Event Application Reminders

  1. Existing Signature Events only need to complete the Final Application (due by March 31, 2025)
  2. New Signature Event concepts will need to complete the Initial Proposal by January 31, 2025 and if approved, complete the Final Application by March 31, 2025.
Crowd watches the Signature Event in Minnesota's Mall of America
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Teams check scores at VEX Robotics World Championship
App | VEX Robotics World Championship
Teams are responsible for making their own arrangements for travel between Dallas airports and their hotel. Information about ground transportation services can be found on the airports' websites.
Judges observe participants at VEX Robotics World Championship
Volunteer | VEX Robotics World Championship
WE NEED PASSIONATE VOLUNTEERS LIKE YOU TO POWER THE VEX ROBOTICS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP! Whether you participate solo or with a group of friends, family, or coworkers, you’ll make a huge…