Calgary students win MIT autonomous-vehicle competition, first Canadians to take title
Nine students from Calgary Islamic School's Akram Jomaa Campus programmed the fastest autonomous vehicle at MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute.
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A team of nine Grade 10 and 11 students from Calgary Islamic School Akram Jomaa Campus has become the first Canadian winners of the RACECAR competition at MIT's Beaver Works Summer Institute in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
The students' custom-programmed autonomous vehicle had the fastest overall time during race day on August 1, 2026, placing first in the time trials in the international division. No Canadian team had won this title before.
The week-long program combined intensive daily instruction, hands-on technical training, collaborative engineering challenges, and presentations from leading experts in science, engineering and technology. Students heard from world-class experts including one who worked on communications improvements for the Artemis II lunar flyby mission in April.
Robotics teacher Jennet Atabayeva, who coached and mentored the team, called the win a "remarkable" accomplishment that highlights the students' technical skill, teamwork, resilience and ability to solve complex real-world engineering challenges. "I was very proud of them to see their accomplishment and I'm cheering on for their future, for sure," she said.
Grade 10 student Qaasim Natt, who already had an interest in math and science, said the experience deepened his interest in pursuing a STEM career. "We've been putting in a lot of hard work since the start of the semester as a team, so it was really nice that we got to finally get rewarded for our hard work," he said.
Mariam Gomaa, going into Grade 11, said being at MIT was itself a win for the Calgary students. "But as we worked harder, we wanted to be more competitive and aim for the win, and we got it," she said, adding she plans to pursue an engineering program at a university.
The immersive experience has inspired many students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, Atabayeva said. One previously shy student told her: "For the first time ever, it feels like what I'm doing matters."
The facts
What Canadian team won the MIT RACECAR competition?
A team of nine Grade 10 and 11 students from Calgary Islamic School's Akram Jomaa Campus won the RACECAR competition at MIT's Beaver Works Summer Institute. They were the first Canadian team to win this title.
When did the autonomous-vehicle race take place?
The race day was August 1, 2026, at MIT's Beaver Works Summer Institute in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
What did the students' vehicle accomplish?
The Calgary Islamic School team's custom-programmed autonomous vehicle had the fastest overall time and placed first in the time trials in the international division.
