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Southfield, Mich. – Jurius Azar, a dual enrollment student at Lawrence Technological University and sophomore at AGBU Alex and Marie Manoogian School, has gained international recognition for his robotics skills, winning a silver medal at the 26th International Robot Olympiad (IRO), held Jan. 17-21, 2025.
The IRO is a premier global robotics competition that promotes scientific thinking, leadership skills, and future-ready talent among students from around the world.
This year, the IRO was held in Busan, South Korea, uniting 3,510 students from 23 countries to compete in various categories that emphasized creativity and problem-solving through robotics. The theme for this year was “Future Marine City Busan: Industry, Tourism, Culture.”
Azar was selected to represent the United States at the IRO after winning Robofest’s Unknown Mission Challenge (UMC) competition on Nov. 2, 2024, hosted by LTU. At the IRO, he competed in the creative category, where participants were tasked with designing a robot prototype to solve a real-world problem related to underwater construction.
Azar’s submission—a robotic underwater welder—proposed a solution to the high costs and dangers involved in underwater welding, often cited as one of the world’s most dangerous professions. His design featured a submarine robot equipped with an industrial arm, a computer vision system using machine learning technology, and a welder. Guided by human input, the robot identifies welding sites and completes welding tasks.
C.J. Chung, professor of computer science at LTU, founder of Robofest, and an IRO committee member, lauded Azar’s achievements. “Jurius’ accomplishment is remarkable. The IRO is a top-tier competition focused on cutting-edge research,” he said. “Earning a silver medal is no small feat. It requires both technical skill and a creative, problem-solving mindset.”
Audrey Armoudlian, principal of AGBU, added, “We’ve watched Jurius grow from a curious student into a true innovator in robotics. His silver medal at the International Robot Olympiad speaks volumes about his determination and creativity.”
Armoudlian praised LTU and Robofest for helping prepare Azar for challenges in the evolving field of robotics. “Lawrence Tech’s Robofest and UMC competition not only recognized Jurius’ talent but also helped bolster his efforts at an international level. His success truly embodies what’s possible when hard work, supportive mentorship, and ambitious goals come together,” she said.
When asked about his silver medal win at the IRO, Azar stated, “This win means a lot to me. It’s shown that my hard work and passion for robotics has finally paid off and makes me even more grateful for the people who have supported me.”
Lawrence Technological University is one of only 13 independent, technological, comprehensive doctoral universities in the United States. Located in Southfield, Mich., LTU was founded in 1932, and offers more than 100 programs through its Colleges of Architecture and Design, Arts and Sciences, Business and Information Technology, Engineering, and Health Sciences, as well as Specs@LTU as part of its growing Center for Professional Development. PayScale lists Lawrence Tech among the nation’s top 10% of universities for alumni salaries. Forbes and The Wall Street Journal rank LTU among the nation’s top 10%. U.S. News and World Report lists it in the top tier of best Midwest colleges. Princeton Review lists LTU in the nation’s top 15%. Students benefit from small class sizes and a real-world, hands-on, “theory and practice” education with an emphasis on leadership. Activities on Lawrence Tech’s 107-acre campus include more than 60 student organizations and NAIA varsity sports.
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